FEATURES OPINIONS LAptops BHUTTO Teachers and students weigh in on whether these Students question the ability of Bhutto’s technological treasures are really helpful in class. son to lead after his mother’s assassination. PAGE 15 PAGE 7 the observer

January 31, 2008 www.fordhamobserver.com Volume XXVIII, Issue 1

HIV Rises in Young Gay Males Job Experts Fear ‘Another Wave of Death’ Market Among Hispanic and Black Men Doomed? By Casey Feldman ing rates. Web site states that in 2006, almost at Mount Sinai Medical Center, she Staff Writer Since 2001, the rate of new HIV 90 percent of MSM diagnosed with remembered one patient displaying FCLC Seniors Might infections among Manhattan men HIV in New York City were Hispan- what a recent New York Times ar- FCLC—“Get high. Get stupid. under 30 who have sex with men has ic or black. Experts blame lack of ticle termed “treatment optimism.” Not Have To Worry Get AIDS.” increased by 57 percent, according education, cultural attitudes toward “[The patient] said, ‘now the So went the commercial that in- to the New York City Department homosexuality and drug use as the treatments are so much better, so By Meaghan Dillon spired 40-year-old Tom*, an black of Health and Mental Hygiene (DO- causes of this increase. even if I get it, it doesn’t matter,’” Ri- News Co-Editor HIV-positive male from the Bronx, HMH). “Young people are thinking ‘it vera Mindt recalled. “The treatments to get an AIDS test in 1996. “I knew In addition, the Web site re- won’t happen to me,’” said Monica are significantly better, but it can still FCLC—With economists saying I was in the risk group. I was getting ported that the rate of infection in Rivera Mindt, a clinical neuropsy- kill you! That was so sad to hear,” we are facing a recession, seniors who high, getting drunk, and I was get- Hispanic and black men who have chologist and assistant professor she said. are graduating in May have plenty ting stupid and [having unprotected sex with men (MSM) has increased of psychology at Fordham College to worry about when it comes to the sex],” he said at the Momentum 34 percent since 2001—an especially at Lincoln Center (FCLC). “They *Name has been changed to job market. However, several experts Soup Kitchen for individuals with “striking number,” considering that haven’t seen friends dying of AIDS… protect identity. say that although it is difficult at this HIV/AIDS. Hispanic and black MSM already people walking around with le- point to predict when this recession “Where I lived [in the Bronx], accounted for the great majority of sions…like the [previous generation may happen, those who are about to everyone was doing it during [the new HIV diagnoses. The did].” During her research with begin job hunting may not have such late 1980s]. We didn’t have the edu- HIV-positive in- a difficult time after all, unless they see HIV pg. 4 cation. You walk down the street dividua ls are seeking employment in the finan- at 2 a.m., a girl is waving at you, cial industry. and you can hit it and quit it right “In New York, it is going to be there for $10 and a bag of crack. very tough finding a job in the finan- We weren’t using protection for cial market,” Shapoor Vali, associate that,” he said. “You just weren’t go- professor of economics at Fordham ing to stop the moment and look College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) for a condom.” said. Vali is referring to the tremen- The risky be- dous financial losses, resulting in lay- haviors that Tom offs at various financial groups such described, in both as Citigroup, Bank of America Corp. gay and straight and Merrill Lynch. However, Vali individuals, doesn’t foresee this being a problem were contribut- for many students at FCLC, but more ing factors to of a concern for students who attend the NYC AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Sta- tistics indicate that despite the heightened profile of HIV/ AIDS, NYC’s young gay men are still engaging in the same risky behaviors and con- tracting HIV at in- creasingly alarm-

Craig Calefate photo Illustration/ The Observer Craig Calefate/The Observer One in four men who Graduating FCLC seniors may not have sex with men in be doomed in the job market. Chelsea are HIV- see JOB MARKET pg. 4 positive.

Inside NEWS Headed to WHO WILL YOU VOTE By Brent Nycz the Giants have won 10 straight road Card round, the Giants took on the FOR? Asst.Sports Editor games, a National Football League . After gain- Obama appeals to young voters, but record. By earning the fifth seed in ing -2 yards and not scoring in the the GOP candidiate is anyone’s call. The New York Giants are headed the National Football Conference first quarter, the Giants took charge u PAGE 5 to the Super Bowl, after defeating the playoffs, the 13-6 Giants had to play in the second, scoring 14 points and Green Bay Packers 23-20 in overtime on the road for all three of their eventually winning the contest 24- on Jan. 20. After missing a 36-yard playoff games. With the retirement 14. field goal at the end of regulation, of star halfback Tiki Barber during In the Divisional Round, the Gi- ARTS Giants kicker con- the off-season and the losses of tight ants faced their NFC rivals and the DEATH OF A YOUNG STAR nected on a 47-yard field goal in end and linebacker number one seeded Dallas Cow- Students reflect on Heath Ledger’s career overtime to send the Giants to Super to season-ending boys. Giants quarterback Eli Man- after he was found dead in his Manhattan Bowl XLII. The Giants are appearing injuries, the Giants entered the play- ning continued his strong playoff apartment on Jan. 22. in the Super Bowl for the fourth time offs in a terribly weakened state. performance by going 12 for 18 for in team history. The Giants, however, embraced u PAGE 11 With the win against the Packers, their underdog role. In the Wild see giants pg. 19

The Student Voice of Fordham College at Lincoln Center 4 News January 31, 2008 The Observer w w w .fordhamobserver.com NYC HIV Cases Soar Among Young Gay Men hiv From PAGE 1 BY THE NUMBERS

Rivera Mindt said she attributes  Approximately 1 in 70 New the specific rise of HIV infection in Yorkers is infected with HIV, young, Hispanic and black MSM to but the proportion of people the “patriarchy and machismo” in- in different groups who are herent in these cultures that some- infected varies widely: times prevents young gay men from admitting that they are homosexual. “Some African-American men 1 in 40 won’t say they’re gay—‘I have sex Black New Yorkers are infected. with men, but I’m not gay.’ There is a shame associated with [homosexu- ality], a lack of acceptance,” Rivera 1 in 25 Men living in Manhattan have HIV. Mindt said. “If they aren’t willing to admit that they are gay, they are talk- ing about it less…they are probably 1 in 12 less aware, and they aren’t taking the Black men age 40-49 have HIV. appropriate precautions.” Being “on the down low,” or on 1 in 10 the DL, is a term used in the Af- Men who have sex with men have HIV. rican-American community. “On the down low” refers to a man who 1 in 8 looks and acts straight, has sex with Injection drug users have HIV. women or is in a relationship with a woman but secretly also has sex with men, according to a 2003 New York 1 in 5 Times article. Black men age 40-49 in Manhattan A Craigslist search reveals copi- have HIV. ous personal ads placed in the New Elissa Eubanks/MCT York City area by “straight-acting DL The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that between 2001 and 2006, the rate 1 in 4 guys,” or “homo thugs,” looking for of new HIV infections among Manhattan men under 30 who have sex with men has increased by 57 percent. Men who have sex with men in Chelsea men to have sex with. This increase has been especially pronounced in Hispanics and African-Americans. have HIV. “In the African-American com- Statistics courtesy of: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/ munity, men are placed with a lot of organization The Body. board member of FCLC’s Student drug use is fueling risky sexual be- html/ah/ah.shtml pressure to be dominant and strong,” “[A lot of] black men don’t use Organization of Latinos (SOL) and havior and damaging the health of said Cerise Adams, FCLC ’09, who protection. Some black women go editor-in-chief of SOL’s news publi- a population already vulnerable to conducted research on HIV patients along with it because they don’t cation, Dimelo. sexually transmitted diseases.” The and language that are culturally ac- at the SUNY Downstate Medi- want [their men] to leave them… Lazo, who considers himself bi- most popular drugs, according to the ceptable.” cal Center in Brooklyn alongside Some women suspect men are on the sexual, also said that homosexuality research, are ecstasy, cocaine, crystal Our generation may not have ex- Jayashree Ravishankar, a doctor who down low but they don’t have any is a “big taboo” in the Hispanic cul- meth and GHB. perienced the first AIDS epidemic specializes in infectious diseases. A solid proof,” added Shannell Beckles, ture because “it is a culture based on How to stop the increasing rate of during the 1980s, but according to large number of black men, accord- FCLC ’09, who is African-American. Catholicism.” HIV infection? According to Rivera the DOHMH, if behavior patterns ing to Adams, “[feel that] they have Almost two-thirds of women di- Regardless of race or religion, Mindt, culturally-centered educa- don’t change, we may experience the to keep [their homosexuality] confi- agnosed with HIV in 2001 were black, it appears as though young men tion is the key. “It would be difficult second AIDS epidemic—now. dential in order to remain respected according to The New York Times. are still getting high, getting stupid to change [African-American and New York City Health Commis- by their peers and family members.” Many believe that this is partially and getting AIDS. According to re- Hispanic] culture and beliefs regard- sioner Thomas R. Frieden said, “Un- Black MSM “rarely use condoms, the result of black men being “on the search conducted by Perry Halkitis, ing homosexuality—health educa- less young men reduce the number and can act as an infectious bridge, down low,” the article reported. professor of applied psychology at tors may not make as much of an of partners they have and protect spreading HIV to unsuspecting “There are a lot of thug gay guys… NYU, there has been an “alarm- impact in this regard. [It would be themselves and their partners by us- wives and girlfriends,” according to some Hispanic guys are also definite- ing growth in club drug use among more effective] to get information to ing condoms more consistently, we The New York Times Magazine, as ly ‘on the down low’ too,” said Mi- gay and bisexual men in New York these communities in ways that are will face another wave of suffering cited by New York City HIV/AIDS chael Lazo, FCLC ’09, an executive City.” Halkitis also stated that “club culturally tailored, using materials and death from HIV and AIDS.”

Job Market Doomed? Job Market From PAGE 1 financial corporations at FCLC. For students who want to be pro- the College of Business Administra- active about the job hunt, Barry sug- tion (CBA) at the Rose Hill campus. gests broadening their qualifications The location of FCLC is also a pos- and getting another degree, as well as itive factor that students should rely having a willingness to relocate for an on. “New York is unique in that we entry-level job if need be. “Go back to are the financial capital,” said Janis school, get another degree, and accept Barry, associate professor of econom- the increase in debt load,” Barry said. ics at FCLC. “What hits Kansas, hits “It will pay for itself once the econo- New York a little differently.” The my picks up.” Increasing education is economy tends to bottom out more another way to stand out and avoid slowly than the rest of country that being side-swept by the job market. doesn’t have a diverse group of indus- Viray noted that students should tries, Barry said. With a diverse array not only be relying on their academ- of industries ranging from entertain- ics when beginning the job hunt, but ment to service, Fordham students also their networking skills, as well as who are searching for a job in New programs like Study Abroad, which is York are “blessed” despite the eco- becoming increasingly important in nomic downturn. a global economy. For one of FCLC’s popular majors, “The big news is that the labor communication and media studies, market is now global,” agreed Barry. students may be adversely affected, “You are now in competition with though it is not a result of the econ- students from around the world, and The Observer omy, but rather of the downsizing in Fordham students should take a look the print and non-print media, or the at who is sitting next to them in their writer’s strike, Vali said. classes. The very people that are from Marion Viray, associate director of previously Eastern Bloc countries, career services agreed that those who Latin America, Asia or India are are studying communication and competing with you… This isn’t to media studies are not as affected by suggest that students should be look- the financial losses of various finan- ing to fellow students with anger or cial institutions and shouldn’t worry mistrust, it’s that if young Americans about the job market in relation to the haven’t gotten the message, it’s going economy. Very few students go into to be harder not easier to get a good corporate communication in which job.” Going abroad, Barry added, is there are going to be layoffs, he said. “a must because now employers are “A lot of students don’t go into finan- looking for students who get the big cial institutions, they go into more picture.” creative worlds,” Viray said. Barry also said that graduat- Even economics majors have ing seniors at Fordham are already other options besides a financial ca- ahead of the game when it comes to reer. Many students become research other American students who haven’t analysts, which in times of economic made it this far. “In the U.S., those downturn are actually needed, or who graduate from four years of col- they might go to Washington D.C. lege are privileged,” she said. “You’re or the United Nations, Viray added. going to win in the sense that you’re “Most of our students aren’t going to already going to be part of the small Citigroup,” he added, referring to the portion of the population who is well- lack of interest in employment with educated.”