Welcome Week At Fordham

Second semester has just begun at Fordham, and our students are finally settling into the routine of classes, sports, club events, and work hours after spending close to a month off for the holidays. Starting up a new semester might seem a little daunting (especially so for those who didn’t emerge from their Netflix cocoon during break...guilty!), but Fordham insures that the first week back on campus is full of events that help you get back into the swing of the school year. Here are some of the most popular goings-on that go down during Fordham’s Welcome Week!

1. Club Fair
   
   
   

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to volunteer more? To get more involved on campus? To collect as much free swag items as possible? If any of the above sound like you, then the Club Fair is the place to be! One of the first events in Welcome Week is the Club Fair, where clubs and groups from all across campus come together in order to gain new members. Whether you’re looking for opportunities to get involved in campus ministry or in our local community, in writing or in politics, you’ll be able to find a group that shares your passions and vision for the semester.

2. Student Band Showcase
   
   
   

Hosted by Rodrigue’s Coffee House, Fordham’s student-run (and exceptionally hipster) coffee house, the student band showcase is a great way to relax after your first full week back in classes. The event is free and always well attended, so feel free to show up for some great music (and a little coffee--you’ll need it after such a long week!)

3. Welcome Week Bingo
   
   
   

If you, like me, like free stuff, and if you, like me, enjoy procrastinating homework until the last possible second, then you might just want to show up to Welcome Week Bingo. Known for giving out some of the best prizes on campus, the Welcome Week Bingo is held in Keating Hall and is the perfect way to catch up with friends while simultaneously playing America’s favorite gambling game. If you can’t make it to Bingo, them make sure to show up to the Welcome Week Raffle later in the week, where Book of Mormon and Knicks tickets are up for grabs!

4. Cinevents Presents…
   
   
   

Though it’s too cold to show movies out on Eddie’s in January, that doesn’t mean that the monthly Cinevents films stop! The Cinevents team releases the semester’s new lineup of movies during Welcome Week, and the first film on the list is screened during the last few days of your first week back on campus. This semester’s lineup is stellar, with such blockbusters as Moana, Rogue One, and Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them being shown...remember to bring along some popcorn!

Making the Most Out of Fordham's 135 Clubs

Are you the kind of high school student who is an all-season varsity athlete, NHS scholar, after school volunteer at a local nursing home, school newspaper editor-in-chief, president of both French Club and Painting With Watercolors Club, and an active member of the Chess Club and Grecian Club even though you’re 100% Irish?

If you can relate, have no fear, most Fordham students were also stupidly over-committed in high school too.

Being involved in so much isn’t necessarily a bad thing- it usually means that you’re passionate about a lot of things and have a wide array of interests, which is an extremely respectable quality to have. It also helps you master the art of time management, and allows you to meet new people with similar interests as you.

However, being over-committed, especially in college, can also be a curse. If you take on too much, you not only overwhelm yourself, but also lose the opportunity to really immerse yourself in what you’re involved in. College can be a big adjustment for some people, so between classes, homework, internships, having fun with friends, exploring New York City, and getting enough sleep, it’s important to remember to only join things you think you will have time for.

That being said, I will now tell you that Fordham has 135 clubs and organizations for undergrads. That’s everything ranging from the Finance Society, to club sports teams, to Fordham Experimental Theatre Group to the Paranormal Society. You can pretty much find an organization geared toward anything you’re interested in; but if not, you can always submit a proposal to start something new!

At the beginning of every semester Fordham hosts a fair (in the fall around Eddies and in the spring in McGinley 2nd) to showcase all of the different clubs. It’s literally like a scene out of Pitch Perfect- the performance groups are singing and dancing at you, and every group in between is offering you candy and trying to get you to sign up for their organizations. 

Fall Club Fair Around Eddies

My advice to freshmen would be to get a feel for all of the clubs first. Talk to the people representing the club at the fair, take tons of brochures and flyers and free food, and do a little bit of research. Whatever you do, don’t sign up for a club right on the spot because if you end up not joining, you’ll still get tons of emails from them until you graduate anyway. After you’ve thought about it and figured out which clubs’ schedules fit into your schedule, join one to four of them. Join some that you know you’re passionate about, and maybe one that you’re curious about. You might learn something new, and meet different people. Also, be active in your clubs! Attend meetings, volunteer to work events, and maybe even run for an e-board position. Getting involved is such a great way to meet great people and truly feel like a part of the Fordham community. 

Expressions Dance Alliance at the Fall 2014 Club Fair

For a full list of the clubs and organizations offered on campus, click here!

Fun Activities for the New Semester

Imagine you've just come back to campus after winter break.  You are just starting your new classes and seeing your friends again after a few weeks away.  To help you get back in the swing of things, Fordham hosts a number of events that help returning students get ready for their new semester.

For students looking to become more involved with on-campus clubs or groups, there is a spring club fair that takes place during the first week of the new semester.  Various student groups gather in the McGinley Center, inviting other students to see what interests them and to join related clubs.  Additionally during the first few weeks, there are a number of auditions taking place for upcoming on-campus theatrical productions.

We weren't lucky enough to win Fordham blankets or a $200 Best Buy gift card this time,
but there's always next time!

If you're simply looking to spend a little time relaxing or unwinding during the beginning of the new semester, there are plenty of activities for that too!  From bingo to Cinevents movie showings (this week is Big Hero 6),  students can always find a way to enjoy their free time on campus.

Even though it's only the beginning of the semester, there's no shortage of ways to get involved or enjoy Fordham!

Don't Forget Your Dancing Shoes!

Back when I was a freshman, I was very excited to start my college experience by getting involved on campus in any way possible, so at the annual Club Fair around Eddie’s, I signed up for at least twenty different clubs that all sounded interesting.  One of these clubs was Fordham Ballroom Club.  Like many girls, I had taken ballet classes for a while when I was little, but I never thought of trying to dance with a partner.  Because I signed up for Ballroom at the club fair, I received all of the emails describing the fun activities the club put on, but I was always too nervous to show up by myself and try something out of my comfort zone.  Now as I junior, I realize how much I regret not participating in Ballroom Club my first year here.  One of my roommates this year, Dorina, is actually the President of Fordham Ballroom Dance.  Before coming to Fordham, she had even less dance experience than me, and she learned at club meetings through the teaching of previous president Fred Engelhardt.  She persuaded me to come to Ballroom one week after teaching me some basic moves in the dining room of our apartment.  As a beginner, I was nervous that I would embarrass myself, but there were other people with little experience that were learning for the first time along with me, and the veteran dancers were very nice and helpful.  I was able to convince two of my friends to come with me, and we all ended up having a great time.

Learning some new moves

For Fordham Ballroom Dance, each week we meet in the McGinley Center Ballroom for an hour and learn moves to different standard ballroom styles.  We separate into sides, with boys on one side and girls on the other. Dorina teaches a couple of moves to the group, and then we pair up and practice what we just learned.  Each week we review and then build upon the previous week. So far we have learned aspects of the Waltz, Salsa, and Swing.  We switch partners each time we practice a new move, so another plus of this club is that I am always meeting new people.

Along with the weekly classes, the Ballroom Club coordinates a couple of trips a semester to a Club 412, a dance club in Manhattan where they have separate rooms that each are dedicated to a different style of ballroom.  I am really excited for our first trip so I can actually use what I have been practicing each week.  

Time to practice

Members having fun at Club 412

Check out some of these amazing performances from members of Fordham Ballroom Club!

(My talented roommate Dorina is the female lead featured in the first two videos)

Branching Out!

Students modeling for MODE's photo op

On September 3^rd, I attended Fordham’s annual Club Fair on Edward’s Parade.  The usual campus hangout was encircled by tables, one for mostly every club here at Fordham.  The club fair allows students to see what is happening on campus and gives them an opportunity to get involved with something that they find interesting. At each table you can receive a brief overview of what the club is and give them your email to receive more information as well as meeting times.  As a sophomore, I wanted to broaden my horizons and get involved with something new and exciting.  I came across many clubs that caught my attention, but the one I was most interested in was MODE.

The Fall 2013 Cover

The Spring 2014 Cover

MODE is Fordham’s version of a fashion magazine.  A group of students work together to publish one edition every semester which gets distributed right before the start of finals.  The magazine covers a myriad of topics from fashion to romance to fitness.  What makes MODE special is its emphasis on the Fordham community in its articles.  The models and interview subjects in the articles are all current students or alumni.  Fashion on campus was a huge part of the most recent edition of the magazine.  It is very cool to see people you know in the magazine! Also, it makes it super easy for any Fordham student to relate to!

As a communications major, I was very interested in being a part of MODE.  Writing for a magazine can be a good way to improve on your writing skills while being a great resume booster as well.  Rumor has it, members of MODE have interned for big time magazines such as Teen Vogue!  Being a part of publishing a magazine is not only good for potential writers or journalists.  It is a great way for anyone interested in fashion, photography or graphic design to gain experience.  Although I am just starting to get involved, I cannot wait to begin writing for the magazine!