New Student Orientation Never Ends

While orientation may seem like a long ways away, the preparations have been in the works for months. Yesterday, hundreds of students scrambled to finish their New Student Orientation Leader applications. Students applying for a leader or captain position eagerly filled out their applications and signed up for interviews before the deadline. Coordinators will review applications and screen candidates to create the perfect team of passionate leaders to orient new students.

Me and my orientation partner!

Each year, the New Student Orientation Leader and Captain positions are highly coveted. Many enthusiastic Rams want the opportunity to give new students the fun and memorable orientation experience they had, and to show that new students made the right decision in choosing Fordham. Those who have participated in New Student Orientation describe it has a great time making new friends, as well as a rewarding experience.

Leaders and Captains arrive at the end of August for training. Training involves listening to presentations from the Deans of Rose Hill and Gabelli, Office of Student Involvement, Residence Life, and Health Services to name a few. In between information sessions, leaders battle it out with other teams of leaders in favorites like the Olympics and Dance-Off. Everyone is dressed head to toe in their team colors, screaming and shouting for their teammates. Those who emerge victorious receive eternal bragging rights and hold a place in Orientation Leader history. 

Fordham Famou$

Cameras outside Dealy!

You probably hear it all the time. And, if you’ve visited campus at least once, you’ll know exactly how true it is: Fordham is beautiful. Beautiful. There isn’t a single season that fails to show off Fordham’s impeccable architecture, beautiful landscaping, and energetic atmosphere. Whether the campus is covered in snow in the winter or blooming with bright colors in the spring, you feel like you’re walking through a storybook.

Currently, as the leaves change from green to red and yellow, we feel like we’re walking not through storybooks, but instead, through… movie sets?

Casually walking through a movie set.

Over the past few weeks, Fordham’s been taken over by cameras and production people. If you’re familiar with Rose Hill’s presence on the screen, you’re already well-aware of the fact that this campus has been featured in movies like “The Exorcist” and “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”, shows like “White Collar” and "Saturday Night Live”, and even the music video for “What’s Luv?” (Fat Joe ft. Ashanti).

Props table!

Currently, the new CBS show “Madame Secretary” also found a home here at Rose Hill. It’s amazing walking out of class and feeling like I’m suddenly on a Hollywood sound-stage. The filming takes place right in the middle of campus; I can literally walk through a set amidst beautifully-dressed actors and extras on my way to class!

Walking filming from our apartment windows!

Aside from “Madame Secretary”, there are numerous other productions being filmed on campus. Just the other week, we spent an hour hanging out at Keating, watching a protest scene being filmed. Later that day, we watched extras dressed in ‘70’s apparel playing a soccer game – I was surprised at how many takes it took before the directors were happy with the shot.

Honey, I'm Home!

While it is sad to leave home for the first time at the beginning of freshmen year, there is no doubt that you will make yourself right at home in Fordham's spacious and diverse residence halls! Each residence hall on campus has its own unique attributes, and you won't be able to resist the views from your window! Some dorm rooms are traditional two-person rooms, while many upperclassmen rooms on campus are apartment style; they include bedrooms, a kitchen, a living space, a dining room, and a bathroom! 

Below is a compilation of pictures from dorm rooms all across campus! If you were to come on a campus tour at Rose Hill, we do our best to showcase a freshmen residence hall. Here are some pictures from upperclassmen residence halls. While this post only features a few of the residence halls, descriptions of all the halls can be found online at www.fordham.edu. Enjoy!!!

O'Hare Hall Residential College: A traditional residence hall that includes double and triple rooms. Each room has its own bathroom! The hall has versatile social and study lounges throughout, and free laundry in the basement! There are multiple integrated learning communities (ILC) including: Wellness, Science Integrated Learning Community, Integrated Learning Community - Global Business, and West Wing: Integrated Learning Community for Ignatian Leadership and Civic Service.

Walsh Hall: This residence hall consists of apartment-style housing. About 500 students live in this 13-floor building, in two and three bedroom apartments. There is free laundry within the building, and many of the apartment have beautiful views of campus and of the city! Walsh Hall is only steps away from Edwards Parade and Keating Hall. 

Martyr's Court: This is a freshmen residence hall complex that consists of three sections: Lalande, Goupil, and Jogues. Each section is named after a Jesuit Martyr. This hall includes traditional double rooms and a small number of single rooms. There are 15 community lounges with kitchenettes throughout the complex, and 17 study lounges. There is also free laundry in each section of Martyr's Court. This hall also houses the freshmen Science Integrated Learning Communities in the Jogues section. The SILC is a great way to jumpstart your science career, whether you are majoring in a science field or are thinking about pre-med. The SILC offers tutors and a surrounding community that you can learn from.

Single room in Martyr's Court

Campbell, Salice and Conley Halls: The integrated learning community within these halls is designed to meet the unique needs of seniors and junior during the transition into the "real world." The learning community helps develop the special skills that are needed after college. These halls were erected in 2010 and consist of apartment style housing. Between 4-6 people live in each apartment in either single or double rooms, and each apartment has its own living space, kitchen, and bathroom. Plus, there is air conditioning and free laundry!

Sunday Mass at Fordham (and in the city)!

One of the primary reasons I choose Fordham University, the Jesuit University of New York, was its Jesuit mission. While Fordham is welcoming to people of all faiths, it is important to recognize our unique Jesuit, Ignatian identity and Catholic faith. 

The University Church

As a child who grew up attending mass every Sunday, participating in weekly mass has become second nature. Fordham Campus Ministry offers so many means for students to become involved in the spiritual atmosphere at Fordham including, but definitely not limited to, Christian Life Communities, Ignatian Programs, Interfaith Ministry, Liturgical Ministries, Music Ministry, Retreats, Bible Study and of course daily masses.

When I came to Fordham I decided I wanted to become more involved during masses so I decided to become a Eucharistic Minister. Now, as a junior, I continue to serve at Sunday masses and masses on special occasions. When I serve as a Eucharistic Minister I feel a strong connection with the Fordham and Jesuit community, and I am able to reflect on my values and beliefs. I would strongly encourage anyone who is invested in his/her faith to take part in Fordham’s Campus Ministry Program and mass in some way.

Inside the University Church

With that said, I also love attending masses at different parishes to broaden my perspective. While Fordham has its own beautiful church, being so close to the city also allows one to go out and explore other parishes and churches, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This past weekend I was in the city with friends. We spent the day shopping and dinning. However, we decided to try something different and, in fact, went to mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The cathedral is absolutely stunning and to be able to celebrate a mass there was unreal. There were people from all over the world visiting and professing the same faith; it amazed me!

St. Patrick's Cathedral 

While walking out of St. Patrick’s I took special note of the stained glass windows. The stained glass windows in Fordham’s church were originally gifts from King Louis of France to Archbishop Hughes and were intended for the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral. However, when they did not fit, Fordham built a church that would fit these windows. So, the next time you are in the Fordham University Church, take a look! 

The University Church was dedicated to Archbishop John Hughes in 1845

Summer at LIFT and the City

A major attraction to Fordham for me was the fact that it’s so close to Manhattan. This provides an endless amount of opportunities—academic, social and professional! Since Manhattan is just a short train ride away, The Bronx is sometimes overshadowed by this bustling city. The Fordham community itself is an excellent hub of rich opportunities. This past summer, in fact, I had one of the most rewarding experiences of my life right here in the Bronx.

Just three short blocks down Belmont Avenue, is a non-profit organization called LIFT, the place that I interned at this past summer. LIFT has the ambitious goal of “lifting people out of poverty for good”. People in the Bronx community utilize its service to help with things like finding jobs, finding a place to live, and learning how to live on a strict budget. Everyday I got to meet with these community members, help them with whatever they needed, and learn a ton in the process. What first drew me to this internship was the convenience of being able to walk to work in less than five minutes.

Other than the rewarding work itself, interning at LIFT came with plenty of benefits. I got to work every day with an amazing group of people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met at Fordham. My fellow interns commuted to LIFT from all over New York, including Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Washington Heights. We bonded outside of the office and would make fun trips together into Manhattan on the weekends. My favorite day was the one we spent at the American Museum of Natural History. This iconic museum is right across the street from Central Park, which allowed us to grab food from a street truck and eat on the green grass of the Park after touring the museum.

A couple of my coworkers, Caralie (middle), Laura (right), with me at the American Museum of Natural History

All of the Bronx interns in front of an Aztec exhibit at the AMNH

Central Park is such a beautiful place to have lunch, hang out with your friends, take a walk, or just breathe in the fresh air.

Interning at an organization like LIFT was such a great way to gain valuable experience while really giving back to my community. Fordham is located in one of the most culturally rich and diverse places in New York, and I am so grateful to have been able to better connect to it this summer. Walking around outside the gates of Fordham, I now feel more connected to the place I live, and I sometimes even see familiar faces! You can apply to places such as LIFT no matter what degree you are pursuing at Fordham. The Bronx really does have so much to offer!

Blog By: Abby Collins