Club Spotlight! Sláinte: Fordham Irish Dance

Here at Fordham, there are over 100 clubs and extracurricular activities that students can participate in. From political groups, to choirs, to the Campus Activities Board, to a culinary council and more, whatever you’re interested in, Fordham most likely has it.

My suitemate, Kayla Slattery, is the Co-President of Sláinte, the Irish Dance group here at Rose Hill. Apart from Irish dance, there are other dance groups on campus as well for students who may prefer other styles of dance. Check out an interview below that I conducted with Kayla!

Kayla and the team!

So what inspired you to start Sláinte?
Kayla: Dance had been such a big part of my life for so many years that when I came to Fordham that part of me was missing. I knew other girls here who felt the same way, so having this club is a great way to continue my love of dance and meet other people who have the same interests.
Was it easy to get the club up and running?
Kayla: It definitely was a process, but after we wrote our constitution and it was approved, Fordham helped us get our club under way and we’ve grown a lot since it started!
What are some activities that you guys do?
Kayla: We practice twice a week and we work on choreographies and exercises to prepare for upcoming events and performances. We’ll be competing at the intercollegiate Irish Dance Competition in the Spring of 2015! We also host Ceili Nights, which are social dances with food and friends, you don’t have to have any experience to go, and it’s a great way to meet new people and learn a fun dance! Our next one is on Tuesday the 18th.
Would you describe Fordham as an involved campus?
Kayla: Yes, I would definitely describe Fordham as involved. There are so many activities to participate in, and everyone is just looking to be a part of something, and make new friends, and participate in something they love. It’s been a great experience!

A Black-Tie Affair

Liam Neeson bought me dinner on Thursday night. Kind of. The Irish actor is a major donor to the American Irish Historical Society, a New York institution dedicated to promoting “the achievements of the Irish in America.”

The AIHS is on 5th Ave., across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Mr. Neeson generously donated the cost of an entire table at the annual benefit dinner, allowing volunteers to fill a table. My good friend Liz, an intern for AIHS and a Rose Hill student ambassador, was allowed to invite fellow Fordham students to help at the dinner and enjoy the meal. Like I said, Liam Neeson bought me dinner (with some help from the lovely people at AIHS).

Standing in the "Silver Corridor" with the Fordham contingent

Fordham students intern for a wide variety of different companies and shows—among my friends I can count interns for a book agency, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Division of Human Rights, Random House Publishing, several of the Big Four accounting firms, city council candidates, and the Daily Show. Fordham students are incredible well-connected in New York, sometimes so well-connected that we end up in fancy clothes, strolling through Grand Central on our way to the Waldorf-Astoria. That was my New York moment this week—we’ll see what next week has in store!

Irish to Filipino: Fordham's Cultural Clubs Shine

Fordham's multicultural clubs bring diversity, excitement and life to Fordham's campuses. These clubs recieve an annual budget from the United Student Government and the student executive boards for each club put that money to good use hosting workshops, performances, leactures and more. They bring influential personalities, speakers, activists and artists to campus to add to the dialouge.

Our bloggers recap some of their favorite events our cultural clubs have hosted:

Harry Kim on the recent Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (F.I.N.D.)

Sarah Sullivan on the festivities of the Gaelic Society's Oíche Mhór Ceol (Big Music Night)

Luck O' the Irish

Junior Sarah Sullivan's passion for Irish Studies has taken her to Fordham, the Upper East Side and, well, Ireland! Follow her adventures here:

Fordham College Rose Hill: Luck O' the Irish: "In the spring semester of 2010, all my friends were lining up internships for the summer and fall. I immediately went into panic mode. I had..."