Spring has Spung at Fordham

Keating and a beautiful blue sky

On Wednesday, the sun peeked out and the clouds cleared to make way for blue skies. For current students, as well as prospective students and their parents visiting Fordham on Admitted Students Day, the weather could not be more beautiful. 

In fact, Fordham's beautiful Rose Hill campus has been undergoing many landscaping measures and beautification projects to get our school spring ready! Among some of the various visible measures being taken include the beautiful flowers planted around both the fountain and outside of McGinley Center. For me, as well as many of my friends, the planting of these flowers signify the first signs of spring. Soon, the tulips and daffodils planted on various hills throughout Fordham's campus will be breaking ground and blossoming. The grass on Eddie's is a bright green, after being nourished by showers and melted snow. Yesterday, students speckled Eddie's, playing Frisbee, studying homework, and basking in the delightful 60 degree weather.

Colorful spring flowers and the fountain

Also, as the New York Botanical Gardens are right across the street from Fordham, students can look for signs of spring in the park as well. Each week, I go for a walk through the gardens, looking at the progress of all the plant life. On Daffodil Hill, the flowers are being to develop buds; soon, they will be flowering and the path will be lined by hundreds upon hundreds of daffodils...truly a sight to behold.Although Thursday brings more showers, Fordham is beginning to feel a spring fever budding on campus. 

Fordham students sitting on Eddie's enjoying the sun

Fordham's Performing Arts: Theatrical Outreach Program

The performing arts are an integral part of the campus culture at Rose Hill. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of directing my first feature length production on campus through the Theatrical Outreach Program (TOP). TOP is one of three student theatre clubs on the Rose Hill campus, and strives to perform works of classical and educational theatre for students at local middle schools and high schools in the Bronx. After the performance we have a question and answer session with the students and play some theatre games to get them up and interacting with the stage and the actors. TOP is the perfect blend of performing arts and community service!

 The play we put on was called Kindertransport by Diane Samuels, and focused on the refugee experience of a young Jewish girl during World War II. Admission was totally free, and there was a donation box for the refugee relief organization ActionAid USA, for which we raised nearly $300.  Later this semester, TOP will be putting on William Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

At Fordham, there are opportunities for students to get involved in theatre in any way they may be interested: acting, directing, writing, stage managing, budgeting, costuming, or simply just watching! Usually, I am onstage performing, so it was interesting and fun to have a chance to be the one calling the shots and making my creative vision manifest on stage. If you have any interest in theatre at all, there is room for you to exercise your creative muscles at Rose Hill!

Rams Deli Plus: A Fordham Favorite

Coming from the suburban Midwest, I had never been to or experienced a bodega. The closest I have to them at home are gas station convenience stores, where the food is subpar at best. However, when I came to Fordham, I was suddenly introduced to the wonders of bodega food, satisfying my hungers at all times of the day. Enter Rams Deli Plus, the premier bodega in the Belmont neighborhood. Located on Fordham Road between Hoffman Street and Arthur Avenue, Rams Deli Plus, simply known as “Rams” or “RDP” to students, has been a Fordham staple for years, serving hungry students 24/7.

Starting with breakfast, you cannot go wrong with a sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich from RDP. Whether you like it on a roll, wrap, bagel, or croissant, RDP will make you a breakfast sandwich you will write home about. If you are feeling a little more adventurous for breakfast, try the Hashtag, a bold creation boasting a chicken cutlet, hash brown, bacon, egg, and cheese. With so many options for breakfast being served at all times of the day, you can’t go wrong with a quick bite from Rams.

Rams Deli Plus’ options for lunch and dinner are even greater. Whether you want a sandwich, a burger, a wrap, or even halal food, Rams has it. A few of my personal favorites are the Calito’s Burger, which is a cheeseburger with avocado, bacon, ranch, and sriracha, and the California Wrap, sporting grilled chicken, cheddar cheese, ranch, avocado, lettuce, and tomato. If you want something that will fill you up for hours and for cheap, Rams is the place to go. With friendly staff, a welcoming atmosphere, and some of the best food close to campus, Rams Deli Plus is a most go for all Fordham students.

So Long Snow and Hello Students!

A change of seasons. Not quite literally, thought. We are moving out from the snowy days or winter and towards the cheerful, lively days of Admitted Students season! It was only but the other week that Fordham students geared up to trek around campus in the snowy wonderland of Fordham. Yet, the freezing temperatures did not stop Fordham students from spending hours out on Eddie's, building architecturally sound igloos that were over six feet tall and making snow angels. Personally, coming from California, I was bundled head to toe, resembling either a mummy or a yeti with my bulk and various wrappings. In fact, I finally invested in a long down winter coat, thinking that I must need it in the event that we get struck by another snow storm.

Much to my chagrin, the snow did not return. In fact, I slowly watched as it melted off the roofs of the buildings and exposed the sodden grass. So much for my use of a winter coat! Yet, with the absence of cold weather, the sun came out, giving Fordham students a hope for the spring time. With the weekend boasting temperatures in the high 60's, students took to Eddie's to lay out and throw about a frisbee, attempt to catch some meager UV rays while tanning, or simply to enjoy the warmth of this unusually warm February. It seems as if life is blossoming at Fordham, as students yearn for the spring time. 

With the weather expected to be stunning on Thursday, both students and those visiting Fordham should be in high spirits. With an outstanding turnout of over 600 students for the President's Day Open House, we are in full swing with Admitted Student Days and tours for both prospective and accepted students. Throughout the week, let alone on Friday, over 400 students will descend upon Fordham's campus to see first-hand the beauty and comradery of the #Ramily. I, as a member of RHS, could not be more excited for the start of this new "season." Getting to show around individuals interested in Fordham and share my own experience has me reminisce upon my high school experience and realize how choosing Fordham has been a truly defining moment for me that has shaped my college experience for the better. 

Keating Through the Seasons

If you've visited Fordham you know that no matter what time of year it is, the campus looks beautiful.  From summer nights to blustery winter days, students are always snapping photos of the most picturesque spots on campus, especially Keating Hall.

Home to the infamous bell tower, Keating is placed at the center of campus behind Edward's Parade (the old football field and popular spot for students to hang out on during warm days and during New Student Orientation).  Keating also houses academic classrooms, deans offices, dance studios, WFUV- Fordham's the student run radio network, a beautiful blue chapel, and so much more!  Odds are, as a Fordham student you will have a couple of classes in Keating during your years here.

Here are some pictures of Keating Hall through the seasons, just another reason why you should come to Fordham and check it out yourself!

Keating Hall during the January 2015 Snowstorm Juno

Keating Hall on a warm day in Spring 2015, featuring students enjoying the nice weather on Eddie's!

Keating Hall in the Summer of 2016, preparing to celebrate 175 Years of Fordham, the Dodransbicentenial

Keating Hall in the Fall of 2016 at sunset

The Concourse Group: Fordham's Student-Run Consulting Firm

If you are looking for a hands-on way to get more involved in the local Bronx community, while also gaining real world experience towards your major, look no further than The Concourse Consulting Group. Run completely by Fordham students, The Concourse Consulting Group is staffed with approximately twenty consultants working with five local businesses. As a current member of Concourse, the experience I have gained through the group has been invaluable (and not to mention a great resume builder). Concourse is centered around developing and enhancing the common good in the direct community. When working these local businesses, we seek to help them develop their entrepreneurial ventures by providing pro bono consulting and microloans. Some of the responsibilities of Concourse consultants include developing in-depth business plans, conducting competitor and market analyses, examining the financials of the company, and creating a web/social media presence for our clients. 

Working for Concourse not only allows you to “get your feet wet,” gaining experience with a real company; it also has a social good aspect, making your contributions even more meaningful. Consultants are often working with small fledgling start-ups;their survival may depend on the strategy work that Concourse does for them. As consultants, we strive to provide the businesses owners with the necessary tools to propel their business into success. The Concourse Group is not simply a consulting firm in the Bronx; we are a part of the Bronx. We explore the neighborhood and truly seek to get involved with the diverse, entrepreneurial individuals who live in our area. As we help out these local entrepreneurs, in turn, we receive knowledgeable insight into the struggles and triumphs of developing a business venture.

So whether you are a finance, marketing, accounting, or even a philosophy major, The Concourse Group has a place for you. The relationship that a Concourse consultant develops is one of reciprocity; in your time as a consultant, you will not only share your knowledge with clients but also cultivate a deeper understanding of the startup world and the Bronx community. 

For more information about Concourse click here. 

Baseball in the Bronx

Blog by Michelle Dastur

As exciting as it would’ve been to be at Game 7 of the world series last night, I’m still content with the game I did get to go to this year, thanks to CAB at Fordham. CAB stands for “Campus Activities Board” and gives students many opportunities on and off campus, throughout the year. Once a month they hold raffles where students show their student ID, receive a raffle ticket, and are entered for a chance to win up to two tickets to one of 3 or 4 exciting events. These events are usually a broadway show, comedy show, tickets to the Top of the Rock or Empire state building, or tickets to various baseball and basketball games.

The golden tickets!

The September raffle during the end of the first month of school granted me $20 tickets to the Yankees vs. Sox game on September 27th. As a Sox fan, this was especially exciting to me, because I knew this would be one of the last games Big Papi would ever play at Yankee Stadium. When I called my parents to tell them, they were even more excited than I was, and

ended up telling many of their friends what section I was sitting in and to watch out for me.

Being a student at Fordham, we’re lucky enough to be able to get virtually anywhere with multiple transportation options only a few minutes off campus. So at 6pm on that warm September evening, my roommate and I made the quick trip up Fordham Road and hopped on the subway (the D train), towards Yankee stadium. In a short 15 minutes (during which we saw other Fordham students and fellow Sox fans) we were at the stadium!

Not a bad view, eh?

Though the seats were inexpensive thanks to CAB, the view was not. We had great seats in the 200s section, close to the jumbotron, and close enough where we could still sort of make out the names on the backs of the players’ jerseys. Though it was pretty weird to be a Sox fan in a sea of Yankees fans, we somehow landed ourselves in a section with other Sox fans, and it wasn’t as weird to cheer when everyone else booed. When Big Papi came out, we cheered as loud as we could every time.One of those times even cost me a ketchup stain on my favorite Sox shirt, but it was entirely worth it.

Biggest Sox fans ever!

We even got to see a marriage proposal, waiting in line for our famed Nathan’s hot dogs and cheese fries! This became a proposal much of the US would come to see that night and over the next couple of days, after the man proposing dropped the ring mid proposal. We watched with wide eyes as everyone in his section managed to pull their weight and someone luckily found the ring. They were even interviewed on Ellen the next day!

Though this had to be the one game the Sox lost at Yankee stadium, it was still a great night for baseball and a great night to be a Sox fan. I’m so glad I’ll get to say I saw one of Big Papi’s last games at Yankee Stadium, and got to cheer loud enough for my friends and family back home.  

Here's a link to the video of the couple on Ellen!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKqOouC_sBw

Campus Involvement: Fordham's Commuting Student's Services at Rose Hill

During my first year of college, I was confused and scared. I was a commuting student, I had very few friends, and I felt alone. I wanted to be involved, but going to clubs alone was very intimidating. It was really hard being a commuter. However, I made the decision to join the Commuting Students Association. When I attended my first meeting, I met a wide variety of people with a wide variety of faces. These people were extraordinarily welcoming with arms open wide. Joining was the best decision of my life. I met a fantastic group of students, attended numerous events, and made a new "Fordham Family." This was my first step into involvement within the Fordham community. 

Last year's CSA members at Thanks-Give-Away

As one of Fordham University's three government organizations, the Commuting Students Association's (or CSA for short) role on campus is to create a fun, inclusive environment for commuting students. We do so by promoting new policies that will make commuting easier and increasing commuter involvement on campus by programming commuter friendly events every semester. Our two biggest events on campus are Thanks-Give-Away, a charity event to support Part of the Solution, and Commuter Week, a week dedicated to appreciate our commuters on campus. All CSA's events are available for all Fordham students (both residents and commuters), and are typically free admission. If you are interested in getting involved with commuter life, our meetings are on Monday, starting at 1 PM in McGinley 237, and are open for all to attend. 

 Our Commuter Assistants at our annual Commuter BBQ

Another important resource available to commuters is Fordham's commuter assistants (or CAs for short). They are the counterpart of the resident assistant for commuters on campus, and are designed specifically to assist freshman commuters ease into their first year of college. They are a great resource for these new commuters because they serve as both a mentor and a friend. Our CAs are specially selected based on their involvement, personality, and experiences here on campus. They are a resource available at anytime who can give a wide variety of information about Fordham to their students. They also program several events throughout the year; for example, monthly pool tournaments or holiday related events. I can definitely say that my commuter assistant, Andrew Santis, had helped me adapt to the Fordham community, and helped me get to the place I am today. If you are interested in learning more about our commuter assistants, visit the McGinley Student Lounge during lounge hours.

CSA's executive board at our Fall Retreat

Follow CSA on Facebook and Twitter for updates on our events!!! 

Course Spotlight: Internship Seminar with Community Organizations

I loved my relaxing,25-minute commute
to St. Rita's, walking up Fordham Rd.

This fall semester, I am taking a sociology elective that pairs sociological discussion theory on cities and the built environment with a placement at a community organization. While we need to secure the internship on our own, Professor Rhomberg provided us with a list of local community organizations that other students have found worked well in the past.

Last spring semester, I started volunteering at St. Rita’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee Services on Fordham Road. I taught adult immigrants English classes for two hours, twice a week. I feel very lucky that I found this position through the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice’s Volunteer Fair, as it allowed me to experience another aspect of our community in this part of the Bronx. I realized that I felt really fulfilled working with immigrants, so I wanted to gain more experience with the legal side of things. Coming back to Fordham this fall, I decided to intern at Mercy Center for my seminar class.

Mercy Center is a multi-service provider located in Mott Haven, a neighborhood in the South Bronx. I work in the Immigrant Services department, helping complete naturalization applications for Legal Permanent Residents and applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. While the latter application means a lot more work (for example, we need to provide evidence in an organized manner, resulting in a large file), I feel that the work is more important because the undocumented immigrants it protects are so vulnerable. I love that I get to work with participants and learn about real immigrants’ experiences trying to make a better life for their families in New York, but I am also learning so much about the system itself.

Mercy Center also offers programs in Personal Development, Workforce Readiness, Adult Education, After-School Programs, Family Skills and Development, and general Social Services. 

I think that classes like this internship seminar, as well as the Service Learning classes offered across disciplines, are great examples of Fordham living out its mission. Students are encouraged to not just learn and stay inside the bubble of the university, but to complement their academics with real-world experiences. These classes make it so easy to do; I'm getting major requirements and credits toward graduation for the 14 hours a week I’m working an unpaid internship, while understanding my internship (and fellow classmates' organizations) better via class discussion and readings.  

My supervisor, Bridget (Director of Immigrant Services),
celebrating with one of our recently naturalized participants! 

My commute to Mercy Center on the Bx41 bus. It's so rewarding to experience another neighborhood in our borough.

Life is Good on Eddie's

Enjoying Fall at Fordham

It's a warm, sunny day on the Rose Hill Campus; golden leaves dance downwards to earth and rich rays of the setting sun illuminate the sky like watercolors. Laying on a blanket on Edward’s Parade (referred to by students as Eddie’s), surrounded by various textbooks and class notes, I can almost forget the impending stress of my midterms. During each season, Eddie’s large grass area features its boundless beauty. In the spring months, the lawn is peppered with hundreds of students, eating lunch, studying for class, or simply playing music and tossing around a frisbee. 

Eddie's blanketed in snow; Keating Hall in the background

When autumn comes, the fall photo shoots ensue; surrounded by trees that are turning their leaves, Eddie’s become a sight for all. Keating Hall, bathed in the afternoon sun and framed perfectly by trees with deep orange leaves, could not be more beautiful. Even in the winter, when the cold sets in, Eddie’s offers a playful snowfield. Coming from California, I had never woken up and walked out to see such a winter wonderland before me. The untouched, level snow blanketing Eddie’s provided a space for building snowmen and crafting the perfect snowball. As the seasons change, 
my love for Eddie’s stays unwavering.

The lush, green lawn of Eddie's during the spring

Eddie's in an essential part of Fordham's campus, providing a large healthy stretch of grass for all to enjoy. Although Fordham is situated close to the bustling city of Manhattan, we have our own growing, natural paradise just twenty minutes away from the concrete jungle. Seated on Eddie’s expansive green lawn, students have a prime location for watching the world go by and relaxing in one of the most beautiful spots on Fordham’s campus. 

Midterms: Keys to Success

You’re halfway through the semester and it’s going swimmingly so far. However, midterms are approaching and they are stressing you out. No matter how much they are worth towards your final grade for each respective class, midterms are extremely important. Not only do they count a lot towards your grade point average, but they are also an evaluation for how much you have learned so far in the course. Here are some good tips for keeping your composure and making sure you succeed on your exams.

First, you must plan ahead. This means looking at each of your midterms, evaluating how much studying is necessary for your success, and executing your plan. If you have an exam worth 40% of your final grade, it might be a good idea to study a week or two in advance, even if it is just for 30 minutes a day.

You also must try to find a study place that fits the way you learn. If you need quiet, go to the library and find a secluded spot. If you’re comfortable in your dorm room, make sure there are no distractions around to interrupt your studying. If you retain information well in a group sessions, find a partner or a group to study with and make sure to keep your focus the entire time.

Finally, keep a level head and try not to stress. If you put in the work correctly, there is no doubt you will ace your midterms. It may require more effort than you thought, but as long as you stick to your personalized plan you will succeed.