Dodransbicen-what? Fordham Celebrates 175 Years!

2017 marks the 175th year of Fordham University's existence; in other words, Fordham celebrates its Dodransbicentennial! Everyone is in on the celebrations with the university providing students and staff with a year of special events, programs, and exhibits that highlight Fordham's history and influence as the Jesuit University of New York.

Even the Empire State Building showed its colors for Fordham last night in honor of the 175th anniversary!

Here's to another 175 years, Fordham! So that would be a... Semiseptcentennial? Have fun trying to say that in speeches! 

Views: The Empire State Building

View of the ESB from the Flatiron Building.

There is no better symbol to represent New York City than one of the tallest buildings making up the skyline itself: the Empire State Building. People come from all over to both see the Empire State Building from below and climb it to see the view of Manhattan from 102 stories. When you're a Fordham student, there's no shortage on amount of times you'll get to see the Empire State Building, but it heeds the same amazing feeling each time - and from each place!

View of the ESB from MSG - unreal.

The Flatiron District, located surrounding 23rd Street, is home to Shake Shack, Argo Tea, and the Flatiron Building itself.  But, it also provides a stellar view of the Empire State Building.  Eating your Shake Shack while gazing up at one of the most famous buildings in the world is an experience that never gets old.

One of New York's other major selling points is Madison Square Garden, home to so many performances over the years by Billy Joel, Radiohead, Justin Bieber... pretty much anyone you can name! Going to a concert or a Ranger game at Madison Square Garden is somewhat of a right of passage for living in New York, and the view that hits you as soon as you exit a Madison Square Garden event is unparalleled.

There are so many other great places to see the Empire State Building, whether up close or far away, but my personal favorite view will always be from right here in O'Hare Hall on the Rose Hill Campus.  I always have to take a moment when I walk by the 5th Floor Lounge to appreciate how lucky I am to go to Fordham, so close to so much opportunity.

NYC view from O'Hare Hall at Fordham Rose Hill.

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

Rose Hill & Lincoln Center: Making the Best of Both Worlds

Fordham University is comprised of two undergraduate campuses: one at Rose Hill in the Bronx, and one at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Taking classes at two very different campuses may seem like a daunting task, but Fordham makes it quite easy by providing students with transportation through its Ram Vans.

Ram Van at the Lincoln Center campus

Students have access to both campuses thanks to the Ram Van service. Ram Vans run between both campuses every half hour. Seats for each Ram Van can be reserved online ahead of time. One can purchase tickets for the Ram Van at both campuses: in the front lobby at Lincoln Center, and in the Ram Van office next to O'Hare Hall at Rose Hill. However, if you are registered for a class at either campus, you will receive two free Ram Van passes for each day that you have class.

As a New Media & Digital Design major, most of my classes are based out of Lincoln Center's campus. Thanks to the Ram Van service, it is possible for me to live on the Rose Hill campus while also fulfilling my course requirements at the Lincoln Center campus.

Ram Van at Rose Hill

Ram Vans are not only for students taking classes. They are also an easy and relatively cheap way to get into Manhattan. A Ram Van ticket will run you $3, which is only a little more than a subway ticket and significantly cheaper than a Metro North ticket! Ram Vans make it possible for students based out of Lincoln Center to catch a football game on the Rose Hill campus, and for students based out of Rose Hill to see a performance at the Lincoln Center campus. Because of the Ram Van, Fordham students really do get the best of both worlds. 

Campus Involvement: Celebrating Ignatian Week as a Resident Assistant

             One of my favorite parts about being a Resident Assistant at Fordham is getting to plan programs for my residents.  This week, I am hosting a talk given by Mrs. Carol Gibney, the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry for Faith Formation and Sacraments at Rose Hill.  Mrs. Gibney will be coming to my Residence Hall for dinner and a discussion about the life of Saint Ignatius.  She will also be leading a guided meditation and speaking about ways to live out Ignatian teaching as a college student.  This program is a timely event, since Ignatian week begins this Sunday, on October 30th, and lasts until November 7th.  

Fordham's Campus Ministry Staff

         As a Jesuit university, it is important to know about the history of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) in order to grow in our tradition and celebrate our history. 

Ignatian Week Schedule, Rose Hill, 2016

This Igatian week will be even more special, because this year is Fordham’s 175^th anniversary.  The weeklong celebration, held by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities will include a students vs. Jesuits softball game, Opening Mass, Habitat for Humanity Build, and many dinners and discussions with members of the Fordham community, including Father McShane.  As a Resident Assistant and member of the Fordham community, I am excited to participate in the Ignatian Week activities, and teach my residents more about Fordham’s history and Jesuit heritage. 

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.