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

NYC: A Food Lover's Paradise

One of the many perks of going to school in New York City is the almost endless options you have when it comes to food. Seriously, think of almost any cuisine and there is probably a restaurant in New York that offers it. During my time at Fordham, I have tried all different kinds of food -- some more traditional (like the delicious, warm, and gooey chocolate chip cookies at Levain Bakery) and some more exotic to my pallet (like having dim sum at a restaurant in Brooklyn's chinatown). 

Fresh-baked cookies from Levain Bakery

The best part is that you often don't even have to go very far to get a taste for all that New York's culinary scene has to offer. Arthur Avenue, which is just off Fordham's Rose Hill campus, has some of the best Italian food in the world. And if you're the type that just likes to stick to the basics like pizza, there are some delicious pizzerias on Arthur Ave and just off campus as well.

So whether you prefer to stick to the basics or love to branch out and try interesting and different foods, New York and Fordham offer it all!

Pizza and garlic knots from University Pizza located on Fordham Road

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.

Ice Skating in NYC

One of my favorite Christmas activities I do every year is ice skate. Whether it be in a small indoor hockey rink or a scenic outdoor skating venue, I always find it exciting to speed around on the ice and avoid falling. There are many places to ice skate all around Manhattan, but here are a few scenic and unforgettable locations you can skate at.

Winter Village at Bryant Park

Bryant Park features one of the few rinks you can skate at totally free of charge (aside from skate rental fees). However, with free admission comes big crowds, so try to get here on a weeknight or towards the end of the season.

Ice Rink at Rockerfeller Center

Arguably the most famous ice rink in New York, Rockerfeller Center boasts a unforgettable atmosphere in a prime location. Since this is probably the most popular rink to skate at for tourists and residents alike, you may have to wait a little while to get on the ice.

Wollman Rink at Central Park

This iconic ice rink is located right near Sixth Avenue and Central Park South. Wollman is one of the most family friendly rinks around, always filled with parents and their children zooming around on the ice. You can't beat the foliage and views from this one!

There are so many places in the city to ice skate, which each one of them sporting their own atmosphere, views, and crowd. Will you be the next person to try all of them?

Fordham FlipSide

Blog by Brendan Batcheller

Fordham Flipside!

Many students arrive at Fordham and immediately want to get involved on campus. Being in New York City, there are endless opportunities to explore and have fun outside of Fordham’s gates as well. The goal of FlipSide is to provide fun opportunities for students to get off campus and experience different events around New York City. 

FlipSide is a programming group that developed to fill a need on campus; many students wanted to attend “classic” New York events such as going to the top of the Empire State Building or going to a Broadway show, but found that these often cost a little too much for a typical college student budget. In order to provide students with opportunities to attend these events, FlipSide needed to form a mission as to how attending these events could benefit students. What we developed was for FlipSide to provide alcohol-alternative programming. 

A typical view from the top of the Empire State Building.

As the current treasurer for FlipSide, my goal is to coordinate with our executive board to plan and organize trips for Friday nights that go into NYC. These events serve as alternatives to attending a party while also making it affordable and easy to plan around going into the city. Some of our upcoming trips for the Spring semester include Knicks and Yankees games, Broadway shows including the Lion King, Aladdin, and Wicked, and our touristy trips including Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, and a Circle Line river cruise of famous NYC landmarks.  

This past Friday, we brought thirty students to the Empire State Building!

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!!! 

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. 

Making the Most of MTV

Whether it's transcribing an interview with a celebrity, sitting in on a podcast taping, or sporting a completely tinsel ensemble for a photo shoot, it's hard to bored as an intern at MTV News.

A typical day starts with the editorial staff meeting at 9:30. I sit at the table and listen as different writers update us on what the big stories are for their sections today. With sections like music, movies, TV, style, politics, and celebrity, there's always a lot going on and a lot to be caught up on from the night before.

My desk at MTV News!

After the meeting, I'll head over to my desk and see if I've been emailed any assignments. Usually, there will be an audio file of an interview waiting for me in my inbox. My task is to transcribe the interview and send it back so the writer will have a written account to pull quotes from for her story. The interviews range in length and content -- the longest one I've transcribed was 54 minutes and took me the ENTIRE work day. However, that's definitely on the longer side because they're typically around 20-30 minutes.

One of my favorites was getting to hear one of the writers interview the two directors of the Amanda Knox documentary. I got a ton of behind the scenes information on what their process was like making the documentary -- a lot of which didn't even end up in the article. So naturally, as soon as the documentary was released on Netflix, I grabbed a blanket, some tea, and watched in awe. Knowing some of the details from the directors prior to watching definitely made the experience more interesting because I knew to pay special attention to certain things.

That's me on the left as a "Tinsel Mammal".

Other than daily office tasks, sometimes I get to assist with non-written projects. The silliest and coolest of which was a photo shoot and interview with musician Helado Negro. My boss emailed me the day before and asked if I would be interested in helping out with a photo shoot the next day from 10-12. It sounded like a great opportunity, so naturally I responded with an enthusiastic yes. Later that day, the producer for the shoot emailed me with details about the project. She said that I would be wearing a tinsel suit and be posing in the background of various photographs.

A truly bizarre yet wonderful experience that
ended up with me looking like this.

This definitely wasn't what I anticipated when I was asked to "help out with a shoot." Regardless, I went into it with an open mind and a smile on my face. The crew for the shoot was super nice and was thrilled that I had volunteered to be one of the Tinsel Mammals. The musician was also incredibly kind and was so grateful that I was part of his creative journey. He also snapped the killer photo of me in the suit.

I think it's safe to say that even if I only end up fact checking and transcribing interviews for the rest of the semester, I already have more than enough stories and experiences to talk about from my first few weeks.

The Gabelli School at Lincoln Center is the perfect place for students to get an excellent education both in the classroom and outside, when they step out into one of the countless F500 firms in Midtown Manhattan. There are numerous internship opportunities, on campus competitions, and events to which Fordham students have access. Here, every interaction is a chance to learn something new, meet someone who has valuable insight and experience, or to explore new career paths. As a junior in the finance major at Gabelli Lincoln Center, I can personally attest to the network it provides.

The biggest advantage of studying finance in New York City is the opportunities that await you right off our campus grounds. Hiring manager look for Fordham students because of their drive, commitment and sensible business background. In tandem with the Fordham Alumni network, the possibilities are endless. Personally, the Fordham network has taken me to J.P. Morgan, where I intern with the Equity Derivatives Billing Group here in New York City. I have been given the privilege of seeing the trading happen live, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, and I've even gotten to sit in meetings across from senior leadership and clients on a regular basis. The internship has truly opened my eyes to the scale and scope of a large bank that I really had to see to believe. I was offered the opportunity to return for the coming semester and continue exploring further! Fordham first gave me the coursework to prepare for the internship, and then it gave me the alumni connections and resources to push myself into having the opportunity to learn within such a prestigious firm and outlook.

 

Finally Fall at Fordham!

Blog by Jane Mackowiak

There is always a moment about a month into the first semester when I walk outside my residence hall and I know it's finally Fall. The air smells crisper and the leaves start to accumulate on the sidewalks during my walks to class. As much as I love spending afternoons on Eddie’s in the hot sun, there is something about Autumn at Fordham that just feels right.

Central Park offers a peaceful escape from the city and a good opportunity to stroll and people watch.

When the temperatures start to drop, campus starts to buzz with excitement. You can see joy radiate from the faces of students wearing their Patagonias for the first time of the season. You feel more alert with all the caffeine from one too many pumpkin spice lattes. On the weekends, you join the migration of students outside the city for apple picking, pumpkin patches, and hayrides.

The trees change color and make Keating look even more gorgeous in the Fall

The excitement of the season cannot be ignored when you are in such a beautiful place like Fordham. The changing colors of the leaves and the sun beaming through the trees just can't be beat. When you're here, the thrill of sweater weather is infectious!

Behind the Scenes of New Student Orientation: Preparing to Welcome Our New Baby Rams

Blog by Kaitlyn Powers

Me and my Orientation partner Jake ready to give out some hugs!

As I walk through campus for the first time on a scorching late August afternoon, I take in the view and sounds that I haven’t seen for three whole months: a green, lush Eddie’s, waiting to be sprawled on by its students, a magnificent Keating standing tall and proud just like in all the brochures, and the sound of pre-season football training coming from Coffey field. I smile and, for the millionth time that day, I’m reminded of how excited I am to be back to Fordham for the year. In the back of my mind is the reason for my early arrival: to get ready to welcome the incoming students to their new home.

Since my sophomore year, I have been a leader for New Student Orientation, Fordham’s official welcoming process for acclimating freshmen to campus and all things college. During the week before Orientation officially begins, I, along with almost 200 of my fellow students, prepare to welcome the incoming freshmen class, going through various training and community activities that bond us as a team and prepare us to be the best possible resources for new students. By listening to and engaging in presentations about topics like the Fordham Core curriculum, public safety, extracurricular and academic involvement opportunities, multicultural issues, mental health awareness, and career services offerings, we as Orientation leaders are able to refresh our knowledge about Fordham to ensure that we are capable and informative guides, mentors, and friends for our new fellow Rams.

My wonderful Orientation training team at our annual Olympics! Go Gray Team

The part of Orientation training that excites me most, however, is the new family I create with each new year I take part in the program; the team of 200 is separated into training teams of about ten people each and, over the course of the week, this team becomes a new family. We not only prepare to welcome the freshmen as a team, but also build each other up to be the best leaders we can be. We compete in trivia nights, dress up for formal, have dance competitions with other training teams, and participate in an Olympic tournament at the end of the week to show our pride for Fordham and our mounting excitement for the freshmen to arrive. It is one of the best events I have taken part in while attending Fordham, and something that has introduced me to some of the most compassionate, intelligent, and selfless people at this school that I never would have met otherwise.

Me and my Orientation training team on Move-In Day, ready to move in the new Rams!!! 

Flash forward to Move-In Day: it’s 5:15 in the morning. My roommate and I have snoozed our alarms 3 times so far. We roll out of bed, groggy and confused as to why it’s still dark out. One minute later, we remember why we are awake at this ungodly hour: to move in our new freshmen. We throw on our Orientation shirts, walk out of our apartment, and walk towards the rest of our 200-person family, half awake and ready to carry box after box up flights of stairs for the class of 2020. One large cup of coffee and a donut later, I am ready. At 7am, my Orientation training team walks to the building we are moving in that day and waits for the first car to pull up, dancing to the music blasting from the speakers around campus. At 7:12am, our newest Ram and her family arrive. We give her our loudest welcome, open her car, and I pick up my first box of the day. I smile, and remember how happy I am to be home.