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

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.

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!