Finals Study Breaks both On and Off Campus

Despite the stress with studying for finals kicking in during this time of year, both Fordham and the city itself have been so consistent in offering great ways to take some breaks during this intense time of studying. At Fordham, we have a couple of days after our designated last day of class, which was on December 10th, that are called reading days. Basically on reading days, we spend as much time preparing and studying for the coming of finals and although I spent a majority of my time studying for finals, which was incredibly long and stressful, I still had a great weekend to look forward to in the city and on campus! On Friday, I managed to score some tickets to a taping of Live with Kelly and Michael and went with a couple of my good friends. Although we went primarily to see Idina Menzel, who was promoting her Christmas album on the show, we were surprised when they let us stay for a second show that was being pre-taped for the holidays with Nick Jonas and Sting! We even got some rehearsal footage of Sting’s performance before the actual taping, and I had some serious goosebumps from when he sang a song from his newest Broadway show “The Last Ship.” It also didn’t hurt that Idina Menzel gave us a little wave when we cheered for her during a commercial break. :) 

Some pics I took of Kelly and Michael interviewing Idina Menzel and Nick Jonas as well as a pic of Idina Menzel getting touched up before singing a song off of her new Holiday Wishes album. We had pretty great seats!

I also found it so interesting to see the behind the scenes action that goes on during these live tapings. Seeing Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan go around the studio and interact with the audience during commercial breaks was something I never realized they could do. They were incredibly gracious, took some pics with fans, and were so funny and down to earth with their interactions with us. 

Kelly Ripa at a commercial break. She was equally as charismatic off camera as she was on!

It wasn’t too much fun waiting in the cold, but with good company and a fun experience at a TV show taping, it was definitely all worth it in the end.

With two of my good friends who are also huge Idina Menzel fans. Waiting in the cold was so much better with good company!

Sunday was the beautiful celebration of Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, and I had the honor of being able to participate in two choirs at the 11:00am and 7:00pm masses. Seeing the church filled that day made mass seem so special, everything from the way the candles were set up in the church to seeing everyone light their candles in a solemn procession was so breath-taking and made me appreciate just how despite this stressful time, we can all join together to celebrate the coming of Christmas. After mass, we celebrated the lighting of the Christmas tree, which made me so ready for Christmas to come around. It’s the little things that Fordham does to bring a community together and to lift each other’s spirits up during a stressful time in every college student’s life that make me so grateful to go here. I wish everyone else the best of luck on their finals, a Merry Christmas and safe travels back home as well!

Fordham doing Christmas right. Picture is the University Church and the Christmas tree that was lit during Gaudete Sunday.

Weekend Update

Nicole Chiuchiolo

Finals week can be stressful, and sometimes you just need to get away from all the studying and do something fun. This weekend, I had the opportunity to do something both fun and productive! A few of my friends and I visited the Hayden Planetarium in New York City as an extra credit assignment for our astronomy class. It was an amazing experience, all of the exhibits were completely relevant to what we learned in class. The best part is that we were back to campus in time for dinner… and more studying. A visit to the planetarium was exactly what we needed to recharge!

My friend and me on our way into the awesome exhibit

Marisa Diaz

My weekend was filled with studying for finals, which start today. However, as a break from studying for finals, my roommates and I did Secret Santa to celebrate the holidays!

My roommates and me relaxing before finals

Nicole Cruz

On Sunday, I went to Madison Square Garden to watch the Men's basketball team take on St. John's. It was so much fun getting to see the Rams play at such a famous venue. We even got to see a few New York Knick players warming up after the game!

The Rams warming up before the game

Weekend Update

It's easy to see why students love Fordham during the holidays!

Linda Mule

The buzz is back on campus! After students departed as early as the Monday before Thanksgiving, Fordham's campus is back to being the fast paced and upbeat campus we know and love. The only difference? The huge wreathes and holiday decor which adorn buildings around campus! The holiday season is upon us at Fordham, with everything planned from a holiday fair with free sign ups to go ice skating in the city, Hanukkah celebrations, and Christmas carols! This is a magical time of year, and students are happier than ever to be back home for the holidays, their Fordham home. 

Just some of the miniature New York landmarks

Shannon Donovan

The New York Botanical Garden is right across the street from the main entrance to Fordham.  Every year they have a Holiday Train Show, featuring model trains on a track that runs through a miniature city.  The replicas of popular buildings and landmarks are made of natural materials like bark and leaves.  It is a holiday must!

One of the hundreds of dolls in the NYC store

Kate Callahan

This weekend my parents came to watch me perform with the University Choir in the Annual festival of Lessons and Carols.  Alumni, students, families, and visitors come from all over to see the show, and for many of them it marks the start of the holiday season.  During some downtime, my mom and I walked down 5^th Avenue to check out the window displays at Saks and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  We stopped at the American Girl Place along the way to see some of my favorite toys from when I was a little kid.  The (window) shopping and concert really helped me get into the spirit!

The Gabelli School of Business Wishes You a Merry Christmas

The Invitation to the Party

 Each year, Dean Rapaccioli, the Dean of the Gabelli School of Business, invites all of the business students and faculty to a Christmas party. As a business student, I look forward to this Christmas party each year. Although it's not a large affair, there is always good food and pleasant Christmas carols to put us in the spirit of Christmas. Moreover, it's a really nice way for the business students and faculty to get together and celebrate the Christmas season. All of the class deans, a large portion of the faculty, and most of the business students make sure to make it over to Hughes Hall for this annual party. 

This year, we were surprised by an addition to the annual party. Rather than simply listen to recorded Christmas music, Dean Rapaccioli invited the University Choir to sing Christmas carols at the party. Dean Rapaccioli herself even made requests and got the whole Business School to join in to sing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" together. Fordham students always seem to be so busy since we are involved in so many clubs, internships, and activities, but it was nice that so many people in the Business School took time out of their day to come together for this party. Moreover, I will never forget singing Christmas carols with my class deans and professors. Not everyone had a beautiful voice, but all sang proudly because at Fordham, we are truly a RAMily.

Our Christmas Tree

Some Christmas Carolers Came to Sing

It's Christmas time in the City

It's that time of year again - Christmas at Fordham!  Here at our Rose Hill campus, there are so many different ways to get into the holiday spirit. Here's a list of how the Fordham community is celebrating the holidays and giving thanks for our #Ramily this season.

Peer Educators is an on-campus group
that provides festivities for health and good cheer!

1. Holiday Fair

Every year, Fordham's Campus Activities Board puts on a Holiday Fair where students can take pictures with Santa and his elves, share some free treats, and even do a little gift-shopping.  This year, I helped table for Fashion for Philanthropy selling Candy-Cane Grams and painting festive nails - all proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Students look forward to seeing the horse-drawn sleigh that rides throughout campus for several hours during class-time the day of the fair.  I remember the first time I saw the sleigh, I could not believe my eyes - it was a Christmas miracle!

Even the rain and gray skies can't stop the annual horse and carriage rides!

2. Volunteering

What better way to truly keep the joy in the Christmas season than to give back to the community?  Every year, Fordham sponsors toy/food/coat drives for those who are in most need during the chilly season.  I have already received so many emails about different different drives occurring on campus.  I think this not only retains the true value of the season, but also highlight's Fordham's Jesuit mission of men and women for others.  

My residence hall, Walsh, is having it's own Toy and Coat drive,
sponsored by the Residence Hall Association.

3. Arthur Avenue's "Little Italy"

Student's who are in need of a home-cooked hearty holiday meal will venture to Arthur Avenue, the "Little Italy" section of the Bronx.  Arthur Avenue is a tight-knit community with its own unique charm that is a mixture of the old and the new - it still has most of its original storefronts that have been passed down from generation to generation, while also attracting students, families, and tourists alike who want the best Italian food in NYC!  Also, every year, the Belmont community (where Arthur Ave is situated) has their own tree lighting and caroling that always is sure to put a smile on any passer-by's face!  I always look forward to having a Christmas dinner with friends to unwind during finals and prep for the next semester. 

Annual lights on Arthur Avenue to welcome all who visit!

4. NYC

Or if you want to experience some of the magic of Manhattan that occurs during this time, Fordham LC is just a quick 30 minute Ram Van ride away!  This will take students right to Columbus Circle where there are holiday lights that are like magic at each change of color.  This sophisticated yet quaint area of the NYC is sure to bring the Christmas spirit to full force with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts just a short distance away where holiday-enthusiasts can see the Nutcracker!

These are just a few ways to partake in the holiday cheer, which there is certainly an abundance of here at Fordham.  Happy holidays to all!

Christmas in McGinley

Some friends and I with Fordham's very own Santa

Today, Fordham's Campus Activities Board (better known as CAB) kicked off the holiday season with its annual Holiday Fair! The second floor of McGinley was magically transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with snow, candy canes, Santa, and even two elves à la Zooey Deschanel. Stations for making cups of good hot chocolatey holiday cheer and ginger bread men were offered to students for free, as were pictures taken with Santa. There were also a number of stalls dedicated to fundraising for groups such as Circle K, Walk for Life, and many Global Outreach projects.

Ugly Christmas sweaters!

While some offered items such as koozies, lanyards, and homemade jewelry, most stuck to the Christmas theme. There were stands where you could buy miniature Christmas trees, decorate ornaments, or pie Scrooge in the face. My favorite by far was (of course) my own stand which sold ugly Christmas sweaters as part of a fundraiser for GO! Glenmary. After weeks of gathering together our best Salvation Army finds, my teammates and I haggled with fellow Rams over the prices of our most atrocious pieces. In the end, we sold all and made a bundle to be put forward for our service trip's funding.

Such is an example of just one of the many events Fordham has to offer during the Christmas season. Whether you are looking to craft some decorations, support service teams, donate to the Coat Drive, or just in general spread the season's cheer, Fordham has the event for you! December is a great month to be a Ram as there is always something to do.

Weekend Update: Thanksgiving Edition

Sara Power

Unfortunately I was not really home for the holidays; however, I definitely made up for it throughout my Sunday! I spent the morning picking out a tree with my family and then travelling back to the Bronx, where my roommate and I got into the Christmas spirit! We've filled our apartment with ivy, holly, cinnamon sticks, bows, miniature trees, you name it! These rams are ready to spread some Yuletide cheer as is the rest of campus, which is currently wrapped up like a present. Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but Fordham has a particularly infectious holiday spirit that is sure to get every student excited!

Even a little Christmas tree can spread a lot of cheer!

Allison Misciagno-Bergin

This weekend, my friends and I hosted "friends-giving" in our apartment. We cooked all sorts of delicious thanksgiving food: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and more. We also made custom appetizers with ingredients from our favorite Arthur Ave stores like Casa de la Mozzarella. Overall a great time spent celebrating with friends.

Some of our delicious Friends-giving food!

Deirdre Hynes

I spent the holiday weekend in New Jersey with family, enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, quality time with my little cousins, and some free time before the last few busy weeks of the semester!

You're never too old for arts and crafts!

Holiday Season: Campus Ministry Edition

Campus Ministry is always planning something, and that especially holds true now that the holidays are coming up!  Over the past month there has been a Thanksgiving Food Drive collecting all nonperishable, canned, and baby foods as well as monetary donations.  The drop-off locations included the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses, making it convenient for all Fordham students to participate.  Countless donations were collected to help provide for our neighbors and friends in need this holiday season.

Keating Hall in the snow

Now that Advent is around the corner, kicking off right after we return from Thanksgiving break, those programs are getting planned as well.  On December 3rd at 8pm there will be a Praise and Worship Advent Special, and the following night at 5:15pm there will be an Advent Reconciliation Service.  For students interested in retreats, there will be an Advent Mini-Retreat on December 7th from 10am-2:30pm.  This will be followed by a Fordham favorite, Lessons and Carols at 3pm in the University Church.  (The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.)  Also, the annual Campus Ministry Holiday Party will take place on December 10th at 5:30pm in the Ignatius Room.

University Church decorated for Christmas

Starting tomorrow, November 24th, there will be Holiday Coat and Toy Drives through December 17th.  They will be accepting donations of clean and gently used coats, gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, and boots in good condition.  The three campuses will also be collecting new unwrapped toys appropriate for children ages newborn to teenager, and each campus will be donating to a different cause.  Toys collected at Rose Hill will be distributed by Fordham Big Brothers and Big Sisters to our local community partners.  Donations from Lincoln Center will benefit Hour Children, and those from Westchester will be given to the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center.  There are endless ways to get involved and help out during the holidays at Fordham!

Nativity Scene by the entrance to campus

Fordham Takes a Break

The fall semester at Fordham has come to a close. Students have finished their rigorous final exams and have returned home, ready to sleep in, enjoy their mother's home cooking, and catch up with their high school friends. After a busy semester of thesis writing and interning at a publishing company in the city, I am thankful to be sitting here on the couch next to my snoozing beagle with nothing to do.

For the holidays, you can't beat home sweet home!

My roommates and I at a football game!

As grateful as I am to have some time to relax with my family, I can't believe how fast the semester went by. There were so many exciting things happening at Fordham this fall. Fordham's record-setting football team ended its season at 11-1. Student applications to Fordham's Lincoln Center campus were up 85% from last year, perhaps in anticipation of the new dorms being built there, or because of the new Gabelli School of Business program that will debut in 2014. Of course, we can't forget about the delicious new options available at Rose Hill this year, like Cosi and Panda Express!

The E-Board at our RHS Holiday party!

Now I'm officially a second-semester senior, and I can't wait to see what my last spring at Fordham has in store for me and for the rest of my RHS bloggers. We will return to campus, and to blogging, on January 13th. On behalf of the Executive Board, I wish you all the best of luck with your regular decision applications (due January 1) and hope that you and your families are happy and healthy this holiday season!

It's Christmas Time in the City

Halfway through December, Fordham is preparing for Christmas. The campus is decorated with lights, wreaths, nativity scenes, and even a nice fluffy layer of snow now! Walking around my dorm, I hear Christmas tunes playing in almost every hall, and many students have decorated their rooms for Christmas. My dorm even had a screening of Elf to get us into the Christmas spirit. Most appreciated, however, was the tin of fantastic cookies that my RA gave to everyone in my hall! Everywhere I walk, I see and hear that Christmas is on its way.

This nativity scene greets Fordham's guests at the main entrance!

While we have had a couple of light snow dustings already, today was the first real snowfall of the year. When I went to my accounting final this morning, it was just starting to snow, but when I walked outside after my final, I saw that the campus was covered in snow. Since I knew that once I got back to my dorm, I would not want to go outside again, I decided to walk over to Cosi to get a lunch that would warm me up. Although I was cold on my walk over to Cosi, it was well worth the walk because I got some hot tomato basil soup and a sandwich, which quickly warmed me up.

The first real snowfall!

While I can't wait for finals to be done so that I can go home and relax until next semester, New York City is an exciting place to be during the Christmas season since there are so many things to do. A few weeks ago, I went with some friends to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. We didn't even have to pay to see the show because we got free tickets through our dorm! Tomorrow, I am going ice skating in Bryant Park. I specifically brought my ice skates this year just so that I could go ice skating before Christmas!

We went to see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall!

With one more final left, I am ready to be done with this semester, but I will also be sad to go because the Christmas season is my favorite time to be at Fordham. I love how festive the campus becomes, and I love all of the fun things there are to do in the city. Being here makes me appreciate the song "Silver Bells," and what Christmas time in the city means. Having experienced it at Fordham, I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Festival of Lessons and Carols

Every December, many members of the Fordham community attend the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols as part of their unofficial start to the Christmas season. Taking place one weekend each year with performances at St. Paul's Church (across the street from Fordham's Lincoln Center campus) on Saturday and in the University Church on Sunday, this event kicks off the Christmas season with music and reflection.

University Church on Sunday, December 8th for this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols

People filled the pews and stood in the aisles of the beautifully decorated University Church to experience this year's Festival of Lessons and Carols. Fordham's University Choir and Women's Choir each perform a multitude of songs, impressing attendees with their beautiful renditions of traditional holiday carols and other musical pieces. Readings and reflections allowed the community to embrace the spirit of the season.

It was a wonderful way to start the Christmas season at Fordham!

Christmas Spectacular

It's that time of year again! The trees are sparkling with Christmas lights and the city is painted red and green. A major tell tale sign of the holiday season is when the Rockettes kick off the season with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Located at the iconic Radio City Music Hall, the Christmas Spectacular is the perfect way to get anyone into the holiday spirit. 

Needing a boost before the start of finals, my friends and I hopped on the Metro North and spent the evening with the Rockettes and Santa. The theme of this years show is full of high spirited song and dance numbers with a modern day technology twist. Through the lens of 3D glasses the audience watches as a mother and daughter learn the meaning of Christmas through a virtual video game complete with flying elves and high kicking Rockettes. If you've seen the show before, you'll notice a change in story line as well as all the crowd favorites. 

Nothing makes you feel more like a child than a show with dancing toys and Santa narrating the true meaning of Christmas to the audience. The show is also located just outside Rockefeller Center where the tree can be seen standing and ready to be lit. The area is also decorated to the brim with dancing light shows and wreaths galore. 

Whether you're looking to get into the holiday spirit, take a break from the textbooks, or visit a childhood memory, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the perfect way to do that. So put on your ugliest Christmas sweater, grab a few friends and go have a spectacular evening in the City! 

Weekend Update: 'Tis the Season!

Happy December! The weather is getting colder and final exams are approaching, but that can't stop the cheerfulness in the air. It is the holiday season, and last week Fordham students headed home - or stayed in the area - to celebrate Thanksgiving. This is a great time to catch up with your high school friends, do holiday activities with your family, and of course, eat lots of pumpkin pie. Let's check in with a few our contributors for this Monday's Weekend Update. We'll be hearing from Madeline, Jessica, and Emma - thanks guys!

Madeline

Like most Fordham students, I enjoyed a long Thanksgiving weekend home with my family. I took the train home to Connecticut and then spent Thanksgiving day in Long Island visiting family. On Black Friday, I made it back to NYC to celebrate Christmas with the Radio City Rockettes! The show really got me in the holiday spirit but now I have to buckle down for the last week of classes and finals before Christmas break.

Jessica

I spent this past week at home (the first time since August) celebrating the holiday near Cleveland, OH. My weekend focused on football. On Friday, I spent time with some friends from high school, and we watched our alma mater (Kirtland High School) win a playoff game and advance to the state championship round. On Saturday, as I watched Ohio State beat its biggest rival Michigan on TV, I continually checked the score of the Fordham game.

Emma

I went home for Thanksgiving break and enjoyed some holiday preparations with my family! As you can see in the picture, I went to pick out my Christmas tree with my family. We went to a tree farm in Princeton, New Jersey!

Well, there you have it! There's a lot going on at Fordham and at home. Have a good week, everyone!

Christmas Season at Bryant Park!!

Last weekend I went to Bryant Park with a couple of friends to go ice skating and get into the holiday spirit!  From Fordham Rose Hill it’s a simple Metro North straight to Grand Central and then a five-minute walk to the park (assuming you go the right way). We were all so caught up in our excitement that we just starting walking in a random direction. But we soon got back on track after a minor detour through the equally spirited shops on Fifth Ave.

It seems that everywhere you look in the city this time of year is decked to the halls with Christmas decorations. But one of my favorite places for Christmas is Bryant Park. If you do ever go to Bryant, you’ll understand right away. Because as you take one step into Bryant Park, you feel as if you rode a reindeer straight to the Winter Wonderland of the North Pole!  Before we went ice skating, we walked around the shops and saw all of the interesting items for sale. They ranged from everything between herbal teas to necklaces and “Man Cave” signs (which I was seriously considering buying for my dorm.) Along with the stores, there are also food huts. At these, you can get your chocolate fill with a Chocolate Syringe from Max Brenner’s or warm up with some delicious homemade chili.  My personal favorite is the Sweet Potato Chipotle Chili! 

Bryant Park ice rink

Now onto ice skating... this was the first time I had been ice-skating since last year, so I definitely needed to blow the dust of my skates, to say the least.  When I was stepped onto the slippery surface, I could feel my legs shaking in fright at the thought of hitting the ice face first; however, throughout our hour of skating I managed to stay on two skates the whole time! At one point I came dangerously close to falling and grabbed onto a stranger who completely understood where I was coming from. We became instantly bonded in the fight to stay alive! The second time I almost fell, I was attempting to help a kid back onto his feet.  The ice had just been zambonied, so it was even slippery than normal ice. We had just stepped back onto the ice when he wiped out right in front of me. I somehow managed to stop in time and not cut through him with my skates (that would've definitely put a damper on the night.) As I tried to pull him up, I joined him with my butt on the ice and skates in the air.  Now I was determined to help him up, but try as I might we both kept slipping. Luckily, one of  my friends was next to me and helped put him back on his feet. The kid thanked us and went right back to skating around the wonderful rink, falling every couple of circuits.   
   

Trying to take a picture on the ice 

After skating, we decided to look around the shops again before heading back up to Fordham. Now, it was dark and so cold that we could see our breath.  It all just added even more to magic of the Park! At this point I really felt the Christmas spirit and couldn't wait for the holiday season to really take off. As I looked around, it seemed that everyone was feeling the same way. I guess Christmas in NYC can take the biggest Bah Humbugs and turn them into jolly Christmas Elves!  However, as we left, I noticed one thing the park was missing... singing! Cause according to the philosophy of Buddy the Elf: “the best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear!!” 29 days until Christmas!! 

All of us right before stepping onto the ice