Rams See the Stars! My trip to the Museum of Natural History and Central Park

Since Fordham's Lincoln Center campus is in Manhattan, and its Rose Hill campus is 20 minutes away from Manhattan by train, Fordham students have total access to New York City for fun activities, school projects, service trips, jobs, and internships. When taking classes at both Fordham campuses, it is very common to get opportunities to visit museums and other places in the city for class assignments. Today, I spent the day in the Upper West Side of Manhattan at the Museum of Natural History, and Central Park! My roommate is taking an astronomy class at Fordham College at Rose Hill, and one of her assignments for the semester was to visit the planetarium at the Museum of Natural History. Since I love museums and going into the city, I decided to tag along!

Getting to the museum was very easy, thanks to the trusty Fordham Ram Van shuttle service. The Ram Van transports students from Fordham's Rose Hill campus to its Lincoln Center campus. Since I live on the Rose Hill campus, the Ram Van made it very easy to get to the Museum of Natural History on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The planetarium was very exciting. My roommate was very excited to take the knowledge she learned from her astronomy class, and use it to better understand the exhibits at the museum. Getting homework done is never a chore when the assignment involves taking a trip to Manhattan! 

A sculpture of the Moon at the planetarium

After we were done visiting the planetarium, my roommate and I walked back to Fordham's Lincoln Center campus to catch the Ram Van back to our dorm on Rose Hill. On our way there, we passed through Central Park. It was a beautiful day, and we really enjoyed sitting in the park and walking through Lincoln Center! The classes at Fordham really motivate and encourage students to explore the city, and to use their classroom knowledge in actual places throughout New York. As a current sophomore at Fordham University, I can truly say: Fordham is our school, and New York is our campus.

Central Park is always a beautiful spot for a walk!

This is my last blog of the school year! I really enjoyed my first year as a Fordham student blogger, and I cannot wait to get back in the saddle next year for more blog entries! Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned for next semester! 

Do We Go to the Met? You Bet!

One of the greatest parts about attending Fordham University is going on adventures to Manhattan. This weekend, my roommate and I decided to go to one of our favorite New York City hotspots: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. My roommate had to complete a scavenger hunt in the museum for one of her history classes, so we used this scavenger hunt as a way to explore the Met on a whole new level. 

One of the many rooms in the Met that had artwork
based on ancient Greek culture 

The museum is very large, so it was impossible to see the entire building in one day. However, my roommate knew exactly where to go for her scavenger hunt because of what she learned in her history class at Fordham. Because of her knowledge of ancient Greek history, we got to see all of the fascinating Greek statues and artwork that the Met had to offer. I cannot wait to visit the Met again, so that I can see another one of the many types of art that the museum houses.

The statues in this part of the Met were so majestic! 

Many of Fordham's history, philosophy, and theology classes have assignments that require students to visit a museum or a place in Manahattan for an assignment. Like my roommate's Greek history class, Fordham classes allow students to explore our wonderful campus: New York City. I am so glad that Fordham encourages students to adventure to different places in New York City. The city really is our campus, and we are able to learn and experience so much because we live right in the middle of it. 

This is a picture of me in the Met, ready to live by Fordham's
mantra and explore my New York City campus

Fordham Famou$

Cameras outside Dealy!

You probably hear it all the time. And, if you’ve visited campus at least once, you’ll know exactly how true it is: Fordham is beautiful. Beautiful. There isn’t a single season that fails to show off Fordham’s impeccable architecture, beautiful landscaping, and energetic atmosphere. Whether the campus is covered in snow in the winter or blooming with bright colors in the spring, you feel like you’re walking through a storybook.

Currently, as the leaves change from green to red and yellow, we feel like we’re walking not through storybooks, but instead, through… movie sets?

Casually walking through a movie set.

Over the past few weeks, Fordham’s been taken over by cameras and production people. If you’re familiar with Rose Hill’s presence on the screen, you’re already well-aware of the fact that this campus has been featured in movies like “The Exorcist” and “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”, shows like “White Collar” and "Saturday Night Live”, and even the music video for “What’s Luv?” (Fat Joe ft. Ashanti).

Props table!

Currently, the new CBS show “Madame Secretary” also found a home here at Rose Hill. It’s amazing walking out of class and feeling like I’m suddenly on a Hollywood sound-stage. The filming takes place right in the middle of campus; I can literally walk through a set amidst beautifully-dressed actors and extras on my way to class!

Walking filming from our apartment windows!

Aside from “Madame Secretary”, there are numerous other productions being filmed on campus. Just the other week, we spent an hour hanging out at Keating, watching a protest scene being filmed. Later that day, we watched extras dressed in ‘70’s apparel playing a soccer game – I was surprised at how many takes it took before the directors were happy with the shot.

I Promise-- NY Really IS Your Campus

You’ve probably heard the slogan “Fordham is my school, New York is my campus.” It's simple and to the point, but it can be hard to understand what that phrase means in practice. I, for example, thought it meant that we went to a lot of museums and shows in the city for class and recreation. We do service in the city, explore the city, and figure out its secrets. This semester, however, I am gaining a deeper appreciation for what my "campus" can offer me.

The New-York Historical Society on Central Park West

The castle-like American Museum of Natural History is
just across from the NYHS (and Shake Shack!)

 My early American material culture class meets weekly at the New-York Historical Society. Founded in 1804, the impressive building sits on some great real estate. It is on the Upper West Side, facing Central Park and beside the American Museum of Natural History (do I have any secret Night at the Museum fans?). It is a block from Shake Shack (New York’s equivalent to In ‘n’ Out with even better shakes) and a short walk from bakeries, clothing stores, restaurants, and even a Trader Joe's (which will become more exciting when you are in college and cook for yourself).

At Fordham Lincoln Center to catch my
evening Ram Van back to Rose Hill

The NYHS is a museum and a library devoted to the history of New York, which is also the history of America. New York has been inhabited for over 450 years and is rich in the period my small seminar class is examining, early America. A material culture class focuses on objects as a way to understand the people who created them, traded them, bought them, and used them. You’d be surprised to know how little we actually know about colonists, including the number of female traders, the fact that we imported china in the 1700s, and a fashionably designed house was more important than a big house for more than a century. Our class is using items from the museum and our professor’s collection as a launching point for class discussion ranging from the quotidian (witch’s lantern, candle mold) to the refined (solid silver spoons, two-toned teacups).

Class is easy to get to from Rose Hill, with free Ram Van passes to and from Lincoln Center. In good weather, I can stroll through Central Park to class. In bad weather, I can hop on the subway, which the history department has been kind enough to subsidize for us. For me, it's a great excuse to get into the city in the middle of my school day. It might be the same for you, in a couple of years!

Sunday Mass at Fordham (and in the city)!

One of the primary reasons I choose Fordham University, the Jesuit University of New York, was its Jesuit mission. While Fordham is welcoming to people of all faiths, it is important to recognize our unique Jesuit, Ignatian identity and Catholic faith. 

The University Church

As a child who grew up attending mass every Sunday, participating in weekly mass has become second nature. Fordham Campus Ministry offers so many means for students to become involved in the spiritual atmosphere at Fordham including, but definitely not limited to, Christian Life Communities, Ignatian Programs, Interfaith Ministry, Liturgical Ministries, Music Ministry, Retreats, Bible Study and of course daily masses.

When I came to Fordham I decided I wanted to become more involved during masses so I decided to become a Eucharistic Minister. Now, as a junior, I continue to serve at Sunday masses and masses on special occasions. When I serve as a Eucharistic Minister I feel a strong connection with the Fordham and Jesuit community, and I am able to reflect on my values and beliefs. I would strongly encourage anyone who is invested in his/her faith to take part in Fordham’s Campus Ministry Program and mass in some way.

Inside the University Church

With that said, I also love attending masses at different parishes to broaden my perspective. While Fordham has its own beautiful church, being so close to the city also allows one to go out and explore other parishes and churches, such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This past weekend I was in the city with friends. We spent the day shopping and dinning. However, we decided to try something different and, in fact, went to mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The cathedral is absolutely stunning and to be able to celebrate a mass there was unreal. There were people from all over the world visiting and professing the same faith; it amazed me!

St. Patrick's Cathedral 

While walking out of St. Patrick’s I took special note of the stained glass windows. The stained glass windows in Fordham’s church were originally gifts from King Louis of France to Archbishop Hughes and were intended for the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral. However, when they did not fit, Fordham built a church that would fit these windows. So, the next time you are in the Fordham University Church, take a look! 

The University Church was dedicated to Archbishop John Hughes in 1845

Concerts and Performances in NYC

We got a good spot for Grouplove at Rumsey Playfield!

One of my favorite things about living in New York City is having the opportunity to see endless concerts, shows and performances! My friends and I try to attend as many concerts in this city as we can. Some of the most famous stages in the country are in New York, from Webster Hall to Madison Square Garden. Last week, my friends and I saw Grouplove and Portugal. The Man in concert. The venue was at Rumsey Playfield in the middle of Central Park. The beautiful New York skyline in the background made this concert even more awesome.

This weekend was the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. In order to win free tickets, you had to help raise awareness for extreme poverty around the world on the Global Citizen website. A lot of my friends won these free tickets and got to attend the festival, which was amazing! Performers such as No Doubt, Fun., Carrie Underwood and The Roots were featured live at the festival. Jay-Z headlined, and Beyonce also made a surprise appearance! According to my friends, the experience of singing along to “Empire State of Mind” with Jay-Z in the middle of Central Park was unmatched.

My friend, sophomore Habin Lee, got this awesome panorama of the festival!

Cold War Kids performing right on campus!

New York is one of the music capitals of the world, and it is often one of the highlights of the performer’s tour. Other performers my friends have seen include Kanye West, Young the Giant, Vampire Weekend and Kodaline. A performer always comes to Fordham’s annual Spring Weekend in April. Last year, Cold War Kids and Cartel performed along with DJ Enferno. Other performers that have been featured in previous years include Grouplove, MGMT, Third Eye Blind and Andy Grammar.

There’s always an awesome concert to see in New York City, which is one of the countless benefits of living here!

New York is full of the best surprises

One of my favorite things to do in New York is to walk around on sunny days and enjoy the incredible weather. This is especially enjoyable now, as the seasons begin to change and Fall starts to set in. It won't be long before these summery, lovely days are gone, and I like to make the most of them while they last. My favorite area of the city to wander is lower Manhattan. From the Village to SoHo to the Lower East Side, there is always something exciting waiting around every corner. These neighborhoods are perfect for a leisurely afternoon stroll, and there are always new cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, galleries, and other surprises waiting to be discovered.

The beginnings of a beautiful day

Yesterday was one of those days where the city demanded to be explored. The weather was perfect, and I had very little work to do. My dad also came to New York for a surprise visit. We headed downtown, no particular destination in mind. It was a gorgeous day in the city, quite possibly one of the last true summer days this year. After a quick brunch near Bryant Park, we headed down to the Village, with the intention of going to a few art galleries. On our way there, we walked through Washington Square Park, where we stopped to watch some street performers dance. They were incredibly talented and interspersed their performance with jokes. While we were enjoying their performance, I was pulled in to help with a stunt!

Performers in Washington Square Park

The dancers announced to the crowd that they would be jumping over the heads of the people they pulled from the crowd. I was, understandably, quite nervous. However, my nerves were quite unnecessary, as the trick was over before I even realized it had started. This is what I love about New York. Your day will always be filled with surprises, and you never know what lies around the next corner. We did wind up at the art galleries we intended to visit, where the art dealers tried to convince me I needed an original Picasso for my dorm room. I very rarely make plans when I decide to have a "City day" exploring downtown, as experiences like the ones I had this weekend may not happen otherwise.

Right after I found out people would be jumping over my head

Walking through the Village

Be a Tourist for a Day...For Free!

One of the best things about Fordham is that there is always so much happening on and off campus. Last weekend my friends and I received free, yes free, tickets to go to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck in Rockefeller Center through the Campus Activities Board. One of my friends waited online in McGinley Center on the day the tickets were given out just to make sure that we got some. 

Getting to Rockefeller Center from Fordham is incredibly easy by MetroNorth, located right off Fordham's campus. Additionally, since it was a Saturday we only had to pay for a city ticket. Surprisingly, even though I grew up only an hour away from the city my whole life I rarely had the opportunity to sightsee and do all of the touristy things that someone coming to New York for a one time trip would get to do. 

The Top of the Rock Observation Deck was absolutely incredible and unreal. We took an elevator up to the top floor and when we looked out we had the opportunity to see the entire city. Standing on top of the city, I felt so proud to call Fordham my school and New York my campus. 

Studying Abroad: Living What You Learn

Hola from Granada, amigos! Last weekend, my entire Fordham in Granada program united (outside of our class together) for a weekend trip to Portugal, Sevilla, and Cordoba. We visited three separate cities in Portugal, where oddly enough most people prefer to hear you speak English than Spanish, and then the two Spanish cities. Being together as a group is always fun, but my favorite part was experiencing places that, before the weekend, I had only ever seen in textbooks or powerpoint slides.

The most breathtaking real life visits were to the Chapel of Bones at the Church of Carmen in Faro, Portugal and the famous mosque in Cordoba. The chapel was built out of the bones of monks from the associated monastery. It served as a way to create more cemetery space and was also a very much the fashion in southern Portugal in the late 1700s. The Great Mosque dates from the 7^th century and has housed both Catholic churches and Islamic mosques. After the Catholic reconquest of Spain in the late Middle Ages, a church was actually built in the center of the mosque and it is still in use today.

You may think that bringing history to life is limited to students who study abroad, but the truth is that Fordham is surrounded by history, and Fordham professors know how to make the best use of it, and I’m not just referring to art professors who go to the Met. We’ve got cloisters, zoos, museums of all types, opera houses, art galleries, national parks, and historical houses to name a few. Fordham actually offers courses on New York City—Fall 2014 offers new views of the city from the points of view of English and Political Science. So New York City is indeed Fordham’s campus (as Father McShane likes to say), but so are Granada, London, Pretoria, Shanghai, and all of the other places you can study abroad during your four years here. 

A Rainy Saturday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rainy days at Fordham are the perfect time to travel into the city and take advantage of the wonderful museums. Today I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a group of my friends. 

Since the Metro North has weekend city passes for $4, the transportation was cheap. Additionally, the Met has a recommended admission rate. This means guests are allowed to donate as much as they are able to. For poor college students who are on a low budget and are looking for something fun to do, this is a great opportunity!  

We walked around the Met and explored different exhibits. Every time I go to the Met I always discover a different section of artwork that I had not previously seen. Today I spent a lot of time looking at American Art because the last time I was there I focused on the Egyptian Art. 

One of my favorite exhibits is the large house with the many different rooms. It is always cool to see rooms decorated so nicely with antiques. 

 I love the Met because it has so much to see! 

Confirmed by Eggplant Rollatini: Why and How I Chose Fordham

Spring Preview 2012 awaiting my eggplant 

I chose Fordham for the eggplant rollatini. The exact moment I knew Fordham was for me I was sitting in Amelia’s authentic Italian restaurant on Arthur Avenue just outside campus. I was a senior in high school, still deliberating between Fordham and Boston College, and my family and I decided to venture off campus for dinner after attending Fordham’s Spring Preview event for admitted students. Well, let’s just say that ordering that eggplant rollatini was ultimately the best decision of my life so far.

Students playing on Eddie's green

Now, the deliciousness and abundance of off campus food was certainly not my only factor in choosing Fordham to be my home for the following four years- it simply confirmed my decision. Since I did not know what I wanted to major in, I knew that a Jesuit school would give me the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes to help me figure out my interests and strengths. I applied to a variety of Jesuit schools, among others, and visited each campus. I remember being absolutely struck by the beauty of Fordham’s campus and I loved that students were outside lounging on the grass on such a beautiful day. I really sensed a community. Two years later as I walk to class everyday, I always look around me and think how beautiful Fordham’s campus is and how lucky I am to be a part of this community.

Sunday morning run in Central Park

Another important factor that contributed to my choice to come to Fordham is its location in New York City. I have lived in suburbia Connecticut my but the “hustle and bustle” of city life has always appealed to me. What makes Fordham so special is that it really is the best of two worlds- providing a green campus and community to live in, and also providing close access to New York City. This makes Fordham truly a unique university. Having New York City right at my fingertips has lead to so many opportunities and experiences that I would not have been able to find elsewhere. For example, I intern two days a week on 7^th avenue at GroupM ESP, a sports marketing company. I’m not sure how many college sophomores have the opportunity to have such real work experience during the school year. Additionally, I have attended multiple Broadway shoes, went to many concerts, and ate at some truly amazing restaurants- all just a subway ride away.

One of my favorite weekend activities is to go for a run either right outside campus in the Botanical Gardens, or take the Ram Van down to Lincoln Center and go for a run in Central Park. Each time I do this, I realize how beautiful New York City is and how unique it is that I am a part of not only Fordham’s community, but also a part of New York City’s vast community. 

Now, would I have chosen Fordham without the most delicious mozzarella laden eggplant dish that I have ever tasted? Yes, but the deliciousness certainly confirmed my good vibes about Fordham, New York City, and my day at the Spring Preview. Palumbo’s, the bakery we went to after dinner for cannolis, might have also have been contributing factor….

Did I forget about the desserts???

New York Is My Campus, Fordham Is My School

The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
is located in Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan 

New York is my campus, Fordham is my school. As you complete the core curriculum, you will find this saying to be true. You are likely to have an assignment that requires you to visit a museum or zoo exhibit, attend a musical or theatrical performance, or travel across the street to the New York Botanical Garden. Not only do these experiences enhance the lecture material by applying hands-on learning outside of the classroom, but they propel you to take advantage of the wide variety of opportunities available right in our own backyard!

Medieval architecture at the Cloisters

My freshman year, I ventured to The Juilliard School at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for my Music History class, a fulfillment of my Fine Arts core requirement. I watched and listened to the Julliard Chamber Orchestra perform the music of renowned composers, such as Stravinsky and Mozart. I also visited the Cloisters, the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe - a trip prompted by my Medieval History class, a fulfillment of my Understanding Historical Change core requirement. Other students, from the Gabelli School of Business and Fordham College at Rose Hill, frequently visit The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in midtown Manhattan for core classes such as Art History or Texts and Contexts. During the fall semester of my sophomore year, Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History became a destination for my Astronomy class, a fulfillment of my Physical Science core requirement. During the spring semester of that year, I walked five minutes down the street from campus to the Bronx Zoo (free admission on Wednesdays!) to construct an ethogram of the Coquerel’s Sifaka in the Madagascar exhibit. This was part of a lesson on the study of animal behavior for the lab portion of my Foundations of Biology class, a fulfillment of my Life Science core requirement.

The Coquerel's Sifaka at the Bronx Zoo

Though some of these assignments slightly challenged my comfort zone as an inexperienced city navigator, they encouraged me to make connections with my classmates and ultimately led me to gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the course material. Each was an interesting learning and cultural experience and another way in which New York is my campus and Fordham is my school.