WFUV at SXSW

My badge, which I had to wear around
for access to many of the events!

During my sophomore year, I started working in the engineering department as a videographer, editor, & photographer at Fordham's radio station, WFUV.  This has, without a doubt, been one of my favorite parts of my time at Fordham, as I have learned a great deal and had some amazing experiences.  One of those took place this past March, when I traveled to Texas to work on FUV's video team at South by Southwest.

Each year, FUV sends members of its staff to Austin, Texas for South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual music conference/festival for emerging artists (as well as more established performers).  This year, I was lucky enough to spend my spring break as part of the team's video crew.

On two days, we worked from Hotel San Jose, filming exclusive performances with artists for our YouTube channel.  Natalie Prass, BØRNS, Seinabo Sey, Gengahr, Ibeyi, Ben Ottewell, and Heartless Bastards all came by to perform stripped back versions of their songs.  We scouted the property for visually interesting locations, working against some rainy weather and making quick location changes between artists.

Here's BORNS' performance of "10,000 Emerald Pools":

Our schedule for the
Public Radio Day Stage

Friday was spent in the Austin Convention Center (out of the rain!) at the Radio Day Stage for Public Radio Rocks, which featured six performances for a live audience and to be broadcast live on WFUV (as well as several other public radio stations around the country).  It was cool to see all the work that went into putting on such an event, as well as the actual execution of the six-hour event.

We spent the first half of the day filming each of these performances and the second half editing them so they could be published on YouTube.  It was a huge team effort to get everything shot, imported, edited, and uploaded within such a short amount of time!

Above is: "Heaven Sent"- a new song from Best Coast and one of our finished products from the Day Stage!

Despite the long days spent shooting videos and editing them, it was a great way to work on my video skills and learn more!  Attending SXSW with FUV was an awesome experience that I was so grateful to have during my time here at Fordham!

New York Is My Campus, The Rest Of The World Is A Step Away

Newark-Liberty Int'l Airport is a short trip from Fordham

Happy Easter future rams! While this blog has provided an abundance of information on life in New York City, although NYC is the greatest city in the world, as they say it is possible to have too much of a good thing. What's great about Fordham and our location in New York City, however, is that when you do want to get away for a weekend or Easter break it's very easy. 

My Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

If you come from a family like mine, holidays are meant for family time and any opportunity to take a vacation is soaked up to it's fullest. With much of my family in the Great Lakes and the South, driving home isn't such an attractive option when it comes time to go away for breaks like Easter. Luckily for us, Fordham is located in the midst of the biggest transportation hub on the east coast. NYC's 3 airports (JFK, Laguardia, and Newark-Liberty) make up the busiest airport system in the US, so finding a direct flight is never a challenge. The Ram Van even operates as a shuttle between the Rose Hill campus and LaGuardia and JFK during busy travel seasons such as Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring break. If you're like myself and typically fly through Newark Liberty (the east coast hub for United), getting there is a breeze. The cheapest way is to take the D train from Fordham Road down to 34th street, and walk one block over to Penn Station where you catch an NJ Transit train to the airport. The subway stretch takes about 30-45 minutes and will cost you just $2.75 and the NJT takes about 15-20 and costs $12.50. Substituting the D train with Metro-North is also a popular, but more expensive option, as are taxis and car services like Uber.

Cumberland Falls in Cumberland Gap National Park

This Easter, I was lucky enough to go visit my family in Cincinnati, and meet a friend in Tennessee for the day. I flew in direct from Newark-Liberty to Cincinnati (oddly enough the main airport is in Kentucky) and drove a few hours down to the beautiful Cumberland Gap National Park to spend a day with my friend. The best part of my flight is that it was completely free, including my checked bag! 

If there's any recommendation I have for future or current Fordham students who live outside the Northeast Corridor, it's to enroll in a frequent flier program. I've been racking up miles with United since the airline was called Continental, and my flights to New Orleans and Charleston over Christmas and Thanksgiving have allowed me to fly for free between NYC, Cincinnati, and really anywhere I'd like to go.

I love being able to visit my family in Charleston, SC

For those of you who live close-by to Fordham, or are afraid of flying; you're in luck too! Fordham has it's own stop on the Harlem and New Haven lines of Metro-North that serve downstate New York and coastal Connecticut. To avoid back-tracking through Penn Station, Metro-North is also a convenient way to get to Stamford Connecticut and transfer to Amtrak trains to Providence and Boston. From Penn, New Jersey Transit and the Long Island Railroad serve the rest of the NYC area and Amtrak has numerous routes stretching across the country.

Oh, the Places You'll Go with Gabelli!

We did a lot of shopping at the markets!

Ever since I have returned to campus after Spring break, I have been itching to put away my winter jacket. Unfortunately, the weather in New York still is not warm enough for my summer wardrobe. However, I did have the opportunity to break out my summer wardrobe over Spring break since I went on a Study Tour to Santiago, Chile with Gabelli's Global Business Honors Program. This was my third and final trip with the program. It was also probably my favorite trip, especially since it was over Spring break!

Our visit to El Teniente Copper Mine

While we were in Chile, we attended several lectures at a Chilean Jesuit University and visited several companies. The purpose of the trip was to experience the business and culture of Chile. One of our company visits was to Codelco's El Teniente Copper Mine, which is the largest copper mine in the world. We dressed up in orange jumpsuits complete with hardhats, gas masks, and ear plugs. It was quite an ordeal getting 45 people into the correct gear, but it was such a great experience to tour the mine since copper comprises such a large portion of the Chilean economy. We also visited Banco Estado, Start-Up Chile, JP Morgan, and

Quebrada de Macul Vineyard. 

Although our days were very busy, we still managed to fit some touristy things into our days. I certainly ate a lot of great food while I was in Santiago. My favorite part of each meal, though, was my drink. In Chile, there was raspberry juice, which tasted just like blended raspberries, which tasted absolutely amazing! It is a shame that we do not have such an amazing drink readily accessible in New York restaurants. Perhaps I will have to introduce it to New York! 

San Cristóbal Hill

One of the interesting aspects of Santiago is that there are many hills and even mountains right in the midst of the city. Therefore, there were a several places to climb to great views overlooking the city. One of the best things to do in Santiago was climb
San Cristóbal Hill, which was a mountain in Santiago. Atop the mountain was a statue of Mary overlooking the whole city. As a group, we climbed to the top and watched the sun set over the city. It was an absolutely magical experience that I would highly recommend to anyone ever visiting Santiago! 

Overall, I had an amazing trip. I was sad to leave Santiago and I hope to one day return, but it was also nice to come back to Fordham and share my experiences in Santiago with my professors and fellow classmates. This experience was so enriching and has definitely shaped my understanding of Chilean business and culture so that I am a much more knowledgeable individual entering the global business arena. I would highly recommend this trip and Gabelli's other Study Tour opportunities to every Fordham student. Not only are they a ton of fun, but you really learn so much!

Spring Break in Boston

This past weekend I spent at home in Boston, MA for spring break.  Although I love Fordham, my friends, classes and NYC, it is definitely nice to be able to relax and unwind at home!  While at home, I spent time with my younger sisters, high school friends, and caught up with my parents and relatives.  I had some amazing meals, and even brought my family home a gift card from The Meatball Shoppe- one of my favorite spots in New York.

Catching up with my family

One of the most exciting parts of my break was going to the Federal Courthouse to witness a day of the Boston Marathon Bombing trial.  I got there very early in the morning, and was able to sit in the main room- just 20 feet away from Jahar Tsarnaev himself.  The Marathon Bombing is such a historical event, and it was fascinating to witness a day of the trial in person.  My week at home was fun, but I was so excited to come back to campus to be reunited with my friends, this amazing campus and lively city.  It is amazing how I now have two places that feel completely like home- my actual home in MA, and my home that I built here at Fordham.

From inside the Federal Courthouse

Blog By: Caroline McCue

GO!ing to the Dominican Republic

This spring break, I had the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic on a Global Outreach mission trip. Global Outreach, or GO!, is a student-run organization at Fordham that sponsors domestic and international trips that allow students to become better aware of social, economic, political and environmental injustice. These projects range from learning about women's rights and immersing in the culture of Nicaragua, to participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans. With over 30 different locations, there is definitely a project for everyone and many students participate in a GO! trip during their four years here.

My team walking towards the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración in Santiago, DR

After six months of weekly meetings, bake sales and community building, my team of twelve students finally departed for the Dominican Republic. We volunteered with the Joan Rose Foundation in Esperanza, DR, which provides lessons, meals and a safe haven for the children of the impoverished community. We were able to witness the extreme racism in the country that Haitian immigrants experience, as well as the living conditions in bateys, which are communities of sugar cane workers. Many families in the area live off of $0.90 a day, so it was extremely eye-opening to witness their lifestyle. The Joan Rose Foundation was such a loving community and we were able to make many new friendships with the children. My GO! experience was nothing less than life-changing, and I would definitely encourage everyone to apply for a trip!

My team at the Joan Rose Foundation

Weekend Update

Anna Romagnoli

This past weekend was the end of our spring break at Fordham. I spent this last week in West Palm Beach, FL with my two roommates. It was great to relax, enjoy the warm weather and spend time at the beach. Now that we are back, we are excited to enjoy spring and the rest of our last semester at Fordham!

My roommate and me enjoying the beautiful weather

Erica Restaino

Over Spring Break, I went on a Gabelli School of Business Study Tour to Santiago, Chile! In addition to exploring the city, we attended lectures at a Chilean Jesuit University and visited several companies. Since the Chilean economy is largely connected to its copper export, one of our visits was to Codelco's El Teniente Copper Mine, which is the largest copper mine in the world. It was quite the experience to go into a copper mine and see how the whole mining process works from start to finish. After the cold winter at Fordham, it felt so great to spend a week in the sun and the heat!

Some of us in all our mining gear

Danielle Smith

While I was sad to see Spring Break end I was happy to get back to Fordham to see my friends. Before my parents headed back home after dropping me off at school we stopped at Palumbo Bakery on Arthur Avenue for delicious pastries!

We love all the colorful treats

St. Patrick's Day Festivities at Fordham

Here at Fordham there are countless clubs available for all students to join, including several cultural organizations.  There is the Gaelic Society, Hellenic Society, and Insieme Italian Cultural Society just to name a few!  With St. Patrick’s Day this month, there have been a few different Irish events.  On Tuesday, March 10^th at 8pm, there was a Ceili Night held in O’Keefe Commons.  It was a night full of music, dancing, and of course some traditional Irish food!  All students are welcome to come learn a ceili dance or some reel steps, and no experience is necessary.  These events are sponsored by Sláinte: Fordham Irish Dance, and are held a few times throughout the year!

Shirts designed & sold by the Gaelic Society this year

This past week Fordham was on Spring Break, but campus is never quite empty.  Besides the several students that live nearby (myself included!), many others stay in the local area during breaks for jobs, internships, etc.  On Tuesday, the Gaelic Society was invited to march in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the Fordham Alumni Association.  Beforehand, students were welcome to attend the alumni brunch free of charge!  Brunch was held at PwC on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, and started at 10am.  There was delicious food and even some live musical entertainment.  After the brunch, the fun continued as everyone assembled to march in the parade!

GO! on Spring Break

My roommate Emily is currently on a Global Outreach spring break project in the Adirondacks. Here's an interview with her to learn about GO! at Fordham.

Name: Emily Tormey
Major: Mathematics
Year: Junior
Hometown: Plainville, MA


What is GO!?
GO! stands for Global Outreach. The Global Outreach office is part of the Office of Mission and Ministry. They hold projects 3 times a year: winter break, spring break, and at the beginning of summer break. The projects are cultural immersion and service opportunities that all have a different and unique focus on different cultures and different social justice issues. There are 32 projects total a year between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, offering both domestic and international projects.

What GO! project are you going on?
I will be going on GO! Adirondacks.

What will you be doing? 
My team will be learning about the culture and history of the Mohawk and Abenaki tribes with a focus on their stewardship of the land and its resources.

What has your team done to prepare?
My team has been having weekly meetings since November. Every week we come together as a group and focus on a different aspect of the GO! mission and our particular trip’s focus.

Emily and some members of her team at GO! commissioning.

What are common practices of GO! projects?
GO! is centered on four pillars that are taken very seriously by the entire GO! community. They are spirituality, social justice, simple living, and community. Each of these pillars is extremely important to having a successful GO! project and they are all discussed in detail at our weekly GO! meetings.

What is the process to go on a trip?
First you have to submit an online application and interview with the project’s leader for each project you are interested in participating in. Once you have been selected, you meet with your group each week for about 2 hours. Additionally, each week you go on a one-on-one with a member of your group. That could be getting coffee off campus, grabbing lunch, or doing something fun in the city. The fun part of one-on-one’s is that you can do whatever you guys want together.

Another important aspect is fundraising. Each project does come with an estimated cost, but individuals are allowed to do personal fundraising and teams always do fundraising events together. Just a few weeks ago my team had a very successful fundraiser delivering bagels to students in their rooms or off-campus apartments. Also, the fundraisers are a great time to bond with your team and get to know them better.

What are you most looking forward to?
Well, one of the exciting things about GO! is that you don’t actually get a full itinerary of what you will be doing before you go. So, right now I know some general details of what the focus of our project is, but I do not know what activities we will be doing or what will happen on a day-to-day basis.

What are you least looking forward to?
Nothing. I am beyond excited to go on my project and spend a week with the amazing people I am lucky enough to be on a team with.

Happy Spring Break!

Alligators in South Carolina (from a safe distance)

Hello from South Carolina! I am spending my very last spring break at Fordham down south with my roommates. So far, I've seen about 20 alligators (very scary), three gorgeous sunsets, and more palm trees than I could count. It's the ideal place for some rest and relaxation before out sprint to graduation.

Exploring Little Italy (the Manhattan version;
it's not as good as Arthur Avenue) my sophomore year.

Spring Break at Fordham always gives students a lot of opportunities. Freshman year, I flew home to celebrate my birthday with my extended family and catch my cousin's play. Some students stay at Fordham over break, and that's what I did my sophomore year. I took advantage of the extra time to explore while helping finish a volume of the Fordham Undergraduate Research Journal. Although some residence halls close over break, students who stay can relocate to on-campus apartments. I lived in Salice-Conley and got a taste for the still-new apartments that seniors (and some juniors) get to enjoy.

I spent my junior year abroad in Granada (you might be able to find a few posts about my study abroad experience here or here), so spending spring break in Paris was a no-brainer. A lot of Fordham students jump at the chance to travel a little further during break. I know friends who have paired off to explore Europe (spending today in Ireland, of course), grouped up to head to a Caribbean resort. or signed up for GO! projects to devote their breaks to immersion and/or service. Some GO! projects this break include San Jose, California; the Adirondacks in upstate New York (which you may hear about later this week-- stay tuned!); and Les Cayes, Haiti.

There is no wrong way to do spring break, but I've found that the best way is to spend it with your Fordham family.

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

TL;DR - Spring is Pretty Cool...

Snow days are great – and we had quite a few of them this year – but I think we can all agree that Fordham’s so ready for spring to get here. For the past few days, we’ve had consistently warmer weather, which basically means spring’s right around the corner. And very few things in this world are as absolutely beautiful as Fordham in the springtime.

Saturday concert - Spring Weekend 2014

When I was visiting colleges, I made sure to visit all of my top choices during all of the season changes, just to see how different the atmosphere was between the fall, winter, and spring, and let me tell ya…. Nothing beats spring at Fordham. The campus is truly reawakened and reinvigorated. I went around and asked some of my friends about some of their favorite things about Fordham in the springtime; here’s a list of what everyone can agree on! 

1. Sitting on Eddie’s.

2. Eating lunch on Eddie’s.

3. Meeting friends after class on Eddie’s.

4. Playing Frisbee/football/WHATEVER on Eddie’s.

5. Tanning on Eddie’s.

6. Eddie’s. (Or Edward’s Parade – the large grassy area outside Keating. You can’t miss it.)

7. Attending Spring Weekend, the final weekend of the spring semester before the start of finals. There’s a DJ on Friday night, a concert on Martyr’s Lawn on Saturday afternoon, the Under the Tent dance on Saturday evening, and a comedian act on Sunday. Definitely a memorable weekend each year.

SPRING BREAK EXCITEMENT
Can't wait to see these palm trees again...

8. Being able to wear skirts and shorts to class after months of wearing 3 layers of heavy sweaters and still somehow managing being cold.

9. Opening the windows of your dorm/apartment after huddling in 3 layers of blankets and still somehow managing being cold.

10. That one tree in front of Queen’s Court that blooms pink flowers.

11. SPRING BREAK is NEXT WEEK. 

12. Fordham landscaping in general (it’s on point, you guys…).

13. ICED COFFEE.

14. Walking down Arthur Avenue and eating lunch or getting a cup of coffee and sitting OUTSIDE for a change.

15. Going to the city because it’s finally not sleeting anymore…

16. And finally: realizing that graduation for the seniors is only a few months away, which means we’ll be saying goodbye (for now but not forever) to some of our best friends while simultaneously saying hello to a new class of freshmen – the newest additions to our Ramily. 

Either the graduation tent going up or
the spring weekend tent coming down...

What do you love about springtime at Fordham? 

----

And... the not-so-fun part about spring:
early morning finals study sessions...

Weekend Update

Hello all! This past week Fordham University was closed for Spring Break, which means there were tons of things that our students were doing to enjoy their time off. Check out what a few of them did below!

Eva Codispoti

This weekend I went shopping for an evening gown to wear to Senior Ball in May. Senior Ball is a formal dinner/dance held at Pier Sixty during the week before graduation. It gives seniors a chance to dress up and celebrate after four successful years at Fordham!

Shane Yelicanin

This weekend I took advantage of the great weather we were experiencing here in New York, and took a walk around Greenwich Village. A stop at House of Oldies Rare Records on Carmine led to a great vinyl find, The Velvet Underground and Nico, while a small bookshop on Bleecker held a book authored by Bob Dylan. 

Marisa Diaz

This weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Waco, Texas as a member of the Fordham Dance Team with the Women's Basketball Team, the Fordham Band, and the Fordham Cheerleaders to support the women in the first round of the Women's NCAA championship! The team played Saturday afternoon at Baylor University against California. 

Kayla Giampaolo

This weekend I was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with other Fordham kids for a Spring Break vacation. We were there for five days and ended up meeting up with other students that were also staying there.