Taste The World Celebration

On Friday October 24, ASILI, or The Black Student Alliance at Fordham, hosted their third annual Taste The World Celebration. This year more people attended the event than ever before, with nearly 300 people lined up at the door. This event, which took place in McGinley Ballroom, celebrated the rich traditions of cultural diversity, and was open for all students to attend.  The students that went feasted on delicious cuisines of all different cultures, including sushi, pernil, lasagna, cannolis, macaroni and cheese, and roasted chicken. They also were able to sit and watch performances from some of Fordham's most talented performing groups including Fordham Flava, The Ramblers, The Satin Dolls, Expressions Dance Alliance, Sláinte: Fordham Irish Dance, and other awesome individual performances. The emcees were absolutely hilarious, keeping the audience amused the whole time, and the event was an entertaining and fun way to begin the weekend.

The event's logo!

I am part of Expressions Dance Alliance, and when our group was asked to perform at the event, we were so excited. We chose two dances that we performed last semester to rework: Ooh La La and Last Love Song. On the Thursday before the show, we performed our rehearsed dances for the ASILI board, who put up little previews of all of the performing groups on social media to get other students excited for the performances to come the next day. We then quickly picked costumes that would work for both dances, and got ready for the performance the next day. All of the performing groups got there early to help set up, rehearse on the performance space one more time, and take a group picture. Then at 7:00 PM, it was showtime. 

The Expressions dancers before they perform!

Each group did an incredible job, and it was so cool to see a little presentation from all of the groups at one event because they all usually have their own separate shows. ASILI did a great job organizing everything, and I am already looking forward to next year's event. Everyone attending definitely left feeling like they did get a little taste of the world and some impressive entertainment while they were at it. This is one Fordham event you should be sure not to miss!!

A Final Reflection From a Graduating Senior!

The last week of school has suddenly arrived, something I have been dreading for months now. It is strange to be writing my final entry for the Fordham blog, since I’ve been blogging since I was a sophomore. As a graduating senior, I have had so many meaningful experiences at Fordham, and cannot express enough words of gratitude for the valuable Jesuit education I have received and the people I have met, coloring the way I see the world in wonderful ways.

When I attended Fordham’s Spring Preview as a high school senior, trying to decide whether I would attend Fordham or Boston University, these words from Father McShane convinced me that Fordham was the right place for me: “When you put it all together, what is a Jesuit education about? It is about nothing less than empowerment and transformation.” I did not then fully understand what he meant, but now, with graduation looming closer every day, the wisdom behind his words has become clear.

My time at Fordham has been the most challenging but also the most eye-opening years of my life. Though I cannot explicitly name the ways in which I am a different person, I know that I feel stronger, like my feet are planted a little more firmly on the ground. I am so grateful for everything that happened in the past four years, for the challenges I was faced with, the friends I drifted apart from only to gain new ones, and for the blank slate that lies ahead of me. Almost four years ago, a scared little girl arrived on Fordham’s campus. Today, I feel empowered and transformed, with a clearer sense of who I am and what my goals are for my future.

I am heartbroken to leave the place I have come to call my home, but Fordham has truly prepared me for the future, as uncertain as it may be. Come to Fordham, and let it change your life like it changed mine—you won’t regret it.

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!

Alumni Spotlight: Abby Forget, FCRH 2012

When visiting schools, it is always a great idea to ask about job placement statistics. While your four years of college are sure to be a blast, the ultimate goal upon graduating is to find a job in your field of study. Each month, our blog will feature an Alumni Spotlight to help you get an idea of where Fordham graduates are now. I sat down with Abby Forget, a member of the class of 2012, while she shared some of her experiences in "the real world" thus far.

 

Name: Abby Forget 

Hometown: Attleboro, Massachusetts 
Graduation Year: FCRH Class of 2012

Major: Communication and Media Studies & English

Where are you now? I am a News Editor at FoxNews.com

 Did you have any internships during your time at Fordham? 
I interned at The Sun Chronicle, a newspaper in my hometown in Massachusetts. I also interned for PTO Today magazine, FoxBusiness.com, Fox News Channel University and FoxNews.com, where I now work.

What were you involved in during your time at Fordham?
I was on The Ram newspaper staff as a staff writer, copy editor, managing editor and assistant news editor. I worked as a lifeguard at the Lombardi Center and as a student ambassador at alumni and trustee events for the Fordham Development and University Relations office.

Can you talk a little about the interview process for your full time job offer?
I had interviews with HR and my prospective managers at Fox, as well as grammar, geography and writing tests.

What do you do on a daily basis at work?
As a News Editor for FoxNews.com, my week is split between running the homepage and working on production. Half of the week, I’m responsible for putting stories, headlines, videos and photos on the homepage, sending out breaking news emails, and streaming press conferences and events on the site. The other half of the week I’m production, so I produce, write and edit content for the site.

What do you miss most about Fordham?
All of my friends being in the same place!  I miss seeing everyone all the time.

How did Fordham help prepare you for the "real world"?
It helped me to become more independent.  Moving after graduation and starting my job hardly felt like a big adjustment, because I had already been living away from home in NY and commuting to internships in the city. 

What is your advice for students beginning their college experience?
Intern as soon as you can and as much as you can.  My communications classes were interesting and informative, but my internships were what allowed me to make so many valuable connections and the experience I got helped me to get my job.

Be sure to check out next month's alumni blog to hear more about where Fordham graduates are now!

Homecoming Weekend!

This year, Fordham students couldn't have asked for a more exciting Homecoming Weekend! One of my favorite weekends at Fordham during the fall semester is Homecoming. Rose Hill is alive with students, families, and alumni creating an exciting and fun atmosphere on campus.

photo credit

Homecoming Weekend always brings together Fordham fans for a football game, and this year was no different. The Fordham Rams took on Columbia for the annual battle for the Liberty Cup at Jack Coffey Field on the Rose Hill campus. The stands were packed with students, families, and fans ready to cheer on the Rams, who went into the game undefeated. Sure enough, the Rams defeated Columbia by a score of 52-7, moving them to an undefeated record of 4-0 to the delight of all the Rams fans present.

photo credit

Besides football, another really exciting part of Homecoming Weekend for seniors is the tent. This tent is for alumni of Fordham and current seniors only, and it is set up on the main green on Campus, called Eddie's by students. There's food and drinks served in the tent, and underclassmen wait eagerly until finally, after three years, they're allowed to go inside! Being a junior, I can't wait to see what the tent holds for me next year.

For more information on the Liberty Cup and its history, check out this article.

Click here for a video of Homecoming highlights!

Who's Speaking at YOUR Graduation?

Cheer up, John Brennan!
You're comin' to speak at Fordham!

The Fordham community received news recently that John Brennan, the Obama administration’s deputy national security adviser for counterterrorism and homeland security, will give the commencement speech at graduation this year. Apparently, this is especially awesome since he works with Obama. That, and he graduated from Fordham in 1977.

We like to keep it "in the family" over here.

Personally, I was routing for Alan Alda, also a Fordham grad, to speak, because he rocks. He gave an insightful and all-around beautiful speech to Connecticut College in 1980. And he starred in M*A*S*H, which I'm too young to appreciate, but still. Who wouldn't want this shining face delivering a commencement speech!?

Alan Alda is not speaking at Fordham's
graduation this year, but he's still happy!

We may have scored Brennan, but we haven't lost our bragging rights. Alas, what our commencement speaker lacks in awesomeness our baccalaureate mass celebrator makes up for tenfold. Because he's not just a priest. He's not even just a Bishop. He's a stinkin' CARDINAL.

CARDINAL Tim Dolan

And, like the rest of us, he's pretty darn excited about it.

The Fordham Ram Returns

Fordham's mascot, the ram, is usually seen dancing at basketball games and high-fiving prospective students and families during open house. However, a recent visit from alumnus, and business school donor Mario Gabelli, prompted Fordham to rediscover it's mascot roots. A real, live Ram visited campus last week where students posed for pictures and to pet the furry visitor. Read more about the visit on the eNewsroom.




The Ram with Diedre McPhillips and Sidney Henne, Rose Hill Tour Guides