Fordham CSSA - Chinese Students and Scholars Association

Have you heard about CSSA?

Last year a group of Chinese students came up with an idea to introduce CSSA to Fordham.

Today, I invited Public Relations Officer Tiantian (Tina) Wan and President Hao (Vincent ) Ye to talk aboutCSSA at Fordham.

(Introduction by Tiantian Wan)

Jiayi Xu: What is CSSA?

Vincent Ye: Fordham CSSA (Chinese Students and Scholars Association) is a non-profit organization founded and organized by the Chinese students at Fordham University. Like most CSSAs throughout the world, the mission of our CSSA is to provide a platform for overseas Chinese students, scholars and other professionals to unite together, build network, and share Chinese culture. All people who are interested in China or Chinese culture are welcomed to join.

JX: Why Fordham need a CSSA?

VY: Fordham CSSA is dedicated to the goal of promoting social, intellectual, and cultural activities for Chinese students and scholars at Fordham University as well as others who are interested in Chinese cultures. We also promote mutual understandings of cultures and encourage communications inside and outside of the Fordham.

JX: What can CSSA do for students at Fordham?

VY: We help new Chinese students adapt to the US culture and lifestyle, provide platform of recreational activities for current students, and provide networking opportunities with successful Chinese in New York City. For example, we wrote a New Students Guide for Chinese freshmen. The guide covers housing, dining, transportation, shopping, banking, phone plans, academics, and so on. Moreover, we work to promote exchanges between Fordham CSSA and other CSSAs in greater New York area. We inform members of various events in New York, such as Chinese film festivals and forums. Besides,, we hold parties to celebrate traditional Chinese festivals, such as Chinese New Year Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

JX: What kinds of goals or plans does CSSA have for the future?

VY: We want to encourage Chinese students at Fordham to rate their professors from Chinese students' perspective. By creating a Chinese version rate-my-professor, Chinese students can share their experiences of difference classes and professors, and help each other to achieve academic excellence. Studying aboard is a big challenge, so CSSA wants to be a big resource and guidance to every Chinese student. For long term, we want to obtain official club status. Because of the growing size of Fordham Chinese students, we need Fordham to support us to arrange more events and diversify school activities. Also, we want to improve cooperation and promote communications with other clubs on campus. We will continue to try our best to help Chinese students to improve life at Fordham.

Fordham's Newest Club: International Community at Fordham (ICF)

Big news for International Students! As of Friday, October 15 Fordham University officially welcomed it's newest student club, the International Community at Fordham.

ICF members at the first meeting of the 2010-2011 school year

As a new member myself, I spoke with Social Chair Monica Stark to get to know the club, its members and its purpose.

Michelle FlorCruz: Who makes up ICF?

Monica Stark: ICF is open to any member of the Fordham community. We represent a wide range of students. We have members from China, India, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, American, and many more countries.

MF:Why was ICF formed?
MS: ICF was formed by senior Alex Slavtchev FCRH '11 and graduate Lee Su CBA '10 because there was no club at Fordham that represented the international community as a whole. They saw the importance of forming a strong relationship between international and non-international students at Fordham.

MF: What kinds of goals or plans does ICF have for the future? What are a few things the group has already done?

MS: ICF has three main goals. The first is to bring cultural awareness to the Fordham community. The second is to build a global network for students. The third is to have a mentor program for incoming international students. One of our most successful events was during International Business week last spring. We represented over 15 countries any had over 100 people attend the event. It was a great learning experience for many of the Globe Students.

MF: Why do you believe ICF is essential to Fordham?
MS: ICF is essential because the international community is the fastest growing sector of the Fordham population. Last year there were 300 international students throughout Fordham's campuses and now there is 1,000 international students. There is no other club that brings everyone from such diverse backgrounds together. ICF is also a support for international students who want to voice their issues with being a international student at Fordham.

ICF representing different countries at a networking event, International Business Week

For more information about the club, visit their Facebook page or email them directly at icfordham@gmail.com