Fordham reaches out on an unprecedented global scale!

The other day, I was looking at the Fordham website and noticed this interesting article. Fordham has established connections all over the world, through study abroad offices, international students, and Fordham campuses abroad. Fordham has firmly-established campuses in Rome, London, and Beijing and is working on partnerships in Pretoria, South Africa and Rio de Janeiro.

According to the article, "Hecker Ray, who was a professor of German at Fordham before creating this office, said pursuing connections and establishing the partnerships’ legal structures help her know not only where Fordham is headed, but where it already is firmly established.

"'Anyone who comes into the office and says, ‘You know, I’d like to set something up in Vietnam,’ or ‘I have colleagues in India,’ or ‘Let’s pursue this in China,’ I can go to our records and say, ‘Well, we already have contacts there; let’s expand upon them,’” she said.

There are roughly 100 institutional affiliations that can be accessed through a pull-down menu on the site. A second menu gives undergraduates access to a list of study-abroad countries and programs.

You can read the whole article below at :

http://www.fordham.edu/campus_resources/enewsroom/inside_fordham/may_3_2010/news/website_highlights_f_75205.asp

Take a look at the new, interactive map of Fordham in the world!

http://www.fordham.edu/academics/office_of_the_senior/office_of_internatio/fordham_in_the_world_73816.asp

Theatre and the Performing Arts on campus!

I thought that I would follow up Xavier's post on music at Fordham with some information on theatre and the performing arts on campus. Fordham has tons of performances going on all the time--from a cappella groups and choirs, to dance teams and musical showcases. There are several very unique and active theatre groups at the Rose Hill campus. I'll try to give a good description of each:

The Mimes and Mummers

The Mimes are the largest theatre group on campus, which puts on both straight plays and musicals. The group hires professional directors and choreographers to work with student performers. Past shows include Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, King Lear, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, and many more.


The cast of Into the Woods, from Spring 2010.

Fordham Experimental Theatre

Fordham Experimental Theatre, FET, is another big theatre group on campus. The difference between FET and the Mimes is that FET shows are entirely student-run: there are student actors, directors, choreographers, and musicians. FET is also, as the name suggests, more experimental. The group takes plays or even films, and adapts them to the stage with a twist. In addition, FET also sponsors a yearly Playwrights Festival, when they perform student-written plays. Recent shows include stage adaptations of The Breakfast Club, Moby Dick, Clue, and Pippin.


The cast of Clue in character, from Spring 2010.

The Theatrical Outreach Program

One club that I have been particularly involved in is the Theatrical Outreach Program (TOP). My friend Ryan and I actually founded this club in our Freshman year. We had both been involved in theatre all throughout high school, and wanted to get involved here at Fordham. In addition to being interested in acting, we also shared an interest in community service work. TOP takes classic or culturally relevant plays, and edits and modernizes them to be performed for kids in neighboring schools in the Bronx. Our group travels to the schools and performs right in the classroom, answering questions about theatre and conducting acting workshops afterwards. Past shows include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Macbeth.


The cast of Macbeth, from Spring 2010.

Improv and Musical Improv

Fordham also has several improv groups, one for straight scenes and another for musicals. At the beginning of each show, the group asks for a setting, a name, and a theme (or in the case of musical improv, a setting, a musical title, and a hit musical number) and then performs a show based on the audience's answers.

Those are just a few examples of performing arts groups here on campus. In addition to the groups listed above, we also have a Sketch Comedy troupe, a Cultural theatre group, and numerous shows hosted by various clubs and organizations.

Hello! Music at Fordham

Hello, everybody! My name is Xavier Montecel, and I am a sophomore student at Fordham's Rose Hill Campus. Although I am not an international student, as a native Texan, I know what it's like to go to college far away from home. I'm part of the international outreach committee because as a student of Hispanic descent, I am interested in promoting regional and cultural diversity on campus. In this post, I would like to tell everyone about the opportunities for musical performance and study here at Fordham. As you may know, Fordham offers a music major at both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. The major includes both the study of music history as a humanities discipline and the study of music theory. Our downtown campus is particularly valuable to students interested in musical performance as it is right near one of the greatest centers of music in the world: Lincoln Center.

For those of you interested in singing, there are many opportunities at Fordham for you. The largest and one of the busiest vocal ensembles at Fordham is the University Choir, a select group of about sixty voices from both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. Membership is by audition, and auditions take place at the beginning of each semester. Our repertoire includes a great variety of sacred and secular music which we perform at several concerts throughout the year. We have also performed at the famous Carnegie Hall right here in New York City. The Choir is a very diverse group, composed of academic musicians and informal singers alike. This year I was the Vice President of the University Choir, and next year I will be President. Believe me that being in the choir has been one of the most valuable experiences I've had at Fordham. This year we've kept very busy with our regular concerts, our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at Christmastime, and with various other projects. I didn't go home over Easter break this year, so I was able to stay and sing at the daily services with the Liturgical Choir (I also had easter dinner with my roommate who made Julia Child's famous dish: boeuf bourguignon --- delicious!). In the past few weeks, the Concert Choir has completed our final concert of the year and recorded our Christmas CD which will go on sale next year! To get an idea of the type of music which the University Choir performs, check out this video:

In addition to the University Choir, Rose Hill students can be a part of the Womens' Choir, the Liturgical Choir, the Gospel Choir, or the Folk Choir. Each of these ensembles is unique, and the members really love what they do. If choir singing is not for you, you might consider auditioning for one or two of the three a'cappella groups we have at the Rose Hill campus: the Ramblers (all male), the Satin Dolls (all female), or the B-Sides. Needless to say, Fordham is a great place for those of us who wish to exercise and improve our musical skills!

My name is Helena, and I'm an International Student

Meet Helena, a Fordham College Sophomore with a double major in Visual Arts and Art History:


I've been traveling for as long as I can remember. I have lived in Australia, Chile, and Malaysia, and could not be happier with my current location in New York City! The vitality of this city is amazing, and I can fully attest that this is THE place to be as a college student.

Having spent three years of high school at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, I understand all the challenges that come along with being an international student. It's hard enough to go through the college application process, but trying to decide where to spend the next four years of your life from across the world is a whole different story. Since I grew up surrounded by so many varied cultures and viewpoints, having a multicultural college experience was very important to me. Fordham has certainly not disappointed! The Jesuit ethos of inclusion, coupled with the fantastic location in one of the most globalized cities in the world makes Fordham an ideal school for students seeking all kinds of cultural experiences.

Fordham's main selling point for me, aside from the stellar academics, was the wealth of opportunities that being a student here has afforded me. In addition to the learning that takes place within the classroom, students are encouraged to pursue a host of educational experiences through internships, extracurricular activities, and fun excursions to the city! There is no end to the growth one can experience here.

All the best with your college search and we hope to see you soon!

My name is Li, and I'm an International Student

Meet Li, a current sophomore at Fordham and a student from Shanghai, China.

Can you tell me a little bit about your school in China and how you first became interested in Fordham?

Well, I went to a key high school in Shanghai. Initially, I decided to go to a college in Shanghai. However, some of my friends were enthusiastic about applying to American universities and invited me to take the TOEFL and the SAT. I took the tests to get a taste for the prestigious ETS standardized tests. My parents thought that studying abroad experience would help me broaden my worldview and be beneficial to my personal growth. My father helped me choose some universities near New York where my aunt lives. My father’s friend who is very familiar with American universities recommended Fordham to me and this was the first time I heard about this school. After I did some research, Fordham’s famous business program attracted me. Further, its beautiful campus and great location in NYC impressed me a lot. Finally, I decided to apply.

That's a pretty drastic change--wanting to go to school in Shanghai and then coming to Fordham. Were you worried at all?

Honestly, I do not know what my biggest worry was, because I had too many confusions and I was not sure whether I would be able to adapt to another culture and the new life before I came here. I had never been to the US before I started college. Therefore, I had limited knowledge about everything in the US, including going to school there. It was the riskiest thing I did in my life to come all the way to America alone without knowing anything.

Without any preparation, I came here with thousands of questions about everything. What housing should I choose? How can I pay for the tuition? What classes should I register for? Where can I get cheap textbooks? Even more importantly, what is a meal plan? However, fortunately, there are always students or people here to guide you and help you. After several months, everything became smooth to me.

What was your biggest challenge?

Since American classes are very different from Chinese classes, I spent a period of time adapting to the classes here. It is easy to understand the lectures in English. However, classes like history and philosophy focus on participation and sharing your own opinions. American students are very active and are encouraged to question and engage in discussion with their professors. In addition, I lacked in backgrounds and vocabulary in some subjects like theology and western history, I had difficulty joining the participation. Thus, I studied hard after class, and I turned to professors for extra help. My professors were very accessible and friendly, and really helped me out. Now, not only can I participate in class discussions, but I also feel free to share my knowledge of Chinese culture and history with students and professors in class.

What are some things that you have been involved in at Fordham?

One of the most rewarding experiences I have had at Fordham was a Global Outreach trip to San Diego. Global Outreach is a student-led program at Fordham, facilitating service and learning immersion experiences for students. After a competitive application process, I was selected as a member of San Diego team. Initially, I was seeking a relaxed trip to California for spring break. However, everything changed afterwards. Six months before the trip, our team started to hold all kinds of fundraising events. To prepare for the trip, we joined a midnight-run in Manhattan, reaching out to New York's homeless population. Faced with such social injustices, I suddenly felt the responsibility on my shoulder to contribute much as I can for social equality. Eventually, we were in San Diego working with and helping homeless kids. Those kids were in a great need for love, and their stories inspired me to continue my volunteering journey. I am now continuing community service at LIFT (a NGO for individual client meetings for find jobs and applying public benefits) in the Bronx.
The Global Outreach trip not only helped me get to know more about the social environment of American society, but also allowed me to help others within my own abilities.

Thanks, Li!

My name is Michelle, and I'm an International Student

Where were you born?

I was born in Manila, Philippines and am a Filipino citizen; however, a month after I was born, my family moved to Beijing, China. I spent most of my life being raised there, and is where my home still is.

How do you first hear about Fordham, and what interested you?

I attended the International School of Beijing, which has long standing relations with European, Australian, and American colleges and universities. Because of this, my junior and senior years I was able to attend college fairs and college visits through our counseling department. Fordham's international visit from the International student recruiter, Monica, was what initially exposed me to the school and was what made me gain interest in attending. My initial interest in applying to Fordham was almost based solely on the appeal of attending a school in New York City that still maintained a strong campus life.

What would you say your biggest challenge was in coming to study in the US?

Growing up I had no doubt in my mind that I would attend school in the US. But my biggest fear coming into Fordham was not being understood as an specific kind of "international" student. Mainly because even in my 'home' of Beijing I was still considered "international", I just assumed that where I was coming from would be a point of confusion. I was also very cautious about applying to a suitcase school (a school where all the students are from nearby and go home every weekend) and made sure that I applied to places that had very prominent on campus student life. Fordham does have a lot of students from the Northeastern US, but there are tons of students from all over the US. The campus life at Fordham really appealed to me.

My biggest challenge did not involve getting used to the curriculum or learning about American social norms, but really was more of getting used to independence and how to balance responsibilities as an independant person, away from home and family.

Now that you've been at Fordham for a few years, what would you say has been your most rewarding experience?

One of the most rewarding experiences that I have felt makes my time here worthwhile is my involvement with school activies. When I get involved and take on responsibilities there is a sense of fufillment and purpose in what I am doing whether it be for my own enjoyment or for class or extra credit. Fordham has many clubs and cultural organizations, and I've really enjoyed the things I have been involved in and the people I have met.

Spring has come to Fordham!

Well, kids. This is it: Spring has finally come to Fordham, bringing beautiful flowers, green grass, long days, and bright sunshine with it. After getting out of class yesterday, I walked around campus with my camera. Here are some photos I took:


This is the sign right outside the student center. There's a beautiful magnolia tree there that's in full bloom.


A patch of daffodils on the path between Spellman and O'Hare Halls.










All the pictures above were taken near and on Eddie's Parade. If you saw my pictures from the "Walk Around Fordham" section, you can see that everything has definitely gotten much greener! Everyone came out for the nice day!

"New York is my Campus, Fordham is my School"

So if you've been studying up on past blog entries (as I hope you have!) you know that Fordham's Rose Hill campus is in the Bronx borough of New York City.  The culture of the Bronx is vibrant and unique, but I'll bet you're all wondering how to get to the "traditional" NYC: Manhattan!  Well, I'm here to tell you, then.

I had a girl from Ohio come for a tour at Fordham that was wondering "whether there was anything to do" here at school.  She wanted to make sure she wouldn't be "bored."  Well, let me tell you, Fordham is one place that you will NEVER be bored.  We have tons of activities going on around campus, things to do in the Bronx, and of course, Manhattan is right next door.

Maybe you want to catch a game...

The new Yankee Stadium

...or see some art.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

(It's donation only - you can pay only 25 cents, if you like!

And one time, I went to a masquerade ball... for free!)

You could catch a Broadway show...

Times Square... home of Broadway!

(You can get discounted tickets every month through Fordham: only $10 or $15!)

...or see your favorite band in concert

Madison Square Garden

Splurge on some shopping...

Saks Fifth Avenue

...or save on a walk through the park.

Central Park

(There's an entrance to the park right near the Lincoln Center Campus... it's super convenient)

You can explore downtown...

SoHo section of Manhattan

...or head on uptown.

 Upper East Side (I think)

(The Upper East/West Sides can be super expensive to live in, but there are some great, affordable restaurants!)

Or maybe you just want to go right on ahead and check out another borough as well

O

Brooklyn Bridge

(These are my friends and me!  I'm the one in the Fordham hat.  This is a great, FREE way to spend a nice day in the city).

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Whatever suits you, there's an outlet for it.  But I still haven't touched upon the modes of GETTING to the city.  There are three main ways to get to Manhattan and back, and I like to classify them like this...

FASTEST     -       SAFEST      -     CHEAPEST

FASTEST: THE METRO-NORTH RAILROAD

Metro-North Train

The Metro-North train leaves from right outside the southwest gate of Fordham's campus - it's literally 20 feet away!  You can look up the schedule online at http://www.mta.info/, and it will take you to Grand Central Station (located in midtown) in about 20 minutes.  It can cost upwards of $4.00, which is why it isn't as popular, but when you need to get to midtown quickly, it's the way to go.  It's also a great way to get back at night because it is so close to campus.

SAFEST: THE FORDHAM RAM VAN

F

One of Fordham's Ram Vans

The Ram Van is considered the safest mode of transportation because it leaves from the Rose Hill student center (McGinley) and goes straight to the Lincoln Center campus.  Therefore, it is completely run by Fordham and takes you from one campus to the other.  Ram Vans leave every half-hour, and it costs $3.00 per trip.  Depending on traffic, vans can take anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour, so watch out during rush hour!  However, it is so convenient, and it gets really popular when it's cold out, especially!

CHEAPEST: NYC SUBWAY (THE D TRAIN)

 Inside a typical D train... located 6 blocks from Fordham's campus

The final mode of transportation is the NYC subway, which tends to be the most popular among Fordham students.  The D train runs down the West side of Manhattan, and it is located six blocks up Fordham Road.  The 4 train is located a little bit further, and it runs down the East side.  Luckily, there are buses that stop right outside Fordham's gates that will take you directly to the subways - they even give you a free transfer, so you pay once!  Subway rides cost $2.25, making them the most cost-effective, and it usually takes 30 - 45 minutes to get downtown (depending on where you want to go).  However, you can get anywhere you want on one subway ticket by transferring, making it easiest to get to downtown destinations.  I take the D or the 4 train to my internship twice a week, and it is so easy once you do it a couple times!

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So there you have it... all you need to know about transportation to Manhattan.  Of course, there are endless things to do downtown, so it's great to know how easy it is to get there!

And if you are the girl I gave the tour to from Ohio... needless to say, you will NEVER be bored if you are a student at Fordham.

What kinds of things do you want to know about in Manhattan?  Comment here or email Courtney anytime at schiessl@fordham.edu... she loves questions!

Fordham Fact #4: Who are the Jesuits?

"We have a great emphasis on care for the individual student; We have a great desire to introduce excellence and rigor into the classroom and every subject we teach; Third, we believe that students have to be invited to wrestle with the great ethical issues of their time. We want them to be bothered by the realization that they don’t know everything and bothered by injustice.”

—Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President of Fordham University

You are probably aware of the fact that Fordham is a Catholic, and specifically a Jesuit, University. Jesuit ideals, similar to those discussed by Fr McShane in the quote above, permeate almost every aspect of Fordham culture--from residence halls and clubs and activities, to classes and mission statements.

But, who are the Jesuits and why do they matter?

The Jesuits are men who belong to a Catholic religious order called the Society of Jesus. This group was founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola over 450 years ago.

There are about 21,000 Jesuit priests and brothers located around the world. About 3,800 of them are in the United States within 10 area Provinces. The Jesuit Communities at Fordham University make up the largest group of Jesuits within the New York Province found in one place.

While the main focus of the Jesuit Order is on education, they are also actively involved in parish work, spiritual direction, retreat centers, social justice projects, and foreign missions.

The Jesuit Community at Fordham University is part of the New York Province of the Society of Jesus and is actually composed of two communities associated with Fordham University (Spellman Hall and Loyola Hall), and one housing the Jesuits of Fordham Prep School (Kohlmann Hall). In addition the community at Ciszek Hall, is the home of the Jesuit Scholastics or Jesuits-in-training, and the New York Province's infimary is at Murray Weigel Hall.

Of the 83 Jesuit priests and brothers who reside in the Fordham Jesuit community, there are approximately 30 who are full time teachers or administrators at the University and 10 at the High School. Nine other Jesuits live in Manhattan and teach at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus. Approximately 10% of Fordham's faculty is made up of Jesuits--one of the highest percentages of Jesuit Universities in the US!

At Fordham, you will experience the same Jesuit approach to education that has challenged some of the world's greatest thinkers for more than 400 years. Jesuit educated notables have included Descartes, Molière, Alfred Hitchcock, Sting, James Joyce, Dee Dee Myers, and Captain Kangaroo.

The approach begins with a deep respect for you as an individual and your potential, a principle the Jesuits call cura personalis. Because they respect you, our faculty will challenge you to strive for ever greater personal excellence in all aspects of life — intellectual, emotional, moral and physical. That principle, called magis, accounts for the rigor of intellectual exchange and the varied challenges you will experience in New York City and the world beyond.

At Fordham, students seek to tap the full potential of mind and heart while leading a life beyond self. Each semester more than 600 Fordham undergraduates follow the Jesuit philosophy of homines pro aliis, men and women for others, by contributing their time and talent in service to the community: tutoring the disadvantaged; feeding and clothing the homeless; planning outings for an orphanage; and spending vacation periods in distant corners of the world, from New Mexico to Calcutta, as part of Fordham's Global Outreach Program.

On both the undergraduate and the graduate level, a Fordham education embraces rigorous scholarship and adherence to ethical values. The School of Law, internationally known for emphasizing ethics, also has several active pro bono programs. Students in the Graduate School of Business Administration make time in their busy schedules to assist non-profit organizations with business planning. The Graduate Schools of Education and Social Service both incorporate field work in the New York City area into their curriculum. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences emphasizes critical thinking and communication, and is dedicated to helping students understand themselves and their world so that they may lead satisfying lives and contribute to their professions and society at large. The Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education is committed to preparing students of all denominations to confront contemporary problems of church communities, while helping to chart future directions through research.

True to its time-honored Jesuit traditions, Fordham endeavors to make excellence the focus of life, and the world the "home of the heart," of every student.

Some of Fordham's novice Jesuits.

My name is Elizabeth, and I'm an International Student

Meet Elizabeth, a current sophomore at Fordham Rose Hill with a double major in Art and Art History, and a concentration in drawing and painting. Elizabeth is from Washington DC, but was born overseas and spent most of her life living abroad. As she came from a government family, she moved around a lot as a child, frequently switching international schools.

I recently sat down with Elizabeth and asked her some questions about her transition from living overseas to attending high school and college in the US.

So, first of all, where overseas have you lived?

My parents both work for the US government, so I was born on a military base in the Philippines. I attended elementary school in Indonesia, before moving to Peru for middle school. My family and I moved back to the US where I attended high school in DC.

Wow, so you've really moved around.

Yeah, definitely. See, I was really used to moving around and going to international schools, and I had a great time. Then my family and I moved back to DC, and I went to high school in Maryland.

How would you describe the transition? What was one thing that really stuck out to you?

The biggest shock when I started going to school in the US was that Americans were the majority, rather than the minority. I'd gone to international schools for my entire life, and then I went from that to going to a very small, Catholic, all-girls school in Maryland. It was a huge change. For one thing, there wasn't as much diversity as I had been used to. I felt like an oddity, like I didn't fit in. I stayed at that school for one year and then transferred to a co-ed Catholic high school. That was better, but I still felt kind of left out. Most of these kids had been going to school together their whole lives, and had grown up in DC, whereas I had always been moving around.

What drew you to Fordham?

I was really drawn to Fordham's location and diversity. It made me feel comfortable, like I hadn't felt at those schools in DC. My transition to college was actually pretty easy. I loved the fact that Fordham was in New York. I was looking for the diversity that I didn't see in high school, and Fordham gave that to me. The great thing is that New York City attracts people from all over the country and all over the world, from all different walks of life. So, it was a place where I felt comfortable as "an international student" because I didn't feel like I stuck out.

What specific things about Fordham struck you?

I wanted to go to a Catholic, Jesuit school. Yes, there are many Jesuit colleges throughout the US and in DC, but the fact that Fordham was in New York gave it a real edge for me. If you're looking for a Jesuit school where you will have fantastic opportunities, Fordham is your school. Being an Art major in New York City has also been a fantastic experience for me. I really take advantage of our location. Every weekend, I head into the city on the Ram Van and go to galleries and museums for homework, class, or just for fun. I love that I can go to the Metropolitan Museum and see classic older works of art, and then hop on the subway and head down to Chelsea to see the work of new, avant-garde, and upcoming artists. The old and the new interact, and, I feel, really enrich my experience.

What was your biggest concern going to school in the States?

I really didn't want to stick out. When you come from overseas, you just want to feel comfortable. You don't want to stick out, and just be "the international kid." What I really loved about Fordham was that everyone was so open and friendly, and really helpful in catering to my special needs. Also, a lot of students--even from the US--are not familiar with New York, so in many cases, you're all learning and experiencing new things together. My biggest fear was coming to a place where everyone knew each other and what was going on, and feeling like I was in an unfamiliar place. At Fordham, however, you adjust with everyone. Everyone is so welcoming willing to help you along. In that way, Fordham made my adjustment less scary than I thought it would be.

***

A Walk Around Fordham, Part 1

Hi everybody! It's Madeleine again, here with something you will hopefully enjoy: a photographic walk around the Fordham College Rose Hill Campus. Similar to Courtney's housing update, this post will be the first of many as we strive to give you a look at the Fordham campus in these first few days of Spring.

If you poke around on the Fordham website, you can find a campus map and lots of pictures of campus, but those often fail to give you an accurate sense of where things are and how they look in relation to each other.

This is a copy of the map of Rose Hill from the Fordham website:



The admissions office has also posted a virtual tour map, which you might want to take a look at: http://www.fordham.edu/discover_fordham/virtual_tours__video/rose_hill_interactiv_48686.asp

This first part of our photographic tour starts at O'Hare Hall, where I've lived for the past two years. You can find it on the far right side of your map.


This is a picture of O'Hare Hall.


Ok, we've walked out the door of O'Hare and are heading down the path towards the Fordham entrance and the Football Field.


On the right, we have Keating Hall, and on the left, you can see the side of the football field.


Here's a look at Keating Hall, where many of the administration offices are located, as well as classrooms, art studios, dance studios, and music practice rooms. It's also home to Fordham professional radio station, WFUV.


We're now making our way on the path past Tierney Hall, Freeman Hall, and alongside Edward's Parade, known as "Eddie's" to students. It was still a bit chilly out when I took this, but on a nice day, the green will be filled with students taking advantage of the sunshine, throwing around a frisbee, or hanging out with friends. At the far end of this photo is the McGinley Center, the student center where many club offices and the cafeteria are located.


Here's another look at Eddie's and at Keating. Eddie's is where commencement takes place; for graduation, the green is filled with folding chairs and students receive their diplomas on the Keating steps. Last year, U2 visited Fordham and performed right on the steps in front of hundreds of Fordham students who filled the space!


Now, we're making out way past Finlay Hall, Thebaud Hall, and Dealy Hall.


We're walking behind Duane Library, where the admissions office is, and past one of the science buildings, Larkin Hall. Up ahead, you can see the Walsh Library.


If you turn around, you can see Eddie's in the distance. The building on the left is Dealy Hall, where many classes are held and where the English, Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, and History departments are located.


Now, we're walking towards the Walsh Library. Up ahead, you can see Campbell Hall, a complex of four residence halls which is in construction. The halls will open in Fall 2010, and will house many upperclassmen.


If you turn around, you can see Dealy again. The gothic-style building on the right is Duane Library, where the admissions office and the Theology Department are located.


We've now walked up to Walsh Library. Here's a look at the portico in the front.


If you turn around and look where we just walked from, you can see Martyr's Hall, a residence hall, and Collins Hall, Fordham's theatre and home to the Philosophy Department.

***

This concludes Part 1 of the photographic walk around Fordham. Stay tuned for a look at the other side of campus, including the Freshmen residence halls, Church, and Student Center!

Freshman Housing: Part 1

Hi everyone!  My name is Courtney, and I'm so happy to write my inaugural post on Faces of Fordham, the Fordham blog for international students.  I love showing students around Fordham in person because I love Fordham, so I can't wait to show everyone around Fordham in a new, virtual way!

I thought I'd start off with one of the most popular things that incoming students want to know: what is freshman housing like??  This is a huge topic, so I'm going to split it into two (maybe more) parts.  So, without further adieu...

Freshman Housing: Part 1

What building will I live in?
At Fordham, there are currently four residence halls that freshmen can live in.  They are Alumni Court South, Loschert Hall, Tierney Hall Residential College, and Queen's Court Residential College.  For now, let's look at the pictures on Fordham's website:

Loschert Hall

Alumni Court South

Tierney Hall Residential College

 Queen's Court Residential College

Of course, it's much easier to see the buildings without the trees in front, and I will take more pictures when I get around campus.

Freshmen get to pick preferences on housing forms in late May/early June.  They're online now, which means that you're not at a disadvantage, even if you're far away!  You'll find out room info, roommate info, and P.O. Box address in early to mid August.

What will my room look like?

Most freshmen are housed in doubles, no matter what building they live in.  In Tierney, it is possible to live in quads (big rooms that have four people, rather than two - my current roommate lived in one!), and it is also possible to live in a forced triple (three people in a double room, with a discounted rate).  But, since we are building some new residence halls on campus (which I'm sure we will blog about soon!), Fordham hopes to keep the number of forced triples low in the coming years.

So, how big are the rooms?  What kind of things come in them?  Here's an example of my room in Tierney Hall freshman year:

This is one half of the room, post-move-in.

It has my bed and my desk - every roommate has their own, of course!

T

This is also part of my half - my mini-fridge, a set of drawers, and a wardrobe.

The mini-fridge doesn't come with the room, but it's really easy to order one online and get it shipped to your Fordham P.O. Box - you'll get the address in early August!

So, if you can take those pictures and imagine them doubled (for two people), you can picture a typical Fordham room!  Some differ - Loschert and South have closets, not wardrobes, for instance, and the layout changes depending on the room.  However, this is the typical size for any double room at Fordham, and it was more than enough room for me and my roommate!

Below, are some other pictures of rooms here at Fordham. The room in these pictures is in O'Hare Hall, one of the upperclassmen residence halls. O'Hare, located right next to Tierney Hall, is where many sophomores and juniors live.




Here's one side of a double room



And here's the other side--as you can see, everyone finds an arrangement that works for them. Here, the bookshelf is on the desk, to allow for extra space.

What if I don't know anyone?

One of the best things about freshman housing is that you are living with a bunch of other freshmen who are just as new to Fordham as you are!  In Tierney, I knew nearly everyone in my building, and we were all friendly with one another.  It helped that Tierney was a smaller building as well (Tierney and Queens house between 150-200 students; Loschert and South are between 250-300).  Here's a picture of a lot of the Tierney residents at the End-of-the-Year Barbeque:

Our Resident Director took this from the roof!

When I moved into Fordham, I didn't know a single person, even thought I'm from Connecticut.  But neither did my roommate, so we would go to lunch together for the first couple of weeks of school.  I'm not going to lie- the first week was hard.  The good thing was that I wasn't alone, and I found friends who felt just as nervous as I did.  And guess what... they're still my best friends today!  I even live with one of them!

Along with the other freshmen in your residence hall, you have Resident Assistants and a Resident Director.  The RA's throw lots of programs for residents (we got to see Broadway shows and play nighttime Capture the Flag!) and they genuinely want to get to know their residents.  I have three friends who are RA's, and they are all really nice and fun.

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That's all for this part of the Freshman Housing topic!  Stay tuned for part two and keep checking back in here for great posts from our other Fordham bloggers!

What else are you curious about for freshman housing?  Ask questions... and we will answer!