Volume 105, Orientation Issue
Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 TheFordhamRam.com
August 27, 2023
Recapping Fall 2022, Looking Toward Fall 2023
Spring 2023 and News You Should Know
By EMMA KIM
ASST. NEWS EDITOR
By SOFIA DONOHUE
NEWS EDITOR
From the retirement of certain COVID-19 requirements to TV shows filmed on campus and a presidential inauguration, the fall semester of 2022 was filled with a wide range of events. One of the biggest events last fall was President Tetlow’s inauguration that took place in October 2022. It consisted of a week of events, performances and food. The cumulative event took place on Oct. 14 on Edward’s Parade, where the inauguration ceremony was held. Another thing that affected students were changes to COVID-19 policies. One of the biggest changes was the end of VitalCheck — a daily questionnaire that students had to fill out about their health. On Sept. 1, the campus also opened up to non-Fordham visitors and guests. With less strict policies for the first time since 2020, the campus opened back up to hosting film crews. On Sept. 22 and 23, Fordham was the background for the show “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The episode took
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM
Fordham's campus transforms from green to orange as the seasons transition from summer to fall. place in 1961, so students saw multiple changes to the areas that were being filmed. Fordham can be seen in eighth episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”’s fifth season, in an episode called “The Princess and the Plea.” In the fall semester, the Office of Multicultural Affairs celebrated multiple events — including Latinx Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Week, LGBTQ+ History Month and Filipino American History Month. United Student Government also hosted its usual events — including Sustainability Week and Week of Action, which
aims to spread awareness about sexual assault and harrasment, as well as support for survivors. Fordham Faculty Union continued contract renewal negotiations with Fordham University and held a rally outside of President Tetlow’s inauguration. Fordham’s Career Services rebranded to Career Center to better help students holistically, and Fordham Dining introduced a new dining program called “Cool Food Meals” — which aims to reduce the climate impact of food. This fall, students will have a lot to look forward to. The McShane
Campus Center opened its arcade — the area that connects the student center and gymnasium. While the McShane Marketplace will be closed, new “destination dining” spots will be across campus for students to explore. Overall, the semester ahead will include similar cultural and identity-based programming, plus brand new food options.
Tania Tetlow: Year One By SEBASTIAN DIAZ MANAGING EDITOR
COURTESY OF FORDHAM NEWS
Above is an architectural rendering of what the McShane Campus Center will look like upon completion.
What to Expect: Upcoming Changes to Fordham's Campus By GRACE GALBREATH ASST. NEWS EDITOR
The 2023-24 semester has resulted in a multitude of changes made to Fordham’s student life, academic policies and physical makeup. The university’s academic programs are expanding in
the new semester. The STEM department will now offer biochemistry as a new major choice for students. Fordham is also offering an Asian American studies program, which features a minor in Asian American studies. In addition to the induction of
several new class senators, the United Student Government (USG) is also under new executive leadership. In August, Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, and Ava Coogan, FCRH ’25, began their tenure as executive president and vice president SEE CHANGES, PAGE 3
The 2022-23 academic year marked a monumental milestone in Fordham history: Tania Tetlow began her tenure as the university’s first layperson and first woman president as she was sworn into office on July 1, 2022. Succeeding Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., who retired from the position at the end of the fall 2022 semester after a 19-year tenure beginning in 2003, Tetlow was inaugurated as president of the university on Oct. 14, 2022. Prior to her role at Fordham, Tetlow served as president of Loyola University New Orleans. The new president’s goals, laid out for the university prior to taking office, were SEE TETLOW, PAGE 2
Fordham’s campus was buzzing with news throughout the 2023 spring semester from new unions and tuition increases. Despite the bitter January temperatures in New York, Fordham Faculty Union (FFU) lit a fire of change as they voted to authorize a labor strike. FFU is a union representing non-tenured and non-tenurefaculty members. If the university failed to meet the union’s demands, the labor strike was set to start on Jan. 30. The union’s ultimatum came after months of negotiations with Fordham administration and no guarantee of higher pay for union members, healthcare benefits for adjunct faculty, or pay parity among all university departments. On Jan. 18, FFU announced that the union and university administration came to a tentative agreement (TA) over the labor organization’s latest proposal. Later on in the semester, the agreement was ratified. Non-tenured and non-tenurefaculty members weren’t the only group on campus unionizing. In a formal vote with the National Labor relations board in March, Fordham Resident Assistants voted 47-19 to ratify the Fordham Resident Assistants Union (FRA). The vote forced the university to recognize the union succeeding the university’s refusal to acknowledge the union a month prior. Students can follow find the union @fordhamraunion on Instagram for updates. In March, the university lifted the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine mandate starting on May 15. Since the vaccine policy was heavily mandated throughout the pandemic, Fordham College SEE SPRING, PAGE 3
IN THIS ISSUE
Opinion Page 5 Why You Should Join The Fordham Ram
Culture
Page 8
Sports
Page 10
A Rundown of Fordham Traditions
Intramural and Club Sports