The Fordham Ram Volume 107, Issue 4
Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 TheFordhamRam.com
February 19, 2025
Fordham to Hire Director of Federal Relations
Fordham Offers Narcan Training
By JACK MCDONALD
By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
The Office of Prevention and Support, in partnership with Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), offered a Narcan training session on Feb. 12. The training taught students how to spot the signs of an overdose and administer Narcan. Narcan is a nasal spray that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose by blocking opioid receptors. Narcan is seen as safe because if it is used on someone who is not overdosing, it does not harm them. “We were very fortunate to have Harmony Seaburg, the national program coordinator at the National Harm Reduction Coalition, conduct the training,” said Alice Feng, supervising counselor and coordinator for diversity, equity and social justice initiatives at CPS. “She provided an overview of what opioids and Naloxone
Fordham University announced last week it will be hiring its first Director of Federal Relations. The position will handle the university’s interactions and strengthen its relationships with the federal government. The position is part of a new team led by inaugural Vice President of External Affairs, Travis Proulx, and will be based in Washington, D.C. According to the recent posting on Fordham University’s job board, “the Director of Federal Relations leads Fordham University’s engagement with federal government officials and agencies on policy, legislative, and budgetary matters.” The position will report directly to Travis Proulx, holding responsibility for developing advocacy and lobbying strategy and pursuing federal research funding. The position will also strengthen Fordham’s relationships with elected officials in the nation’s capital. “The individual will be Fordham’s ‘boots on the ground’ in D.C.,” said Proulx. “With President Tetlow’s team, the director will advocate for actions and policies that further our mission and serve the best interests of the university community.” Proulx also described how having someone stationed at the nation’s capital will be critical to strengthening the process of direct communication between Fordham and the White House.
SEE NARCAN, PAGE 4
ALLISON SCHNEIDER/THE FORDHAM RAM
A sign outside the Public Safety parking office informs students of the lack of student jobs.
Student Employees Have Hours Reduced Due to ‘Budget Constraints’ By ALLISON SCHNEIDER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Office of Student Employment sent an email to student employees announcing that, beginning Feb. 22, all student workers will only be permitted to work a maximum of 10 hours per week. Previously, student employees were permitted to work up to 15
hours a week depending on their position. The email, sent on Feb. 13, said the cut was due to “budget constraints.” In a later email to The Fordham Ram on Feb. 14, the Office of Student Employment said these constraints were related to “reductions in federal funding, increases to the minimum wage, and hours worked by
students.” Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, New York City’s minimum wage increased from $16.00 per hour to $16.50 per hour. It is not yet clear exactly how many students will be affected by the change or which positions are excluded from the reduction in hours, although students working as building SEE HOURS, PAGE 5
Career Center Hosts Turning Skills Into Careers Panel By JESSICA RITTER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
who has quickly risen from bartender to manager in just over a month. Baker spent last semester studying abroad in Spain before returning to Fordham and joining Barnyard. Her quick promotion wasn’t
The Career Center hosted “Beyond the Club: Turning Skills into Careers Panel” on Thursday, Feb. 11. The panel featured Fordham alumni who shared how they leveraged their club leadership roles in landing job opportunities postgrad. The event was the first in a two-part collaboration series with the Office for Student Involvement (OSI) regarding clubto-career readiness. It offered a $200 bonus added to the budget of the club with the most members in attendance as an incentive. The event was organized by Allyson Blatz, the assistant director for
SEE BARNYARD, PAGE 5
SEE CAREER, PAGE 5
ANDREW MASSIE/THE FORDHAM RAM
Bouncers, bartenders and other staff are briefed on their duties before the night begins.
‘We’re Taking Barnyard Back’ Says New Student Manager By ANDREW MASSIE FEATURES EDITOR
The atmosphere is quiet in the hours before opening at Barnyard BBQ. Chairs scrape against the floor as staff move seats off the dance floor. Bartenders
unload new bottles, cut limes and refill ice. For a college bar, this level of preparation would be surprising. Instead, it’s a reflection of new leadership. At the center of big changes is Sydney Baker, FCRH ’26,
SEE FEDERAL, PAGE 4
in this issue
Opinion Page 7 This Shamrock is Shaking Things Up
Culture
Page 17
The Subway Is...
Sports
Page 19
The Eagles Prevent History