The Fordham Observer

A group of pro-Palestine students have begun rallying outside the Leon Lowenstein Building at 1:00 PM EST. This comes eight days after 15 students and alum were arrested at an encampment-style protest held inside of the Lowenstein Center lobby.

“They can sweep our encampments, they can arrest us, suspend us, ban us from campus, expel us, surveil us, attack us, but they CANNOT SILENCE US,” an Instagram post by Fordham SJP promoting the protest read.

The Fordham for Palestine Coalition issued a press release this afternoon announcing that the students and alumni arrested on May 1 would return to campus to demand divestment from companies affiliated with Israel’s war in Gaza and the end of NYPD presence at the Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) campus.

NYPD officers set up barricades limiting access to the 60th Street entrance and are monitoring the growing crowd. Additional Public Safety officers are inspecting FUIDs before students enter the building.

BREAKING: Eleven students who were suspended and arrested last week after participating in a protest-style encampment have had their housing, academic and graduation suspensions lifted by Dean of Students at Lincoln Center and Rose Hill, Jenifer Campbell and Christopher Rodgers after hearings were held on Tuesday, May 7. 

Fordham’s student conduct procedure states that accused students will be relieved from sanctions pending the conclusion of their hearings. According to Campbell in a statement to The Observer, the students must now wait for the university to issue its findings. 

The students are still awaiting formal court hearings for their arrests including offenses for misdemeanor trespassing. 

Written by: Insiya Gandhi and Alexa Villatoro
Photo By: Dan McDermott

CORRECTION: A previous post incorrectly stated that 13 of the arrested were undergraduate students and 2 alumni. As of May 3 this post has been updated to reflect current information.

UPDATE: The Observer can confirm that all individuals arrested at yesterday’s encampment were members of the Fordham community. The group comprised of 11 students and 4 alumni.

To read more, click the link in our bio to head to our website. This is a developing story, with more information to come.

Police have arrested all remaining participants in the encampment and swept the cite

NYDP personnel have entered the building, protesters have moved to the Gabelli School of Business

Police in helmets have circled the Lowenstein Center directly in front of the encampment

Earlier this morning, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake rattled the Northeastern region of the U.S. at 10:23 a.m. EST, sending shocks across the state of New Jersey, the five boroughs, Philadelphia and as north as Boston on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS reported the earthquake’s epicenter was Lebanon, New Jersey, 50 miles west of New York City.

Robert Fitzer, associate vice president for public safety said that the campuses will remain open and operate as scheduled. He added that members of the university community will be updated as necessary.

To read more, head to our website at the link in bio.

Written by: Insiya Gandhi
Photo by: Maryam Beshara

Breaking: Police Pursuit Ends In Crash Outside Rose Hill Campus

Undergraduate tuition and food and housing fees will increase by 4.4% for the 2024-25 academic year. The announcement was made by John Buckley, vice president for enrollment, in a university-wide email sent on March 13.

The tuition increase follows the 6% hike in enrollment costs from the previous 2023-24 academic year. Tuition had not been raised since the 2020-21 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Buckley explained that Fordham is continuing to work on controlling expenses by making cuts that do not impact the ability for the university to provide a “high-impact education.” He cited demands from employees for increases in compensation, alongside inflation and being located in New York City as reasons that have made this difficult.

In a press conference with The Observer and The Fordham Ram, Rose Hill’s undergraduate publication, on Feb. 27, University President Tetlow stated that the investment in a Fordham education “pays off,” but that continued increase in the cost of higher education is “hitting the ceiling of what an American family can afford to pay.”

According to Buckley, the university plans to increase its financial aid pool by “millions” for students with the greatest need.

“Please be assured that the University will continue to work hard at finding efficiencies while delivering on our Jesuit mission to provide the transformational Fordham education you’ve come to expect,” Buckley said.

Written by: Alexa Villatoro
📸: Observer Archives

Whether your niche is film, television, music, or all of the above, entertainment fans can agree upon the excitement of the winter season as a flood of celebrations and honors occur — from the Golden Globes to the Emmys, Grammys and Oscars.

On the heels of the Golden Globes, a celebration of both film and television, the Television Academy got its spotlight as the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards aired on Jan. 15. Unlike the Golden Globes, the Emmys solely focus on awards in television, allowing not only actors to be recognized for their work, but directors, writers and creative teams as well.

The Emmys — delayed from their original September date due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes — celebrated several wins for fan-favorite series such as “Succession” and “The Bear,” and was ranked as one of the most diverse years in the ceremony’s history.

To read more, click the link in our bio to head to our website.

Written by: Juju Jaworski
Graphic by: Tara Lentell

Following an intense, nationwide, seven-month competitive search, Michele Burris assumed the position of vice president of student affairs on Jan. 10.

The announcement was made in a university-wide email from University President Tania Tetlow on the same day, noting that Burris would begin her position immediately.

Burris expressed excitement in taking on the role permanently because of her eagerness to continue her work with university leaders to serve students at Fordham.

“I’m unbelievably honored to serve with President Tetlow, with the other members of the fabulous cabinet of vice presidents,” she said about embarking on her new tenure as vice president of student affairs.

To read more, click the link in our bio to be redirected to our website.

Written by: Stevie Fusco
Photo courtesy of: Michele Burris

The constant consumption of “scorched earth” news headlines and learning about those in power jeopardizing our future for profit is inescapable. Processing such information alone is becoming a heavy load to bear.  This poses a question for those looking to create real change and are wondering how they should go about doing so. 

What would be the best course of action for actualizing progress, spreading awareness and uplifting others — if not through community and cooperation — together? Protests are the most effective course of action for environmental justice. Protests and demonstrations allow participants to process an onslaught of intense information with those advocating for the same cause in meaningful ways in hopes of accomplishing change. 

To read more, click the link in our bio to be directed to our website.

Written by: Kenny Moll
Graphic by: Claire Seka

Clad in beanies, winter coats and keffiyehs, Fordham students across the university’s schools and campuses gathered in the snowy weather in front of the entrance to the Leon Lowenstein Center on 60th Street and Columbus Ave, to protest the war between Israel and Hamas on Jan. 19.

Roughly 30 people attended the demonstration, which was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) — the undergraduate group that remains unrecognized by Fordham University as an official club.

Students took turns with a bullhorn, delivering speeches and leading chants condemning the high human cost of the Israeli military’s campaign in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which has led to the loss of over 25,000 lives since Oct. 7. Additionally, the protestors accused the university’s administration of tacitly supporting what they referred to as a genocide in progress.

To read more, click the link in our bio to head to our website.

LESS THAN 24 HOURS until our second annual crossword competition! Bring your friends and come hungry. We’ll be providing Vanessa’s dumplings and a chance to win some great prizes. Swipe through the slides to see what you can win!

100 piece New Yorker jigsaw puzzle (not pictured), Manhattan skyline lego set, and a JBL speaker!

Calling all word wizards! Join us this Friday at 6:30 in G76 for The Observer's crossword puzzle competition! Solve, snack on dumplings, and have the chance to win the grand prize: a JBL speaker! We hope to see you there! 🧩🏆🎵

Kamille Dean, Esq., senior director of diversity, equity and inclusion in the Office of Student Affairs at Fordham Law School, has agreed to serve as the interim chief diversity officer (CDO). This announcement was made in a university-wide email sent from Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dennis Jacobs on Nov. 28.

According to Jacobs, Dean has administered “innovative pipeline programs and support systems to recruit and retain highly credentialed individuals to increase diversity and expand outreach for Fordham Law.”

“Kamille is a highly experienced, strategic, and deeply committed leader and educator who can help Fordham become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community,” he wrote.

The newly appointed interim CDO will continue to work part-time in the Office of Student Affairs at the Law School alongside her new role. She will serve as Fordham’s CDO as a search continues for Rafael Zapata’s, the inaugural CDO appointed in 2018, successor.

Dean has previously served as the director of the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and the director of diversity and inclusion at St. John’s University School of Law as well as having taught at Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas as a tenured associate professor.

Photo Courtesy of: Liz Moore

As we shared yesterday, The Observer has set a fundraising goal of $2,000 for Giving Tuesday in hopes of purchasing two new cameras for our editors and contributors to use because we are currently operating with one camera in our office as well as our creative director, Aurélien Clavaud’s, personal cameras and equipment. Due to this, we need your help to ensure that current and future generations of editors are not relying on their personal equipment and that editors and contributors can find The Observer as a place to further their photography skills and the stories they tell through photojournalism.

Hear from our editors about how your donations will help. We appreciate any contributions you can make to help us further our fundraising goal on Giving Tuesday!

As we shared yesterday, The Observer has set a fundraising goal of $2,000 for Giving Tuesday in hopes of purchasing two new cameras for our editors and contributors to use because we are currently operating with one camera in our office as well as our creative director, Aurélien Clavaud’s, personal cameras and equipment. Due to this, we need your help to ensure that current and future generations of editors are not relying on their personal equipment and that editors and contributors can find The Observer as a place to further their photography skills and the stories they tell through photojournalism.

Hear from our Online Editor Quincy about how your donations will help. We appreciate any contributions you can make to help us further our fundraising goal on Giving Tuesday!

For this Giving Tuesday, The Observer has set a fundraising goal of $2,000 in hopes of purchasing two new cameras for our editors and contributors to use. We are currently operating with one camera in our office as well as our creative director, Aurélien Clavaud’s, personal cameras and equipment. Due to this, we need your help to ensure that current and future generations of editors are not relying on their personal equipment and that editors and contributors can find The Observer as a place to further their photography skills and the stories they tell through photojournalism.

We appreciate any contributions you can make to help us further our fundraising goal on Giving Tuesday.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art — popularly known as The Met — has a wide range of art to offer, allowing its visitors to get lost traveling from Roman statues to Japanese illustrations. The Met offers various activities, including the current Manet/Degas exhibit and a rooftop garden commission.

While New York City is an abundance of riches when it comes to museums and exhibitions, The Met is a must-visit.

To view a collection of film and digital photographs taken from a Sunday afternoon at The Met, click the link in our bio to be directed to our website.

Article By: Audrey Crate and Olivia Sobczyk
Photo By: Olivia Sobcyzk

“The Minotaur” by Anna Ziegler delivers a modern retelling of a story exploring control and the human experience, with tales of Greek legends, mythical beasts and young love. At Fordham Lincoln Center, “The Minotaur” ravaged audiences with its witty humor and complex characters throughout its run at the Kehoe Theater from Oct. 5-7.

The actors in “The Minotaur” — empowered by the direction of Yev Gelman, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24 — give stellar performances and connect audiences to the fully fleshed out characters.

To read more, click the link in our bio to be directed to our website.

Article By: Caitlin Lambros
Photo Courtesy of: Lijah Schneider via Fordham Theatre

Join The Observer for a fun night of partner trivia and empanadas tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 6 p.m. in G76A!

Prizes include Observer merch, disposable cameras, and a yearlong membership to the Paley Center for Media.

Tens of thousands of protesters from across the country, including dozens of Fordham students, marched in the heart of Manhattan on Sept. 17 to demand an end to the use of fossil fuels in a collaborative action organized by grassroots organizations in New York City.

The protest, one of 650 actions organized throughout 60 countries by the Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels campaign, took place ahead of the U.N. Climate Ambition Summit held that week, which U.S. President Joe Biden did not attend. Protestors took specific aim at Biden, who promised in 2020 to phase out fossil fuels if elected president.

Written by Sam Bracy
Photo by Bruno Pruhs

Heavy rainfall across New York City on Sept. 29 disrupted public transportation, with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announcing suspensions, delays and rerouted train lines on Friday morning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood watch for New York City that went into effect from Friday morning at 2 a.m. to Saturday morning at 6 a.m. The agency then issued its first emergency alert at 10:46 a.m. on Friday morning, notifying residents of a flash flood warning and the possibility of a life-threatening impact to urban areas. Shortly after, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, urging residents to stay at home in response to the severe weather warnings.

Written by: INSIYA GANDHI and ALEXA VILLATORO
Photo Courtesy of: CORBIN GREGG AND TEAGAN ANGELL