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The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

The Observer

MACKENZIE COOPER

MACKENZIE COOPER, News Editor

Mackenzie Cooper (she/her), FCLC ’28 is a news editor for The Observer. She is double majoring in journalism and international studies. Outside the office, you can find her buying another pair of shoes or roaming the MET.

All content by MACKENZIE COOPER
Porras Ruiz cited SNL and the Trump administration as a turning point in his strive for political awareness.

Fordham First-Year Runs for Office

April 15, 2026
Santiago Porras Ruiz is running for a seat on the Democratic County Committee of Queens while balancing school and a full time job.
The former Venezuelan Consulate, located in Midtown Manhattan, closed after diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela were severed.

Controversy Flares Over U.S. Actions in Venezuela

February 4, 2026

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was extradited from his home in Venezuela on Jan. 3 to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn by the United States (U.S.) Army Delta Force and is facing...

Hospital nurses protested outside Mount Sinai West to preserve benefits that are at risk in new contracts by hospitals city-wide.

What You Missed in New York During Winter Break

January 21, 2026

As the new year begins, New York City has already seen significant changes, from new governmental policies to the formation of new unions and a two-week nurses’ strike. The city remains a focal point...

Several humanities departments and the FCLC Honors Program both received significant budget cuts.

LC’s Academic Program Budget Cuts

December 3, 2025

Several departments in Fordham’s School of Arts and Sciences had their budgets significantly reduced for this year without the department heads being notified, according to several faculty members. Professor...

Zohran Mamdani is currently in the process of hiring his new transition team ahead of his Jan. 1 inauguration.

What’s New, New York?

December 3, 2025

New York City has experienced various significant events in the last few months. Here’s a recap of some of the most notable moments.  New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on charges...

From left to right: Ali Velshi, winner of the Ann M. Sperber Prize; Alan Sperber, brother of Ann. M Sperber; Connie Chung, winner of the 25 Anniversary Career Achievement Award.

Ann M. Sperber Prize Celebrated 25 Years

November 19, 2025

On Nov. 10, the 2025 Ann M. Sperber Prize was awarded to Ali Velshi, a Canadian journalist, senior economic and business correspondent for NBC News, and anchor for MSNBC News. Velshi’s book “Small...

Zohran Mamdani was elected as the next mayor of New York City on Nov. 4 and will take office on Jan. 1, 2026.

Two Million Turned Out to Vote

November 5, 2025

Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election to become the 111th mayor of New York City. He will be the first Muslim American New York City mayor, and the youngest candidate to win in over a century.  The...

Curtis Sliwa, known for starting the Guardian Angels, is running for mayor for the second time.

Mayoral Candidates Face Off In Debate

October 22, 2025

NBC 4 New York hosted the first of the two New York City mayoral debates on Oct. 16 at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios. All three candidates — Curtis Sliwa, Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani — were...

Peter Zangari is the donor of the $1 million donation towards advancing Fordham’s artificial intelligence research.

Fordham Receives $1 Million AI Research Gift

October 8, 2025

Fordham University has received a $1 million gift from a former finance and business executive and alumnus to advance its growing fund for artificial intelligence (AI) research. This donation marks the...

Conservatism is a cultural, social and political philosophy and ideology that promotes and preserves traditional values.

The Rise of Conservatism

September 24, 2025

Conservatism is on the rise among Gen Z, and Fordham students are growing increasingly aware of this phenomenon.   Conservatism in the United States is deeply rooted in the belief that the interpretation...

Mayoral candidate and state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s platform focuses on affordable housing, free bus fares and addressing income inequality.

Local Updates to Politics, Crime and Economy

September 10, 2025

New York City saw various changes this summer, including Zohran Mamdani winning the mayoral primary, the end of broker fees, new corruption allegations around the Adams administration, unusually high heat...

Fordham’s new logo can now be found on all merchandise sold at the bookstore.

New Class, New Changes

September 10, 2025

Fordham University hosted its new student orientation here at Lincoln Center, welcoming the Class of 2029. The rush of incoming freshmen was accompanied by further changes, from a new logo to a shift to...

Fordham Celebrates 180th Commencement

Fordham Celebrates 180th Commencement

May 22, 2025

Fordham University marked its 180th commencement on Saturday, May 17, celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2025 under both stormy and clear skies, complete with summery hot temperatures. The...

Pope Leo XIV is the second pope born in the Western hemisphere, after his predecessor Pope Francis.

Leo XIV Calls for Peace

May 8, 2025

Pope Leo XIV, formerly cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected as pope on May 8.  A Chicago native, Leo is the first U.S. citizen to become pope — although he also holds Peruvian citizenship,...

Julie Gafney, executive director of the Center for Community Engaged Learning, comments on Fordham's EPA grant termination.

EPA Cancels $60 Million Fordham Grant

May 7, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency has terminated the program that gave Fordham a $60 million grant for environmental justice programs, according to an email sent by Tania Tetlow on May 6. Through...

The Trump administration has rolled back its visa revocations, reinstating the legal status of over 1,000 international students nationwide.

Universities Stand Together

April 30, 2025

All four Fordham international student visas revoked by the federal government have been restored as of 10 a.m. on April 27, according to Fordham’s website. “At this time, all international visas...

Both NYPD Legal and regular officers were in attendance during the protest, standing off to the sides.

Fordham SJP Hosts Detention Protest

April 10, 2025

Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) hosted a rally outside of the Lowenstein Center on April 8 against the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland...

A group of eight protestors climbed on stage as city comptroller Brad Lander was speaking, chanting “off fossil fuels Brad” and “Black Rock Brad.”

Mayoral Candidates Go Back to School

April 9, 2025

Democratic mayoral primary candidates faced questions on housing, education, climate change and transit at a forum hosted by a student climate advocacy group at the New York Society for Ethical Culture...

Fordham Health Services cannot provide contraceptives due to the school's strong Jesuit beliefs.

The Fight For Contraceptive Access

March 26, 2025
Jesuit Universities across the US have strong Jesuit principles resulting in no contraceptives being distributed on their campuses.
Mayoral candidates from left to right; Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Michael Blake and Zohran Mamdani.

Primary Candidates Speak at Forum

February 5, 2025

Seven Democratic New York City mayoral candidates took to the stage to address topics ranging from banning masks at protests to what their favorite subway stations are on Jan. 29 at B’nai Jeshurun synagogue...

Dalia Lundquist, a freshman at FGSB, holds up a photo of a house from the neighborhood right next to her school.

“It’s All Ash”

January 22, 2025

The California wildfires, which began on Jan. 7, have devastated various parts of Los Angeles County. The wildfires started in the Palisades, moving towards Eaton and Hurst counties and ending up in...

Anne Hoffman (center right) mentored countless students in her decades teaching at Fordham.

Anne Golomb Hoffman, Professor Emerita, Dies at 78

November 20, 2024

Anne Golomb Hoffman, professor of English and modern Hebrew literature Emerita at Fordham passed away suddenly from a heart attack at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, New York, on Nov. 4. She was...

Resident assistants escorted students to nearby polling locations on election day, reinforcing Fordham’s tradition of encouraging democratic participation.

Campus Ministry Walks Voters

November 7, 2024

Fordham Campus Ministry organized resident assistants to walk students to polling locations to facilitate voting in Tuesday’s presidential election. Campus Ministry worked closely with The League...

The Fordham community reacts to the September presidential debate hosted by ABC.

Fordham’s Debate Takes

September 25, 2024

Fordham community members came away from the debate divided: The candidates’ onstage behavior aroused determination to cast their vote in November in some viewers, but discouraged others.  Vice President...

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