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
MICHELLE AGARON

MICHELLE AGARON, Assistant News Editor

Michelle Agaron, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, is an assistant news editor for The Observer. She is an English major, which makes it very hard to guess what some of her favorite pastimes are (definitely not reading and writing). When she’s not partaking in stereotypical English major activities, she enjoys strolling through the nearest park, trying her hand at baking and strengthening her video editing skills.

All content by MICHELLE AGARON
for article about grades, photo of an exam with an F grade on it

Fordham Deans Clarify Alleged Crackdown on Grades Rumor

March 30, 2021
The deans of FCRH and FCLC issued a joint statement clarifying that the call for stricter evaluation applied to students who did not complete their coursework but still received passing grades.
Melissa Quiroz in PPE holding Covid-19 test tubes

Reflecting On a Year of COVID-19

March 18, 2021
A year into the pandemic, students recall their experiences from March 2020 and reflect on the different courses their lives have taken since.
truck stuck in snow during texas winter storm

Fordham Students Navigate a Historic Winter Storm in Texas

March 4, 2021
Fordham students recount their firsthand experiences living through one of the worst winter storms in Texas’ history.
Chad Davis poses at the Voice Arts Awards

Dynamic Performer and Fordham Doctoral Student Chad Davis Dies at Age 40

February 8, 2021
Davis is remembered as a phenomenal performer, passionate psychologist and a genuinely warm spirit.
Rev. Massingale speaks to an audience at Fordham

Rev. Massingale Speaks About the Meaning of Christmas on ABC News

December 30, 2020
Fordham professor and renowned theologian Rev. Bryan Massingale, S.J., shared the meaning of Christmas on ABC News: “Christmas is the story of telling us that there’s no place where God chooses not to be.”
photo of samples at a covid testing center to accompany an article about rising positive cases among students

Coronavirus Cases Are Rising Again in NYC –– What Does This Mean for Fordham?

November 21, 2020
A reported 11 positive coronavirus test results at Lincoln Center and 56 at Rose Hill correlate with the rise of cases in NYC.
a photo of Frank Puppola

Frank Puppola, Fordham Watch Engineer, Dies at 70 Years Old

November 12, 2020
Frank Puppola, a watch engineer at Fordham Lincoln Center who was known for his genial and selfless nature, died suddenly at his work station in the Leon Lowenstein Center on Oct. 28.
graphic of person unfriending someone named "problematic boyfriend" on facebook

The Role of Politics in Relationships — Neutral, Insidious or Destructive?

October 26, 2020
The Observer's political survey respondents share experiences with the role of politics in personal relationships.
a graphic illustration showing the covid-19 reponse of fordham, columbia, and NYU. Fordham: infection rate 0.30%, total cases 30, assigned grade B-. Columbia: infection rate 0.06%, total cases 15, assigned grade B+. NYU: infection rate 0.16%, total cases 294, assigned grade B

Reopening in a Hotspot: Fordham’s COVID-19 Response Compared to Other NYC Schools

October 15, 2020
Despite recieving an F for COVID-19 communication, Fordham has managed to keep COVID-19 case relatively low on campus compared to other NYC schools.
the outside of the Leon Lowenstein Center viewed from the Outdoor Plaza

University Announces Free Courses for Summer 2021

September 30, 2020
Father McShane announces the option of taking two free courses for the summer semester and elaborates on housing refunds for students.
NYWICI Awardee

Fordham Junior Receives Prestigious NYWICI Award

September 21, 2020
New York Women in Communications awared Daejah Woolery, FCLC ’22, with the Carlozzi Family Scholarship to pursue TV screenwriting.
a photo of Title IX coordinator Kareem Peat taken with the Rose Hill campus in the background

Changes to Title IX Enact a Strict Burden of Proof

September 18, 2020
Students were informed of the May 2020 changes to Title IX at the start of this semester. Survivors of sexual assault fear the implications of the new rules.
a list of the organizations who have committed to the USG anti-discrimination pledge

Fordham Clubs Join Forces With USG to Pledge Anti-Discrimination Action

August 20, 2020
USG released an anti-discrimination pledge on July 18, which has garnered 24 signees from clubs and organizations on the Lincoln Center campus.
A laptop and tablet on a desk with Zoom open on both screens

Fordham Details Hybrid Learning Plan for Fall 2020

July 29, 2020
As the fall semester draws closer, Fordham is providing more details that pertain to the hybrid learning plan. While the university is pushing for optimism and innovation, students continue to worry about their safety.
birth control pills in their package

Controlling Sexual Health On Campus

July 28, 2020
Sexual education and the need for birth control have been neglected by Fordham due to its Jesuit affiliation.
a lowenstein elevator at full capacity, disallowed under fordham's reopening plan

Fordham’s Reopening Plan is ‘Too Little, Too Late’

July 9, 2020
Fordham's delayed decision on a plan for the upcoming semester has made it difficult for many students to make their own plans for the fall.
graphic with the words "list of demands: email administrators in asili bio

ASILI Demands Fordham Address Anti-Blackness on Campus

June 28, 2020
The Black Student Alliance at Rose Hill created an Instagram and email campaign with a list of demands for university administration.
Cammarosano standing in a suit in tie in front of a glass door

‘Beating Heart of Fordham’ Joseph Cammarosano Passes Away at 97

June 23, 2020
The Fordham alumnus, former administrator and economics professor emeritus passed away from congestive heart failure on May 19.
a student walks out of the doors of McMahon Hall while dragging two suitcases behind her

Students Frustrated With Silent ResLife as Semester Draws Closer

June 17, 2020
While Fordham maintains its optimism for an in-person fall semester, returning students face rising anxieties. Three Fordham students voice their concerns regarding ResLife’s silence about their housing situations this upcoming fall semester.
volunteers cleaning up in the bronx

Fordham Clubs Creatively Fundraise for #BLM Movement

June 4, 2020
Following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Fordham clubs organize creative fundraisers to raise money for various funds.
a NYC metrocard being pulled out of a wallet with a Fordham ID in it

Fordham’s Financial Steps and Missteps During the Pandemic

May 13, 2020
With pressure from students, faculty and policymakers, Fordham's financial steps during the pandemic became subject to criticism.
The Ram Cafe empty of students while workers take a break at the tables in the back

The Finances Behind Fordham’s Workforce

May 13, 2020
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Fordham’s finances were stable. Now, Aramark employees and work-study students face growing concerns.
Textbooks stacked on a shelf

UPDATED: Belongings Left With No Return

April 28, 2020
The last time most Fordham students saw their dorms and all the belongings within them was the middle of March. Due to Governor Andrew Cuomo extending the lockdown in NYC, the date for picking up student belongings remains unclear as students across the world voice their varying concerns.
A large group of protesters gathered in Times Square, many holding signs

Coronavirus Pushes Earth Day Celebrations Online

April 25, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Fordham's Environmental Club and Social Innovation Collaboratory pushed their celebrations and activism online through a multitude of interactive and informative events.
The door and sign of university health services at Lincoln Center

Utilizing University Health Services for COVID-19

April 22, 2020
As the city struggles with the rapid spread of the virus, Fordham Health Services continues to serve students and staff remotely.
A selfie of incoming student Jenna Fazzone

Welcoming the Class of 2024 Digitally

April 21, 2020
Incoming students are having to take virtual tours, attend online Zoom sessions and rely on Facebook groups to get to know their future classmates.
As new projections about the longevity of the virus and its spread are being released, returning to Fordham in the near future is becoming less likely. 

Uncertainty Over Summer 2020 Courses Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

April 7, 2020
Fordham has responded to this uncertainty by changing the structure of their summer school courses for 2020.
Stove’s Comedy Club at Lincoln Center is one of the student organizations that has transitioned to online meetings.

Student Clubs and Organizations Responds to Distance Learning

April 1, 2020
All Fordham clubs and organizations were forced to suspend in-person meetings and either cancel or rework events planned months in advance. With little to no time to adjust to the switch to online communication, some clubs are trying to maintain a sense of normalcy and continue regular operations while others pivoted in a completely different direction.
United Student Government (USG), Rainbow Alliance and The Positive pushed for inclusivity of all genders on campus by advocating for gender-neutral bathrooms, use of chosen names on official Fordham documents, and safe housing for gender-netural and transgender students. 

Five Years Later, Gender-Inclusive Housing Options Announced

March 10, 2020
After a five-year debate about the rights and safety of transgender and gender non-conforming students, Fordham College Lincon Center announced that it will offer gender-neutral housing to its residents for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year.
Students can now meet in small groups to share their experiences and get guidance from facilitators.

CPS Promises Free and Long-Term Services in Group Therapy

February 19, 2020
For most students around campus, knowledge of Fordham’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) has always centered around the 10 free individual sessions offered to students before they have to start paying for counseling. Although this limit may serve as a deterrent for some students, given the additional financial cost, CPS is now offering a free and long-term alternative: group therapy.
For Khan, the bottom line is this: “We need to come out of our fear and into our power. Every person can grow into their fears, their passions and their freedom.”

Co-Founder of #BlackLivesMatter Toronto Speaks at Fordham

January 29, 2020
On the evening of Feb. 23, Fordham students, staff and administration gathered to hear Janaya Khan, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in Toronto, speak. At 6:30 p.m., a silence fell upon the crowd as the speaker prepared to begin. 
Understanding how to use an EpiPen is the first step to being considerate of friends with severe allergies.

A Guide to Dining with Severely Allergic Friends

December 4, 2019
Dining with friends who have severe food allergies is no joke. Simple steps like learning how to use an EpiPen or just checking in with you your friend can help to make the experience less stressful.
Advocates for clean air host the Great Smokeout each year by occupying a table in the Lowenstein lobby.

Annual Great Fordham Smokeout Spotlights Vaping

December 4, 2019
Since its inception, the primary goal of the Great Fordham Smokeout has been to educate students about the dangers of smoking and decrease smoking on campus. In response to an increase in reporting and nationwide news about the topic, the focus of the 2019 campaign has shifted to vape products and e-cigarettes.
Jenifer Campbell, senior director of Residential Life, said that “staff within the Office of Residential Life has focused on providing information and updates as early and in many cases as often as possible in an effort to make certain residents are aware of programs, events and facilities issues.”

ResLife Seeks Open Communication With Residents

November 13, 2019
On Sept. 11, 2019, ResLife sent a full outline of how all Fordham breaks will affect residence halls to residents. Another email was sent to residents on Oct. 28, restating the information from the first email.
Aramark, one of the largest nationwide food-and-services providers, has received criticism in the past for its track record- particularly in correctional facilities.

Aramark Faces Criticism

October 30, 2019
Aramark, the dining services provider for Fordham University, was not invited to renew its 35-year contract with NYU this year, reigniting debates about the catering company's role on Fordham's own campus.
While rats may reign as New York's rodent rulers, Fordham researchers are working to help take back the city from their paws.

Fordham Research Repels NYC’s Rodents

October 16, 2019
With rat populations continuing to rise, concerns over the issue are growing in tandem with the infestation itself. However, several Fordham researchers are at the forefront of a scientific study aimed to control the issue.
ResLife further opens to door to include TGNCI students on campus housing.

Fordham Introduces More Inclusivity in Housing Application

October 2, 2019
This year Fordham has taken a step to make housing applications more inclusive for transgender or gender-nonconforming individuals (TGNCI). The class of 2023 was the first class to have the option of expressing gender non-conformity in the housing application.
After lack of interest when it opened last year, Quinn X was rebranded for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Quinn X Reopens for the Second Time This Year

September 18, 2019
Advertised as "the silent study space," Quinn X returns with a more concrete idea of what it offers students.
Marlin Jenkins, FCRH ’98, aims to provide internet for low income households.

Bridging the Bronx

March 14, 2019
Contributing Writer Michelle Agaron speaks with Fordham alumnus, Marlin Jenkins, about his company that is providing free internet to low-income families in the Bronx.
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