csalc@fordham.edu @csa_lc
Are you a commuting student? interested in writing for the newsletter? contact us via email or dm!
Commuting Students Association 140 West 62nd Street New York City, NY 10023
Commuting Students Association Fordham University Lincoln Center 2019-20 Newsletter Recap
Coming into the new school year, the Commuting Students Association [CSA] at Fordham Lincoln Center was looking forward to advocating for new changes for commuting students. However, with no premonition on events later to come, what “change” meant required constant revision contingent to rapidly developing circumstances. In the fall semester, CSA had achieved several milestones within the organization’s history. One of CSA’s goals was to increase social media outreach to commuter students, especially those who were a part of the incoming class of 2023 seeking amity in their first year of college. The CSA Instagram page has since then amassed over 400 followers, extending out to past commuting students, current commuting students, and incoming commuting students. CSA also reached out to Fordham departments to collaborate on joint meetings. Many successful general meetings included Kognito and a discussion on mental health awareness with Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), a Resume Rush curated for commuting students with the Office of Career Services, and a Halloween table-talk
about the importance of sustaining community with Campus Ministry.
campus newspaper. In collaboration with the Office of Multicultural
Additionally, CSA had the opportunity this year to work with both new and familiar organizations and clubs. In celebration and homage to CSA’s first meeting where commuting students participated in an ice-breaker competition to see who had the “best” commuter horror story, CSA and The Observer composed a piece that coalesced all those stories and then successfully published the joint feature in the 2019 Halloween Edition of the
Affairs and the F.A.C.E. series with Fordham University Lincoln Center’s cultural organizations, CSA brought the diverse tastes of New York City to the Fordham campus with empanadas, baklava, and bubble tea. On behalf of Fordham University Lincoln Center commuting students, the CSA E-Board would also like to thank CPS, the Office of Career Services, Campus Ministry, The Observer, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and Fordham’s cultural
clubs for their endless creativity and for their great communication and collaboration - CSA is grateful for having worked with you all! While CSA had achieved much in its fall semester and beginning of spring semester, its planned spring semester events were suspended and cancelled due to the university’s on-campus shutdown as a result of the pandemic. Nevertheless, high spirits still remained and weekly general meetings and E-Board meetings proceeded to take place on Zoom. Though it may have not had the same sentiment as reading their oaths aloud together while placing their hands onto a singular MetroCard, the 2020-21 CSA E-Board members were elected thanks to a Zoom call and a trusty Google form. Though the year was not at all what Fordham expected, many great things can be said about what student organizations were able to accomplish in the time given. CSA has executed many of its objectives thanks to the efforts of the E-Board, the Senators, and the clubs and departments who were kind in their outreach and sincerely believed in CSA’s initiative to create more inclusivity on-campus.
MEET THE E-BOARD PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
TREASURER
Mayra Guallpa
Hannah Kang
Katherine Lee Class of 2022 Computer Science
Class of 2022 Economics, Anthropology
Favorite On-the-Go Snack: Tangerines
Favorite Argo Drink: Iced Matcha Vanilla!
Favorite Film: Castle in the Sky (Laputa)
Favorite Bubble Tea: Rose Milk Tea
Class of 2022 Computer Science
Class of 2022 English, Pre-Law Track
PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR
SECRETARY
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Aria Montenegro Frankie Osso
Dora Or
Class of 2020 Sociology, Political Science, Latin American Studies
Favorite Place in Fordham: CSA Office
Class of 2022 Psychology, Sociology, Disability Studies
Favorite Napping Spot: Lowenstein 6th Floor
OUR SENATORS!
The CSA E-Board would like to give a big thanks to our wonderful Senators. Upon meeting you all, we knew immediately this was going to be one of our best years. You’ve shown diligence, commitment, and generosity through the devotion of your time and energy to assisting us at our events. You are all dedicated students who help bring our ideas to life, and without your helping hands our events would be short of their successes. From small-scale events like Coffee Breaks to large-scale events like UrbaNight, you’ve never failed to impress us with your positivity and work ethics, even when things weren’t looking great ahead. We know to never expect less, because you all deliver when it counts. Most of all, we emphasize that you are the true voices of commuter students; there isn’t a Commuting Students Association without you. We’re so unbelievably grateful to call you our senators and friends. We love you all so incredibly much, and we cannot wait to see you all in-person next semester. From us to you: congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished this year. Hugs from here!
Adam Faid Class of 2023
Arman Abelian Class of 2023
Aryee McGirt Class of 2023
Gabriel Garcia Class of 2023
Jill Ji Class of 2023
Jonida Tato Class of 2022
Leandra Rodriguez Class of 2022
Melissa Gao Class of 2023
Philip Pantitanonta Class of 2023
Peter Cwalina Class of 2023
Samantha Brandt Class of 2022
Zoë Sheares Class of 2022
EVENT RECAP COMMUTING STUDENTS APPRECIATION WEEK [CSAW]
Following this year’s theme of space and extraterrestrial life, Commuter Student Appreciation Week began with an alien-encounter escape room at Clue Chase’s headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. Though they were followed all night by a mobile clue bot who occasionally intervened for hints, the team had a successful night, beating the clock with 6.24.57 minutes left to spare. Following the escape room outing was Tuesday’s Movie Night for Men In Black; with Justino’s Pizza being passed around, it was a night of classics. Speaking of classics, Wednesday’s dinner outing took CSA to Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square to eat and enjoy the retro lit-up restaurant. As Broadway singers sang live ABBA tracks from Mamma Mia, the CSA E-Board shared milkshakes akin to 1950s teens. Thursday’s event called for a day of gratitude. Hosted together with Campus Ministry, CSA delivered an early Thanksgiving with Boston Market entrees. With many students and faculty gathered inside the Student Lounge, CSA and Campus Ministry were able to achieve a semblance of togetherness with the Fordham University Lincoln Center family.
URBANIGHT
The final night of CSAW concluded with alien inflatables, iridescent confetti, and a breakfast bar that never seemed to end. As the biggest event of the year, UrbaNight followed through in delivering the intergalactic experience: with strobes and glow sticks lighting up the room, as well as the New York City night sky exposed through the Atrium window panels, UrbaNight set the tone to recreate interstellar and celestial spaces. The raffle prizes were very ambitious, ranging from an outer space tapestry to a Himaylayan salt lamp to even a mini drone with a functioning camera. All the while, the surrounding game and recreation stations included DIY sand art and lava lamps as take-home memorabilia, as well as the traditional polaroids with friends. What made this year’s UrbaNight especially significant is that, though there was tribulation in the beginning in set-up, the end of the night brought together all Fordham students alike and ultimately achieved its goal in celebrating and appreciating commuter students.
GAME NIGHT
Though there’s no harm in friendly competition, CSA’s Game Nights have garnered an infamous reputation for intense gameplay amongst students. Air hockey, Monopoly, Jenga - you name it. It’s a time where commuters can destress and play games with other students, giving them that informal space to de-stress and relax with others after a long day of school and other commitments. This year the highlight of Game Night is awarded to the two-hour long Scrabble battle between two teams during the early spring semester. The teams were Senators versus E-Board, raising the stakes of the game. It was made clear that using Latin words and phrases were off the table, though it didn’t stop the teams from being creative with their word choices. The senators won the Scrabble competition after two hours of gameplay, acquiring over 66 points with their final word “Jive.” Ultimately there was a respect for sportsmanship, and though admittedly the nights may heighten as a result of the competitive atmosphere, the lively teamwork and collaboration is never outshined.
MIDDAY BREAKFAST
This year’s fall semester Midday Breakfast is undoubtedly one of CSA’s greatest successes. With over 130 attendees at the event, CSA has achieved a record number in student presence. The intent of Midday Breakfast is to offer such meal services for commuter students who are starting the week of finals in response to the commuting students’ concern of not being able to attend the university’s Midnight Breakfast. The success and reputation of Midday Breakfast precedes itself, but this year especially did it succeed in providing these well-deserved resources. The record breaking attendance was not only a celebration of the last day of classes and the unstoppable work ethics and spirits of the Fordham community (especially those of the Fordham University Lincoln Center commuting student body), but it also reassured that the organization’s mission to responding to the needs and concerns of the commuter population is being effectively communicated and received well.
2019 2020