Caroline Abella, Dove Ajmani, Grace Biesterfeld, Nicole Castaneda, Niamh Cogley, Mary Crandall, Angelica Torres del Valle, Katherine Dowd, Kenya Edwards, Lydia Hartshorn, Brielle Henderson, Layla Hughes, Isabella Le, Cindy Liu, Jada Lomeli, Ariana Sebourne, Nina Skelly, Madeline Smith, Monica Sapone, Kamalani Soriano
Cover Credits
Nicole Castaneda, Brielle Henderson, Layla Hughes, Jada
Photographer: Lucy Gile
Models: Caroline Abella and Niamh Cogley
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief
Dear MODE readers,
A big huge thank you to everyone who participated in the magazine this semester. I am so happy with all the work that came from everyone and all the directions that were explored. I cannot even begin to express how amazed I was reading everyone’s first drafts and getting so excited about the topics and how you all interpreted the theme in the most perfect ways. I am so overjoyed about this theme, and I’m so happy that you all got so much out of it and created so much amazing work. It would be incredible if this magazine were double the length so we could include every single gorgeous picture from all of the photoshoots from this semester. This theme is so special to me because NYC is the best place on earth, and it felt so necessary to express and celebrate all the joy and amazing things that come from this city that we all get to be in right at this moment! I’ve had the idea for this theme for over a year now, before I was elected Editorin-Chief, and it is so incredible to watch it come to life and see how everyone has captured what it is all about. You all made this theme feel as lively as I’d hoped. Thank you to everyone who attended the Zoom meetings and bore with me through it all across both semesters, when I was sleep-deprived, over-caffeinated, and jet-lagged, jumping between energies through each meeting. It feels so strange for this to be my last semester ever with MODE after eight of them. I can’t imagine my Fordham experience without MODE. It’s shaped so much for me, and has been a defining constant in every single semester. This is the best note to end it on!
Thank you to everyone who has given me so much support throughout the entire process of creating this magazine. Thank you to all of my roommates who have to hear about every little thing. Thank you to Niamh, who seemed to understand everything I was thinking at basically all times. I am so overjoyed we could have this cover moment together. I probably could not get through both of these semesters without you! Thank you to Lucy for shooting this cover and taking a million of the same exact post over and over again until we “had it”. Thank you to Kamalani and Kenya for pulling through and holding things down. Thank you to the E-Board for handling all of your various responsibilities and for getting through some craziness with me! This magazine is so special in making a space where people can create so much inspiring work and collaborate in so many different ways. Of course, thank you to everyone who participated in MODE these last two semesters. Please continue creating!
I <3 MODE
Fondly,
What a way to bring my time as Editor-in-Chief of MODE to a close. I’ll catch you somewhere in NYC.
Letter from the Photo Editor
Dear MODE,
There truly could not be a more fitting theme for my final issue as Photo Editor than I <3 NYC. It felt incredibly special to spend my last MODE semester working on an issue centred around the city we get to live, study, and create in every day. What feels so special about going to school in New York is how quickly the city itself becomes part of your university life. Your memories are not just tied to campus, but to neighbourhood walks, your local bodega cat, finding your favourite bagel spot, and the subway lines you learn by heart over the years. This issue really captures that part of the experience.
This semester has felt so full of MODE in the best way. Between so many shoots, working on layouts, and watching the team pull everything together, it has been one of those semesters where the magazine has been constantly present in my life. Some of my favourite parts of it have simply been chatting with Caroline and slipping so easily into that fun energy we always seem to find when it comes to MODE. There is something so special about getting excited together over what the issue is becoming.
Being on the cover with Caroline for my final issue feels like such an honour, and honestly, such a fun way to close this chapter. With Lucy behind the camera, it became the perfect last MODE shoot. We got to bop around our gorgeous neighbourhood and let the day unfold from there. The idea of writing “MODE <3 NYC” in mustard across a hot dog became a core part of the vision, which meant fully committing to finding a vendor who would let us take creative control of the condiments. I also tried to recruit a pigeon for the cover, standing on the sidewalk cooing at them and hoping one would understand our vision. It all felt playful, a little ridiculous, and exactly the kind of shoot I wanted to end on.
With love,
Another moment that felt especially special this semester was getting to include my dog, Delphi, in a MODE photoshoot. Getting to see such a personal part of my everyday life find its way into the magazine felt really meaningful, especially in my final semester. It reminded me how naturally MODE has woven itself through so many parts of my life throughout my time at Fordham.
As I finish my final issue, it really does feel like the end of something so special. MODE has been one of the most meaningful creative spaces of my time at Fordham, and I am so grateful for the community, friendship, and energy that has surrounded every shoot, meeting, and wild little idea along the way. I know I am going to miss this magazine so much, and there really is no better way to close this chapter than with an issue that celebrates the city that has held so much of it.
T T E R S E f r o m t h e
Hello, my lovely MODE readers!
I can’t believe that my year as a creative director is coming to an end! As always, I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to our Spring/Summer 2026 issue. Your eforts are truly appreciated!. To Caroline, I am in awe of how hardworking and talented you are. I am going to miss you so much! I will be texting you every week for help next year. To Kenya, it’s been so lovely collaborating on another issue. I hope to be working with you next year, as well! To the wonderful E-Board of MODE, we did it again! This magazine takes so much work, and every single contribution you all made is beautifully displayed in our newest issue. This issue’s theme is “I <3 NYC,” and I think that it perfectly describes my past three years here. The message I have to all those at Fordham is to never take for granted the privilege of being here. It is incredibly important to remember how lucky you are to study at a private institution, as well as have the opportunity to live in one of the greatest cities in the world. Your current experiences are someone’s dream! My other message is to take advantage of your time at Fordham, because it truly goes by quickly. Meet new people, venture to places you’ve never been, and soak up every single moment by staying present. Finally, many of you reading this (including me) are not from here, so I implore you to treat this city with respect. Respect your environment, involve yourself in your local communities, support small businesses, and educate yourself. Give back to the city that gives so much to you. If you love NYC, show it with your actions! Thank you for reading our newest edition of MODE Magazine. I hope you thoroughly enjoy it.
Sincerely, Kamalani Soriano
Hey loves,
I’m sooo excited to share this issue with you. Before you dive in, I just had to take a moment to say thank you—truly—to everyone who made this possible. The work, the energy, the creativity, the late nights, and all the little details that absolutely did not go unnoticed. I’m beyond proud of every single one of you.
A special shoutout to my co–creative director Kamalani and our EIC Caroline—working with you both and getting to know you more has been such a highlight. You are truly the best, and this wouldn’t be what it is without you.
What we created together is more than just pages—it’s a refection of talent, intention, passion, and the magic that happens when everyone brings their full selves to the table. There’s something so special about New York City and getting to do that here at Fordham makes it all even more meaningful.
I hope you fall in love with this issue the way we did creating it. Cheers to the best city in the world... New York or nowhere.
With so much love and appreciation, xoxo, Kenya Edwards C E V I T A R E D I R E C TO R S
Illustrations and layout by Caroline Abella
I <3 NY
No other sentence rings truer. With Fordham’s location in the greatest city in the world, New York City, it would be silly not to honor this in some way.
With students who have known the city their entire lives, and students who are here for the first time, there are so many reflections and perspectives to share.
This issue reflects everything it means to be here in New York City right now. New York City is so rich, it welcomes people from all parts of the world in every shape and form. It meets people where they are and becomes a space for them to grow and find themselves. There are so many spaces for people to fit into. So many cultures and new things to discover and be created. This city holds so much history.
With this issue, I hoped for this to be a space of reflection on everyone’s experience within the city, no matter how long it has been thus far. How it may play into their experiences with other major cities around the world, and how it compares to anyplace else they’ve lived before. How the food, the streets, and experiencing different borroughs has effected them, and what has left a lasting impact on them. The things they see that they want to spotlight, and the things they feel should have more love shared with them.
What does it mean to be here right now? This issue gives you a taste of the here, the now, and what came before. If you’re actively in NYC while reading this, go explore and see new things, take it all in because there is so much to see! And if you’re reading this from anywhere else in the world, the city invites you here and/ or welcomes you back anytime!
New York forever!
- Caroline Abella
and there is truly nowhere to escape that gut-wrenching discomfort. The thought that they could be on the same train or just a few miles away triggers a spiral of “what-ifs” in one’s mind, whether it’s in communal spaces or across campuses.
Roan’s song serves as a mirror of the uncomfortable aspects of being young and in love in New York. The song explores how small this city really is, and how the odds of crossing paths with someone who once had such a hold on you are never as slim as we hope. The Subway is a transformative experience we know all too well; we have been there at one point another.
The harsh reminder that, no matter how many people live in a city, escape isn’t guaranteed. No matter how far you think you’ve gone, the past always finds its way back to you. It could be one stop away, or even sitting across from you, right now.
Everyone’s seen an iconic The New Yorker magazine cover. This publication has embellished and highlighted NY culture with unique reporting that keeps residents informed. Marking a century in the intellectual realm just last year, The New Yorker is celebrated for its wit, cartoons, and picturesque illustrations on every cover. Here’s how MODE envisions Fordham’s inevitable feature on this famous front one day.
THE JOYFUL INDEPENDENCE OF NYC IN “SEX
AND THE CITY”
By: Maggie Garza
New York City is often described by fans as the fifth lead of “Sex and the City,” and is particularly significant in the life of the main character, Carrie Bradshaw. The city serves as the backdrop for some of her most pivotal moments throughout the show, particularly moments where she takes control of her life.
Following Carrie’s first break-up with Mr. Big, Miranda takes the group to Yankee Stadium, where Carrie strikes up a connection with one of the players. Although Carrie’s connection with the player is brief, it represents her claiming her power following a break-up and enjoying all New York has to offer, specifically, in the form of a baseball game where she flirts with a baseball player, proudly displaying her sexuality and femininity.
Another important setting is the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, where Carrie and Big reconnect following his divorce from Natasha, with whom he had cheated on with Carrie. They are about to have lunch when Big throws Carrie off guard by trying to kiss her, which leads her to shove him away, pushing them both into the water. They share a laugh, but Carrie ultimately decides not to revisit the relationship, realizing that their affair caused more harm than good, even if they still care about each other. Carrie always comes back to her apartment on 66 Perry Street in the West Village, where
she lives throughout most of the show, and is emblematic of her virtual independence, regardless of whether she is in a relationship. She clings to this apartment as her writing space, her hookup spot, and her closet. This is where she is truly in control of her life, no matter what.
Ultimately, these landmarks convey the kind of joyful independence unique to New York City, each location representing a possibility for reinvention and growth.
Photographer: Niamh Cogley
Layout editor: Kenya Edwards
Models: Warda Hassan, Maeve McCurdy, Ellie Nguyen
Stylist: Maeve McCurdy
BIG CITY, Quiet Clamour, LOUD ART
Article by Mary Crandall
I can’t go anywhere in New York City without missing the buskers on the streets, the murals on the buildings, and the graffiti in the subway stations. Art is everywhere. It’s essential to the city’s flourishing. Beyond the glitz, the glamour, and the celebrities often associated with NYC, rests the true heartbeat of the city: the art scene. The local communities of artists that paint its streets vibrant with color, culture, and music keep the pulse alive. These artists, some of whom are native New Yorkers, others of whom made the journey to the big apple, are all chasing dreams purely energized on passion, hope, and freedom. These people are the singers, dancers, musicians, spray painters, muralists, actors, photographers, and the writers. All the artists in between, including the average New Yorker whose outfits can be so experimental they could be walking the runway. These experiments are what create and sustain the captivating spirit of NYC. These artists are most likely working two to three jobs, finding space for creativity in the
crevices of time between work and sleep. They may never see the golden gates of Hollywood, their face on a Times Square billboard, or the fortune and fame of the “successful” artist. Yet, these artists are what attract the celebrities and the industry’s CEOs to NYC for its promise of a glittering lifestyle and plentiful opportunity; these smaller artists are what create the magnetic atmosphere that draws so many in. In an era where the only voices that seem to be heard are the loudest ones, it can be easy to lose the quiet in the noise. But when I am standing on the city’s sidewalk, despite the roar of trains in the distance, and cars crowding the streets, the noise subsides and I can hear that heartbeat that keeps NYC alive.
Illistration by Maia Munich
The Rhythm of the City and the Dancers at Play
THE city’s invigorating nature appears in many forms. From construction to expression, love letters to Manhattan translate through time, kinetic communication, and culture. Albeit only a feeling, this realization feels like fact. When experienced firsthand, you can recognize the sensation almost immediately. Just recently, I had the chance to watch the New York City Ballet perform Masters at Work II. Enamored, I sat there observing the seraphic dancers display their passions, woes, hard work, and dedication on a stage twinkling with lights.
The mellifluous music that is Kammermusik No. 2 begins. The variation sets the stage for the next 2 hours and 15 minutes of pure entrancement. Choreographed by George Balanchine, this American-style dance embodies technical precision, manifests multiplicity and is bound with energy. Where one just sees dance, I saw an ode to the city where the very dance resides. The modernist, neoclassical take exemplifies the complexities that make New York City what it is today and showcases how it will continue to evolve over the years.
The New York City Ballet notes that Kammermusik No. 2 evokes “energy, speed, and precision through jagged lines and stylized gestures”. The ballet is not intended to be reminiscent of the city itself, but it naturally does as much through the story conveyed by the community on stage. The two couples put against the eight-man ensemble resemble controlled chaos akin to the very streets outside the theatre. The range of reaction to interaction between the dancers captivates a push-pull sensation similar to the relationships between people filling those chaotic streets just beyond the corridors. The musicality and dynamics embedded within the choreography touched upon the rhythm the city produces through its hustle, commotion, and noise.
In the most abstract sense, the ballet’s foundation displays NYC’s most profound meanings and inner intricacies through art. Aesthetics connect emotion, and emotion unfolds through a magical manifestation.
Article & Layout: Ariana Sebourne
Illustrations: Michelena DeNaples
O the Grid
By: Advika Karthik Iyer
“Haaaaave you met Ted?” I am convinced those were the first words to enter my subconscious as a newborn.
Every night, my dad would rock me to sleep by singing his made-up gibberish lullabies as “How I Met Your Mother” played on his laptop in front of him.
As I got older, the show became a nighttime ritual. Some would argue it was a tad bit inappropriate for a six year old to be watching five 20- somethings in New York City drink too much and make very questionable romantic decisions.
But I call it character development.
And thus began my love story with New York.
The New York I knew was the New York that I saw on the screen. The lighting was just right, it was an incredibly real possibility to walk up and down the streets in 5-inch stilettos, and no matter how dreadful a day, you’ll always have your friends waiting for you at a corner booth.
And then, I met the real one. The streets are terribly uneven and bumpy, and I definitely cannot walk in 5 inch stilettos. Silence doesn’t exist; silence is a luxury. And I must prepare for war every time I take the subway.
To be honest, this love affair had started to feel quite onesided.
But somehow, I feel like I am meant to be here. This city has given me the freedom to be who I am, the appetite to go after what I want, the courage to stand up for myself.
Perhaps, New York doesn’t promise that all my problems will be solved in 20 minutes but it urges me to stay and wait anyway. It pushes me to grow a little more and to fall in love with the inconveniences. Because the greatest stories are the ones with the biggest adversities, and of course “legen-wait for it-dary” friends.
