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Friday Oct

Volume 103, Issue 13

The Fordham Ram

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TheFordhamRam.com September 29, 2021

Electronic ID Cards Cause Confusion

By SEBASTIAN DIAZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

After a large influx of students coming to campus for the fall semester, Fordham ID Services is currently facing a shortage of physical identification cards to provide for students according to Sanjida Rufaida, FCRH ’25, a student worker in ID Services.

Now, students who want to register an identification card with the university must do so through an electronic ID (eID) as the department awaits a shipment of blank plastic cards, according to Rufaida.

Shortages of physical IDs began just two weeks after the department began offering them, said Rufaida. As people continue to line up and request a physical card, the department must defer them to a later date.

The department is unsure about when to anticipate the arrival of the materials, said Rufaida. “I’ve been telling people ‘two weeks’ for about four weeks now,” she said. Rufaida still isn’t sure when students who want to get their hands on a physical ID card will be able to do so.

The delay is causing frustration

SEE IDS, PAGE 3

ISABEL DANZIS / THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham administrators hope to open the newly-constructed sections of thecampus center by late fall this semester.

End in Sight for First Phase of Construction on Student Center

By ISABEL DANZIS

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The new campus center on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus has been under construction since January of 2020. The entire construction project is not projected to be completed until 2025, but students may be able to access amenities in “Phase One” of construction as soon as “late fall,” according to John Spaccarelli, Director of Special Projects and Facilities.

According to Stephen Clarke, assistant director for Campus Center Operations, Phase One of the project includes an improved student lounge and fitness center space.

This initial phase also includes new, sleek office space for campus ministry and career services, as well as the Center for Community Engaged Learning.

“Phase Two” includes the finishing of a grand arcade that will connect the new building to the existing

SEE BUILD, PAGE 4

COURTESY OF ABC NEWS Fordham faces an uncertain future as severe weather events due to climate change threaten campus infrastructure.

Severe Weather Forces Fordham to Consider Climate’s Future

By LUCY PETERSON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The effects of Hurricane Ida closed many Fordham facilities as it swept through the eastern United States in early September. The temporary closing of Walsh Library and the basement of the McGinley Center, including the fitness center, and the relocation of some students in oncampus housing raised the question of Fordham’s preparedness for extreme weather conditions due to climate change in the future.

Jasmine Petrov, FCLC ’22, and one of the leaders of Fordham’s Climate Impact Initiative, said the flash flooding emphasized the uncertainty of the city’s future in terms of infrastructure. “Climate change and the climate crisis ... is pretty much new to us,” said Petrov. “We’ve

USG Adds Class of 2025 Senators

By JESSICA NOCE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The fall semester here at Fordham University marks the beginning of another year of advocacy by the United Student Government (USG). Friday and Saturday, USG completed its elections for the class of 2025; the most significant first-year class in Fordham history.

The election yielded five new senators, with three from Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and two from the Gabelli School of Business (GSB).

On Saturday, Sept. 25, USG announced that Andy Diaz, Zachary Jones, Ella Briggs, Carley Walker and Jack Glynn will represent the class of 2025 this academic year. Elections for USG senators representing upperclassmen were held at the end of

NYPL Bronx Library Programs

By EMMA KIM

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Multiple New York Public Library (NYPL) branches in the Bronx are offering in-person backto-school educational programs this fall. Launched on Sept. 20, the programs are designed to help students with school and provide free educational resources for local communities.

Alexandria Abenshon, manager for School-Age Children’s Programming at the NYPL, said that the programs are aimed at addressing some COVID-19 related discrepancies in services. “We want to reach out to historically under-resourced places. We are pushing our resources to branches that need support the most,” said Abenshon.

There are four different programs that select Bronx branches are participating in. The first is STEAM Discovery Kits to help students develop their science, technology, engineering, art and math skills. Another program is NYPL After School, a free drop-in program that helps students aged six to 12 with their homework.

The Teen Reading Ambassadors program offers students a chance at a paid internship, where they help the students in the NYPL After School program. The final program is College and Career Pathways, which gives local high school students the chance to explore different career and educational opportunities.

“Our goal is always to inspire life-long learning for kids through reading and tinkering,” said Abenshon. “When we look at the STEAM kits, it gives kids an opportunity to understand that STEAM is actually accessible. It is a good opportunity for them to engage with coding, stargazing and robotics. It removes a barrier that was in place. The kits are free with a library card and a great opportunity to drive interest in com-

SEE NYPL, PAGE 4

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