TOM PECORA RESIGNS - PAGE 17
FORDHAM NEEDS CHRISTIAN GANGS - PAGE 7
SERVING THE FORDHAM COMMUNITY GIN & TONICS FOR OVER 90 YEARS
1918-2011
APRIL 1, 2011
VOLUME 93, ISSUE 8
Fordham Severs Ties with Sodexo
ResLife Nixes Martyrs’ For Summer Dorm By ANDREW FERREIRA STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF NANCY
While Sodexo has served as Fordham’s school supplier for years, the Univeristy has cancelled the contract with the catering company after an FDA investigation.
By MICHAEL PENA STAFF WRITER
Fordham University announced on March 29 that it was severing all professional relationships with its longtime food service provider, Sodexo, and that all Sodexo-run food service locations will be shutting down immediately. “We are sad to say that, after
many years of providing Fordham University students with healthy, high-quality food service, Sodexo will no longer be working with us in any capacity,” Christopher Rodgers, dean of students at Rose Hill, said. “While we do not have a replacement service lined up just yet, we are working hard to set one up.” When asked what would be done in the interim, Rodgers was
somewhat evasive. “Even though we have suspended food service with Sodexo, we still own the food that they have provided and prepared for us,” he said. “There may be some rationing involved, but we should be able to stretch the supply through the end of classes. If all else fails, I think we have some sandwiches and starfruit left over from Student Learship
Council meetings.” Employees of Sodexo and Fordham employees with ties to the French hospitality-services conglomerate have been responding unexpectedly well to the news. “I think this is a good move,” Brian Poteat, general manager of food services, said as he packed up his office. “By making way for a SEE SODEXO ON PAGE 4
Budget Cuts Reduce Library Operating Hours By SOLOMON SCHECHNER STAFF WRITER
Just two years ago, it seemed as if the library was always open 24 hours. However, due to budget cuts, Fordham will only open the library from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning in the fall 2011 semester. “We realize our students are very busy on weekends,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University said. “We feel that it would be unnecessary to keep the library open all weekend.” Fordham is making it known that its location in New York plays a major factor in this decision. “We like to claim ‘Fordham is my school, New York is my campus’,” McShane said. “We are very proud to say that we have found that students do usually make their way into one of the five boroughs, even if it’s usually the Bronx and even if it’s almost always just MugZ’s. Regardless, I’m positive that the majority of Fordham students do not spend their time on campus on weekends, especially studying.” McShane made it clear that the goals of the University make it difficult to maintain the library at its current hours. There appear to be many factors that the University considers when making decisions like this. “It is very difficult to maintain our award-winning landscaping without sacrificing in other areas,” McShane said. “We have to maintain our spotless image for prospective students and parents.” Fordham has also considered a
COURTESY OF SMOCCIA
After Walsh Library reduces its operating hours, the usually crowded building will remain empty for most of the week.
variety of other cuts that follow up on those made prior to the fall semester. The school plans on further restricting use of the entrance gates around campus, even others besides the Walsh Hall entrance. “The reduced hours at the Walsh Hall entrance proved to be a great success,” McShane said. “We will most likely reduce the hours at every gate and make students enter and exit through the main entrance during afternoons.” The previous cuts have already proven successful, so the University is now looking into new and more creative cuts, mostly focused on the dining situation at Fordham. “We don’t see any reason the cafeteria should be open past 7 p.m.,” MsShane said. “Who eats dinner that late anyway? And these students always complain about how bad [the cafeteria] is anyway, so there’s really no reason to leave it open we might
as well save the money.” Improvements to other areas of the school also made it necessary to cut hours. “With the new dorms, as well as improvements made to Lincoln Center, we needed to find a way to increase our funds,” McShane said. “Considering this cut only affects the students who are currently enrolled at the school, we can live with that. Our focus is on the future and students who will be coming here in the future. Once a student enrolls at Fordham, we’re already guaranteed
almost $200,000 from them. Only a small percentage will actually transfer after a commitment of this manner, so we feel comfortable making cuts that only affect a small part of the Fordham family.” “We have to focus on our 2016 plan,” McShane added. “No matter what needs to be done, we have to stay on track and avoid any setbacks, even if it means continuing to make drastic cuts that affect the day-today lives of our students, even if they did sacrifice a fortune to attend the school.”
To the relief of many students, the Office of Residential Life has declared that summer housing will no longer be in Martyrs’ Court. Summer residents will have the option of residing in Hughes Hall or inside a large circus tent that will be erected on Edwards Parade. Though Hughes Hall will be undergoing renovation, members of the Residential Life staff said that will not be a problem. “Summer residents are already used to living in Hughes Hall while it’s under construction,” Elizabeth Amico, assistant director for Housing Operations, said. “Last summer, they had already started tearing apart the building for the Gabelli School of Business conversion, and the summer before that, lounges on every floor and the kitchen were stripped and renovated. This year, they won’t have much adjusting to do.” Construction that will occur this summer includes ripping out the walls on the first, second and fifth floors and tearing out the lounges and bathrooms on all floors. A port-a-potty will be set up in the Hughes lobby for students to use over the course of the summer. The roof will also be removed on June 17, but it will be replaced by the end of August. The windows in all bedrooms will be removed at the start of summer but will be replaced with identical glass panes a few weeks later. Also, planned and unplanned electricity outages will take place throughout the summer. However, residents who prefer not to live in Hughes Hall have the option of living in a large circus tent. The tent will be a little more expensive than living in Hughes Hall, but Office of Residential Life staff members expressed excitement with this housing option. “Students will be able to live in the great outdoors,” Amico said. “This will be an exciting housing option and could even go on students’ resumes as a long-term character-building camping experience.” The one catch is that summer circus tent residents will have to move out for the Alumni Jubilee Weekend partway through the summer, because traditionally that event is held in a tent on Edwards parade. However, students will be SEE SUMMER ON PAGE 2
INSIDE Sports PAGE 17
Opinions PAGE 9
Culture PAGE 12
Softball leaves Fordham due to lack of interest.
Fordham should reopen tunnels under University.
Journalism program to study abroad in Libya.