Freshmen Begin New Chapter at Fordham

NEW YORK— Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, greeted arriving caravans of freshmen and their families on Aug. 29, welcoming students arriving from places as diverse as Luxembourg, Kenya, Israel, the Philippines, Alaska and New Mexico. Throughout the day more than 1,500 students moved into residence halls on Fordham campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan and Tarrytown; and commuter students picked up IDs and orientation material.

At the Rose Hill campus, Father McShane handed out bottled water to students and families, and upperclassmen helped unload suitcases, computers and mini refrigerators. Grills were fired up later in the day for a barbeque.

Freshmen arriving at Fordham College at Lincoln Center were personally welcomed by current students, who shouted the name and hometown of each freshman as they began unloading their belongings in front of McMahon Hall. That afternoon, a New York State of mind pizza party preceded the farewell to families.

At Marymount College of Fordham University, families began arriving at 8 a.m. and were greeted by enthusiastic student leaders. An afternoon picnic provided students with an opportunity to get acquainted.

Throughout the day Fr. McShane traveled to each campus to mark this memorable event with animated students and anxious parents, many of whom were dropping off their children at college for the first time.

“You probably all are halfway between pride and panic,” Father McShane told a standing-room-only crowd in Pope Auditorium on the Lincoln Center campus.

“You may be wondering if [your child]brought enough clothes—I saw how each of you packed and I can assure you they did; or you [freshmen]may be wondering what it will be like to sleep for the first time tonight not under your parent’s roof. I promise all of you, we will take you seriously; we will get to know you; and the faculty here will cherish and challenge you everyday.

“You will not be college students who read about life in the newspapers,” he continued. “At Fordham you are at the center of life in New York City, the capital of the world.”

After presentations by the director of security at each campus, move-in day activities concluded for parents with a family Mass celebrated at Lincoln Center by Robert R. Grimes, S.J., dean of FordhamCollege at Lincoln Center; and by Gerard Reedy, S.J., dean of Marymount College in Tarrytown. Father McShane celebrated Mass at Rose Hill on the lawn in front of the William D. Walsh Family Library.