All in-person classes that begin before 10 a.m. are cancelled. 

The Office of the Provost is in contact with all deans to provide instructions for students and faculty affected by the delayed opening or weather. Staff who are affected by the delayed opening or weather should check with their supervisors for direction.

Members of the University community should exercise caution while walking on campus, and avoid walking near or under large trees. Facilities staff will be on hand to clear snow from campus walkways and roads by opening time.

• The first Ram Van will depart Rose Hill at 7 a.m. and return from Lincoln Center at 8 a.m. Transit time between campuses may be longer than usual. Ram Vans to the Calder Center are canceled for Thursday. 

• University Health Services at Rose Hill will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and at Lincoln Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Counseling and Psychological Services will be open on its normal schedule 9 a.m to 7 p.m.
• Fordham Libraries will be open on their normal schedules.
• The Fitness Centers at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center will be open at their normal hours.
• Resident Dining will open at 7:30 a.m. at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center; retail outlets will open as soon as possible thereafter.

As always, members of the University community should take local conditions into account when traveling to or from campus. Faculty, students, and staff should call any of the following numbers for the latest campus travel-related information: (800) 280-7669 [SNOW].

In an emergency, please call Fordham Public Safety at (718) 817-2222.

Birthright citizenship, a constitutional right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, is the principle that anyone born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a citizen, regardless of the citizenship of their parents. This protection is rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War in an effort to grant legal and civil rights to Black Americans. 

The executive order directs federal agencies to stop issuing citizenship documents to children born to undocumented parents or to parents in the country on temporary visas. A federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary halt to the order, calling it unconstitutional. The Trump administration has vowed to appeal, raising questions about the future of birthright citizenship in America. 

To answer some of those questions, Fordham Now consulted Jennifer Gordon, an immigration law expert and professor at Fordham Law School. Gordon shared her insights on the likely legal road ahead for the executive order.

Fordham Now: In your opinion, how likely is the Trump administration to successfully end birthright citizenship? 

Jennifer Gordon: It’s unlikely the administration will succeed. The 14th Amendment of the Constitution established birthright citizenship, and Supreme Court cases interpreting the law have upheld the right for over 125 years. The federal judge who heard the case that was brought last week to challenge the Trump action declared the president’s order “blatantly unconstitutional,” saying “I have been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented was as clear.” 

FN: The order argued that children of undocumented immigrants are not “subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. laws” and therefore the 14th Amendment doesn’t apply to them. Does that hold water legally? 

JG: That interpretation of the 14th Amendment was first rejected by the Supreme Court in the Kim Wong Ark case 125 years ago, and every time the argument has been made before the Supreme Court since, it has failed. 

In practical terms, federal, state, and local governments recognize undocumented immigrants as “subject to the jurisdiction” of U.S. laws in all areas, holding them to the obligation to comply with all civil statutes and all criminal ones, illustrating that they do in fact fall within the 14th Amendment’s birthright citizenship protection. The only people who fall outside the 14th Amendment in this regard are the few individuals who truly are not subject to U.S. jurisdiction, for example, high-ranking diplomats, who cannot even be held accountable for traffic tickets.

FN: Some critics of Trump’s order have said the only way to end birthright citizenship is through a constitutional amendment. Do you agree, and how likely do you think that is?

JG: The Supreme Court has the power to end birthright citizenship by overruling its longstanding interpretation of the 14th Amendment, although it seems unlikely that it would do so. 

The only other way to change birthright citizenship is through a constitutional amendment. That would require that the proposed amendment pass Congress by a two-thirds vote (not the ordinary simple majority), and then be approved by three-quarters of the states, or 38 out of 50. This cumbersome process rarely ends in the passage of an amendment; no amendment has passed since 1992.

Read the full story on fordhamsports.com.

“I want to thank Ed for his service to Fordham Athletics, and especially to the student athletes, who thrived under his leadership,” said Tania Tetlow, Fordham’s president. “He has been a highly capable leader and fundraiser, and we wish him the best of luck at St. John’s.”

Kull’s final day at Fordham will be Friday, September 13, 2024. President Tetlow has named deputy athletic director Charlie Elwood, as the interim athletics director. The University will commence a national search for a permanent athletic director immediately.

“In our [2017 Policy Studies Journal] paper, we mostly looked at overall gun control policies and access to mental health rather than specific policies,” Smith said, explaining that most states which implement gun control laws do so more with more than one, making it difficult to assess which laws have caused what specific effect. Despite this challenge, Smith and his team still found a definite pattern in terms of how gun control laws impacted suicide rates.

“What we do find in our research is that states with more gun control laws have fewer gun deaths (including those who die by suicide from guns) and for non-suicides (homicides and accidental discharge together), a combination of more access to mental health services and an overall stricter climate for gun control laws correlates with a particularly lower rate of gun deaths,” Smith said. Specifically, the team found that more access to mental health care did not correlate with lower rates of suicide by gun; stricter gun control laws, however, had that desired impact.

“This relationship is perhaps due to the fact that many mental health treatments take time to have an effect, while the effect of removing a gun (or preventing one from having it in the first place) is immediate,” Smith said, adding that more access to mental health care is still good for other reasons. “It is also very difficult under existing law to remove a gun due to mental illness, but having stricter gun control laws generally can either prevent (assault weapons ban) or delay (through background checks) when one has access to a gun.”

Dear Fordham Community,

As we commemorate Memorial Day with our families and friends, we should remember the meaning of this day beyond the barbecues and festive gatherings. This day is a solemn occasion honoring the brave veterans who have laid down their lives in service to our nation—“the last full measure of devotion,” in President Lincoln’s phrase. It is a time to reflect and acknowledge their courage and commitment, and to express our deepest gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice. 

Among these heroes, we remember our own with special reverence: the many veterans of the Fordham community, including distinguished Medal of Honor recipients. One exemplary recipient is Navy Lieutenant Vincent Robert Capodanno Jr., FCRH ’52, a Catholic priest, Maryknoll missionary, and Navy chaplain, who served with valor and distinction during the Vietnam War. 

On September 4, 1967, in the face of withering enemy fire, Father Capodanno, while mortally wounded, demonstrated extraordinary heroism and selflessness as he administered medical aid and last rites to his wounded and dying marines. For his actions, our nation posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, the highest military honor, a testament to his bravery and devotion. The Catholic Church has declared him a Servant of God, the first step to canonization as a saint.

The legacy of individuals like Father Capodanno serves as a powerful reminder of the values we hold dear: courage, selflessness, love for one another, and unwavering commitment to the greater good. Their stories are not just a part of our history; they shape our identity and live in our collective memory. As we honor these heroes, let us also renew our dedication to the principles they fought to protect. 

On this Memorial Day, I encourage each of you to take a moment to remember and honor our fallen service members. Reflect on their sacrifices, share their stories, and ensure that their legacy lives on. Let their courage inspire us to strive for a better, more just and equitable world, and let their memory be a guiding light for future generations. 

In gratitude and remembrance, 
Marco Antonio Valera 
Vice President for Administration
Commander, United States Navy, Retired

Dear Fordham Community,

At the stroke of midnight last night, Orthodox Christians around the world stood in darkness, anticipating the reception of the Paschal light and the first acclamation of Christ’s Resurrection: “Come receive the light, from the never-setting light; and glorify Christ who has risen from the dead.” After 40 days of Lent, which called all Orthodox Christians to reorient their lives toward God through prayer and fasting, and a Holy Week that recounted the saga of Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection, Orthodox Christian faithful now, with our Catholic and Protestant neighbors, can joyfully cry:

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Pascha, colloquially Orthodox Easter, is calculated according to the Julian calendar and thus does not, generally, coincide with the Paschal celebrations of other Christians around the world. Like all Orthodox Christians, I have lived with this near annual divergence in commemorating the Feast of Feasts for my entire life. I have come to see this particular reality as an unintended, yet somehow beautiful reaffirmation of the fact that every Sunday is a Paschal celebration. Every Sunday is then the new day, filled with light, hope, and possibility. 

As Orthodox Christians raise, quite literally, the Paschal light in triumph of life over death, hope over despair, and freedom over bondage of all kinds, it should not be forgotten that at its core, Pascha is an ecstatic and emphatic declaration that humanity has been, is being, and will always be transformed for the better by love. While this blessed day draws to a close, our joy will not be extinguished, as we all carry the light of new life in our hearts whenever we endeavor to cultivate lives of hope, love, and joy.

Truly, then our hearts will sing without ceasing the words of the Psalmist, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).  

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Below are sentiments they have shared as Fordham begins this critical and historic work.

“This first-of-its-kind effort, that I made sure we amply funded in the historic Inflation Reduction Act, to directly invest in grassroots environmental justice groups is critical to fighting the carbon pollution worsening asthma, driving climate change and increasing the likelihood and severity of devastating extreme weather events,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. “This $50 million for Fordham University to fund environmental justice projects is the kind of program that can help our disadvantaged communities effectively fight the pollution that harms them. I am proud of Fordham University and I’m so excited to see how the vibrant network of New York and Puerto Rican grassroots environmental justice organizations access and activate this federal funding. I remain laser-focused on implementing the IRA so that we can ensure it lives up to its transformative potential to clean our air and combat climate change.”

“EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program is a vital new program that will advance environmental justice and help communities disproportionately impacted by climate change, pollution, and other environmental stressors,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “I am thrilled to see that Fordham University has been selected as the Grantmaker for EPA Region 2, which will allow organizations in New York, other communities within the Region, and Puerto Rico to apply for funds to support a range of different environmental project activities that will help the communities most in need. I am proud to have worked with and supported Fordham University to help secure its selection as a grantmaker and look forward to seeing communities that have long faced underinvestment gain access to federal environmental justice funding.”

“Fordham University’s commitment to environmental justice through its Flourishing in Community program and Climate Action Summit 2024 has been exemplary,” said U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “By investing $40 million in grants to community-based organizations with a prioritization on marginalized communities, Fordham is not just talking about change — they’re actively implementing it. Initiatives like these, focusing on participatory governance and community-led solutions, are crucial for a sustainable future for the Bronx and the nation. I commend Fordham for their leadership and hope more institutions follow their example.”

“Fordham University’s resounding call to action comes in the form of their EPA Grant, which will facilitate climate justice initiatives for environmentally disadvantaged communities in the Bronx,” said City Council Member Oswald Feliz. We are constantly working to provide accessibility to communities disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change. With Fordham’s Climate Action Summit, we will witness new insights on sustainability and environmental justice for our Bronx community.”

Dear Members of the Fordham Community,

The University has completed a thorough assessment of our campuses following the 4.8 magnitude earthquake in the greater New York City area. No members of the community were injured, and there was no damage to any of Fordham’s campuses. If you notice any damage, or need assistance, please call Public Safety at 718-817-2222.

Please see the Fordham News story for details about the earthquake, including commentary and a seismograph reading from Stephen Holler, professor of physics at Fordham and head of the William Spain Seismic Observatory at Rose Hill.

We don’t anticipate further updates.

Sincerely,

Robert Fitzer
Associate Vice President for Public Safety

Dear Members of the Fordham Community,

The greater New York City area experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.7, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake was centered in Lebanon, N.J., about 45 miles west of the city. If you see any damage, or need assistance, call Public Safety at 718-817-2222 immediately.

There may be aftershocks, but they will be weaker tremors. If you are outdoors, do be aware of possible falling objects if you are near buildings or other structures.

Our initial assessment indicates no apparent damage to Fordham’s buildings, but we are continuing to survey all campuses for any breakages or damage. Campuses remain open and are operating as scheduled. We will update the community as necessary.

Robert Fitzer
Associate Vice President for Public Safety

Fordham recibirá los fondos durante tres años, trabajando con organizaciones aliadas para ayudar a realzar a las comunidades desfavorecidas y de difícil acceso, así como a aquellas desproporcionadamente afectadas por el cambio climático, la contaminación y otros estresores ambientales. Fordham es una de solo 11 instituciones en toda la nación,seleccionadas para administrar 550 millones de dólares en fondos federales destinados para el programa.

“Fordham University busca crear un impacto en el mundo y buscar soluciones a los problemas más urgentes”, dijo la presidenta Tania Tetlow. “Fordham combina la investigación de vanguardia con una profunda conexión con la comunidad, construyendo sobre 182 años de compromiso con el Bronx y expandiéndose a lo largo del mundo. Este proyecto encarna la misión de Fordham. Creemos en el poder de las soluciones impulsadas por la comunidad al cambio climático para capturar las perspectivas y el ingenio de las personas más afectadas por el calentamiento global”.

Aproximadamente 10 millones de dólares de la subvención estarán destinados para el componente programático y operacional, así como el componente de investigación  de Fordham. Sirviendo como la entidad gestionadora de subvenciones de la EPA para la Región 2, bajo el nombre Floreciendo en Comunidad, del programa de Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program 2023, Fordham asignará los 40 millones de dólares restantes en subvenciones que van desde 75,000 hasta 350,000 dólares para fomentar diversos projectos e iniciativas de justicia ambiental. El Center for Community Engaged Learning de Fordham está liderando la iniciativa, que será dirigida por Julie Gafney, Ph.D., y Surey Miranda.

Aliados Comunitarios y Académicos

La universidad está colaborando con aliados comunitarios y académicos, incluyendo el New York Immigration Coalition, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, ConPRmetidos en Puerto Rico, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, Business Initiative Corporation of New York y varias universidades en la región. Este enfoque colaborativo garantizará un impacto más amplio e integrará la investigación y enseñanza de la universidad con esfuerzos reales de justicia ambiental.

Comunidades podrán aplicar aFordham para subvenciones para financiar una variedad de proyectos ambientales, incluyendo limpiezas locales, programas para la preparación de emergencias y resiliencia ante desastres, programas de desarrollo de fuerza laboral en el ámbito ambiental, proyectos relacionados con la calidad del aire y el asma, programas de hogares saludables y proyectos que aborden la disposición ilegal de desperdicios.

La iniciativa de otorgamiento de subvenciones de Fordham, llamada Floreciendo en Comunidad, apoyará cada subvención con un grupo de Comunidad de Práctica que incluye académicos, líderes comunitarios y estudiantes graduados, asegurando un apoyo integral y maximizando su efectividad.

“Esta subvención es el producto directo del compromiso de Fordham de centrar la justicia ambiental y la sostenibilidad en nuestra enseñanza, aprendizaje e investigación de impacto público”, dijo Gafney. “En la iniciativa Floreciendo en Comunidad creamos un enfoque transformador que ofrece una nueva visión de la educación superior: una que valora el impacto comunitario junto con la investigación de vanguardia. Nuestra iniciativa no solo proporciona subvenciones a comunidades desfavorecidas y desproporcionalment impactadas, sino que también se extiende a un soporte integral, asegurando la sostenibilidad e impacto de estos cruciales proyectos liderados por la comunidad”.

Esta subvención de la EPA subraya el compromiso de Fordham con el desarrollo curricular en Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería, y Matemáticas (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés), así como la participación de la universidad con las comunidades mientras responden a los problemas más apremiantes que enfrentan nuestra ciudad y nuestra nación.

Lisa F. Garcia, administradora de la Región 2 de la EPA,  dijo que el trabajo de Fordham con la agencia “será el comienzo de una relación fructífera que se basará tanto en el compromiso de la EPA para abordar la injusticia climática como en la promesa de Fordham como gestionador ambiental”.

“Como otorgante de subvenciones, Fordham University, ayudará a la EPA al avance de la justicia ambiental de una manera directa que ayudará a deshacer los daños pasados de injusticia ambiental”, dijo Garcia.

Una ‘Oportunidad Transformadora’

Rafael Roger, Presidente de Business Initiative Corporation of New York, uno de los aliados de Fordham, dijo que la iniciativa Floreciendo en Comunidad es una oportunidad para “comenzar a abordar problemas ambientales que mejorarán la vida de millones de personas”.

“Esta oportunidad es transformadora para nuestra región y traerá justicia a las comunidades que han sido marginadas”, dijo. “Si bien la creación de empleo y la mejora de edificios es parte de nuestra misión, poder priorizar la conservación del medio ambiente es un nuevo hito”.

Amy Torres, directora ejecutiva de la New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ), dijo que “muy a menudo, Nueva Jersey es el blanco de bromas sobre la contaminación o desechos peligrosos. Pero para los habitantes de Nueva Jersey que soportan la carga del racismo ambiental o que han sido desplazados por la crisis climática, no es motivo de risa”. “Como la coalición de inmigración más grande del estado, NJAIJ se enorgullece de ser parte del esfuerzo colaborativo bajo el proyecto Floreciendo en Comunidad”, dijo. “Juntos, elevaremos las voces de los más afectados en la Región 2 de la EPA, en particular los refugiados climáticos, los trabajadores agrícolas y las personas desplazadas o perjudicadas por el racismo ambiental.”

Dee Baecher-Brown, presidenta de Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, dijo que su organización está “honrada” de ser aliada de Fordham en este trabajo.

“CFVI reconoce la importancia y el potencial impacto de esta subvención en el avance de la justicia ambiental y en abordar las necesidades de las comunidades sobrecargadas, y está preparada para emplear nuestra extensa experiencia e infraestructura para maximizar el valor de ‘Floreciendo en Comunidad’ en las Islas Vírgenes de EE. UU.”, dijo Baecher-Brown.

También en el Caribe, Isabel Rullán, co-fundadora y directora ejecutiva de ConPRmetidos en Puerto Rico, dijo que ella y sus colegas aportarán su propia experiencia en otorgamiento de subvenciones y “priorizarán apoyar a grupos subrepresentados centrados en eliminar barreras que limitan el desarrollo organizacional”.

Murad Awawdeh, PCS ’19, director ejecutivo del New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), dijo que la organización está orgullosa de aliarse junto con Fordham en sus esfuerzos por la justicia ambiental. 

“Este nuevo financiamiento de la EPA es un primer paso importante para asegurar que más grupos de base comunitaria tengan el apoyo que necesitan para llamar la atención y continuar aliviando los impactos del cambio climático, la contaminación y otros estresores ambientales afectando a inmigrantes, las comunidades de bajos ingresos y las personas de color”, dijo.

Aquellos interesados en aprender más sobre el programa, incluyendo cómo solicitar subvenciones, pueden completar este formulario.

Para consultas de medios, contacte a Jane Kidwell Martinez, Directora de Relaciones de Medios de Fordham, a través de [email protected] o al 347-992-1815

A grad student develops a health record system for an orphanage in Africa

From her home in London, Mishal Ahmed developed an electronic health record system for an orphanage in Benin. She did it as her capstone project for Fordham’s new online master’s degree program in applied health informatics, which teaches students to create cost-effective information systems for hospitals and health care providers.

“Rather than just reading and learning from theory, I want to practice it,” says Ahmed, who graduated from Fordham in May and is continuing to work with Humanity First, the international relief organization that put her in touch with the orphanage.

“Whenever a child enters the orphanage or is adopted, they need to fill out forms and submit them to the government,” Ahmed explains. “The orphanage wanted to make those forms electronic so they’re more safe, secure, and easily shareable.”

Ahmed says the Fordham program helped her develop her skills in information technology, artificial intelligence, and programming. And although she never had a permanent physical campus, she participated in two Fordham-hosted residential workshops at Oxford University’s St. Edmund Hall, where she met some of her classmates and other professionals.

With her new degree, she’s looking forward to continuing to “create something that will help people in the real world.”

Read more “20 in Their 20s” profiles.