Spring Weekend Returns to Campus for the First Time Since 2019

Spring+Weekend+is+a+yearly+hit.+%28Courtesy+of+The+Ram+Archives%29

Spring Weekend is a yearly hit. (Courtesy of The Ram Archives)

Fordham’s Spring Weekend 2022 will run from April 24 through May 1.

An annual Fordham tradition held by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) that consists of free programs that allow the student body to come together, Spring Weekend is the perfect way to wrap up the academic year.

Undergraduate students from both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses are welcome to attend every event. All Spring Weekend events are completely free to attend, and each student has the opportunity to receive complementary t-shirts, merchandise and food. Some events include a carnival, an outdoor concert, live comedians and a student film festival.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fordham has not seen a full-scale Spring Weekend since 2019, according to the president of CAB, Kaitlin Milinic, FCRH ’22.

“This year’s Spring Weekend is special because we’ve been working to bring back a campus tradition that the majority of students have yet to experience,” said Milinic.

She also added that “it’s been really exciting and rewarding for us to give these events back to the Fordham community and restore the tradition for years to come.”

On top of that, this will be the first time in recent years that features a female headliner, Olivia O’Brien, for the Spring Weekend concert.

Other notable figures hosted at this year’s events include Kelsey Kreppel and Christian French.

On April 27, there will be a Last Comic Standing event hosted in the Keating 1st Auditorium.

On Thursday, CAB will host internet star, Kelsey Kreppel, for a Q&A event at Fordham Prep Theatre. The weekend events will kick off with a special events carnival and cultural affairs raffle from 7–11 p.m. in Parking Lot A.

Saturday, April 30, will be Spring Weekend’s annual concert featuring O’Brien, French and Fordham band Faculty.

Spring Weekend will wrap up with a campus movie fest at 8 p.m. on Edward’s Parade.

Additionally, the Fordham Residence Halls Association (RHA) will host the formal, Under the Tent, on Saturday, April 30, from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Martyrs’ Lawn.

While RHA’s formal and CAB’s Spring Weekend are separate events, scheduling the concert and formal on the same day was an intentional decision. Students are able to attend both events as they do not overlap. The concert ends at 4:00 p.m. and the formal starts at 9:00 p.m.

According to the programming director of RHA, Sarah Kenny, FCRH ’24, the goal is to “see Saturday, April 30 as an all-day Fordham community celebration where you attend CAB’s concert in the afternoon and then attend RHA’s dance at night.” This tradition dates back prior to the pandemic, so both CAB and RHA are excited to bring it back.

One way that the Under the Tent formal will differ from other Fordham dances such as the President’s Ball is dress code. Under the Tent can be compared to a prom, whereas the President’s Ball is more similar to a homecoming dance.

Typically, students attending the formal will wear floor-length dresses and suits.

This year’s theme is Garden of Versailles, so light colors and florals are encouraged.

With this being said, RHA acknowledges that students should feel comfortable in what they choose to wear, and that these are just guidelines based on past tradition.

Another key difference is that while dances like the President’s Ball are held by the Fordham administration to kick off the school year, the Under the Tent formal is put on by the students for the students to end the year on a celebratory note. It will have music provided by student bands for the first half and a professional DJ for the second half of the dance. The formal will also have a free photo booth and a tent with a bar for those 21 and older.

Undergraduate students from both campuses and commuter students are welcome to attend.

Fordham alumni are also allowed to attend as a guest of a current student. Non-Fordham guests are not permitted.

Tickets can be purchased through a link which is also available on the @fordhamrha Instagram. A “Student/General Admission Ticket” for $35 is all-inclusive of food, dessert and entry to the event. For those who are above 21 years old, a “Drink Ticket” can be purchased for $45 which includes all of the amenities of a general ticket plus access to the bar. The bar includes complimentary drinks with a limit of four drinks per guest.

The last opportunity to purchase tickets is May 1 at 1:00 a.m. for general admission, and 10 p.m. on April 30 for drink tickets. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Tickets are running out fast, so buy them while you can.

Spring Weekend is already underway, and every Fordham student should experience it while they can. It’s a time to celebrate the academic year, enjoy the weather and spend time with friends. With events all week long, there is surely something for everyone.