The Fordham University Commuting Students Association (CSA) held its second annual inauguration on Monday, Sept. 15. The event highlighted the new members of their executive and general assembly boards. Twenty-seven new board members were inaugurated at the event.
“Inauguration marks the beginning of their leadership, setting the tone for the impact they are responsible for bringing throughout the school year,” said Jasmine James, FCRH ’26, executive board vice president. “It emphasizes that being elected into their positions is not the finish line, but the beginning of their journey to serving the commuter community.”
The inauguration consists of an Executive Board pledge, a general assembly pledge, pledging signing and receipt of certificates by CSA members. In addition to the executive board, each class year has its own general assembly board. These boards include a president, vice president, program coordinator, marketing coordinator and treasurer.
Liyana Khan, GSB ’28, the incoming sophomore board president, said, “I wanted to have experience in marketing, treasury, and program coordinating, so running for president would give me the opportunity to experience all. I wanted to be challenged, have an opportunity to grow as a leader, and contribute to CSA as much as possible.”
CSA hosts year-round events to build community and offer resources for commuter students. They prioritize accessibility, often scheduling events mid-afternoon so students have time to commute home.
Adam Lahoumah, FCRH ’29, ran for first-year board vice president, alongside his friend Martin Rastenis, FCRH ’29, who ran for first-year board president.
“When we were running around campus collecting ballots, we talked with fellow commuters ranging from freshmen to seniors, and we realized that they, too, agreed with our observations and could relate how life as a commuter is not easy at Fordham,” Lahoumah said. “This inspired us to be a part of the freshmen board to help the incoming freshmen transition to Fordham in an environment that, despite being far from campus, has access to necessities, opportunities to socialize and make friends, and most importantly, to be a part of the Ramily.”
Beyond events, CSA also works with university administration and the United Student Government on initiatives to change or add resources to the university. CSA has already had successes this year with the debut of their nap pods in McShane. These pods can be booked via 25Live and provide students with a place to rest between classes.
“Seeing our idea come to fruition was incredibly fulfilling,” said Khan. “It serves as a reminder of what we are capable of doing when we are able to commit meaningful change.”
Previously, CSA has worked with the university to improve the commuter student experience by pushing class registration time back to 8 a.m., and last year, it was able to get the William D. Walsh Family Library to offer study rooms earlier in the day for students who may have early online classes.
CSA believes that the initiatives they bring to campus benefit the entire student body, not just commuters.
“I hope to bring new ideas to CSA as to what they can do for not just commuters, but even those in the dorms can enjoy as well,” said Jeremy Batista, GSB ’29, first-year board treasurer. “I also hope that after the conclusion of the school year, people will embrace the commuter life and realize that they can still get the ‘college experience’ whilst commuting from home.”
The inauguration was hosted in Bepler Commons and prioritized recognizing and honoring the incoming board members and starting the year strong.
“It is important to recognize members of CSA through an event like this because a lot goes on behind the scenes in planning events and advocating for commuter concerns,” said Senior Board Treasurer Lana Santiago, GSB ’26. “However, it’s also great to share that moment of recognition among other individuals who are here for the same initiative, that is, to represent the commuter population at Fordham.”
At the first inauguration last year, then-President Kellen Zeng, GSB ’25, highlighted a desire to make the event a long-lasting tradition. The current board echoes that idea and wants the event to continue to grow.
“This celebration is not just to recognise the roles of commuting students and their elected positions, but also to create a strong sense of belonging and visibility within the wider campus community,” said Joanne Pan, GSB ’27, executive board class program coordinator. “By having this inauguration, it helps us to foster connections between commuting students and faculty.”
At the center of the event was a desire to recognize and uplift CSA members for their hard work and dedication.
“Recognition is powerful. It validates the hard work of our members and leaders while inspiring others to get involved,” said Jasmine Peña Garcia, FCRH ’27. “This event ensures that everyone sees the value of their contributions in making CSA stronger.”
