For many Fordham University students, unexpected downpours can be a frustrating and disruptive part of the daily commute. To address this issue, the Commuting Students Association (CSA) has introduced “Rainy Day Rentals,” the university’s first-ever umbrella rental service. The initiative aims to provide an accessible, sustainable solution for students navigating campus during inclement weather.
Any student looking to request an umbrella just needs to fill out a Google Form accessible via CSA’s Instagram bio.
CSA’s leadership has emphasized that this program is part of a larger effort to address the daily challenges faced by commuter students.
CSA Executive President Kellen Zeng, GSB ’25, framed “Rainy Day Rentals” as an extension of CSA’s evolving mission.
“The Commuting Students Association operates with the mission of improving the commuter student experience on campus,” Zeng said. “This year, we have adopted a philosophy that seeks long term policy changes and provides direct services that address immediate student needs. The launch of our ‘Rainy Day Rentals’ umbrella program is one example of that.”
Severe weather conditions severely affect commuters.
“Last year, we saw firsthand how inclement weather, including record-breaking rainfall and citywide emergency declarations, impacted students who had to commute even when conditions became unsafe,” Zeng added. “This initiative is our way of responding to that reality in a tangible way.”
Executive Outreach Coordinator of CSA Natalie Kamble, GSB ’25, expressed her enthusiasm for finally seeing the initiative come to fruition.
“The implementation of this initiative is long overdue and something I have hoped to see at Fordham since my freshman year,” she said. “It is only fitting that CSA took the lead in addressing this ongoing challenge.”
Access to an umbrella is more than just a convenience for many students. CSA Executive Vice President Crystal Wu, GSB ’25, reflected on a personal experience.
“I once got caught in the rain without an umbrella, and by the time I got home, I was completely drenched,” Wu said. “I ended up catching a cold, proving just how much something as simple as an umbrella can impact our health.”
Executing “Rainy Day Rentals” required careful planning. CSA took inspiration from an earlier initiative at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, where students could request an umbrella via text. However, bringing the concept to Rose Hill posed its own challenges.
CSA originally looked at working with external vendors for the umbrellas but decided that the costs associated would be too high. The team also had to decide on a pricing model and rental terms; students can now make a $9 refundable deposit to rent an umbrella.
“$9 felt like just the right amount,” CSA Sophomore Board Vice President, Nushana Alam, FCRH ’27 explained. It was not a double-digit like ten, which would scare people off, but it is enough that if someone decided to keep an umbrella, it would not be as much of a loss to us,” she said.
Students have five days to return their umbrella, though CSA has built-in flexibility. “We felt that five days would give students ample time to bring the umbrellas back, but if they need more time, we are always willing to work with them,” Alam added.
Although “Rainy Day Rentals” was created with commuter students in mind, CSA made sure the program would be open to all students, faculty and staff. CSA Senior Board Vice President Farhan Shafin, GSB ’25, noted the broader impact of the initiative: “The umbrella program is necessary because it offers a simple solution to a problem we will be facing frequently in the upcoming month.”
Shafin also mentioned an unexpected benefit, “We are also hoping to shift the current social stigma students have against using umbrellas on campus.”
CSA is pursuing a variety of initiatives to improve the commuter experience. CSA Sophomore Board Program Coordinator Joanne Pan, FCRH ’27, highlighted CSA’s efforts to strengthen community engagement.
“Being part of CSA means to lead and play an active role in bringing more engagement with other commuter students, so I hope our efforts will be reflected through this program with the accessible umbrella rentals,” she said.
CSA is also preparing for Spring Commuter Week, which will take place from April 7 to 11.
Additionally, CSA recently partnered with Fordham’s Department of Public Safety to integrate the D train shuttle onto the TransLoc platform which gives students the ability to track the shuttle in real-time. “This is a major step forward in ensuring safer and more reliable late-night travel for the Fordham community,” CSA noted.
While “Rainy Day Rentals” is still in its early stages, CSA hopes the program will become a lasting resource for students. Alam acknowledged the work that went into bringing the initiative to life: “The journey for our initiative was not easy, and it will always be a work in progress as we continue to strive to improve wherever we can.”
With a focus on both immediate solutions and long-term advocacy, CSA remains committed to making Fordham a more commuter-friendly campus.
As Wu put it, “Access to an umbrella can help prevent students from getting sick and make their commute a little easier on rainy days, ultimately improving their student well-being.”
