By Canton Winer

Less than 24 hours before students were scheduled to move in, Loyola Hall has received permit approval from New York City.

Freshmen participating in Urban Plunge — a program in which incoming freshmen move in three days before orientation — began moving in on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, however, University officials were still waiting on city permits.

Until Fordham received the permits, only six people could legally occupy the building—four resident assistants, the resident director and Rev. Philip Florio, S.J., the building’s housemaster. However, no incoming freshmen could legally occupy the building.

The Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice, which organizes Urban Plunge, told Urban Plunge leaders on Wednesday that when students moved in the following day, students slated to live in Loyola Hall would likely be unable to move in.

Kim Russell, assistant dean of students and director of residential life, described the delay in the City’s approval as, “totally outside Fordham’s control.”

“We were working with various outside departments (including FDNY) on final permits,” she added.

According to nyc.gov, three main agencies are in charge of inspecting and approving construction projects.

“In New York City, building construction, demolition and asbestos abatement operations are primarily regulated by the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Fire Department (FDNY),” the City of New York’s website states. “Depending on the nature of the work, building owners and contractors must receive permits from and be inspected by some combination of these three agencies.”

Wednesday afternoon, however, University officials apparently received the city’s permit approval that was needed in order for students to move in.

On Wednesday at 3:15 p.m., Russell told The Fordham Ram in an email that Loyola Hall was open.

“I am happy to report that Loyola Hall is open and people are moving in,” she said.

Despite the permit delay, it appears that Loyola Hall’s opening proceeded without any major problems.

Loyola Hall is the new home of the Manresa Program, which for the past two years has been housed in the Jogues section of Martyrs’ Court.

Canton Winer is a columnist for The Fordham Ram.