On the final day of classes for the 2024-25 academic year, a group of students, faculty and staff gathered outside Walsh Family Library to rally for community solidarity. The rally was sponsored by the American Studies Department and primarily organized by faculty.
The invitation to the April 30 rally said, “Whether you’re a student, faculty member, staff, or administrator, your voice matters. Together, we can send a powerful message that our University must remain a space for open inquiry, free speech, and in support of due process for our vulnerable colleagues.”
The event was spurred on by several executive orders issued by President Donald Trump in April, including Reforming Accreditation to Strengthen Higher Education and Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.
“I’ve been very concerned about what’s going on in higher education ever since the first executive orders were issued calling for the dismantling of DEI, of attacks on black studies, but also on the idea of mass deportation of immigrants,” said Mark Naison, Ph.D, who helped run the rally. “I’m 78 years old, a full professor, what are they gonna do to me? But then to see all these young faculty members come forward this way was so moving to me.”
Both students and professors gave speeches at the rally, including students from the Fordham Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and Fordham Students Against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), both non-university-affiliated clubs.
“One of the faculty organizers actually reached out to me and asked if YDSA wanted to help out, and they asked if I wanted to speak. And I told them that we would absolutely be willing to come out and help them organize speeches [and] chants,” said Matthew Smith, FCRH ’27, co-chair of YDSA. “My reason for coming up and speaking today is to remind people that these problems don’t stop the second you leave campus. People are not going to stop getting deported when you go back home. This is going to continue, and we need to keep fighting it.”
On April 19, the faculty organizers wrote a letter titled “Fordham United for Core Principals,” which called on President Tania Tetlow and Fordham University to “actively defend these principles, on our campuses and in solidarity with those threatened elsewhere.” One hundred twenty-three professors signed on to the letter.
According to Tetlow, who was present at the rally, she has met with many of the faculty organizers. “I wanted to be with the faculty, students and staff and hear from them first-hand about how they are handling the current political climate. Brilliantly and bravely,” she said.
On April 10, Fordham signed an amicus brief challenging the Trump administration’s visa revocations. On April 22, Tetlow signed a public statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, which called for “constructive engagement.”
Since then, the University has updated its informative webpage, The Current U.S. Administration and Its Actions, but it has not made any more public statements.
Candela Latina, a Latino dance club at Fordham, also performed at the rally. “Our group is made up [of a lot of] immigrants [and] students [whose] parents are immigrants. After everything that’s happened in the administration, it’s a very anxious time and a lot of people have felt it very deeply,” said Andrea Colón, FCRH ’25, who was a member of the group. “So I was like, immediately, I need to be a part of this because we need to show solidarity with everyone who is going through this with us.”
The rally lasted for about an hour and had around 80 attendees.
The Fordham Ram will offer continuing coverage of all student protests and rallies. Find updates on our website and in print.
Additional reporting done by Caitlin Thomas.
