Speakers amplify the notes from an a cappella chorus as students press closer to the front, and for a couple of hours on a Friday night, the university’s most iconic building becomes a stage. This is Keating Steps.
Organized by the United Student Government’s (USG) Student Experience Committee, Keating Steps is an annual showcase that pulled a dozen acts and a cross-section of Fordham University to the steps at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 26.
Performers ranged from dance crews to vocal groups; the bill included Hot Notes, Falak, Apricity, Ramblers, Jetés, Satin Dolls, Flava, Sláinte, Dance Co-Op, b-Sides and Code of Conduct.
Between sets, volunteers raffled off prizes: a Ninja CREAMi, an all-inclusive spa trip, New York Knicks tickets and a cooler of free ice cream kept students on the lawn.
“It was fun,” said Grace Lawlor, FCRH ’27, a member of Dance Co-Op, still catching her breath after a set with friends. “It’s always intimidating performing for a crowd, but it was a good time.”
Lawlor likes the outdoor energy and the backdrop. She also knows the tradeoffs. “Sometimes I feel bad for the vocal groups because it’s hard to have good acoustics outside … but we do the best we can,” she said, glancing back at Keating.
For organizers, Keating Steps is also about the logistics. “Location and timing is extremely important,” said Luc Angus, FCRH ’26, the USG vice president of student life, who has been involved with Keating Steps for four years. “I was lucky enough to get blessed with wonderful weather today.”
Last year’s rain forced a scramble to a backup site, and this year, those behind the scenes kept everything running smoothly. “Backstage has been killing it in the past few years,” Angus said, praising the tech crews that make a stone staircase behave like a stage.
The crowd’s verdict was positive. “Great music, great vibe. Great energy out on Eddies,” said Cooper Barlow, GSB ’27, who came to cheer on friends and stuck around for the mix of student bands. However, he wanted more amplification. “For the level of promotion they did, I think it’s a very solid turnout,” he said. “But Fordham should have promoted it more.”
First-year students described the night as a low-pressure bridge into campus life. “It’s a chill vibe,” said Mia Paulino, FCRH ’29, who wandered over from the Black Student Alliance cookout when a friend told her to come join. “Sometimes, even as a freshman, you don’t really have that many friends at first. I feel like going to events like this, you could meet new people or you could just be outside in nice weather and just watch a show.”
Isaiah Luna, FCRH ’29, liked the timing. “The night vibes are more chill than if it was throughout the day,” he said.
A desire for increased awareness was the largest point of feedback. Several students learned about the concert from friends, not feeds.
Angus didn’t dodge the critique. “We promoted it on our social media … but for this year … we’re really looking at expanding our social media presence,” he said. He also wants more consistent residence-hall distribution so fliers reach every dorm.
By the time the last band packed its cables and the crowd drifted home, the light on Keating had cooled back to gray and the echoes hung longer on Eddies.
For the USG committee, the suggestions to start earlier on promotion were clear. For the students who spent the night on the grass, the message was simpler. As Lawlor put it, “It was fun … a good time.”
Fordham’s traditions, like Keating Steps, are not often measured in decibels, but in how many people find their way to the music and, maybe, to each other.
