The Fordham University United Student Government (USG) met on Nov. 13 to sign proposals, review funding requests and debate one of the most consequential proposal discussions of the semester: whether Fordham’s long-standing current restrictions regarding the distribution of contraceptives should be amended.
The USG meeting brought forward discussion among the senators over Catholic teaching, Fordham campus health needs and how far USG should go in attempting to change university policy.
The meeting opened with the formal signing of pending proposals, including a plan to optimize meal plans and a proposal to allow excused absences for students who miss class due to voting in the government elections. Senator Anna Brown, FCRH ’27, and the proposal authors signed their proposals before USG moved on to regular business.
Brown was also named Senator of the Month.
The Finance Society won October’s Club of the Month competition after submitting more than 120 votes out of a total 157. This number was boosted by the club using the voting form as its meeting attendance sheet, according to Senator Henry Carstens, FCRH ’29, who is a part of the club.
This club method of mass-voting is allowed, according to Executive Vice President Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26, who said he wants the next Club of the Month competition for November 2025 to be a “bloodbath.”
USG debated on a proposal to amend the clause in Fordham University handbook that is on contraceptive distribution. Current language prohibits the distribution of condoms on the university’s property. The proposal will attempt to “amend the current distribution statute present in the Student Handbook on contraception,” removing a clause that limits distribution on the campus and also allowing students or organizations to receive contraceptives or birth control resources from outside groups.
USG Vice President of Health and Security Aidan Costella, FCRH ’27, who is on the proposal team, told senators he consulted with administrators, including Elizabeth Fanelli, Fordham’s Title IX coordinator, and spoke with Rev. Philip Judge, SJ, executive director of Campus Ministry, and said administrators have been receptive to clearer policy language.
Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Laila Sayegh, FCRH ’27, had encouraged gathering statements from faculty and public health experts who support the proposal.
Some of the senators urged caution. USG Senator Carter Soderberg, GSB ’28, said the proposal must reflect Catholic teaching accurately and argued that the current language on the church’s “Catholic Framework” lacks clarity. Soderberg noted that the Catholic understanding of sexuality emphasizes unitive and procreative purposes and said contraceptives directly undermine those purposes, and that the university’s policy may not be directly focused on the prevention of premarital sex.
Soderberg, USG Senator Audrey Shooner, FCRH ’28 and Senator Ashley Garcia, FCRH ’26, had volunteered to assist in revising the language.
McDonald also said the committee should consult additional priests and look to involve pro-life student organizations prior to them resubmitting the proposal.
McDonald also noted this is the first time in years that a dean of students has not previously heard a pitch on contraceptives from USG, referring to the transition underway going from the former Dean of Students, Christopher Rodgers, (as he was promoted) to the new and current Dean of Students, Kevin Williams.
The proposal would not request university funding. Instead, it would permit the student groups to obtain free contraceptives from outside organizations and distribute them on campus.
The Fordham chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), which is not an officially recognized club, frequently distributes Plan B outside Walsh Gate. They get the Plan B directly from Planned Parenthood for free, according to YDSA Co-Chair Matthew Smith, FCRH ’27.
The attempts to revise or change Fordham University’s Student Handbook Policy on contraceptive distribution go back to the ’60s.
Additional budget requests from student organizations dominated much time within the early part of the agenda. USG approved funding for the Committee on International Integration, Cultural Potluck, Diversity Action Coalition Cultural Potluck and Cards for Meals on Wheels, Student Experience Committee’s art show prizes, the Committee on Sexual Misconduct Week of Action and food for Budget Day.
Vice President of Finance Peter Grimes, FCRH ’25, was not present at the meeting; another senator presented for him. In Grimes’ report, he noted the recurring issues of clubs using outside catering, which are tied to Fordham University’s various insurance requirements and Aramark’s status as the university’s sole food provider.
Restaurants that are used for catering must list the university on their insurance for clubs to use them. Grimes said the matter is being addressed with the Office for Student Involvement.
Executive President Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, said he recently held a lengthy Zoom call with Lincoln Center USG President Daphne Mei, FCLC ’26, to organize what would be the first joint meeting with President Tania Tetlow. According to Hjertberg, the university president has never attended a USG meeting.
Hjertberg also discussed implementing a streamlined form system on the USG website to receive direct feedback from students.
Senators also noted new proposals under development, which included the menstrual product access in women’s bathrooms and a plan to display instructions in campus restrooms on how to perform self-examinations for cancer.
The Governing Documents Commission made its final edits and plans to present its revisions at the next weekly meeting. USG senators were encouraged to review the updated bylaws.
The next USG meeting will be on Nov. 20.
