On Thursday, Sept. 9, Fordham University Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) held its first meeting of the 2021-2022 academic year. 

This meeting marked the first completely in-person meeting the senate has had since the spring of 2020. The Rose Hill Senate said they are working alongside all campus departments to make sure all students feel safe and at home on campus this fall.

At the meeting, USG announced that Fordham’s First Year Formation class will be open to all first-year and sophomore students, as well as a candle lighting ceremony on Monday Sept. 13, 2021 for students who had their honorary candle lighting ceremony on Zoom last fall. 

Sophomores who are on campus for the first time this fall can also take tours provided by the admissions office to help get acclimated to an in-person semester, according to USG.

Due to severe storms, Fordham University had to shut down all campuses on Thursday, Sept. 2 and Friday, Sept. 3.

There was confusion among students as to what protocol said about classes being cancelled or just moved to Zoom. Emails from Fordham stated that all classes were cancelled, but many professors moved classes online. 

USG stated that if not mentioned in official emails from the university, professors may not move classes to Zoom. If a professor continues to move classes to Zoom, students may reach out to their class dean to ensure class will not be held. 

USG conducted elections for the 2021-2022 president-pro-tempore and the dining chair, electing Flannery Brown, FCRH ’22, and Maya Bentovim, GSB ’23, respectively. 

Rose Hill’s new student center is set to open in mid-October if all continues according to plan, said Dean Arcuri. Repairs in the current McGinley Center due to Hurricane Ida should be completed by the end of the month. 

The Commuting Students Association (CSA) just announced their bi-weekly laundry program. Ram Vans will take students to a local laundromat and laundry will be completely covered by CSA. Detergent and dryer sheets will also be provided. 

The House Committee Vice President Elizabeth Vernon, GSB ’22, stated that both Keating Steps and the Art Show will be happening in person, and the whole committee is looking forward to p​​utting those events on in person. 

If students submitted a club packet at the end of the semester in the Spring of 2021, Vice President of Operations Audrey Felton FCRH ’22, said the committee is currently working through those packets in chronological order. The process takes time, but all potential clubs will be viewed and processed, she said.