When I got to Fordham University my first year, I was shocked to learn that many incoming first-years had participated in Urban Plunge, a three-day pre-orientation program run by the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) that aims to introduce students to New York City through community engagement. All incoming first-years received an email asking if they wanted to apply to the program, but I probably deleted it immediately, as I had no interest in leaving home sooner than I had to. However, I soon realized that writing off Urban Plunge (or Plunge, as insiders call it) was a mistake.
By the end of orientation, I noticed that students who had participated in Urban Plunge (Plungers) were generally better adjusted than myself. They knew their way around campus, many of them already had good friends and they knew how to navigate New York City’s vast public transportation system. Plungers also learn important lessons about the Bronx and New York City as a whole. While it’s always good to stay aware of your surroundings in a city as large as New York, Plunge serves to dispel negative stereotypes about New York City and the Bronx, helping students get to know their neighborhood and build lasting connections with the place where they will spend the next four years.
Because some of my closest friends did Plunge as first-years and loved it, I decided to apply to be an Urban Plunge Assistant (UPA) for my sophomore year. I enjoyed being an UPA so much that I returned to the same role my junior year and applied to be a captain for my senior year. Captains plan Urban Plunge over the summer, and as an UPA Support Captain for Plunge 2025, I’ll be working with other student leaders to develop training and support UPAs during the Plunge program.
As a first-year, I didn’t want to do Plunge because of the early move-in, but most students actually see that as a bonus — they get to know Fordham’s campus and make new friends before the craziness of first-year move-in day, when hundreds of students and their families come to campus for one of the busiest days at Fordham each year.
Incoming first-years have many different reasons for signing up for Plunge. Jack Forester, FCLC ’26, is the 2025 Senior Captain for Lincoln Center. When asked why he chose to sign up for Plunge, Forester said, “Plunge has a lot of community initiatives, and I wanted to be involved in my college community.”
Jake Esposito, FCRH ’26, is a Plunger Recruitment Captain for the upcoming Plunge. He told me that, although his mom initially pushed him to apply for Plunge as a first-year, he realized that he was truly excited about the program while filling out the application. Esposito is a political science major who is interested in social justice, and Plunge aligns with his values. “There’s a widespread sentiment about the Bronx being an unsafe place and [students] live there just because Fordham is there,” he said. “It’s good to deconstruct these negative ideas about the Bronx.” Deepening the connection between Fordham students and their neighborhoods is one of the primary goals of Plunge.
Each year, Urban Plunge captains work to create a theme for the program. Some past themes have been “Build, Bridge, Begin” and “Establish, Nourish, Flourish.” The theme helps to focus the program. “[Social justice work] can be overwhelming because there’s so much to do as an advocate, but having a theme helps to split that work up into more manageable parts,” said Esposito. Nicola D’Abundo, GSB ’26, and an Education and Formation Captain for Plunge 2025, agrees. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, and that can make it feel like progress is difficult. But that’s exactly why Urban Plunge matters — because it grounds students in the reality of the world they’re stepping into,” he said.
I also spoke to a first-year who was in my Plunge group for 2024 about her experience in Plunge. Caroline Lindsay, GSB ’28, said, “Compared to orientation, Plunge felt more personable. Maybe it was the longer time periods the group spent together or the group activities.” During Urban Plunge, students spend all day with their Plunge groups traveling around the Bronx and New York City to visit community engagement sites, enjoy food at local restaurants and reflect on what they have learned. “Socially, Plunge was transformative for me,” Lindsay said. “I’m in very strong contact with many of the people I met during Plunge.”
The friendships formed and lessons learned in Plunge change participants’ lives for the better, which is why so many come back year after year as UPAs and Captains. I was elated to learn that Lindsay, who was my Plunger last summer, is applying to be an UPA for Plunge 2025. D’Abundo and Esposito have both participated in Plunge every year they’ve been at Fordham, as have many of my friends. “This program is one of the most important things Fordham offers incoming students,” said D’Abundo. “Plunge isn’t just a program for me, it’s a transformative experience for everyone.”
I’m confident my fellow captains would agree when I say we’re incredibly excited for Plunge 2025. “We want students to have the courage to own their voice at Fordham,” said Forester. “And that starts with Urban Plunge.” I regret not doing Plunge as a first-year, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity to participate as a student leader over the last few years. UPA applications will be closing on March 31, and I encourage anyone who is interested to apply. As Esposito said, “even if you think the program isn’t something you would use in your professional future, Plunge is about more than that. It will impact your life in a major way.”
Eleanor Smith, FCRH ’26, is an American studies and history major from St. Paul, Minnesota.
