Re: “Student Letters Allege Insufficient Support Under Dean McGlade”
Dear Editor,
In its last issue, The Fordham Ram published an article regarding the Office for Student Involvement (OSI) and their management of student activities. In our experience as three former high-ranking officials in the United Student Government, we vehemently believe that the article misses the bigger picture about OSI and unfairly treats the individuals and allegations brought forward. Fordham’s Jesuit Mission of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and magis (striving for more) requires Fordham students to go deeper and further whenever evaluating issues around us and the world; the issue with OSI requires further examination than what was granted.
The challenges OSI faces are far more complex than the individual shortcomings described in the student petitions investigated in last issue’s article. Drawing on our experiences working closely with OSI, we contend that the focus on individual blame obscures the fundamental issues of limited resources, an expanding workload due to the increasing number of student clubs and a lack of institutional empowerment that prevents OSI from operating as efficiently as students would like. Student frustrations with delayed approvals, payments and event planning are symptoms of a university-wide challenge that requires a shift in focus from individual accountability to institutional power.
All three of us have dealt with our fair share of issues with OSI and Student Affairs in our senior roles, which is part of the job. Patience and resilience are two traits that anyone will learn in any professional role you take at Fordham or at any professional organization in the future. However, we took a proactive approach, boarding situations with stride, and learned to work alongside administrators, realizing it is a two-way street. This is not to invalidate the student experiences described in the prior article but to say that there’s a general lack of understanding of the hierarchical structures within (whether dysfunctional or not) OSI and Student Affairs. This experience can be likened to students expressing frustration with USG not recognizing our limited ability to handle issues and forward initiatives without the consent of Student Affairs.
This article states that, “there have been numerous instances where chronic delays in making payments and consistent issues when scheduling meetings with [OSI staff]. They say these delays contributed to an overall work environment that negatively impacted both students and staff.”
“The letter details ‘negative effects’ on students as a result of shortcomings within OSI, alleging that [OSI staff’s] actions have delayed club approvals, slowed student payments, and hindered event planning.”
However, this is a University-wide challenge, not an OSI problem. Without the right structures, no individual can single-handedly overcome bureaucratic hurdles. The University has many checks and balances to reduce liability and risk whenever they are making decisions, which conflict with students’ expectations about responsiveness and productivity at any office at Fordham. If students are frustrated by the pace of approvals and support, the conversation needs to shift to how Fordham, as an institution, can provide better operational efficiency, not just how OSI can do more with less.
A striking reality is that OSI operates with limited staff and resources while managing an ever-growing list of responsibilities. If students truly want a more responsive and efficient OSI, the conversation should focus on increasing staff support for the office.
Recently, Fordham has undergone many significant physical infrastructure projects that have improved the student experience and opened up new opportunities. Nonetheless, along with the necessary investment in infrastructure, Fordham should not neglect the fact that OSI is the face-to-face contact between students and administration. Without a well-funded and functioning OSI, students will not receive a good quality experience at Fordham, regardless of the building improvements. There have also been instances where Fordham prioritized budgeting over student resources. An investment in the student experience should transcend cost cutting.
Student workers in the Office for Student Involvement at Fordham University are consistently overburdened, undertrained and misdirected, which has led to a profound dysfunction within the office. The workload is disproportionately distributed, with some workers tasked with excessive responsibilities while others are left with little to do, creating a sense of inequity and burnout. The lack of proper training and guidance leaves many student workers unprepared to handle their duties, resulting in confusion, mistakes and inefficiency. This lack of clear communication and leadership undermines the quality of their work and impedes the office’s ability to support and engage the broader student body effectively. As a result, the office struggles to meet its objectives, leaving the workers and the students they serve frustrated and disillusioned.
We believe the University Administration needs to empower entry-level positions for OSI employees, provide decision-making opportunities and have more direct oversight over OSI low-level decision-making. The challenges OSI faces are not just about one person’s leadership — they’re about how much autonomy and resources are given to the other support staff and assistant directors. If OSI struggles to approve events or funding quickly, it is not because of unwillingness. Rather, the office doesn’t have the necessary authority and manpower to process requests at the speed students expect.
The exponential growth of student organizations is another overlooked factor in this landscape. USG continues to approve new clubs every year, adding to OSI’s workload. However, OSI is not expanding at the same rate. The number of staff members responsible for managing clubs has remained relatively stagnant while the number of clubs they oversee has ballooned. Delays in responses or event approvals aren’t a sign of OSI ignoring students — they’re a sign that the office is overwhelmed (and understaffed). In our view, OSI is growing slower while student organizations are expanding exponentially. This creates a recipe for bottlenecks, not because of individual overloads, but because of simple math.
If we want a student involvement office that can meet student needs efficiently, we should be advocating for institutional investment in OSI, not placing blame on the people working tirelessly to keep things running. Let’s push for real solutions — more staff, funding and more empowered office staff and student workers.
Lastly, the individuals at the Office for Student Involvement are some of Fordham’s most caring and public service-oriented individuals. During our tenures, we worked and were advised by people that without them, Fordham would only be a classroom and not a home. The individuals in Student Affairs work countless hours and nights outside of a 9 to five to ensure that events, meetings, clubs and organizations, run efficiently and professionally. Yes, there are discussions to be had, but whenever approaching issues, it’s also incredibly important to point out the plethora of positive things that the Office for Student Involvement does for Fordham. The article from the last issue of The Fordham Ram lacks discussion of OSI’s inherent importance and positive impact on the undergraduate student body.
Ultimately, the Office for Student Involvement needs attention, support and empowerment to succeed, and there is still an opportunity to steer the ship into calmer waters.
Briana Al-Omoush, Former Executive President of United Student Government, 2023-2024
James L. Serruto, Former Vice President of Facilities and Dining, 2023-2024
Santiago Vidal Calvo, Former Executive President of United Student Government, 2022-2023