lilad03-blog

[lilad03-blog]

THE FORDHAM COLLEGE OF PHARMACY CLOSING

THE FORDHAM COLLEGE OF PHARMACY CLOSING

A number of factors impacted the closing of Fordham University's College of Pharmacy in 1972. Among them the national academic upgrading of pharmacist academic requirements; the changing role of independent pharmacies during the growth of chain retail stores; Fordham's lack of training pharmacy graduates for work in hospital settings as well as the industrial side of this field; The persistent rumor of then various school administrators' lack of support for retaining an expensive college at a Catholic Institution where most of the students were Jewish; Finally, the school's economic downturn in the 1970s bringing this to a head.

In 1910 Jacob Diner, M.D., both a pharmacist and physician, received permission to create the Fordham College of Pharmacy. He became the first Jewish dean in the history of the University. Opening in 1912, it moved into the building known today as Thebaud Hall in 1914.

(Fordham Centurion ©1941)

Fordham’s pharmacy program graduated thousands of pharmacists, some still practicing today. Back in 1967, due to rising costs and competition, Fordham decided to terminate the pharmacy program. The school ceased all operations in 1971 and the last class graduated in 1972.

Changes Began to Respace The Pharmaceutical Field In the 1960s 

By September 1960, all American colleges of pharmacy were required to change to a five-year program leading to the B.S. in Pharmacy degree. A primary objective at this time was to increase the number of elective hours of general university course work available to pharmacy undergraduate students. 

At the time of the establishment of the mandatory five-year program, a new six-year program, leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm. D.), was offered on an elective basis. The two programs were the professional practice program, which also included hospital pharmacy, and an industrial technology program. These programs not only replaced the former master's degree programs in hospital pharmacy and industrial pharmacy but also gave the student an opportunity to obtain additional work in the basic medical sciences.

The establishment of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 resulted in an increase in the number of prescriptions, and the cost of prescription drugs. Government and insurance companies were seeking cost-effective therapies with improvements in quality of care. Managed care was developing at that time, which soon became a main challenge for pharmacists in the following decades.

The Growth of Chain Drug Stores Changed the Landscape

As with many retailers in the country during this time, drug stores were trying to adapt to the rapidly changing needs of the customer. CVS began differentiating itself from its competition by opening small health and beauty aids stores in enclosed shopping malls. According to Brian L. Friedman, an economist, in his Productivity Gains in the drugstore industry, 1958-79 Studies: “Large Chain stores, and groups of stores known as cooperatives have grown to dominate sales, where the number of independent stores has decreased significantly.” He added, in his report, “... chain stores have also placed retail locations in high-volume shopping areas.” 

“Pharmacists were finding in the 1960s that they could run their business reasonably,” said Louis Flacks, Fordham Pharmacy Class of 1963, who as an independent retailer owned 4 pharmacies. “Except they could not afford the ever increasing cost of their retail space.”  

Managed care was developing at that time, which soon became a main task for pharmacists in the following decades. 

Abu T. M. Serajuddin, PhD, is a Professor of Industrial Pharmacy at St. John's University. He came to the United States in 1973. Both he and his wife were pharmacists: “There was a shortage of pharmacists. It was a low paying job then. My wife, for example, was paid $6.25 per hour ($32 in 2024 dollars). The only way to make any money was to open your own pharmacy; perhaps a few of them.” 

(Joseph Slotnik, Pharmacy ‘32,  assembled apothecary bottles/jars as a pharmacist.) 

Fordham Only Prepared Their Pharmacy Grads For Retail Work

A retail pharmacist is a type of pharmacist that works in a drugstore, which can be small, independent pharmacies, pharmacy chains and pharmacies in larger stores. Retail pharmacists fill medication orders placed by doctors for customers who come into their pharmacy and often work with pharmacy technicians to fill these orders. Since they rarely work with IV medications, retail pharmacists have to know about pre-formulated medications, although some retail pharmacists do “compounding” work with medications.

Hospital pharmacists aren't a “public-facing” role like a retail pharmacist and work more with medical professionals than with patients.

Note: In my years as a pharmaceutical representative I spent much of my time calling on pharmacists, both in the retail and hospital setting. Since we sold a lot of medications both Prescription (Rx) and Over the Counter (OTC), we had to provide most of these products in single-dose packages for the hospital market; no bottles of 100 like you’ll see on the shelf of your local apothecary or even a supermarket. In addition, most of our sales, in the hospital side, whether OTC or Rx, were involved with a long, competitive bidding process; we seldom made money here but most drug companies figured it was better to have a patient start on your medications, during a short stay in the hospital, and then they were more prone to stay on our products when back home. 

So less preparation, by the hospital pharmacist, and lower costs at the purchase level. I offer this up for the next time you are looking at your bill from a hospital stay and question the cost of your medications. 

One of the biggest differences is that hospital pharmacists are required to do a residency that takes two years, although all other educational and licensing requirements are the same. This allows the clinical pharmacist to learn all the skills necessary to work in the hospital environment. Retail pharmacists are not required to have a residency. 

Industrial pharmacists work in companies that essentially manufacture medicines, however there are many different stages of this process, and pharmacists are involved in most of them. From initial design to public launch and sales. Although many pharmacists begin their industry careers in a lab-based role, (industrial) pharmacists work in many non-lab roles. For example in medicines information, regulatory affairs, marketing and business development. 

Note: Want to have some fun, ask your local pharmacist if a PhD in pharmacology can fill a prescription. They will gladly tell you no. However, this is a degree you will typically find in Research and Development departments, of drug and cosmetic companies or back at the university teaching, in academia’s own version of Amway,

“Fordham only prepared pharmacists for retail (drugstore work).” said Flack, who has a brother working in R&D for Calvin Klein in the field of fragrances. “There was no effort to train them for hospital work or provide industrial preparation.”

Too Many Jewish Kids?

Cornelius (Neil) Ryan, was a graduate of the College of Pharmacy. He had a Bachelor of Science from 1957. “Mister Ryan” (to me anyway) was very tall, cynical and a long time family friend of my parents. His younger son and my sister were born in the same hospital on the same day; both moms shared a room there and the families got to know each other. 

“The reason they closed the pharmacy school,” the former owner of Lakeside Pharmacy in Mahopac, New York, said on multiple occasions, “They were graduating too many jewish kids.” 

He died in 2012, that doesn’t prove much, so here we go.

In a different section of his memo Dean Kidder also urges “that no decision or action be made concerning this problem until after the Centennial of 1941.” He offers up the possibility of reducing “the proportion of non-Christians … even at slight financial loss.” As well as adjusting salaries “if, necessary.” Even combining the office of Dean and Regent, “... to maintain finances…”

Religious Statistics

Joseph O’Callaghan, PhD in an email response to my inquiry proposed the following question: “Were the authorities asking themselves, why are we educating a majority of students who are Jewish in the College of Pharmacy Sponsored by a Catholic University?” 

The Professor Emeritus in the History Department continued, ”I just read the section in (Monsignor) Thomas Shelley's history of Fordham,, pp.  196-200., in which he makes the point that the College of Pharmacy was founded in 1912 after the closure of the School of Medicine. (Note: Actually, the School of Medicine closed in 1920.) The person responsible for that was a Jew, Doctor Diner, who became the first dean of the College of Pharmacy. Then, when word got to the Jesuit General in Rome, a Polish count, he demanded that Dr.Diner be fired because he was a Jew. The General also asked why Fordham, a Catholic University, was educating Jews. Fordham's Jesuits generally reacted in support of Dr Diner and he remained in office until he resigned in 1932, because of ill health.”  

“With Chain-Store pharmacies, Managed Care and a lack of industry-specific training among pharmacy graduates, Fordham’s Program seemed doomed. But it got worse internally.” 

In 1968, Fordham, now confronted by what its President Leo McLaughlin, SJ called a "difficult and critical" financial situation; During the 1960s, declining enrollment and financial problems caused the Board of Trustees to vote to close the school. The school stopped accepting new students in 1967 and in June 1972 the last class graduated.

"The University has a critical need for immediate financial support in amounts never before obtained by this institution," reported Joseph Kaiser, Chairman of Fordham’s Lay Board of Trustees. The Fordham  Council, Group President, announced that week that the University must raise a minimum of $3.5 million—and hopes to achieve a goal of $8.5 million-by June 30, 1969 ($76 million in 2024 dollars).

“The funds are needed,” according to a statement from President McLaughlin, who served Fordham from 1965 to 1969 and then as chancellor for another year, "to  support  the current building program, and to redeem the advances made from reserve funds to initiate early construction."

“Measures to meet the financial crisis include a $8.5 million fundraising drive, securing of a $3 million loan, a freeze on expenditures, a slashing review,” continued the reformer president, who eventually left the Jesuit Order and married, “to explain the financial situation and allay the rumored fear that ‘Fordham is bankrupt.’" 

The main campus boiler plant in the basement of Thebaud Hall has been supplying steam-based power to the Fordham University campus since first constructed in 1886.

College of Pharmacy: Last Ditch Effort To Raise Money

I spoke with Raymond Macioci, Class of 1971, who is in contact with 36 classmates who are “still alive and kicking, at last count.” Mr. Macioci mentioned, “They (Fordham’s Administration) did freeze out tuition at $625 dollars per semester. So this guaranteed we could graduate, but it also ensured there would be no money available to update the building or purchase newer equipment.”

During the 1960s, declining enrollment, heavier academic expectations, changes in the industry and financial problems caused the Board of Trustees to vote to close the school. The school stopped accepting new students in 1967 and in June 1972 the last class graduated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Decreases in Class Size; Financial Problems; Loss of Accreditation 

Raymond Macioci, Class of 1971 is the co-owner of Pilgrim Pharmacy in The Bronx, who tried to schedule a 50th anniversary reunion in 2021, however, “the pandemic saw to it that we did not.”  He answered a few additional questions.

Question: Can you give an example of how the school was experiencing severe financial problems? 

Answer: “The labs in Thebaud Hall were ancient. When the medical school was still active (1920) they used Thebaud for lab work. I believe we were still using some of that equipment during my time as a student.”

Question: Was the pharmacy school alumni supportive or not? 

Answer: (He recalls) “...going to alumni meetings as a student and finding them supportive but somewhat reluctant since the decision had already been made-by that time-to phase the school out.” 

Question: Mr. Flacks (Class of 1963) had gone so far as to tell me that “the Jesuits wanted to turn Fordham into the Berkeley of the East.” Was pharmacy a little too button-down or even “trade school-ish” for Fordham?  

Answer: “Yes! But remember something, pharmacists were viewed as merchants and the only college educated shop-keepers.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Final Word From Mr. Jacob Flacks, Pharmacy ‘63: “They lost a lot of students between 1959 and 1963” Mr. Flacks, who is a board member of the prestigious Alpha Zeta Omega ​​Pharmaceutical Fraternity stated, “We started out with 144 students and finished with a graduation class of 88.” He added, (Those graduating) “... included eight women, one was a Carmelite Nun who was going to use her degree to run the pharmacy back in her convent.”

 -Kevin Bergin

This article originally appeared on the Fordham University Class of 1980 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3rd Article on Closed of Colleges at Fordham University:

Fordham College Medical School and The Impact of The Flexner Report

Marymount College, Fordham Prep & A Farm in The Bronx

THE FORDHAM SCHOOL OF PHARMACY CLOSING

[lilad03-blog]

A-I has a long way to go.

I don’t know what to believe anymore. This is like when I was told there was no Easter Bunny, about 3 years ago. These Youtube shorts are supposed to be Monaco Billionaires girlfriends getting out of unbelievably expensive sports cars in unbelievable short skirts. Between the cars disappearing, as soon as the girls pop out of them; or the women being twice the size as the autos themselves? (Check out the last one.) Let’s just say A-I has a long way to go.

[lilad03-blog]

The First Woman Doctor to Serve at Sea For the U.S. Navy.

Kevin Bergin 

Born Bernice Gertrude Rosenthal, Doctor Bernice Williams was Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus.

She was also the U.S. Navy’s first female doctor to serve at sea.

Here is her obituary: https://www.history.navy.mil/.../tra.../bernice-walters.html

[lilad03-blog]

Mahopac High School Fire/1975 

From May/June of '75 if you recall, it happened near the end of the school year. The alarms were turned off because some students might trip them and allow the kids to go out during finals week; there they could discuss the final exam test answers. The reasoning was, no alarms no disruptions.Well, as the small gym burnt that seemed understandably flawed.

Note: The Principal-Mr. Donner- and the 2 assistant Principals saved their careers but the head custodian took the heat and was fired.

50 years ago!

[lilad03-blog]

Robert Prevost/Pope Leo the XIV did it like most executives do it.

Robert Prevost/Pope Leo the XIV did it like most executives do it.

The more I read about Pope Leo the more he resembled a lot of people who moved up to the top of large organizations.  

Tuition Reimbursement /Tuition Waiver to obtain a graduate degree:

Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Ill. (1)

He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law (JCL) in 1984, followed by a Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) degree in 1987, both from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. (2)

9 Visits to Nigeria

He traveled often on “business” trips (Nigeria). Broaden his experiences and answered the Church’s call(s).

Pope Leo XIV, First Pontiff in Modern History with Firsthand Knowledge of Africa: https://www.aciafrica.org/news/15597/pope-leo-xiv-first-pontiff-in-modern-history-with-firsthand-knowledge-of-africa?fbclid=IwY2xjawKWFkJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETE5RTFFWXAzdkxWYWhWMFZLAR66uIhrUenuJvcK0fPClnALZ-B7imsf6DrC0F8ocWs-RUCR4dJUT_EpWCShcw_aem_paObElSAxNOYUpY_cFDL5w

Relocated (Peru) 

St. Mary's Cathedral, Chiclayo

Missionary work in Peru

Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985, serving as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas 1985/86. (3)

He also learned and mastered the Spanish language during this period. (4)

Bishop of Chiclayo (2015–2023)

Best of Luck to You Pope Leo the XIV

References:

https://web.archive.org/web/20250508173008/https://chicago.suntimes.com/religion/2025/05/03/robert-prevost-pope-francis-conclave-catholic-church-dolton-saint-mary-assumption-parish . 2.https://web.archive.org/web/20250509044847/https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html 3.https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191403/http://augustinians.net/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=483&cntnt01returnid=49 4. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/world/europe/robert-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html

[lilad03-blog]

Michele Beach Harrington: Executive Director- Alumni and Employer Engagement Long Island University 

Executive Director- Alumni and Employer Engagement Long Island University 

I was a little nervous meeting her; In large part because she drove up to meet me. We picked a diner in Brewster, NY so she could return home easily, via I-684, to the Long Island campus. For those of us, of a certain age, Michele was quick to remember, “That Brewster is the town where ‘That Girl’ was from.” (Marlo Thomas’ character in the 1960s television show.) 

As John Lennon said: 'Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.’ 

She received a Bachelor in Science in Biology. 

“Right after college I went into finance,” said Harrington referencing her work in Fixed Income and Corporate Bonds, “It was going to be a way to earn money for medical school.” 

She worked on Wall Street for over 40 years. 

Taking little time to correct the figures from my article about the closing of colleges by two different universities, she pointed out that the numbers I used underestimated the value of the Long Island University Endowment by almost half. 

She is eager to learn more about the university. We talked about a wide range of topics, related to L.I.U. 's history. She quickly looked up to Larry Doby, who attended LIU Brooklyn and was the 2nd African-American baseball player in the major leagues-after Jackie Robinson. 

I was proud to reference my article The Four Husbands of Marjorie Merriweather Post, and wanted to expand on it. She diplomatically mentioned that she had already finished reading the novel on Marjorie Post by former New York Governor Pataki’s daughter and instead recommended: “I find a copy of it.” She then added-almost giving me a way out with-“It’s a chick book.”

It’s worth noting that all of these comments above were offered up with the same unwavering, relaxed smile.

(You can probably see she brought a copy of the questions with her.)

A Few Minutes with Michele Beach Harrington

Question: You have an extensive career history in the financial field, you described it as “On Wall Street”. Why did you want to make the switch to academia?

Harrington: “I have a long time relationship with Kimberly Cline. It goes back to when we were two serious working moms in Garden City. I was on the 6 a.m. train every morning. She was heading up to Albany as Chief Financial Officer for the State University of New York (SUNY). In fact, her husband became one of my soccer coaches. She mentioned this position to me when it became available. Also, after years on Wall Street, I wanted to give something back.”

Question: Isn’t alumni affairs more marketing than finance? 

Harrington: “At one point, I wanted to just teach a Money and Banking class or do fundraising. I started to spend time on the campus and I saw how beautiful it was. Frankly, as a trader, in bonds, I like to get things done. The bottom line here (LIU) is to engage alumni.”

Question: Speaking of finances, you are very aware that a private university, the size of Long Island University, has a painfully small endowment. What are your plans to try to fix that? 

Harrington: “The endowment is close to $500 million. Not $220 million. But it needs to be improved. That is important because we continue to give out many scholarships. Among other things we have to reach out to many more of the alumni. They have contacted some of the notable ones, successful alumni, of course. But we are trying to reach out to the many of the two hundred and eight thousand others and get them more engaged. Even if they can only contribute small amounts, such as fifty to one hundred dollars, it could all be very helpful to improve the picture. In addition, we have planned more outreach programs. For example, we are in the process of providing interactive cooking classes, once a month, where alumni can join in and have fun. They are only $15 dollars per class.” 

C.W.Post is such a beautiful campus, rolling hills seem like somewhere in Massachusetts, the landscaping is fabulous. And the Brooklyn campus is so close to the Barclay Center, Fort Greene and Boerum Hill the neighborhoods-where so many people want to move to. You are also a subway ride away from all that New York City has to offer.

Question: Other things?

Harrington: “We are currently interviewing students to start calling alumni for their support. We are looking for those with a strong appetite for this work and a friendly manner. Also a wonderful tool to reach out to alumni when there are problems in various areas of the nation, like hurricanes down south of forest fires. We want to simply call people to thank them for coming to events and provide outreach so they can feel more involved with the school. Also, we need to get more graduates to help run regional alumni groups. We are planning to do something with the baseball team this season. Maybe we can bring in more on Larry Doby?

Question: I haven’t gotten a call from LIU in many years myself.

Harrington: “Well, get ready, once we finish training these people, you will.”

Question:  I’m very flattered that you came to meet me up here in God’s Country. You are a person who is willing to travel. You have an office at CW Post in Brookville, “on-site”. Just curious, how often do you think you’ll be visiting Brooklyn? Or traveling around the country?

Harrington: “Just a couple of weeks ago we had an alumni event down in North Palm Beach Country Club, Florida. Twenty people attended and we had made valuable contacts who we hope will join us in reinvigorating the alumni. Concerning the local campuses, when we are fully organized, we will have a person (from the alumni office) in Brooklyn at least once a week.” 

Question: You mentioned Florida, what about other “active” regional alumni chapters are there?

Harrington: “Well, we talked about Marjorie Merriweather Post. You pointed out that she has a museum (Hillwood Estate) where her collection of paintings and Fabergé eggs, from her years in Russia, are located. That would be a great place to hold an event for our Washington, DC (including Virginia & Maryland) alumni chapter that we are forming. It would also include multiple, simultaneous, events for admissions recruitment as well.” 

Catherine the Great Fabergé egg-left (Wikipedia)

Questions: Any other regional clubs?

Harrington: Hudson Valley, Northern New Jersey LIU NYC Brooklyn To go along with the LIU Long Island Club. But Southeast and Southwest Florida. We have a Heat Map and we can approximate where large cloisters of our people are living. This includes Seattle, California, Texas and a group in Hartford Connecticut. We also want to get our alumni engaged with new students and even come local to recruiting events around the nation.

Question: Visceral reaction here: You are a long time Long Island resident; You personally attended Bucknell. After nosing around your social media accounts I see several Ivy Leaguers “sprinkled” throughout your family tree. Now, take us back to the day BEFORE you decided to apply for the job here; What was your view of LIU then?

Harrington: “It’s undervalued. LIU always was thought of as not being a top competitive school. Now we have a top notch Business School. The A.I. programs are being incorporated into many of our traditional majors. In fact, our musical theater is in the top 30 in the country. We are  becoming a very competitive school. We need to emphasize the success of our Roc Nation program, not just to alumni but to employers and as a recruiting tool for new students.” 

Question: How has that view changed?

Harrington: “I’ve gotten to meet some of the students and realized how strong some of these programs are. Notably the nursing program which is growing at both Brooklyn and Post. These are the things we need to make known out there. Additionally, we are getting more students applying to LIU, not less (the national trend). I can invision us like Northeastern University (in Boston Mass).”

Question: New programs, fields of study?

Harrington: How about a graduate culinary school in Brooklyn.

Question: Any plans for a new Alumni Directory?

Harrington: “We are committed to having an updated alumni director by next year.”

Question: If some foolish old graduate came up to you with the claim that many alums, who have updated their biographical information-including their email-are still NOT getting the on-line LIU Magazine-how would you respond?

Harrington: “I’m not disagreeing with you, We have a lot of contact information that is outdated. We are bringing cards, (to be filled out at events) where alumni can update their information. You might want to recommend that people follow us on LinkedIn where the launch of each new LIU Magazine is announced. By the way, the last edition was back in July and it should come out twice a year.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOTE: Here is a URL for that official LIU LinkedIn site she mentioned: https://tinyurl.com/5dm22pd7 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Question: You mention events, multiple? How many per month will your department be involved with?

Harrington: “I’d say between three and five monthly. This includes sporting events on-campus. We find a lot of alumni, who played sports, like to come back for events. Also, some events for the newly formed regional groups. LIU is missing traditional pep rallies, the fashion department just had a fabulous career event and we need to capitalize on them, etc.”

Question: I always leave the tough ones for last: Southampton College. Are those alumni lost to you? 

Harrington: “No, I don’t think so. It is unfortunate that things happened that way (closing/selling the Southampton campus). We want to form a small LIU Southampton club.”

Question: What other ideas do you have to try and resurrect that relationship? 

Harrington: “We would like to plan a trip out there with alumni members this Spring, that is a work-in-progress however. I’ve recently been in touch with the Stonybrook people and they are very nice. They have an event in July and would like us to take an LIU Southampton table. I will keep you posted on that.”

Question: How about a room for them at C.W. Post or even L.I.U. Brooklyn?

Harrington: “I will ask.” 

Question: Can you give us a preview? 2026 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of Long Island University. Any exciting things we can hope to see? (That may seem like an unfair one, but I’m guessing it came up in your job interview.)

Harrington: It will be called LIU 100! It will kick off at Homecoming this year (Fall 2025). This will include Tillis Center musical events, Roosevelt School Courses of civics and democracy and Hutton House lectures; The contributions of the Pharmacy school which was the beginning of LIU. Here are some additional things we hope to do: the contribution of majors, sports alumni, etc. Perhaps a  40 under 40 celebration of our leading young alumni?  It will continue through the calendar year of 2026 and include events, university growth, alumni accomplishments. etc”

[lilad03-blog]

The Rewrite (2014)

Filmed in Brookville, right on the LIU campus. 

The Rewrite (2014)

Filmed in Brookville, right on the LIU campus. 

Starring: Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei

IMDb.com says: An Oscar-winning writer in a slump leaves Hollywood to teach screenwriting at a college on the East Coast, where he falls for a single mom taking classes there.

Grant & Tomei walking across the C.W. Post campus.

Although it is filmed on the Long Island campus, the producers wanted to set it on the SUNY Binghamton Campus. It is interesting that they make attempts to ensure that we don’t find out the location change. Frankly, I think they just imported the one Binghamton baseball cap and passed it around to almost every actor-Hugh Grant included-when it was their turn to shoot an exterior scene.

Notice Chris Elliott all done up in Binghamton SWAG. 

Note: At the beginning of the film, Hugh Grant, who takes on the teaching assignment as a screenplay writing professor,  has to choose 10 students, out of 100 who applied, by reading their 30 page drafts. But as the photo suggests, he did it by picking 8 pretty girls and 2 “nerdy” guys. (Don’t worry, he reforms as the story goes on.)

The youngsters included:  Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Nicole Patrick, Bella Heathcote, Emily Morden, Damaris Lewis, Maggie Geha, and Lauren Macklin

Interesting supporting cast, including some veterans you might know.

Allison Janney, Chris Elliott, and J.K. Simmons

Note: I watched this movie, on YouTube, to create this post and come up with some screen-shots. Frankly, it isn’t a masterpiece but it wasn’t half bad. Besides, you get to see a bunch of Post-campus exteriors.

Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1j6dWpz-ew

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

See, they couldn’t hide all the L.I.U. references:

[lilad03-blog]

John “Jack” Donohue for the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame 

John “Jack” Donohue for the Bronx Basketball Hall of Fame 

A basketball coaching legend that few New Yorkers or Americans even remember. During his coaching time at two New York City High Schools, Coach Donohue won 250 games in less than 300 games. Later he coached successfully at the College of the Holy Cross, as well as both the Men and Women National Basketball teams of Canadian. 

  Donohue Photo - Holy Cross Athletics

Bronx Highlights

Assistant Student Coach for Fordham Rams

Graduate of Fordham Rose Hill; 

Head basketball coach at St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School.

St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School was a four-year, coeducational Catholic high school located in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx, New York.[2] A parochial school operated by the parish of the same name, St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church, it opened in 1927 and closed in 1991. 

Notable Basketball Alumni

Former basketball stars from Tolentine include National Basketball Association players Gary Voce[6] and Malik Sealy as well as college basketball coaches Brian Reese and Adrian Autry.

Donohue was born in 1931 in New York City. He received his Bachelor of Science, from Fordham College at Rose Hill, in The Bronx, with a degree in Economics His career, as an assistant coach, began while still a student at Fordham when he was only twenty years old. After obtaining his degree, in 1952, he attended NYU-then still in The Bronx-earning a Master's Degree. He then spent two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. When he returned to the U.S., in 1954, he started coaching at St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in The Bronx.  

Five years later he moved to Power Memorial Academy, located in Manhattan, just across the street from the yet to be constructed Fordham University Lincoln Center campus. It was there he coached Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) where they won three straight New York City Catholic High School championships. 

 Alcindor scoring while Power compiled a 71–game winning streak. 

This success would assist him in obtaining the head coaching job at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.  

Was the College of Holy Cross job viewed as a Package Deal? 

It was long rumored that Donohue was offered the Holy Cross job with the understanding that he would bring the 7’-2” phenom along when he graduated in 1965? If the New York Post article of May 4th 2020 is correct, “...there was little chance Alcindor was going to pick Worcester, Mass. over New York or Los Angeles.”  Lew had other plans and decided on UCLA, where his teams would win three NCAA basketball championships (1967-1969). 

Donohue went on to work as the head coach of the College of the Holy Cross, from 1965 to 1972. At Holy Cross, he compiled a record of 106–66.  Later he coached the Canadian team at three Summer Olympic Games (in 1976, 1984, and 1988). He was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. 

A BRONX GUY IN MANY HALLS OF FAME 

Inducted into the Canadian Olympic Sports Hall of Fame-Inducted in 1991  

Inducted into the New York, Canadian and Basketball Hall of Fames-Inducted in 1992 

Inducted into the New York City Coaches’ Hall of Fame in 2002.  

nybasketballhalloffame.com

The Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Honored Coach Donohue by naming him the recipient of the Coach Mac Award for his commitment to Canadian basketball in 2003. 

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame-Inducted in 2004 

Posthumously inducted in to the International Basketball Federation in 2013. (F.I.B.A. known by its French acronym Fédération Internationale de Basketball) inducted him posthumously in 2013.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nurrxy4opOI&t=3) 

Canadian Disability Hall of Fame  

He was inducted in to the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, which recognizes "outstanding Canadians who have made extraordinary contributions to enriching the quality of life for people with physical disabilities", also in the year of his death (2003). 

For his coaching and teaching abilities and achievements, Donohue received many honors including the King Clancy Award (Canadian) for his work with the disabled.

       Ontario Hall of Fame 2000

He died on April 16th, 2003, from pancreatic cancer, in Ottawa, Canada. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

[lilad03-blog]

Movies Shot On Fordham Campus-Shriek of the Mutilated (1974)

Movies Shot On Fordham Campus-Shriek of the Mutilated (1974)

Rose Hill Campus-is that Finlay Hall in the background?

IMDb provides this description: (Horror) A group of college students are led by their professor into the mountains in search of the Yeti. The students start to be killed off one by one.

Yeti? Big Foot? Abominable Snowman? Or future Ewok?

Don’t know why people forget to lock their doors and windows?

Next time you think your work-study program was a bust.

Screen shot of student hitting professor with shovel before attempting his escape.

Subplot includes some cannibalism. 

Final LIne: “Mr. Henshaw white meat or dark?”

Running Time: 1:25:33 minutes

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBEWzk3M01w

Coming Up Next: Solitary Man (2009) Starring Michael Douglas, Mary Louise Parker and Susan Sarandon. Yep, that one is a step up.

[lilad03-blog]

Follow Up On Nick Zakelj  (Fordham Class of 2021/2022)

You may recall that we did a brief mention of Zakelj when he was drafted into the NFL 2022. He will be starting his 4th season with the San Francisco 49ers this year. He is also rooming with the team’s starting quarterback, Brock Purdy. Please check out this brief article from Sports Illustrated. 

It is primarily about the QB but our fellow Ram gets a few mentions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/10/13/49ers-brock-purdy-opens-living-teammate-nick-zakelj

Wow, two single guys, making about $2 million between them, are sharing a place? Well, that’s the California Bay area I guess; I mention that next time you think your neighborhood is pricey. 

Zakelj has a BS, in Finance and a Master’s degree; both from the Gabelli School of Business. (2021/2022) *

*https://forever.fordham.edu/s/1362/18/interior.aspx?sid=1362&gid=1&pgid=275&cid=735&mid=402147#/PersonalProfile

-Kevin Bergin

Class of 1980 

[lilad03-blog]

Putting our Class of 1980 Classmate Ann Gregory’s Basketball Records in a Special Space.

Although there are 4 men’s basketball numbers retired by Fordham, Anne Gregory O’Connell stands alone as the only woman to receive this honor.

I went to a basketball game on campus near the end of February. It was a Men’s Basketball Game since I wanted to see some dunks. I saw none. Oh, they lost to Davidson.

One of the attendees I was there with remembered to hand me a copy of the 2024-2025 Fordham Basketball Program (combined men & women) for the season. 

On the pages just before the back cover, they listed all the school’s B-BALL records; it covered every offensive and defensive category. I was both proud and amazed when I saw our former classmate’s name appear multiple times. 

Under 9 Universal Basketball “Stats” Ann Gregory O’Connell Leads in five.

Anne, is the all time leader in points scored, field goals made, free-throws made; all major offensive categories. She leads Fordham in rebounding, one short of 2,000 in total, which is a “shared” offensive and defensive statistic and she is the all-time school leader in shots blocked while playing defense. 

2024 Thurman Munson Award recipients, from left to right: "Nattily dressed" New York Yankee star Tino Martinez, our own Class of ‘80 Fordham University/NYC Basketball Hall of Famer Anne Gregory O'Connell, Diana Munson (Thurman’s widow), Marco Damiani, (CEO of Association for the Help of Retarded Children, NYC-host) and New York Met star Howard Johnson. 

Retired from Holy Trinity Diocesan High School

A cum laude graduate, Anne played professional basketball in Europe briefly before returning to New York. I wanted to say hello to her son Andrew, a 2012 FCRH graduate, but he was working that game as the official scorer.

[lilad03-blog]

Tale Of Two Universities And How They Handled A Closed College

Long Island University & the closing of Southampton College vs. Fordham & the Closing of Marymount College in Tarrytown.

L.I.U.

In the course of the Southampton campus tenure under Long Island University, it produced 34 Fulbright scholars, most of which hailed from the marine science program.

After many years of fiscal mismanagement, the University announced a multimillion-dollar capital campaign, launched a new interdisciplinary CORE curriculum and the construction of a new library to revamp the campus. After one year of a 10-year plan however, Long Island University officials ceased all plans, and Long Island University decided to effectively close the campus.

On March 24, 2006, SUNY announced a final agreement for the purchase of the 81-acre (330,000 m2) Southampton College property from L.I.U. SUNY paid US $35 million ($54,792,500 in 2025.) for the 84-acre campus and its waterfront facility for its famed Marine Biology Department, as well as the NPR-affiliated WLIU FM 88.3 radio station. (1)

Southampton College Windmill Cottage 

A Long Island official accuses Stony Brook University of being the East End's "biggest slumlord."

The university is on the hot seat for the operation of its Southampton campus. Graduate students said they like having the run of Stony Brook Southampton - there are no problems finding parking. But it's a bit desolate.

With 400 students enrolled (half online), the campus in the heart of Southampton is mostly unused and many buildings are crumbling. "The campus itself is in a state of disrepair. If this was in private hands, we'd consider them to be slumlords," said Assemblyman Fred Thiele, a Democrat from Sag Harbor. “The state university has failed to keep its commitments as stewards of the campus it acquired from Southampton College in 2006.

Historic Southampton Hall, the campus centerpiece, has long been shuttered. Five years ago, the university agreed to a major overhaul that never happened.

When Thiele and a state senator notified SUNY of the availability of millions in grants, the school never applied. Meanwhile, dorms sit vacant and condemned.

The campus has welcomed a handful of new programs, such as marine sciences. But since losing the person in charge of growth in 2020, critics called this potential gem a rudderless ship.(2)

Typical Southampton College Reaction (Based on my recent query)

“Southampton's alumni have no campus or other connection to the University or its other campuses and so there's no relevance to Southampton alumni.” said a Southampton alumni in response to a L.I.U. Facebook survey, “There's no reason for SC alumni to donate to L.I.U. and no incentive for L.I.U. to bother with us. We've been abandoned.”

FORDHAM

In 1907, land near Tarrytown, New York became the location Marymount College.[3] The college was founded as an independent girls' boarding school by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) to "create a place of learning where women could grow and where they could receive an education that would prepare them for positions of leadership and influence in the world." It was the first women's college in the United States to offer a study abroad program. (4)

In 2000, Marymount entered into an agreement to consolidate with Fordham University. In October 2005, after two years of study, Fordham announced its plans to close Marymount in 2007. At the time, the Fordham University Board of Trustees, explained that "despite the very best efforts of the faculty, administration and staff, it is no longer academically or financially feasible to continue to operate Marymount College as a separate school within the University".[4]

In 2000, Marymount College was renamed Marymount College of Fordham University.[5] In October 2005, after two years of study, Fordham announced its plans to close Marymount in 2007. At the time, the Fordham University Board of Trustees, explained that "despite the very best efforts of the faculty, administration and staff, it is no longer academically or financially feasible to continue to operate Marymount College as a separate school within the University".(5)

In August 2007, Fordham announced it would sell the Marymount campus. The decision disappointed many alumnae, as the university had purchased the college with the promise that it would try to continue to operate it as a women's institution.[6] The university claimed unjustifiable and disproportionate costs to maintain the large campus as reason for closure.

On February 17, 2008, Fordham announced the sale of the campus (27 acres) for $27 million ($39,578,338 in 2025) to EF Education, a chain of private language-instruction schools.(7)

EF Education First (abbreviated as EF) is an international education company that specializes in language training, educational travels, academic degree programs, and cultural exchanges. The company was founded in 1965 in Sweden.

Typical Marymount College Reaction (Based on my recent query)

“Everyone was shocked when Fordham sold the property so very quickly. So there are still bad feelings.” A Marymount graduate replied, “I have attended a reunion that was held at Fordham and they do have a very nice, good sized room dedicated to Marymount and they make a point of including us in their reunions.”

Note: EF allows us on campus 1x per year during reunion and provides tours of the campus. Security is reported to be “pretty tight” , perhaps understandable since it is a boarding school and needs to maintain safety on the campus.

The Dedicated “Marymount” room is located in Fordham’s Bronx campus in the “old” library. The ceiling is a replica of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. (See below).

Marymount Room at Fordham Photo Credit: Deb Graham

Here is a recent photo of a Marymount College alumni gathering conducted at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in The Bronx. (Below)

Marymount Alumnae Executive Committee Photo Credit: Deb Graham

Let’s recall the distinctions between these situations.

First, Marymount was founded in 1907. It was an independent all-women’s college for almost 100 years. It was determined to stay independent but that became impossible around the start of the millennium.

Fordham took over Marymount and according to press releases issues at the time of their divestiture allowed the Westchester County school to offer the lowest tuition within the university. However, skeptics saw the acquisition of the college as a real estate venture. (8)

L.I.U. created Southampton College and within 2 generations abandoned it.

Second, Fordham and Marymount are both Catholic Institutions. L.I.U. and Southampton College are/were non-sectarian. Well, that rules out a Sistine Chapel replica anyway.

Third, This comes from someone who runs Facebook sites for his graduation classes for both universities and comes in contact with multiple colleges, from multiple campuses through multiple graduation years. Marymount was all women and women are just more communicative and social.

Translation: If Marymount had been an all-men’s college I doubt they would have stuck with Fordham.

Fourth, Fordham's endowment is $972 million (16,500 students); Long Island University's endowment is $224.4 million (16,000 students).(9)

Finally, L.I.U.s alumni support structure is incredibly inept compared to Fordham; They have over 50 “Regional Chapters” around the world. Almost 40 of them are located domestically.

Recommendations

With the decrease in full-time traditional students entering U.S. colleges starting in 2026 there has to be a good size room that could be dedicated to Southampton College alumni? Perhaps at C.W. Post or L.I.U. Brooklyn or both.

Tap the talent of some of the various Southampton College Facebook alumni. I have found many of them very cooperative and insightful.

Tours back at the Southampton campus. Talk with SUNY Stony Brook. If they, or the NY State Regents, ask what’s in it for them? Let me use myself as an example. I am a bachelor and just about the only time I clean my house is when I know I will have people over for a visit. Food for thought.

References:

"Stony Brook University Completes Purchase of Former Southampton College Property". Stony Brook University. 4 October 2006.

https://www.cbsnews.com/.../long-island-official-blames.../

https://www.encyclopedia.com/.../marymount-colleges-and...

https://www.dib.ie/

https://www.encyclopedia.com/.../marymount-colleges-and...

https://fordham.libguides.com/c.php?g=279630&p=1863515

https://fordham.libguides.com/c.php?g=279630&p=1863515

Mytelka, Andrew (February 17, 2008) "Fordham U. Sells Marymount College Campus for $27-Million" Chronicle of Higher Education

"U.S. and Canadian 2023 NCSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2023 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY22 to FY23, and FY23 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student"

-Kevin Bergin

 Class of 1990

LIU

[lilad03-blog]

Eugene Antonio Marino, SSJ

Eugene Antonio Marino, SSJ became the first African American Archbishop in history-Fordham Graduate.

(1934 – 2000)

He was also the first African American auxiliary bishop in Washington, D.C., and the first to be secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, to Jesús María Marino, a Puerto Rican baker and Lottie Irene Bradford Marino, an African American maid. He completed a master's degree in religious education at Fordham University in The Bronx. He was ordained a priest in 1962.

Under The category of "So Why Doesn't Fordham University Make More out of This Guy?"

During his time as archbishop of Atlanta, he helped address the conduct of other priests, until his own relationship with a lay minister became public knowledge. He soon resigned, later working as a chaplain and counselor until his death in 2000.*

*Woman Claims She Married Archbishop". Los Angeles Times. 1990-08-17. Retrieved 2023-12-20.

Is It Time To Rehabilitate Him, at least for Fordham's purposes?

After all, he is a Fordham graduate, his career was extraordinary and he has been dead for 25 years. 

(If you know something I missed, discuss it here.)

[lilad03-blog]

Ice Yacht Exhibit Brings Local Family Heritage To LIfe

Amodeo Family at the Hyde Park Ice Yacht Exhibit January 7, 2025

Over at the FDR mansion, in Hyde Park, there was a recent exhibition of Ice Yachts. Not a surprising event since the former president himself had such a contraption in his youth. (That boat is in the possession of the Presidential Library and Museum on the grounds there.) 

A last moment decision to attend the final exhibit day, on January 7th, unveiled a treasure trove of history for one local family. Tim Amodeo, lifetime Dutchess County and his teenage son Leo walked into the Henry A. Wallace Visitors Center on a cold Sunday afternoon. What they discovered amazed both of them.

“We used to sit around my grandmother’s kitchen and hear stories of Samuel “Danny” Rogers building iceboats” said the resident of Wappingers Falls, “I was told he built boats for FDR and knowing what they could do he then built himself better boats that proceeded to beat him.” 

All of this happened 125 years ago

Turns out, there was a boat that his great grandfather had built-one Samuel Rogers-was on display in Hyde Park. It was from 1899. 

Named Allons, in French approximately “let's go”, it raced from 1900 to 1910. Decked out with hardwood runners (skates) a slightly tattered, white canvas sail and maroon colored cloth covered the pilot’s running plank; “old-school” without an inch of  fiberglass or laminate to be found over its nineteen foot-seven inch structure. 

Samuel Rogers (circa 1900) Hudson River Ice Yachting Blogspot

His son Leo, a freshman at Dutchess Community College, joined in. Over lunch, he mentioned that he never had a chance to meet either of his paternal grandparents, let alone know very much about this part of his family heritage. “It was truly a fascinating day. I was thrilled to see the ice boats in person and their intricacies, to physically witness the handy work of my great, great grandfather was quite an experience.”

Leo Amodeo displaying Samuel Roger’s Ice Sailing trophies from 1900 to 1904.

In the Late 19th Century-this was as fast as you could travel.

A competition first developed by The Dutch, it is believed that these boats could sail, on a glass-smooth-river, at excesses of 100 miles per hour when the wind was right. Remember, this was before cars or planes and even before trains or boats could ever dream about such speeds. According to Reed Spalding, a local historian at Scenic Hudson: “The ice boats usually beat the trains; for a time, they were the fastest vehicles on the planet.” 

As a young man Franklin Delano Roosevelt was often seen racing on the wintery Hudson River

Franklin D. Roosevelt on his ice yacht, HAWK, ca. 1901. Courtesy FDR Presidential Library.

-Kevin Bergin

Bergin is a long time resident. He was a former Hyde Park 

Town Councilman and one-time Dutchess County Deputy Clerk.

kevin.bergin@marist.edu

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[lilad03-blog]

Manhattan College is Now Manhattan University

They’re In The Bronx.

They’re Catholic.

And Fordham Alumni Might Be Wondering Why?

Okay, okay, we have enough of our own problems. But when your kid-brother makes a major change, you take notice. (By the way, that “kid-brother” has a School of Engineering and generally beats the crap out of us in basketball,) If you haven’t heard it yet, Manhattan College is now Manhattan University; They’ve joined the ranks of Iona University and Mercy University both having their main campus right up the Hudson Valley in Westchester County, NY.

BACKGROUND

Every indicator from The Dept. of Education to the Academic Journal The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that attendance at traditional institutes of higher education will drop considerably in 2026. 

Some of the major for-profit universities have been sold/merged to major private schools to provide turn-key operations for encouraging on-line learners. 

Schools have lobbied the government for the use of federal Pell Grants, which will expand the eligibility of people in prison (750,000+) to receive college educations.

In 2021, New York State relaxed the definition of the term “university”. It is hoped this will make it easier to market to foreign students who often viewed the term “college” as simply 2-year junior colleges.

Going Through Some Tough Times

In late 2023 and early 2024, Manhattan College eliminated more than twenty major and minor programs and terminated over 25% of faculty due to persistent declining enrollment and increasing structural deficits. In late January of 2024, faculty voted "no confidence" in the college's president. 

From 2020 to 2024, enrollment at Manhattan College decreased by over 30%. They merged three of the college's six schools, creating 3 new schools. The bond-rating agency Fitch Ratings downgraded the college’s outlook to negative in March 2024.

They Even Fired The Nuns

The Term University-Used For Attracting More Foreign Students

In the USA, many people often considers themselves as middle class. Class structure is not as formalized in the US as in the UK for example.

Compare an American film with a British one: 

This seems to carry on to higher education too. In many other parts of the world, the term college is intended to mean a 2 year school or what we refer to as a community college or junior college. 

French “college” students average between 11 and 15 years old, but they’re not all geniuses; In France, the "college" school level is roughly equivalent to the United States' "middle school" level.

According to Azara Lantern, a Content Strategist at Surge Global: “Students in the U.S. refer to higher education institutions as ‘college,’ even if they are attending a university. For example, in everyday use, they could say, ‘I’m heading off to college’ instead of ‘I’m heading off to university.’”

Alternatively, typically universities in the UK provide undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and some have PhD programs available. 

Charlie Elwood (Gabelli 1980), the interim Athletic Director at Fordham pointed out the value in attracting foreign students also includes the fact that “they tend to pay a higher percentage of tuition and fees than their American classmates.”

New York was the Last State to Relax Rules for University Status

New York was the only state requiring the creation and operation of doctoral level programs to be named a university. (prior to Jan. of 2022)

Confusion caused by the word “college” when recruiting international students, and the fact that all other states and jurisdictions have broader definitions of “university” increased the need for these alterations.

Increasing competition from institutions chartered in other states recruiting students in New York, nationally and internationally, where the term “college” presented a marketing challenge.

The market for higher educational services and programs has expanded over the past decade, with the proliferation of online higher education degree programs and the growth of several institutions chartered out of state and doing business in New York as universities.

The use of the word “university” in the names and marketing of some community colleges; i.e., SUNY Schenectady.

Many Catholics Institutions are taking the plunge

Thomas Hayes, dean of the Williams College of Business at Xavier University and co-founder of an education marketing company, said, “the image presented to students, faculty members, alumni, the academic community and the outside world is what historically has driven name changes, not just in New York and not just name changes from “college” to “university.”

“The idea of being a university gives the impression that a school is larger, with more breadth,” Hayes said. “That’s an indication of where you should be moving from college to university. It gives it a little more gravitas.”

The changes are not always universally welcomed. Hayes worked with administrators at Loyola College in Baltimore in the late 2000s to rename the institution Loyola University of Maryland to match its expansion of program offerings. (By the time the name change became official in 2009, nearly every other institution named Loyola in the U.S. had long ago been designated as a university.)

There was significant pushback from alumni who opposed the name change, said Elizabeth Johnson, co-founder and chairperson of SimpsonScarborough. “They thought the institution was losing its personal appeal, its small community feel,” she said.

Johnson said the distinction between “college” and “university” carries great weight in the U.S. as well as internationally. She referred to surveys her company has conducted with administrators, prospective students and their parents indicate “They prefer universities to colleges. They think they’re bigger, they think they’re better, they think they’re more prestigious.” 

What Does Fordham Think About These Changes?

“The University (Fordham) doesn't comment on these kinds of issues, I'm afraid.” Said one of our university Vice Presidents.

To the specific question of whether Fordham lobbied to halt this change 4-5 years ago? That university official replied wryly, “That’s too Insider Baseball.”

Marist Joins “The Club” January 29th, 2025

I am very attached to Marist up here in the Hudson Valley. I taught there, as an adjunct instructor, for a number of years; Because of that I obtained a 2nd Master’s degree via the tuition waiver opportunity and I get to swim in the school’s pool. Let me tell you, the whole place is a buzz. 

Alumni have unsubstantiated visions of the creation of a new law school, even though the school rejected a proposal to join forces to create a medical school in the last 5 years. My ad-hoc visit to local CVS and Rite-Aid stores have found racks of Marist College “Swag” on sale-no doubt to make room for Marist University stuff that will soon pack the bookstore and on-line avenues. 

Fordham Is Still A Research University ….

As you might guess, a research university prioritizes research. 

“At these institutions, graduate students, postdocs, and professors conduct original research in diverse fields. According to the Carnegie Classifications. “Research universities can be public or private institutions. By definition, research universities offer master’s and doctoral degrees along with bachelor’s degrees.” 

Those U.S. based classifications began in 1970 continued: “The concept of a research university dates back to the 19th century.” There are currently 137 R1 Research Universities in the United States. 

The Carnegie Classifications recognize R1 universities as the most research-intensive institutions. These institutions offer at least 20 research or scholarship-based doctoral degrees and spend at least $5 million on research each year. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This article is dedicated to Joseph Guagliano, Manhattan College Class of 1983. Attorney and advocate for the disabled. “Get better pal, the old gang is praying for you.” 

-Kevin Bergin

Admin for the Fordham University Class of 1980 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982

[lilad03-blog]

Movies Shot On Fordham-Cheerleaders Beach Party (1978)

IMDb.com provides this description: Four amorous cheerleaders set out to save their ailing college football team by huddling up on the beach with the rival team...and scoring.

“They call the school ‘Rambling University’. Perhaps so they can use the Rams stuff without remaking the campus?

”A lot of shots on the Rose Hill campus. Yet, those snobs in the Film Studies Department have never shown this in a cinematic class.

Sub-Genre: Nudie-Cutie As one film critic said, “A lifetime of volunteering in women’s shelters will not undo the damage this movie has wrought upon my soul. “ (Rental Rehab)

It looks like the little ladies succeeded. A victory from illicit gains …oh perhaps? Well, after last season it’s just good to see a winning score, any winning score.

You can watch it for free:

Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEv5SKy2S6k

Note: In the closing credits I was expecting to see a thank you for Fordham. It wasn’t there. I wonder who’s idea that was?

Coming Up Next: Shriek of the Mutilated (1974). Spoiler Alert, it’s a horror film.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

-Kevin Bergin  Fordham Class of 1980  Facebook site:             https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982

[lilad03-blog]

Fordham Graduate Giving Back

When I called Howard Arden, for the holidays, in Georgia, recently, he told me he had retired from his job as Talent Acquisition Consultant for NOVO Health Services. He really didn’t want to hear my clever banter like, “Well, you know what they say about retirement? Good work if …”

No, he wanted to tell me about his new role, working part-time at the Atlanta Union Mission. “I didn’t want to just spend my time bowling and watching television,” said the former communications major, “I wanted to contribute and pay it back.”

Enter The Atlanta Union Mission

Hunger isn’t just a lack of food - it’s a barrier to health, stability, and hope. At Atlanta Mission, they serve thousands of meals every year to ensure "no one in our care goes hungry." 

Atlanta Union Mission opened in 1938, as a soup kitchen, during The Great Depression; Their new Shelter for Women and Children, Restoration House, opened in 2021. They are now serving Metro Atlanta’s large homeless population.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

T.I., the three-time Grammy Award winning rapper, was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. 

T.I. visited the shelter on December 17, 2024. “And gave words of hope to our young residents.” Arden added. “The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons served dinner to the guests at the Atlanta Union Mission. They really made the day for the ladies and their children.” 

Howard with Place Kicker Younghoe Koo. 

The 7 year NFL veteran who came to the U.S. from Seoul, South Korea at the age of 12, to follow his mother who was working as a nurse. He has appeared, at Atlanta Mission,  the last three years.

But they can’t do it without YOU. Can you Help Out?  

Donate today to provide meals, shelter, and hope for those in need. Together, we can make sure no one’s plate is empty. 

Atlanta Mission

156 Mills St NW, 

Atlanta, GA 30313

Phone: (404) 588-4015

Facebook: https://atlantamission.org/

-Kevin Bergin

Fordham Class of 1980 Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/537184563628982