The Great Rejuvenation of Fordham University
We believe in Fordham University's potential as an international institution of education, and its values that embrace diversity and freedom of various ideas. However, its diminishing world influence, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and regulatory requirements for both students and administrators alike are bogging down its true potential.
Our plan is to fully unleash its possibilities as a world class university. Through absolute restructuring and departmentalizing of student government and clubs, establishing financial independence for student groups, cutting unnecessary regulations and enhancing flexibility of curriculum and student activities, enhancing protection of freedom of speech, and broadcasting Fordham on the international stage, we will begin the first steps of the Great Rejuvenation of Fordham University.
Comprehensive Political Restructuring Plan
Mobilize Participation in School Activities Through Systematic Structure Change of USG and Clubs
Clearly Divide Executive and Legislative Branches
Senators will no longer be led by a E-Board officer, and E-Board officers will lead recruited student officers to work toward goals and objectives.
Public Service Without Campaigning - Anyone Can Serve the People
Create opportunities for students to participate in USG through recruitment into executive departments as student officers, without needing to run for elections. Most students don't want to run for election, but most students want to contribute to their university.
Enhance Legislative Authority for Senators
Democratize system by giving complete legislative powers to senators, the ability to review nominations by the president, and independent legislative process without being headed by someone of the E-Board, furthering democratic representation of students, who are represented by senators.
Departmentalize Executive Branch
Operations Committee will be reorganized into the Club Department, Student Affairs Committee will be reorganized into the Organization Department, establish the new Publicity Department for advertising and marketing purposes. Facilities Committee roles will be replaced by independent senators.
Nominations by the President
All E-Board positions (secretaries of departments) beside President and Vice President will be nominated by the President and reviewed by Senators rather than elected directly to increase efficiency and legislative authority.
Empower Club Members - Departmentalize Clubs
Assignment of designated roles and responsibilities within departments to empower student participation - transform "E-Board Micromanagement" into shared responsibility among all, structure and process, and sense of individual responsibility.
Less Meetings, More Efficiency
Cut down time commitment for student officers to encourage participation in student government. By departmentalizing, time commitment of each individual will decrease, while achieving maximum work efficiency.
Reprocess Formation of Legislation
All proposals and legislation must be motioned by senators, voted on by the senate, and signed or vetoed by the President instead of current state of everyone is a voting member - democracy, not oligarchy
Reduce Time Commitment and Increase Efficiency
Club members and USG officers will have less time commitment through increase in participation and more people with stake in organizations. Cut meeting frequency for USG - Senate and E-Board meetings will be separate.
The Great International Outreach Plan
Enhance Fordham University's Global Position and Influence as a World-Class University
Revitalize Humans of Fordham
Share the story of every Fordham student to the world, depict the potential of our academic capabilities, and broadcast the beauty of our university through the revitalization of Humans of Fordham by the proposed Publicity Department for USG.
Expansion of Influence in Asia
Through use of local social media such as Weibo, Wechat, Kakao, and Mixi to expand influence of Fordham's student activities in regions such as the People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, and Japan to attract international attention and interest from potential students and investors.
Showcase the Beauty of Fordham's Campuses
With two main campuses that vastly contrast in terms of aesthetics and vibe, Fordham has the unique marketing advantage that no other university has: where history meets today, and where classic meets modern.
Club Reform and Academic Innovation Plan
Deregulate Over Complicated Processes, Realize Financial Self-Sufficiency, Strengthen Academic Atmosphere
Club Financial Self Sufficiency
Clubs will be advised by USG to become financially self-sustainable through heavy emphasis on fundraising, crowd-raising, and other forms of economic activity. All clubs, as part of the Comprehensive Political Reform and Restructuration Plan, will establish Treasury Departments. University funding will become financial support, instead of the current finance reliance status quo.
Open Up Interaction Between Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Embrace interaction of clubs and encourage students of all grades and degrees to network and learn through club events rather than intentional separation due to different tuition payment. Dialogue and networking, not separation and control.
Deregulate Curriculum Requirements
Closely cooperate with Reimagining Arts and Science Group, an increasingly influential university group consisting of professors and top students, to decrease unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions on core curriculum requirements, increase academic flexibility and flowage between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, and enhance academic focus on major-related studies in course curriculums.
Ensure Free Competition, Rid Government Planning
Completely rid bureaucratic norm of student government deciding if a club is worthy or not to become an official club based on subjective analysis.Students will face the consequences of failure and success through competition and challenge.
Deregulate Club Creation Process
USG will embrace the creation of clubs rather than control the factors of success or failure. Clubs will no longer be decided based on likelihood of success or protection of interests for established clubs, but rather encourage the freedom of choice by the student body.
Deregulate Club Budget Process
Allocate a set amount of funding per year for clubs to freely use rather than the current plan ahead and hope for the best method, which has little flexibility and efficiency. SABC will approve or disapprove further requests for funds following set amount of funding.
Let One Thousand Flowers Bloom
Let One Thousand Schools of Thought Contend
Ensure the freedom of speech of all students and encourage the development of diversity of thought
Protect the Freedom of Expression for LGBTQ+ and Minority Groups
Ensure full backing by student government for student organizations and individuals that identify as underrepresented groups and provide strong financial and political support for LGBTQ+ and minority group events.
Encourage Political Civility and Guarantee for Liberal and Conservative Speech
Encourage debate, discussion, and competition between groups of different political interests. Protect students' constitutional rights to freely and peacefully express political, social, religious, and economic opinions within legal boundary.
USG Surveying Task Force
Establish task force of student officers designated to directly receive reflection of mass opinion on overall progress.
Implementation of Effective Communications
Centralize and Enhance Resources for Schoolwide Communications
USG Advertisement for Clubs and Events
Student government will take on the role of becoming an advertising platform for clubs, events, and activities through marketing on social media.
Revitalize Fordham App
Work with IT Office to make Fordham App mainstream to boost convenience and efficiency schoolwide.
Increase Number of Poster Boards
Increase club event coverage and overall flow of communication
Comprehensive Improvements to University Life
Ranging From Services to Events
Student Concerts & Performances
Organize annual large student ran concerts and performances to increase student participation and foster activity in the school.
Greenify Lincoln Center Campus
Work with environmental student groups to have plant life across Lincoln Center to boost campus image and student mental health.
Advocate Days Off on Cultural Holidays
Push University for day-offs for holidays of traditional and religious celebrations and observations, such as Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, etc..
Bubble Tea and REAL Food
Negotiate with Aramark to bring in new varieties of food and beverages, such as bubble tea and food enjoyed by young people, based on the reflection by the student body.
Hot Water Dispenser; Coffee and Tea Packets
Provide coffee and tea packets in student lounge with hot water dispenser.
Feminine Hygiene Products
Provide dispensers for feminine hygiene products in restrooms and dorms to increase convenience for female students.