By Cailin McKenna
Father McShane announced his plans for the 175th Anniversary on Thursday Oct. 15 in an email to the community. Ram Archives
In June 2016, the university will launch a yearlong celebration of the 175th anniversary, or dodransbicentennial, of the founding of the university and the College of Rose Hill.
The celebration will also honor the 175th anniversary of Fordham as a Jesuit institution, as well as the centennials of the founding of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and the Graduate School of Social Service.
“Our dodransbicentennial will not merely be marking Fordham’s anniversary, but an opportunity—indeed many opportunities—for all of you to take part in the planning and celebrations of our storied history,” said Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, in an email sent to the Fordham community on Thursday, Oct. 15.
McShane also announced the creation of the planning committee and the appointment of two committee co-chairs. Liz Manigan, associate vice president for development and university events, and James P. McCartin, associate professor and director of the Fordham Center on Religion and Culture, were tasked with creating a planning committee for the anniversary.
The committee will be composed of university administrators and faculty members. Additionally, while a second advisory committee made up of administrators from both undergraduate and graduate colleges, student body representation will provide input.
Organizations such as the Faculty Senate, Fordham Athletics, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, WFUV and many others will be represented on the planning committee.
“We believe this large and diverse group will ably represent faculty, students, staff and alumni interests in planning the anniversary celebrations, and in carrying out those celebrations across the year,” said McShane.
The planning committee has already met twice and plans to meet again in February.
McShane also announced the launch of a website commemorating the anniversary celebration providing information about the university’s history and a calendar of events, including exhibits and special lecture series.
This is not the university’s first mention of the momentous anniversary of the founding of the university at the Rose Hill campus. In March 2009, McShane announced the “Excelsior: Ever Upward —The Campaign for Fordham” to raise over $500 million before the university’s 175th Anniversary.
The fundraising endeavor would support new facilities and provide more student scholarships, endowed faculty chairs and monetary resources for the development of Fordham’s colleges and schools. McShane announced at the 14th annual Founder’s Dinner on March 31, 2014 that the campaign had achieved its initial goal of $500 million.
