2026 Commencement Issue
A Letter from the Editor to the Class of 2026
To all of the students graduating from Fordham University today, congratulations! You should all be filled with immense pride and joy for what you have accomplished over the past four years, the memories you have made and the impact you have had on the Fordham community.
When you entered Fordham as first years in 2022, you embarked on this journey with a newly inaugurated president, Tania Tetlow. Over your four years here, you saw many changes to your campus, with renovations to the McShane Campus Center, including the Arcade and the Marketplace, which prompted a temporary dining hall for about 18 months. You also saw changes to the national and international political landscape, with the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the re-election of President Donald Trump, the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, international student visa revocations and increased political polarization in response to actions taken by the Trump administration, including an immigration crackdown with ICE.
You also saw your fellow students stand up for what they believe in through protests over Fordham’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which eventually prompted the policy to be lifted, protests against Israeli actions in Gaza, efforts to distribute contraceptive resources to students, protests against Fordham’s policies related to ICE and so much more. Your time here has not been influenced solely by factors in your immediate circle, but also by unprecedented times in the broader global community.
But despite the instability, hopelessness and fear you may have felt at times as a result of these challenges, you have made it to this day by remaining committed to yourself and your education. As you walk the stage and look out at your fellow graduates, remember what you have endured and accomplished together, and take pride in knowing that you have made it to this point. You are now ready to step beyond our iron gates and make your mark on the world outside of Fordham.
As always, this special issue of The Ram is dedicated to you, the graduating class of 2026. Congratulations, good luck and you’ve got this!
All the best,
Sienna Reinders, Editor-in-Chief