No matter how many times you are forced to make the transition from school life back to the real world, there’s always a good chance that you find yourself repeatedly asking the question — “Well, what do I do now?” It even feels a little more needed this year, considering The Ram has spent the last four-ish months reporting on just how extremely bleak everything in the world seems to be; the least that we could do right now is to call for some fun and whimsy! Thus, in the name of both tradition and trying to actually bring something positive to the table when everyone needs it the most, The Ram would like to present its 2025 summer to-do list.

Just over three months ago, President Donald Trump introduced the nation to Executive Order 14169: “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid.” On the surface, it looked and read like any other government document. However, beyond this facade of banality, Executive Order 14169 is so fundamentally different from anything that had ever been enacted in American history — a document that may just be remembered as one of the most consequential and bleak pieces of legislation. 

President Tania Tetlow released a public statement last weekend announcing that one of Fordham’s own undergraduate students had become the most recent individual to see their visa suddenly revoked “without explanation and without notice.” Then on April 8, in a press conference with reporters from Fordham’s student newspapers, Tetlow revealed that a second unnamed student had their visa revoked. 

In the past few years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) has swept across this nation’s university campuses like a plague, leaving nary a classroom or dorm room free from its influence. In fact, just sit in the back of a classroom and observe what happens for a few minutes. You’ll probably see students open up ChatGPT to complete an assignment, passing it off as their own work.

The term "student journalism" carries quite a bit of weight and meaning for all those who staff this nation’s numerous school newspapers. The term perfectly encapsulates all our blood, sweat and (sometimes happy) tears in a neat, self-explanatory phrase, conjuring up images of late nights spent writing, editing and producing articles that may only ever be read by parents and close friends. More importantly, however, “student journalism” also captures our belief in and commitment to practicing journalism in its purest form. A form predicated upon researching, writing and producing articles for no other reason than a deep love for the truth, even if this truth operates at the small-scale level of everyday life. 

Recent events have shown that the good fight — that is, the fight for universal equality and the maintenance of basic human dignity — must be fought again. Sadly, this good fight may soon lose one of its strongest soldiers and most vocal advocates: Pope Francis. It is the belief of the Editorial Board of The Fordham Ram that Pope Francis’ life, especially his commitment to upholding the Jesuit values of compassion and social justice, should be celebrated and made into an example — a guiding light for both Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

As part of the recent batch of major renovations done to Rose Hill’s cafeteria, Fordham University dining services, coined Ram Hospitality, introduced to students a variety of new made-to-order food preparations and dining stations. Included in this collection of new stations is The Iron Skillet: a place where students can request fresh egg dishes in the morning like scrambled or fried eggs, as well as pasta dishes at night.

Valentine's Day is challenging for Fordham students that value and practice ethical consumption. The holiday has turned into a nightmarish labyrinth — one whose walls and paths are built from material goods produced, transported and purchased through less-than-savory processes. 

The Trump administration has cast a dark shadow over immigrant communities in the United States. While this inky mass originally came in the form of vague threats of a border wall or targets on sanctuary cities, it has recently transformed itself into something more tangible and sinister, its dark essence having now taken the form of the jet-black and deep-blue flak jackets worn by the various forces of law and order soon to be involved in Trump’s “largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

The Jesuit motto "cura personalis" or "care for the whole person" is a foundational phrase that is integral to a Fordham University education. Despite the outward commitment to the promotion and actualization of this goal on Fordham’s part, the Executive Board of The Fordham Ram firmly believes that the university is failing to live up to this creed through their striking refusal to provide the student body with access to safe and affordable contraceptives.