Final exams are out of the way, the backpack is shut in the closet and the spring semester is finally over. Session A of summer classes is looming, but that isn’t my problem yet. 

It’s been a long school year. There’s been a lot of news to keep up with, and if you’re not an avid Oracle reader, it can be a lot to unpack. 

So, here’s a recap of The Oracle’s biggest headlines from the 2024-25 school year — and my thoughts on each event.

Hurricanes

In the spring, Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused USF to close for 10 combined days. 

And honestly, it was nice to have time off from my forced commute to class for nearly two weeks. I also really enjoyed the leniency most professors gave because of the after-effects of the hurricanes. 

In Florida, nothing says “I got your back” like lending a helping hand to others in the aftermath of a storm. It’s always nice to see local communities come together and be neighborly.

Sometimes it can feel like Floridians are mean, but a hurricane will prove me wrong and boost my faith in humanity every time.  

And personally, these back-to-back hurricanes were a very telling way of how the school year would unfold. It was a rough and dreary semester.

Stadium Groundbreaking

The construction of the USF football stadium has not inconvenienced me as much as I originally thought it would, maybe because there has been little to no construction since our November groundbreaking ceremony.

It’s also super unfortunate to be a senior during the construction of the stadium. I won’t even be a student anymore since it’s not due to be completed until May 2027.

It feels like a stadium has been in the works for so long now. USF students are excited, but you won’t catch us holding our breath. 

Rhea Law’s resignation

USF President Rhea Law announced in February that she plans to step down after her replacement is chosen. 

The university is undergoing a search for the ninth president, and many — myself included — do not want the next USF president to have a political background. 

Related: OPINION: USF should not hire a politician as university president

USF should not participate in this trend of electing politicians as university presidents, because I’m sick of the government having a say in my higher education. 

Our next president should focus on making USF feel like a more inclusive and welcoming place, not on more DEI crackdowns.

We want someone with an academic background who leads with the best intentions for students, not those of Gov. Ron DeSantis and his political agenda.

If our new president is in a position to earn Law’s $825,000 salary, we should make sure it is someone qualified. 

Gun safety

Late into the spring semester, students were alerted to an empty gun case and other gun supplies located on campus at the Fine Arts Building.

Though University Police announced it closed the investigation on April 19, it was still scary and borderline shocking after the events that unfolded at Florida State University just days prior. 

It was comforting to see how seriously USF handled such a situation, reassuring students of our safety through emails while increasing police presence. 

Unfortunately, until we see real change happen in terms of gun reform, gun safety is something we will have to remain hypervigilant about in schools. 

ICE partnership

The Oracle obtained public records in April saying USF would be participating in an immigration enforcement training program.

This probably feels like a slap in the face to USF’s 5,000+ international students, who came here to work and study but may still end up being racially profiled. 

Related: OPINION: USF’s international students deserve better

International students may now have to worry about being targeted on top of coursework and visas.

Students should not be made to feel unwelcome in the very place they came to learn. 

USF should do more to protect international students from discriminatory treatment, especially during a time when our schools are made to feel less welcoming every day. Schools should remain safe spaces for learning, not surveillance.

With all this being said, there was still a lot more that happened this past school year. And I feel like there’s much more to come with these next semesters.