On April 22, 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) released a statement signed by hundreds of university and college presidents opposing government intrusion into institutions of higher education. The signatories included presidents from both public and private universities, many of which have faced direct attacks from the Trump administration. While the number of signatories has grown to more than 500 since the statement’s publication, WashU’s Chancellor Andrew Martin has yet to sign the letter.

As this week’s print issue marks Student Life’s last staff editorial of the academic year, we would like to remind the WashU community to continue engaging with a variety of news publications. Though Student Life’s regular content will be on summer break, the news doesn’t stop, and it’s important to stay up to date with information from reliable sources.

With the spring semester ending soon and many WashU students returning to their hometowns for the summer, the Student Life editorial staff wanted to share ways to reconnect with your community and adapt to the changing friendship dynamics that may hit you when you get back home.

With everyone still trying to navigate Workday, planning your fall class schedule can feel like just one more thing to stress about. But don’t worry, as registration approaches, the editors of Student Life are here to share some of our favorite classes to help make your decision a little easier!

We ask that all students and members of the WashU community, regardless of their political affiliations, be willing to protect everyone’s inalienable rights, whether that be through writing letters to the WashU administration or standing up for peers who are being threatened and targeted. We also urge the University administration to clearly and transparently state the actions it intends to take if a WashU international student’s visa or green card is revoked without the University’s consultation, and if federal agents attempt to detain a student on campus grounds.

It should be enforced that professors respect this time. All midterms should be out of the way. Students should not have to study, write, or complete assignments. Moments of rest and relaxation, after all, are key to productivity. A proper break helps prevent end-of-semester burnout.

In 2023, then junior and SU Election Commissioner Constantin Carrigan reported a 6% increase in voter turnout for the spring election after reintroducing slates. With the continued allowance of slates, however, the editorial board of Student Life is concerned about the possibility of a growing partisanship in the Student Union.

As the Student Life editorial board, we call on Chancellor Martin and the WashU administration to stand up for minority students on campus, just as they do for their researchers.

At WashU, ambition can be a given. However, taking on too much can lead to burnout. The phrase “something’s got to give” can be used to describe that breaking point. In overwhelming times, it is a reminder that it’s okay to let go of things to make room for yourself.

We call on the WashU administration to fill that information gap with improved access to all local media for the WashU community.