POLITICS
ICE on American College Campuses, A Continued Battle
Written by: Carmen Tan
Researched by: Andy Huang, Carmen Tan
Edited by: Selina Chen
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the previous month, President Donald Trump announced the revocations of many international student visas, causing public outrage across the states and a push for campus action. International students were made to pause their studies, whether between midterms or papers, to undergo processes to be deported. Some students, in working with immigration lawyers, were shown to have had minor charges, including driving under the influence. Some other charges included involvement in pro-Palestinian activism, showing question to what is considered an offense. Not every international visa may be revoked on the basis of petit crime or offense; some mention not being aware of having charges at all and still having their status revoked by “murky” circumstances. This range extends not only to federally funded college campuses but private institutions as well, leading schools to take preventative and awareness measures. Ivy League schools such as Princeton and Harvard have released public statements on their student body dissatisfaction with the president’s decisions. As President Trump threatens these institutions with funding cuts, they remain united against the decisions they deem unjustified. Princeton continues to express “its commitment to supporting immigrants ‘remains as strong as ever.’”
Schools and communities have created procedures and campaigns, raising awareness for the increase in ICE-related deportations. Further, public schools and administrators have been given directions toward actions they can take to raise awareness amongst their student body. Within recent days, President Trump has made the decision to back down on ICE arrests on college campuses, at least, due to the pushback from the public. International students across the nation enacted “legal action filed by students who said their legal status was being cancelled without explanation.” As more international students have their visas reinstated, an air of uncertainty persists within education systems on how ICE and President Trump will proceed throughout his presidency.
FEATURES
Death of Pope Francis
Written by: Lydia Luo, Jasmin Pais
Researched by: Lydia Luo, Jasmin Pais
Edited by: Jonathan Zhang
TW: Mentions of Death
VATICAN CITY — On Monday, April 21, Pope Francis died at the age of 88, from a cerebral stroke and heart failure, almost a month after being released from a Rome hospital where he was treated for a respiratory infection that turned into pneumonia. Pope Francis was a member of the Jesuit Order, which focused on helping marginalized communities. He was a strong proponent of impoverished people, as well as shaming policies that prioritized profit over people. Pope Francis was also known for having openly supported queer people within the Catholic Church, as well as implementing women in high positions within the Vatican. On Easter Sunday, the Pope called for a lasting ceasefire in Palestine and also met with the current Vice President, and Catholic convert, J.D. Vance. Many theorists claim that meeting with JD Vance was a factor in speeding up the Pope’s death. “To be sure, not everyone was suggesting that Vance had carried out some kind of unholy hit. But he certainly didn’t help things.”
Right after his death, many eyes wandered to new potential candidates for the next Pope. One of the runner-ups is Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, who is from the Philippines. Cardinal Tagle was promoted to the rank of “cardinal-bishop” in 2020, which, in many people’s eyes, meant that he was favored to succeed Pope Francis. Cardinal Tagle is often described as being whimsical or even playful, but also being a competent political figure. Like Pope Francis, he demonstrates progressive ideals such as aiding the poor and fighting climate change. He is also dubbed the “Asian Francis” and, if picked, would be the first Asian Pope in history.
Millions of people are mourning the death of Pope Francis, and his funeral will be held on April 26. As people speculate about who the best candidate for the next pope is, the future of the next pope is unknown. If Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle were to become the new pope, then it would be revolutionary for the Asian community.
Florida State University Shooting
Written By: Zoe Ng
Researched By: Zoe Ng
Edited By: Jessica Kwok
TW: Mentions of Death
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On April 17, Florida State University became the site of a tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of two students and injured six others. The incident shook the Tallahassee community, reigniting controversial debates on gun laws.
Among the students present at the FSU shooting was Stephanie Horowitz — a graduate student who found herself in a chilling déjà vu, having already survived a previous shooting nightmare at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Horowitz expressed, “You never think it’s going to happen to you the first time. You certainly never think it’s going to happen to you twice. This is America.”
The shooter was identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, a political science student at FSU and the son of a local sheriff’s deputy. Ikner had a troubled childhood, marked by a bitter custody battle between his parents. His mother violated a custody agreement in 2015 by taking him to Norway without his father’s consent, leading to her eventual arrest. Court documents from the custody dispute revealed Ikner was diagnosed with ADHD and required specialized care and medication. While in college, his peers expressed discomfort in the way Ikner presented himself and his beliefs. They reported that Ikner held homophobic and racist views, claiming civil rights activist Rosa Parks was “in the wrong” and supporting Nazi ideology. It remains uncertain whether political motivations played a role in the attack.
In the days following the shooting, FSU canceled classes and vigils were held across campus to honor the lives lost and to support those who were recovering from the tragic incident. The shooting has brought back national conversations about gun reform in America. However, President Donald Trump’s response to the news was, “These things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting — the people do.” He reaffirmed his commitment to Second Amendment rights and expressed that he will not be taking action toward new gun control measures. Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from gun control advocates and has fueled even more frustration among survivors and families of victims from previous mass shootings.
As investigators continue to piece together the full story, the students and faculty of FSU have come together to support one another. Through vigils, counseling services and student-led initiatives advocating for gun control, the community at FSU stands strong in the wake of a tragedy.
ENTERTAINMENT
Asians at Coachella
Written by: Anderson Li
Researched by: Stephanie Zhou
Edited by: Kate Sum
INDIO, Calif. — This April, Coachella returned to the deserts of California. The music festival signaled a shift in Asian representation on the global stage, with many Asian artists delivering some of the most viral standout performances throughout the two weekends. From K-pop to techno, rap to indie, Coachella became a diverse showcase of Asian music.
One of the main forces that rocked the Coachella stage was the world of K-pop. Enhypen hyped up the crowds with many of their songs, including hits like “Bite Me” and “Moonstruck.” Additionally, Jennie and Lisa, members of the global phenomenon Blackpink, also dominated the stage with their solo performances. Jennie shook the stage with a red cowboy outfit, performing songs from her recent solo album Ruby, including hits such as “Like Jennie” and “ExtraL.” Lisa donned a silvery body suit adorned with spikes and rocked the stage with many of her solo songs, including “New Woman” and “Born Again.”
Outside of K-pop, many other Asian artists also showcased their music on the desert stage. One of the biggest artists to hit the stage was global icon Charli XCX. The half-indian pop star returned to the Coachella stage, performing many songs, including hits from her Brat album such as “365,” “360,” and “Guess.” Filipina-British singer beabadoobee also returned to the Coachella stage, performing songs such as “the perfect pair” and “Real Man.” Outside of these returnees, some big names also made their Coachella debuts, such as singer-songwriter Laufey and the South Korea-based Japanese girl group XG. In particular, XG has continued to progress on the global stage, building onto their growing global fanbase gained through previous performances at other global stages like Head in the Clouds.
Overall, Coachella 2025 was not merely just a celebration of music — it was a stepping stone for Asian artists in the musical scene. With their electrifying and memorable performances, the performers left a lasting impression on the global stage.
Asian Outlook | Art and Literary Magazine 
