\rm, \bf, etc.
If commands such as \rm and \bf have suddenly stopped working in
LaTeX in the way that you expect, it is likely that your system
administrator has installed a version of LaTeX 2.09 with
NFSS.
Complain loudly; ask
your system administrator to replace this version with
LaTeX2e,
in which commands such as \rm and \bf work just as before if you
are using one of the standard classes-article, report and book
(among others). In the meantime, use the option
oldlfont.sty, which should have been installed at the same time
as NFSS.