Bonfire provides students with emotional release

February 5, 2024

By Keyshawn Wright

Xavier’s chapter of the NAACP and Xavier’s Activities Board hosted Burnin’ Bonfire on Feb. 5 on the University Center Yard to bring students together and to spread good energy.  

 “We wanted to create an environment where anybody in need of stress relief can have one,” said Xi McWilliams, a Xavier junior and the Health and Wellness chair for XAB.  

“There’s been a lot going on, on campus. Between the weather, growth in students, and people dealing with having to move across campus; it can cause a lot of stress on someone and it can build up,” Cole said. “So, to prevent something worse from happening we established this event.”  

The start of the spring semester included cold weather alerts, heavy rains and street flooding and boil water notices across the city. Some of the events meant disruptions for students commuting from several housing locations off campus.  

“NAACP wanted to do something to kick off the semester right. So, they decided to do a little burn the stress away event and tie it in with some smores to keep it fun,” said junior Kennede Earle, the special events committee chair for XAB.  

Students wrote about how they wanted to release and clear their minds and then threw the notes into the fire to release it. Many students said they felt the release that they were looking for when they initially came there.  

 “I feel as though they effectively carried out their mission of allowing students to express their feelings in a fun and creative way. The smores were good!” said Darius Mullen, freshman who is a member of Collegiate 100.