EDITOR’S CORNER: The new age of “Xpression”
November 3, 2025
By: Ja’lyn Jones, Editor-in-Chief
Dear readers,
For a complete century, Xavier has remained nothing short as the illustrious representation of pure Black excellence. 2025 marks 100 years since Saint Katherine Drexel sparked a legacy that continues to thrive as we exist today. As we lived through the centennial countdown and celebration of the only Black and Catholic institution that has generated scholars, innovators, and leaders, we realize that history is not something that is waiting to be achieved, but it is something that we are currently creating.
As the world continues to develop, we can see attempts made to rewrite history when it comes to the presence of HBCUs. Funding cuts, cultural exploitation, and political unrest are all serving as threats to the rise and existence of Black scholarship, culture, and identity. The idea of living in a society that fails to recognize the importance of Black institutions while profiting from our cultural creativity is alarming. Yet, this idea is nothing but reality for us. To loosely paraphrase the character Delta Slim from the movie Sinners, this country likes our culture just fine, they just do not like the people who create it.
However, as an HBCU, Xavier has a constant pulse in preservation and progression hence the centennial celebration. Amongst these qualities lies versatility. Within Xavier’s high regard for STEM fields, also exists a diverse range of the arts; music, poetry, theater, journalism, film, and many more forms of Xpression layered throughout the university’s landscape. In addition to producing the largest number of African American graduates to go to medical school, Xavier has given us Emmy Award winners, renowned poets, published authors, acclaimed musicians, MacArthur Genius visual artists and stage performers, government leaders, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, fashion icons, journalists, and storytellers. This truly showcases Xavier’s power in establishing pure prestige in not just STEM but across all fields.
As we came to celebrate 100 years of rich history and diversity, we realized that a new era was upon us. A “New Age of Xpression,” if you will, is currently taking place and aims to solidify Xavier’s centennial as just the beginning.
In this issue, The Xavier Herald is not only continuing to highlight key accomplishments, but its focus prioritizes how students, faculty, and alumni creatively express themselves. The Herald aims to dig deeper than just academic or vocational achievement; it intends to bring light to a side of Xavier that further proves why it is a top HBCU in the nation in just its 100 years of existence.
This edition’s title is more than just a name, but rather a statement. Like Xavier, The Herald has journeyed through a “Renaissance” that has paved the way for us to open our minds through “Enlightenment.” Through “Reconstruction” we have reaffirmed the lasting legacy of Xavier which has led us to “A New Frontier.” Now that we have experienced the centennial countdown and celebration, we must ask ourselves one question: “What’s next?” For now, The Xavier Herald proudly presents “The New Age of Xpression.”
Signed,
Ja’lyn Jones
Herald Editor-in-Chief
