Xavier’s Class of 2028 host campaign week

November 4, 2024

]By: Sofia McDonald, Staff Writer

The Fall campaign season kicked off on campus as first-year students got involved in a Xavier tradition to run for student office to represent the Class of 2028. This Fall semester campus election season allowed new first-year students to run for positions like class president, treasurer, and for the Homecoming royal court. 

Students began their campaigning on Friday, Sept. 6, setting up their tables in the University Center highlighting why they were the best candidates for the position. The student body was able to walk around and speak to each candidate and learn more about their platforms.  

 Tori Wilson, a first-year biology major from Saint Louis, Mo. was running under the platform “Inside XU” inspired by the recently released Disney movie “Inside Out 2.” She said her mission was to support her peers as they transition into college life and build a strong community foundation.  

“I felt very excited especially with it being my first time putting my name out there on campus and I was receiving endless support, but I was also nervous having to stand at my tables and participate in the Miss Freshman pageant,” Wilson said.  

Wilson, who eventually earned the position after a runoff, said she ran to unite the Class of 2028, uplift her fellow peers, and to also be a voice for her class with positivity.  

Madison Bell, a first-year business major with a double concentration in management and finance also ran for Miss Freshman. A Dallas, Texas native, she said she wanted her mission to embody the principles of excellence, unity, leadership, and ambition.  

Bell’s sister who served as Miss Sophomore 2022-2023 inspired her to get involved early on at Xavier.  

“This was my sister’s idea, so she inspired me to run for this position. She encouraged me to put my name out there and I wanted to be more like her, and I felt like this was an effective way to put my name out there in a positive way,” Bell said.  

Other campus representatives said it was really important for first year students to get involved right away so they can start building connections and seeing the kind of leadership roles they would like to take on both on campus and in the community. 

Jaya Robinson, a senior sales and marketing major from Dallas, Texas is serving as Miss Humanities for the 2024-2025 academic school year. She said she loves the idea of elections for first year students. 

“I think it is important for freshman to get involved on campus because it will encourage them to apply for an E-Board position entering their sophomore and junior year,” Robinson said. “It is also important to start building up their resumes and if they want to run for a higher role, they will have the experience to back them up around campus,” Robinson said.