November '24

Editor’s corner: A Legacy of Excellence, 100 Years and Counting

by Trinity Johnson Editor-in-Chief

tjohn110@xula.edu

Welcome readers, to the Centennial Countdown edition of the Xavier Herald.

Here, just off Exit 232, at the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana, students are preparing for something special – the celebration of an institution that has stood tall for almost 100 years, uplifting Black scholars and Black excellence, and creating leaders worldwide. This is not just another edition of The Xavier Herald; this is the celebration of a legacy that we have inherited and the future we are building together.

Xavier’s history is one of resilience, vision, and excellence. Founded by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1925, Xavier is the only Catholic Historically Black College or University in the country. For nearly a

century, Xavier has been that guiding light to Black students, offering opportunities that many of our ancestors could only dream of.

Think about that for a second! For 100 years, Xavier has been the place where Black excellence thrives. We are a leading producer of African American undergraduates who complete medical school, and our science and health programs have garnered a reputation across this nation. But it is not just about academics; it is about churning out leaders. From fostering political figures to pioneering doctors, artists, and entrepreneurs, Xavier graduates leave their indelible marks on the world.

In this edition, we will emphasize the achievements of our alumni who paved the way for us, but we will also reflect upon how Xavier has never moved away from its commitments to service, justice, and academic excellence. In this issue, we pay tribute to the influential people who once graced our halls and the changemakers who are emerging today.

Within that rich heritage, we look forward. The next 100 years of legacy are ours

to write - as current students, future alumni, and supporters of this great university. What shall that legacy be? It is up to us who must keep the torch burning and strive for excellence by taking the knowledge we gain here to lift our communities higher.

Xavier is not only a place where one gets a degree, but it is also a place where we break down barriers, challenge the status quo, and create change. As students, we are part of a living, breathing legacy that will continue to be written for generations to come. Our work today - whether through innovative research, activism, or community service - will lay the foundation for the course for the next 100 years.

During this final countdown, be proud we are part of such a precedential university. Remember, we are not celebrating the past; we are writing the future.

Here’s to 100 years of Black excellence, and to the next hundred years of greatness we, as Xavierites, will lead.

Signed, Trinity Johnson Herald Editor-in-Chief

The Xavier Herald Staff

fall 2024

Editor-in-Chief: Trinity Johnson

Assistant Editor: Tyana Jackson

Managing Editor: makenna mincey

Sports Editor: randy smith iii

Photo Editor: Ashton Broden

Staff Writers

Sofia McDonald Sydni Rhodi

Anaya Dennis Keziah-Yvonne Smith

Leah Clark Ja’lyn Jones

Kamryn Edwards Jayvon Watkins

Zaria Townsend Jacobi Bain

Jackson Kuykendall

Columnists

TaShia Hogue

Page Designers

Trinity Johnson

Leah Clark

Cover Design

Ivanna Washington

Kyleigh Harkless

Special Thanks to

The Xavier University of Louisiana History Club

Xavier University of Louisiana, Archives & Special Collections

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Quincy Hodges qhodges@xula.edu

Staff advisor: Annie Johnson ajohn211@xula.edu

Department head: Dr. Shearon Roberts srobert7@xula.edu

PRSSA Advisor: Dr. Nia Mason nmason1@xula.edu

HERALD CONTACT INFORMATION

Herald Office: Xavier South, 112B 504.520.5092

Email Stories: herald@xula.edu

Xavier students Clifford Francis and Benny Jefferson work on the Xavier Herald newspaper. (1915-1955)

Photo courtesy of Xavier University of Louisiana Digital Archives and Collections

Ivanna Washington Cover Designer

Kyleigh Harkless Cover Designer kharkle1@xula.edu

Housing woes bring rocky start to fall semester

by Makenna Mincey Managing Editor mmincey@xula.edu

Student housing at Xavier has been a tense issue in recent years as housing constraints has been a point of major contention between students and administrators. Students have stated in town halls that the university has fumbled attempts to provide opportunities to stay on or near campus through the housing system. However, administrators say the reality is there are more students who want to live on campus than beds available, and much of the student frustration comes from a lack of understanding the entire picture. Students have also lodged other grievances include housing conditions in non-renovated dorms, the housing application process, and the last-minute changes in accommodations. But administrators believe students often rely on wordof-mouth, rather than official information as their source. Therefore, not receiving clear and accurate information.

There is one thing students and the university can agree on: there is, in fact, a problem with housing.

“I think one of the biggest challenges we may have... we have a good problem, which is students want to live here,” said Anitra Calvin, the associate dean of Students, “A high percentage of our student population are from out of state, so they need to, and they want to live on campus. They’re not familiar with the city, so this is their preference.” When housing selection came around last spring, political science junior Aarinii Parms-Green said her main concern was being able to live somewhere that had the proper accommodations for her disability. She initially selected the Parkway NOLA housing option to fulfill her needs, while allowing

her to have her own space.

However, her situation quickly changed when the apartments were no longer available as a housing option very close to beginning of this semester. She feels, if it were not for her continuous efforts to reach the school, her situation would have been very different, with both her housing and disability accommodation. While everything did work itself out, Parms-Green told The Herald that this round of housing selection was the worst experience of her nearly 3-years at Xavier.

“Really just transparency and communication would’ve been...the best way of doing things. The fact of the matter is that they basically overpromised and severely underdelivered... they weren’t telling students what was going on,”

Parms-Green said.

“Anitra Calvin... she helped me out a lot to make sure I had a place here and thank God it worked out. However, I do feel that if I hadn’t come up here with my grandmother, it would’ve been a totally different discussion,”

Parms-Green continued.

The administration has become familiar with this frustration over the past year: they would even say that frustration is shared.

“We could not comply with what they wanted, and the government would not allow them [Parkway NOLA] to master lease it... For instance, how we master lease at LSU [The Residences] as well as at UNO [Privateer Place] ...we can’t do the same thing at Parkway,” Calvin said.

“Initially Parkway thought that everything would work out and so did we...but until they talked to their attorneys as well as ours, [and] they were like ‘no’ at the last minute, it’s not something that could move forward. So, it wasn’t anything that Xavier did because we were ready to move students to Parkway,” Calvin explained.

Tough calls had to be made, like moving students to different housing locations.

Though these changes were not part of anyone’s initial plan, administrators remain firm in them, commending students throughout the entirety of the process.

“My appreciation for the patience that students have displayed – because I understand that it has been very challenging for some of you...specifically, those upperclassmen that were

housed in St. Martin DePoress, to then have to move, be shifted and all of those things...just the level of grace I think you all have afforded the institution and the office is always appreciated,” Calvin said.

So, what’s next for Xavier University regarding housing? For now, housing arrangements will remain the same for this school year. There are plans for a new dormitory, though there is no set date for groundbreaking. Xavier will also welcome a new Director of Residential Education, Jarelle Miller, on Nov. 1.

“He comes with loads of experience. Right now, he’s currently at Tulane in the Assistant Director of Resident Life role. He’s excited, I’m excited for him. He is full of enthusiasm and just ideas and for him it [Residential Education] will be his sole thing,” Calvin said. With the centennial year quickly approaching, Xavier remains committed to the work of its founder, St. Katharine Drexel, and service of its students.

“I think the most important thing is that...students need to be in these rooms when they [Xavier] are making these decisions. We shouldn’t be an afterthought,” Parms-Green said.

St. Martin DePorres Residence Hall reopened in the fall after closing at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year. Renovations included a refurbished lobby and a new HVAC system.

Photo by Xavier Herald Staff

St. Martin DePorres Residence Hall is a seven story building and the only co-ed residence hall on campus.

Photo by Randy Smith III

Growing Pains: Xavierites navigate campus construction

by Tyana Jackson Assistant Editor tjacks54@xula.edu

Xavier is experiencing significant changes in campus infrastructure as it approaches its centennial year. The institution currently manages multiple construction projects while addressing concerns about parking accessibility and increased fees. These developments come at a crucial time as the university prepares for its centennial year. At the start of this academic year, the student body voiced its particular concern about the recent increase in parking fees and construction delays, which have impacted daily campus operations.

“The cost of parking, even as we raise the parking, is actually very much less than parking most places around the city,” said Xavier’s president Dr. Reynold Verret. “Parking Garage construction takes time. The city thinks that the parking garage is probably ready October 31st.”

The parking garage project represents one of the most visible changes on campus, with completion now scheduled for late October after several weather-related delays. The student parking fee increase from $75 to $250 has emerged as a significant point of debate among the student body, particularly regarding the timing and communication of the change. The university maintains that these changes are necessary for campus development and overall safety improvements.

“I wish we had communicated the increase before the spring semester, so people could kind of anticipate that,” said Ron Brade, Xavier’s chief operating officer and senior vice president of Administration. “But when we did our analysis, even

with the incremental increase that we had, it was still in line with what students at Howard, Spelman, and Morehouse pay.”

Xavier has also had to outsource shuttle services from the City of New Orleans this year. The decision came in response to ongoing issues with the current shuttle system, including consistent tardiness and overcrowding,

renovation has revealed unknown maintenance issues, highlighting the struggle of maintaining older buildings in New Orleans’ climate. These discoveries have prompted an intensive review of campus infrastructure needs while weather conditions and structural complications continue to affect the project timelines across campus.

“Short term is - we have

minimize disruptions during the academic year.

“I believe some of the projects they are working on could have been handled during the summer time and not during the fall semester because sometimes the only parking available is further than where my classes are and I either have to walk a long distance, be late to class or miss class in general because

its commitment to long-term institutional development. The centennial campaign focuses on both physical improvements and academic accessibility, and the university has outlined a comprehensive plan for campus modernization while maintaining its historic values. These efforts align with Xavier’s mission to provide quality, affordable education while improving campus

particularly for students living off-campus, and some students say they have had to rely on shuttle services because of the limited parking availability on campus.

Beyond parking concerns, Xavier faces broader infrastructure challenges that impact its historic campus with Hurricane Francine causing additional construction delays. The Living Learning Center residential facility

major renovations in LLC, and some of them were unforeseen, because as we did the engineering analysis, we discovered things that had to be addressed,” Brade said. “Same way that we discovered things in other buildings that go back at least 25 years, that might cause some of the water leakage issues.”

Students say they wish the construction projects could be better coordinated to

no parking was available,” said Breanna Bradley, a senior Biology, Pre-Medicine major, from Chalmette, La. “The recent parking increase is very inconsiderate and inconvenient for college students and faculty especially since the parking garage has yet to be completed,” Bradley said.

As these infrastructure projects continue, Xavier’s administration emphasizes

facilities for future generations of students.

“So, affordability, making Xavier able to actually allow Xavier students to graduatemaybe not load free, but load light - is the first step. We’ll get there. It’s an important goal, that’s one of the important pieces of the capital campaign,” Verret said.

Xavier began construction of a multi-story parking garage in February. The parking structure’s expected completion date is Oct. 31, according to Xavier officials. The construction led to the closure of segments of Dixon Street, Clark Street, and Howard Avenue.

Photo by Trinity Johnson

by Randy Smith III Sports Editor rsmith40@xula.edu

Let the good times roll!

The city of New Orleans will be a main attraction in the coming months with the Sugar Bowl and Super Bowl LIX (59) approaching. Hosting major events attracts visitors which means an economic boost for the city. Though it may increase traffic, for the most part, city leaders and residents seem to value the benefits over the challenges.

Campus News

Celebrity presence expected ahead of Centennial and city’s 2025 events

Xavier is in a unique position to benefit from major upcoming city events and university administrators are in communication with several external companies to discuss hosting their events on Xavier’s campus grounds. Partnering with external companies leads to financial opportunities for the university, which then can lead to opportunities for students such as internships, entertainment, or professional experience.

by Anaya Dennis Staff Writer adennis4@xula.edu

Students across New Orleans were rocked by their first hurricane since Hurricane Ida in 2021. Hurricane Francine made landfall on the southern coast of Louisiana on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, around 6 p.m.

With wind gusts reaching up to 90 mph and rainfall accumulating up to 8 inches in the New Orleans metro area, the storm caused widespread flooding and power outages across New Orleans, leaving many college students scrambling for safety.

“With no electricity, no air conditioning, and uncertain

“These people are paying us. So we can enfold that money back into the things we need for the institution,” said Curtis Wright, Xavier’s vice president of Student Affairs.

As the city gets closer to the Super Bowl and as the centennial celebrations kick off, students can look forward to increased publicity for the university and exclusive celebrity-hosted events.

“You can come to campus,

by Kesshawn Wright Staff Writer kwrigh21@xula.edu

but we want our students to have access to it for free,” Wright said. All of it ultimately benefits the student body. For example, Wright explains, that as part of the school’s partnership with Coca-Cola, this allows the company to commission an artist to do a ‘centennial campaign’ art piece, which will be featured on CocaCola trucks and possibly display cases at Walmart. The revenue generated from sales

from merchandise featuring the “centennial campaign” will go back to the school.

Wright explains that administrators want to provide accommodation for the students and collaborators, so everyone can be satisfied.

On Nov. 15, Xavier partnered with Baldwin & Co Coffee and Bookstore to host a conversation between renowned author TaNehisi Coates and MSNBC anchor Joy Ann-Reed at the

Convocation Center.

Coco Gauff, the eighttime WTA champion, and Chad Johnson, the NFL six-time pro bowler, will host a celebrity basketball game at the Convocation Center in 2025. Further details about more celebrities arriving on campus are still being negotiated.

The increase in events on and around campus may cause some inconvenience for students, faculty, and staff, administrator said. Moreover, annual city events like Mardi Gras will also bring more attention to the city which will affect off-campus commuters. The NFL and the New Orleans Super Bowl Host committee will collaborate to produce the festivities and week-long events such as the Super Bowl Host Committee parade and the Louisiana Culture Festival at the French Market.

“There are going to be disruptions on campus,” Wright said. “There are going to be times where you cannot go on a side of campus because we are trying get things setup.”

Hurricane Francine: first hurricane to hit the coast since ida

weather conditions, we had to act quickly,” said Connor Meigs, a residential assistant at Loyola. “Even though we didn’t have any AC or power, I’m glad the people in charge did everything they could to keep us safe, especially because it was hot with a lot of chaos for a day and a half with again no power.”

In response to the uncertainty surrounding the storm, several universities, including Xavier University, Tulane University, and Dillard University, announced that they would close their campuses on the Wednesday afternoon prior to

Comedian and television host Nick Cannon at the NOLALove rally in Xavier’s Convocation Center on Sept. 20, 2024.

Photo courtesy of Monica Basilio and InspireNOLA Charter Schools

A sidewalk obstrocted by a fallen tree as a result of Hurricane Francine’s strong gusts of wind.

Photo by Keshawn Wright

Campus News

Hurricane Francine cont’d...

landfall. Classes also moved online on the Thursday after the storm to accommodate students and staff who evacuated or were sheltering off-campus.

Students who stayed behind had to balance classwork and their storm preparations as they got ready to shelter in place in their dorms. Xavier University of Louisiana provided students who remained on campus with snacks and water.

“I had a good time with the other students here at the school who decided to come out of their rooms and listen

to music and joke around with us Xavier students,” said Tyrin Wiltz, a Xavier student who lives on Loyola’s campus.

While Xavier’s campus only lost power for a few hours, many off-campus students struggled with longer outages.

Local power companies worked an additional two days after the storm to restore power in some parts of Uptown, particularly where Xavier students were housed at Loyola dorms.

“The timeline remains unclear for when the school will be back to its full regular

schedule,” said Louis Barnes at the time, who is a residential life staff member at Loyola. Loyola’s campus sustained roof damage and water intrusion in several buildings.

Xavier students housed at The Residencies at LSU Health also remained without power for over 48 hours.

“LSU’s generator doesn’t provide enough power for the whole building – only the fire alarms,” said Aniya Wooden, the graduate hall director of residential education. She was in one of the buildings that saw extended power outages.

Some students said they felt safer evacuating before the storm increased to a Category II hurricane.

“I left because of the unknown, the fear that something small could turn into something big with lasting effects,” said Faith Pierre, a Xavier student from California who went home for the hurricane. “My mother felt safer with me coming home.”

Some students’ evacuation plans did not require traveling quite that far. Gabrielle Heart, a Tulane student from Virginia decided to evacuate with a friend in Mississippi. “I left for the hurricane because I

didn’t want the storm to turn into something really bad and get stuck somewhere I don’t live full time,” she said.

As the storm passed, the focus quickly shifted to recovery efforts. University administrations immediately assessed damage and coordinated with local authorities to provide resources for students affected by the storm. Many offcampus students returned to their campuses to access food, water, and Wi-Fi, as many parts of the greater New Orleans area were still without power.

Xavier’s Class of 2028 Host Campaign Week

by Sofia McDonald Staff Writer smcdona7@xula.edu

The Fall campaign season kicked off on campus as firstyear 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 firstyear 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

Freshman Tori Wilson ran her campaign for Miss Freshman under the platform “Inside XU”. Wilson won the position in an run-off election.

Photo by Sofia McDonald

Freshman Taylor Citizen, left, shares her platform for Freshman class senator with SGA President Chase Patterson. Citizen now holds the position as one of the two class senators.

Photo by Sofia McDonald

Campus News

Herald Health Corner: Ochsner

partnership continues to address health inequities in the state

by Sydni Rhody Staff Writer srhody@xula.edu

The Ochsner-Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXIHER), established in 2021, is working to uplift underserved communities through partnership with healthcare providers. The Institute combines the resources of Ochsner Health and Xavier - and their network of partners - to conduct research, eliminate health disparities, offer education on health equity and public health, and to increase the number of healthcare workers who will lead and innovate in health equity.

“[OXIHER] was really brought on by the health disparities revealed during COVID,” said Dr. Christopher Williams, an associate professor in pharmacology and the chair of the Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences in Xavier’s College of Pharmacy, who was an

by Sydney Patterson Campus News Editor spatte10@xula.edu

Every anniversary deserves a good celebration.

Xavier’s centennial planning committee has been collaborating for the last few months with the goal of planning and organizing Xavier’s centennial year celebrations. This includes mapping out the events the committee wants to see take place.

“In January, we will have a

integral part of OXIHER’s development. “We saw that there was a huge disparity on how many people were afflicted by COVID but even more so how many people actually died as a result of COVID. So, from there we instituted the structure of

provided a generous grant to the Ochsner Clinic Foundation for $2.4 million to launch the OXIHER. One of the first initiatives that OXIHER implemented was to provide free vaccinations at events across the city of New Orleans and on Xavier’s campus.

“A major goal for OXIHER is to create internship opportunities that expose students to diverse career options (clinical, research, administrative) in the healthcare field,” said Dr. Eboni Price-Haywood, OXIHER’s medical director, about the

OXIHER,” Williams said.

As one of OXIHER’s two directors, he is very familiar with what jumpstarted the collaboration.

“Identifying the need was easier than determining how to meet it. One of the major hurdles to overcome was securing funding,” he said.

The Kellogg Foundation

Xavier’s pharmacy students were active participants in giving the vaccinations and ensuring the events were successful. The grant also gave many public health students in the university’s master’s program the opportunity to secure internships and participate in summer research programs.

summer Master’s in Public Health internship program.

“For example, our MPH internship connects students with system administrators leading population health management initiatives.”

OXIHER’s work also led to the development in Xavier’s Master of Science in Health Informatics program. This

program will increase the number of health professionals with an understanding of how to analyze health data to improve patient care and health outcomes. The program was excited to announce the addition of two new faculty hires that will join the Xavier community in fall 2025.

“My expectation is that this all grows, especially with the [Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine] coming on board,” Williams said, noting that OXIHER has made much progress in the last three years and indicated there is much more to come. “This historic school will be the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South when it opens.”

The continued partnership between Xavier and Ochsner, representatives said, will continue to foster positive change in the state of Louisiana.

“At the end of the day, [OHIHER is] working for the community,” said Ariyon C. Bryant, OXIHER’s strategic program manager. We’re working to see health improved throughout the state. We’re working toward measurable changes, and working to be the change,” Bryant said.

Centennial committee prepares for year-long commemorations

launch event to celebrate our centennial year. In May, we are going to have our Centennial Gala,” said Dr. Marguerite Giguette, Xavier’s provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, who described these main events as “anchor events.”

Other key centennial events will include a remembrance of Saint Katherine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. During the Fall semester in 2025 the committee will plan a mass at Saint Louis Cathedral for Founder’s Day, archival exhibits that showcase former nuns, football teams, and past homecoming celebrations, and an artistic gallery will include alumni exhibits as well as

one dedicated to Hurricane Katrina.

The planning committee is organizing events on campus, but they are also expanding beyond New Orleans. Xavier will be highlighting the centennial at a Mardi Gras celebration in Washington, D.C. In New Orleans, decorative banners will be placed around and near campus. In D.C., the planning committee has not made concrete plans yet; however, they want to highlight that Xavier is celebrating its centennial in a way that makes the university more visible to D.C. and surrounding areas.

“In January, there is this big event in D.C called D.C. Mardi Gras where the goal

is really to tell the rest of the country about Xavier,” said Curtis Wright, Xavier’s vice president of Student Affairs.

“Lots of legislators and anyone in New Orleans will go out to Mardi Gras where all the legislators are and try to lobby Congress for resources,” Wright explained.

When speaking about the beginning stages of planning, Giguette wanted input across Xavier’s stakeholders.

“We wanted to make sure alumni and students were represented.”

Dr. Michelle Boissiere, head of the Biology Department, and a Xavier alumna, said she hopes that “everyone who participates in the events has an increased pride about

their affiliation with Xavier.” Vice president Wright hopes eventgoers “have a recommitment to the pride and [understand] why the institution is so important.”

To Giguette, it is a time for us to remember our history and this is what makes the centennial special. It is Giguette’s hope that current students can “recognize how our mission has been the same since the beginning.”

Boissiere also emphasized Xavier’s longevity. “There have been several HBCUs that have hit hard times and struggle to keep their enrollment up,” she said. Xavier should take pride in staying strong, she added.

From left to right: Catherine Levendis; JD; Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, FACOG; Yvens Laborde, MD; Eboni Price-Haywood, MD, MPH, FACP; Christopher Williams, PhD; William Kirchain, PharmD, CDCES; Florastina Payton-Stewart, PhD; Deborah Grimes, RN, JD, MSHQS

Photo courtesy of OXIHER

by Anaya Dennis Staff Writer adennis4@xula.edu

Kamala Harris, the first African American woman and the first South Asian Vice President of the United States embodies a groundbreaking legacy that spans her entire life. From her childhood in Oakland, Calif., to her time at Howard University in Washington, DC, and as a member of the Divine Nine Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), Harris’ journey is not only trailblazing, but also a reflection of the progress made in leadership and representation for women of color.

“Vice president Kamala Harris, a daughter of immigrants, has achieved a historical milestone by formally becoming the Democratic Presidential Nominee, making her the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket,” Danette Anthony Reed, the international president and CEO of AKA, said in her formal statement from the organization. “As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., her nomination has brought immense pride and excitement,” Reed said.

Election 2024

Kamala Harris makes history through political journey

spoken about how attending an HBCU helped shape her identity and leadership perspective. She frequently calls her years at Howard her formative years, where she discovered her love for politics. Howard, known as “The Mecca,” in black education, provided Harris with both a rigorous academic experience and a space where she could grow into her role as an activist and future leader.

For Harris, she believed it was the perfect place to hone

first African American sorority founded in 1908 at Howard. Her involvement in AKA not only expanded her network but also reinforced her commitment to community service and activism.

Since Harris’s rise to the vice presidency, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has consistently voiced its pride and support for her historic achievement. AKA members across the globe have rallied behind Harris, acknowledging the importance of having one

mobilization to empower communities to utilize their most powerful tools of community change and advocacy during local, state, and national elections,”

said Dr. Monique Jones the graduate advisor for the Epsilon Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. at Xavier.

From her childhood in a politically active household to her education at an HBCU and her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Harris has

the foundation for shaping a future of significant impact for generations to come.

Harris was born in 1964 to parents deeply involved in the civil rights movement. Her mother, a cancer researcher from India, and her father, an economist from Jamaica, raised her in a household emphasizing education and activism. These early experiences shaped Harris’ sense of civic duty and her commitment to justice and equality.

Choosing Howard University for her undergraduate education was a personal and significant decision. Harris has often

her leadership skills. She joined the debate team, served in the student government, and made lifelong connections that later proved invaluable in her political career. Her time at Howard gave her the confidence and clarity to navigate the predominantly white, male-dominated world of law and politics.

While at Howard, Harris became a member of the Alpha Chapter of AKA, the

of their own in such a powerful and influential position. In honor of her achievements, AKA has ramped up initiatives that focus on civic engagement, voter mobilization, and women’s leadership, aiming to empower future generations to follow in Harris’s footsteps.

“As a sorority, one of our initiatives is to advocate for social justice which has included things such as voter education, registration, and

consistently broken barriers and set new precedents for women of color in leadership.

Her historic rise to the vice presidency serves as a beacon of hope, reminding all that no goal is out of reach with determination and hard work.

HBCU students can look to Harris’s journey as a testament to the power of education, activism, and sisterhood.

Harris’ story is a reminder that time on campus can be

“Having a female chief executive will impact the way people would think about gap issues and discrimination issues between men and women. Why do politicians make the decisions that they make? It’s because of their background and their solicitation throughout their lives,” said Dr. Russell Frazier a political scientist and head of the political science and sociology departments at Xavier.

Harris faces off against Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump is the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Editor’s note: This article was published prior to the results of the 2024 presidential election.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (above) speaks to attendees at the 30th annual Essence Festival of Culture at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 6, 2024. Harris announced her campaign for president two weeks later when incumbent President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection. Photo courtesy of Essence Festival of Culture

Election 2024

Mobilizing the Next Generation: Xavier students lead voter engagement ahead of 2024 Presidential Election

by Keziah-Yvonne Smith Staff Writer ksmit135@xula.edu

In the 2020 election, over half of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 casted a ballot, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE).

Voter turnout for the 2020 election was the highest the country had seen in decades.

As we approach Election Day (Nov. 5, 2024), the question arises: How do we keep this momentum going for young voters?

Government Association (SGA), through its voting initiative, “X Marks the Ballot.”

According to Aryan Gleason, the SGA treasurer and co-director of “X Marks the Ballot,” since the 2020 election, she has noticed a gap in civic engagement on campus. The issue, she argues, is not that young people are uneducated about politics, but that they lack mobilization.

“When our grandparents were coming up, a lot of them were raised during the Civil Rights Era. It was more serious for them to be civically engaged because truly their life and freedom depended on it,” Gleason said. “Even though our life and freedom still depend on it, it does not seem like we are in the same situation [because] it is in a different font.”

According to the Pew Research Center, the number

compared to Black women.

According to CIRCLE, eligible young Black women voters surpassed young Black male voters in the 2020 election, with 47-percent of young Black women voting, compared to only 31-percent of young Black men.

One of the challenges Gleason has identified is engaging students who may feel voter apathy. The first step to gaining traction, according to Gleason, is encouraging students to participate in dialogue that might motivate them to register.

“I always start by asking, ‘Are you registered to vote?’ If they say no, I always ask why. That’s when students start to slow down and give me their time,” she explained. “After that, I can begin to break it down to a level they can relate to, [...] so they can understand the importance of voting and why they should vote.”

Many organizations on Xavier’s campus have been working diligently to encourage students, especially Black students, not only to register to vote but also to foster a passion for civic engagement. One of these organizations is the Student

of eligible Black voters has increased significantly over the past few elections. It is projected that there will be a 7-percent rise in Black voters compared to the 2020 election, accounting for 14-percent of the U.S. vote. Despite this increase, there remains a deficit in Black male engagement

Through the initiative, the SGA has hosted several events on voting to increase student engagement. By partnering with organizations like Xavier’s chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., Voice of the Experienced (VOTE), Pumps to the Polls, the Office of Inclusion and Social Justice

on campus, and many more, the initiative has been able to get students registered to vote. Despite the challenges, for recent registrants like Caris Green, a junior music education major, the efforts of organizers on campus have not been in vain.

“I first registered to vote this past summer during Orientation Week with [the Peer Dean Association]. This is the first [presidential election] I’m old enough to vote in. I want to make sure I’m exercising my civic duty to the best of my ability,” Green said. “It’s important to me, as young people, especially young Black people, that we play an active role in our democracy and exercise this crucial aspect of being an American.”

Green noted that the initiatives on campus have instilled a sense of pride and hope for the future.

“HBCUs have historically been places where Black students can become radicalized about social issues and commit to lives of social change and advocacy,” Green said. “Seeing it in my own lifetime, where students just like me are participating in such important work to empower other students [...], makes me proud to be an HBCU student.”

Students can stay alert for more events as Election Day approaches. Xavier is a polling location this year; however, students must be registered in Louisiana to cast their ballot on campus. According to the Secretary of State’s office, Louisiana allows students to register to vote within the state as long as they have a valid Louisiana address. All outof-state registrants must vote using paper ballots.

Ultimately, organizers like Gleason want students to recognize the power of their voice and their vote.

“The history is there for us to see the power when we mobilize. By not mobilizing, we are relinquishing our inalienable rights to those who understand the power of voting,” Gleason said. “People have been beaten and battered just to cast a vote. I want [students] to think, ‘If our vote didn’t matter, why are there so many things in place to stop us from voting?’ Our rights are worth fighting for.”

The “Black Voters Matter” bus in front of the University Center for one of the many voter engagement events on campus this semester.

Photo by Leah Clark

Students Makayla Lonon (left) and Vanessa Oladapo (right Photo courtesy of Pumped to Vote

Students attend the “Pumped to Vote” event in the University Center Photo courtesy of Pumped to Vote

by Leah Clark Polititcs Editor lclark15@xula.edu

Xavier students stepped into the shoes of the nation’s founding fathers and for Constitution Day, revisited the significance of the nation’s founding documents, while reconciling the exclusions of their ancestors at the birth of this nation.

Election 2024

Xavierites become founding fathers at Constitution Day

Center ballroom.

“I would say that’s where [students] come in now more than ever because while we have seen tremendous progress in terms of inclusion, equity, human rights, we still have a long way to go,” Cantrell said. “Especially being Black in this country, we see front and center how laws play out sometimes differently when they impact or involve us.”

Celebrating Constitution Day has become an annual event on Xavier’s campus. This year’s event was coordinated by Dr. Daniella Mascarenhas, an assistant professor of political science. Initially, students celebrated the day by attending

Xavier’s political science department partnered with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities to educate students on the Constitution’s importance, its evolution and relevance to America’s democracy. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell joined city councilwoman Lesli Harris (District B), and professor and author Dr. Sherice Janaye Nelson on Sept. 17 in the University

on Xavier’s campus. This year’s event was a simulated Constitutional Convention. Students took on the roles of delegates debating different aspects of the Constitution. They were tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of the Constitution in today’s society.

Mascarenhas said her students have expressed frustrations with the current political process, sometimes referring to it as outdated.

“As both an educator and someone passionate about civic engagement, I’ve seen how discussions around the Constitution can sometimes feel abstract or disconnected from modern issues, especially for young people,” Mascarenhas said.

Gen Z’s discontent with the current political process has been the topic of national discussion regarding the upcoming presidential election.

In 2023, Tufts University reported 8.3 million youth will be newly eligible to vote in November. Both Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaigns efforts to court Gen Z voters has been more noticeable in their last stretch. However, their appeals have not been easy as Gen Z voters have found platform issues they agree with in both the Republican and Democratic candidates.

For Abia Walker, a senior political science major from Jackson, Miss., Constitution Day proved to be a valuable experience ahead of the election.

a panel discussion about the Constitution and receiving their own copies.

“The idea for Constitution Day stemmed from a desire to create a space where students could engage critically with the foundational principles of our democracy in a way that felt relevant to their lives today,” Mascarenhas said.

Since then, Constitution Day celebrations have grown

“Being able to hear from guest speakers and fellow students on how they feel that the Constitution affects us was very relevant as the election is approaching,” Walker said. “It made me reflect on the decisions that government officials have made, and how I would like to see some of those decisions changed in the near future.”

Dr. Sharice Janaye Nelson of Alabama Agrigultural and Mechanical University (above) speaks to Constitution Day attendees

Photo by Demarquis Milton

Lesli Harris, New Orleans City Councilwoman for District B (above) presents to attendees at Constitution Day in the University Center Ballroom

Photo by Demarquis Milton

Dr. Norman C. Francis (left) greets U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)(right) and Louisiana State Senator Sidney J. Barthelemy (Center). Photo courtesy Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

by Trinity Johnson Editor-in-Chief

tjohn110@xula.edu

For nearly 100 years, Xavier has produced some of the nation’s most influential leaders across various sectors. As the university approaches its centennial celebration, it is important to recognize not only the institution but also the notable changemakers it has nurtured.

Among Xavier’s distinguished alumni, is the only Democratic official serving in Congress, representing Louisiana: U.S. Rep. Troy Carter Sr. Carter graduated from Xavier in 1986 with degrees in political science and business administration. During his four years at Xavier, he was involved in the political science club, community service, and his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.

After graduation, he went on to work under New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy, a connection made at Xavier as Barthelemy was one of his professors.

Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter Sr. reflects on his XU days

“I might have still gotten here through other machinations, but I can say without fear of contradiction, that this specific opportunity was granted to me because I was a Xavier student,” Carter said in an interview with the Herald on Oct. 9.

From there, Carter was elected to the legislature,

then the city council, the state Senate, and now the U.S. Congress. The congressman noted that current students might not fully understand the importance of Xavier’s legacy as it nears its 100th anniversary.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a knock on the students. It’s just a knock-on people’s general

desire to know more of their history, and a lot of times things get in your rearview mirror before you’re able to appreciate what they were, and listen, I was no different,” Carter said. He also reflected on the personal significance of Xavier and its legacy. For Carter, attending Xavier is a family tradition, with his mother, his eldest son Troy Jr., his sister, three nieces, and a nephew all graduating from the university. The congressman’s familial passion for the university also surfaces in his legislative work.

Throughout his political career, Carter has spearheaded bills and grants directly benefiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), securing more than $17 billion in HBCU funding. His efforts have resulted in Xavier receiving

more than $33 million in grants, including $2.5 million secured in 2022 to jump-start the university’s renovation of St. Michael’s dormitory into a STEM and pre-health advising center.

“Xavier University is going to be around for a long, long time, and it’s going to be that way because of bright students like you, because of bright students who are here and the loving faculty and staff who really care,” Carter said.

However, the congressman stressed the importance of alumni giving back to ensure the future of the university and other HBCUs. This year, he is teaching a course in the political science department at Xavier, finding time in his busy life as a congressman, to pass on his knowledge to a future generation of leaders.

“I predict that you and everyone who’s reading this will start writing checks to Xavier to make sure it’s around for another 100-plus years,” Carter said. “There will be very few places that will love you as much as Xavier, give you as much, or provide you as much opportunity. Why do I say that? Because I am a proud product of all those things.”

Xavier Herald Editor-in-Chief Trinity Johnson, left, sits for an interview with Congressman Troy Carter Sr., a Xavier alumnus and Department of Political Science faculty member.

Photo by Ashton Broden

Congressman Troy Carter ‘86 graduated from Xavier with two degrees, continuing his family’s legacy of Xavier excellence.

Photo courtesy of Congressman Troy Carter

Carter joined New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy’s staff after graduation. Barthelemy taught Carter at Xavier.

Photo courtesy of Congressman Troy Carter

Alumni Spotlight

From the Courtroom to the Studio: Jaleel Ross, aka J-S.A.N.D, Blends Law and Lyrics

by Ja’lyn Jones Staff Writer jjone142@xula.edu

As Ja’leel Ross, known in the music world as J-S.A.N.D., stood on stage, he felt the anticipation and energy of the crowd, with a pulse that surged through him like a familiar beat. As he began to perform each line, he would show a reflection of his journey, not only in his identity as an independent hiphop artist from Lafayette, La., but as a Xavier alumnus and now a St. John’s University law school graduate navigating the complex world of criminal law. As the lights illuminated his face, they revealed the visual representation of dedication and creativity, highlighting what led him down the dual path that he travels. But while he is pursuing a career in law, you can also hear him in “The Vow,” one of the tracks on two-time Grammy-winning rapper L.L. Cool J’s 2024 album “The Force.”

Lafayette, La. where his uncle taught him how to produce beats at age 7. He began rapping at 9 and launched his musical career in 2012. Given the landscape of studios that surrounded him on a daily basis and his mother’s status as a poet, Ross was destined to become a creative force in the arts.

While Ross was beginning his music career, he was inspired to also dive into politics. Following the deaths of African American teens Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown, Ross was more motivated to study criminal law.

“Seeing my own encounters

had an aura about him that just commanded attention,” said Cleopatra Singleton, a friend of Ross, and a fellow Xavierite alumna in the political science program. “I knew that whatever he put his mind to, he was going to accomplish it,” Singleton said.

“I grew up in a very musical family. We would record during family gatherings, and I would see my mother recording with my uncles. Seeing that, it just naturally happens,” Ross said, recalling to his first introduction to music.

Ross’ journey began in

and my own friends get caught up in the system, I thought something needs to be done about this,” he said.

Ross would go on to major in political science at Xavier, a place where he would showcase his musical talents and connect with fellow peers.

“When I first met Ja’leel, he

J-S.A.N.D., an acronym for “Jaleel Supplies All Needs & Demands,” embodies Ross’ versatile excellence. Amongst many, he is a rare blend of legal prowess and musical talent, forging a path that connects his passion for music with his dedication to justice. Beyond both his music and law professions, he excels in production, graphic design, directing, and film editing.

courtroom right away, some people would at least hear a song and think differently about life and their approach,” Ross said.

Ross’ creativity is what also led him to produce and collaborate on a song with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame rapper, LL Cool J. The song’s title “The Vow,” executively produced by Q-Tip, was a huge milestone for Ross because it allowed him to work with one of his idols while conveying important topics frequent in his music.

“I think that was the proudest moment thus far in my career. A lot of my music speaks to stuff I went through, and I feel

In the legal field, Ross recently won a misdemeanor case and successfully had it dismissed while in his final year of law school.

“I hope that people take away from Ja’leel’s story that you don’t have to choose between your creativity and your education,” Singleton said, “He is evidence that you can be prolific in multiple endeavors.”

Though balancing two careers can be challenging, Ross still finds a way to bridge the gap. Within his music are socially conscious and thought-provoking messages, reflecting his views of the real world.

“If I can’t make change in the

xavierherald.com

like some of that stuff can help a lot of people,” Ross said, “I want people to get in tune with themselves and focus on their mental health. By me just speaking on my personal story, I just hope somebody can find something they relate to, and it improves their life in some way.”

While making strides within each field, he plans to merge them by exploring entertainment law. Within music, he plans to expand his network and market himself independently while broadening his range in audio production.

“My goal is to maximize and elevate. I’m really big on speaking things into existence, and I think people need to just have that kind of faith in themselves,” he said.

Xavier alumnus Ja’leel Ross performs in his hometown Lafayette, La. at his concert called “The World, According to J-S.A.N.D.” on June 27th, 2024 at the Acadiana Center For the Arts.

Photo courtesy of Ja’leel Ross

After graduating from Xavier, Ross received a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, N.Y.

Photo courtesy of Ja’leel Ross

Campus Life Royal Court reimagines more inclusive student representation

by Kamryn Edwards Staff Writer kedward8@xula.edu

As Xavier gears up for its centennial year, a new royal court has taken the stage with new ideas and ways to engage students across campus. This Royal Court initiative, Royalty Reimagined, was inspired by the royal format that Xavier followed many years before.

The 2024-25 Royal Court is led by seniors Youma Diabira and Chamberlain Newman. While Diabira and Newman are the 89th and 10th Miss and Mister Xavier, the two established a new tradition within Xavier’s royal court. This year is the inaugural year of the Royal Court’s Auxiliary Court. In solidarity with their “Royalty Reimagined” motto,

the new court seeks to engage students across different disciplines by adding STEM, humanities, and studentathlete positions, including the addition of Miss and Mister 1925.

“Royalty Reimagined is inspired by the idea that we want to make the Royal Court more seen, we want to have a bigger impact on campus as a group and to begin implementing new things as we step into the centennial year,” Diabira said.

“If you go look through Xavier’s archives, the Royal Court used to have a lot more titles. We want to honor the different traditions that Xavier has had in the past, and one of those is having a Mister and Miss that represent different student identities on campus,” Diabira added.

Royalty Reimagined benefits from Newman’s role in Mister Xavier, who utilizes his relatively new position as Mister Xavier to support other men who need mentorship. Newman uses resources from the Men of Xavier, a

separate organization he’s involved with on campus at the university.

“We’re looking towards starting a male mentorship initiative through partnering with local elementary middle schools and high schools to help uplift young men, and also potentially partnering with Son of a Saint, which is an organization that helps mentor young men without fathers,” he explained.

In society today, inclusivity has become a topic at the forefront of organizations, and Xavier is aiming to implement inclusivity through its choice to broaden the Royal Court horizon. Jamaya Stewart, a psychology major believes the Royal Court is fulfilling their goal of inclusivity.

“Royalty Reimagined incorporates inclusivity solely based on their auxiliary court. They are the first court in about a couple of years to have one, so I think that bringing in different people, bringing in different courts, from different aspects of student life at Xavier, bringing in a humanities major, bringing in a STEM major, bringing in someone from the student-athlete perspective, bringing in someone like Miss and Mister 1925, that overall embodies what Xavier is truly about. I think that that’s really important,” Stewart said.

As a requirement for all student leaders at the university, Jaya Robinson attended the school’s leadership summit, along with other members of the royal court, representing her position as Miss Humanities and as Vice President of the Mental Health Coalition.

Robinson has already planned events that cater to humanities students at Xavier, where she will be able to further exhibit her leadership skills.

“For example, with two events that I have thought about which were an industry day for solely humanities majors, so like, business, political science, anything

ambassadors, I think that being here and interacting with not only Registered Student Organizations, but SGA members as well and gaining perspective on some of the issues that may be going on campus could help them in their roles as ambassadors,” Lovejoy said.

The hard work that the Royal Court has put forth

“Well, I can definitely say, being first within my position, it’s already like being looked at differently because it’s like, ‘okay since she’s the first person to fulfill this role, how is she going about this?’ And I can definitely say leadership came a long way,” Robinson said.

that’s outside of STEM - so I wanted to create events and job opportunities solely for them, even art majors because some people struggle with finding something in their career field and something that they desire that they want to take long term,” Robinson said.

James Lovejoy, the SGA vice president believes that the Royal Court attendance at the university’s annual leadership summit was significant and beneficial for their growth in their leadership positions.

“Being the school

since they have established the auxiliary court is not the end of their efforts to create a more inclusive court.

“In terms of appointments, we kind of brainstormed it right after we were elected. We worked with SGA President Chase Patterson, and he put it through executive orders, so now, it’s one of the bylaws that are an extension of the constitution so that it can continue after this year,” Diabira said.

Miss and Mister Xavier pose with their inauguraul Auxiliary Court.

Photo by Ashton Broden

Xavier University of Lousiana’s 2024-2025 Royal Court and Auxiliary Court

Photo by Ashton Broden

89th Miss Xavier, Youma Diabara (left), and 10th Mister Xavier, Chamberlain Newman (right)

Photo by Ashton Broden

Campus Life

by TaShia Hogue Columnist thogue@xula.edu

Living their ancestors’ wildest dreams, seniors eagerly await the moment they will cross the stage in the new, customized centennial cap and gowns. As Xavier continues its centennial campaign, surrounding the celebration of 100 years of excellence and service through leadership, there have been whispers - and even some beef - surrounding a passionate debate among the students: Who is the real centennial class? While the fact remains that the upcoming year of 2025 will mark Xavier’s 100th year anniversary of the university’s founding in 1925 as a four-year institution, the class of 2025 has had to defend their claim of the prestigious title, sparking discussions about history, tradition, and

Debate: Which

class has bragging rights as XU’s Big Cen-tenn?

what it means to be the face of Xavier’s legacy.

While Class of ‘26 and ‘27 attempt to “claim” this golden title, they remain committed to the mission, embodying the spirit of advocacy that has long been a form of resilience in university history.

“The debate stems from one question, who are we recognizing as the class that’s graduating in the 100th year - which actual graduating class? The 100th year doesn’t come until October of 2025, which is after the class of 2025 graduates, which would be my senior class technically... but as a member of ‘26 we’re still going to turn up for our centennial homecoming, I think we’re the centennial class,” said, Kennedy Shanks, the president of the class of 2026.

While opinions vary, both classes share a deep connection to Xavier’s rich history and its future. Despite the debate, what remains clear is that the centennial

year carries significance far beyond titles. The centennial title isn’t the only thing that comes with the responsibility of continuing Xavier’s legacy. It’s also about representing the university’s core values and embracing the opportunity to lead by example, which was nothing new to John Turner, a senior business and marketing major, and a Chicago native, who is a prominent staple in the class of 2025 in his role as Mr. Senior.

“It’s a privilege to be the face of the centennial campaign. I could tell during freshman orientation that we were an exceptional group of students who would learn to embody Xavier’s mission and turn it into a lifestyle,” Turner said. It was during the 2021 commencement ceremony that the class of 2025 was first introduced to owning the title of the centennial class. Students may even question your status depending on when exactly your Xavier experience began - If you weren’t forced to evacuate New Orleans a week into fall semester of 2021 due to Hurricane Ida, should you even be able to claim class of ‘25?

This ongoing debate

has caught the attention of administrators, some of whom offer historical context to support both sides. Xavier’s centennial celebration is not just about the institution’s founding, but about reflecting on the community it has built over the last 100 years.

“The Louisiana Department of Education officially recognized Xavier University as a four-year college on March 19, 1928. As identified in the 1927 Xavier Yearbook, ‘The year 1928 will witness the graduation of Xavier’s first College class,’ also substantiated by the 1929 XULA Graduation Program, which identifies the ceremony as the “Second Annual Commencement,” said Xavier’s historian and head of archives, Vinny

Barraza, as we looked through Xavier’s history like Watson and Sherlock Holmes, looking for clues, trying to make sense of all of this.

“Since Xavier University of Louisiana was officially founded in 1925, does that make the 2025 graduating class the “Centennial Class?” Maybe it begins with the “first class to graduate after our official college designation” which would mean the 1926/2026 class? Or, since the college wasn’t recognized until 1928, does that mean the 2028 graduating class has the official designation of “Centennial?” - Let the discourse endure!” Barraza added.

I’ll leave it like this. If one plus one is two, and two plus two is four, what’s a century from the year we went live in: 1925?

Xavier University of Louisiana Bachelor of Arts Graduates from the Class of 1928. This is the first graduating class of students after the official designation of Xavier University of Louisiana as a “College.”

Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

John Turner, class of 2025 and Mr. Senior Photo by TaShia Hogue

Kennedy Shanks, President of class of 2026

Photo courtesy of Kennedy Shanks

Student Spotlight: Xavier student wins National Pitch Competition

by Jayvon Watkins Staff Writer jwatkin9@xula.edu

1,000 miles from his school and 5,000 miles from his home.

Jamiri Flint prepared to take the stage at the University of Southern California’s capital campus in Washington, D.C., to pitch his business: DIEGO, to a group of judges at Black Girl Ventures. The Xavier business major was competing for a $15,000 cash prize against six other highly skilled participants. In a situation where most people would find

pitch it in front of investors is truly amazing.”

DIEGO stands for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity on the Go. It’s a travelbased cultural education app that helps stop misinformation related to traveling. Flint said his app is personalized to the user to help them with travel information specifically for their destination.

After wrapping up his pitch, Flint sat down and waited for everyone else to finish with their pitches. When the judges announced who won the Audience Choice award, it wasn’t him. He didn’t let that discourage him.

Flint said his eyes were still set on the 1st place prize for the whole competition. The judges told the participants that the winners for the competition

themselves nervous, Flint was more prepared than ever.

“I was just laser focused and ready to present my business to a well-respected audience,” Flint said.

“Working so hard on a startup and having the opportunity to

would be dependent on their fundraising skills.

For the next week he spent numerous hours in the library and other popular spots on campus to network and gain donations for his business.

After several strenuous days,

Flint was ecstatic to learn that he came in first place with a grand total of 188 donations.

“Fundraising is extremely hard, and knowing I won after being in the library and reaching out to friends and family for donations was comforting and rewarding,” Flint said.

Flint’s inspiration for DIEGO came from him and his family’s love for traveling. Soon after his thirteenth birthday, his mother, Cinnamon Wilson-Flint, moved him and his siblings from California to Morocco where they lived for a year.

While in Morocco, Flint and his mother both learned a lot about living in a different country and the change in culture. The fears that Cinnamon had about moving to a different country subsided when she arrived and felt at home by the locals.

“I felt welcomed by the people in Morocco,” WilsonFlint said. “I loved being able to walk down the street without judgment we experience as Black people in America.”

She believes her son’s app would have been great to have back then, and it would have eased her worries about the move.

“I would have known more about what to expect,” Wilson-Flint said. “Much of my expectations came from an American perspective. It wouldn’t have been so scary had I known things about the culture from actual Moroccans,” she added.

In addition to traditional travelers, this app also could help military families when moving to foreign countries for deployments. Flint’s godfather Dustun Ashton, a former unit development manager for the Air Force, thinks so.

“We were in a German town, and one of our soldiers ordered French onion soup,” Ashton said. The German soldier who was serving them stopped speaking in German to curse out the American soldier in English.

“Turns out, the area had

flipped between French and German rule for centuries, and they were still bitter about it,” Ashton said. “DIEGO could have given us a quick update on the local sensitivities, helping us avoid that awkward moment entirely.”

Jamiri Flint’s app has the opportunity to help a lot of people, but for now, he’s still reflecting on his win. He’s the first Xavier student to win the

Black Girl Ventures pitch competition.

“It feels good to be the first Xavierite to win because Xavier isn’t necessarily known for its business department,” he said. “I hope to inspire other entrepreneurs at Xavier to put themselves out of their comfort zone and to spread awareness for their businesses.”

Jamiri Flint (right) and his godfather Dustun Ashton (left) at the National Pitch Competition following Jamiri’s win.

Photo courtesy of Jamiri Flint

Jamiri Flint presents his pitch to the Black Girl Ventures judges for the chance to win $15,000.

Photo courtesy of Jamiri Flint

Senior Sales and Marketing major Jamiri Flint, founder of DIEGO, and first Xavierite to win the Black Girl Ventures Pitch Competition. Photo courtesy of Black Girl Ventures

by Zaria Townsend Staff Writer ztownsen@xula.edu

Xavier alumna Ronicka Briscoe returned to New Orleans on Sept. 29 for a book signing as part of her tour promoting “Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Leadership,” an Amazon bestseller she coauthored. The event, part of a tour spanning Houston and New Orleans from Sept. 22 to Oct. 1, drew students, professionals, and community members who were eager to hear her insights on leadership and the challenges women face in their careers.

“It is critical to tell the stories and capture the unique challenges and experiences of women, particularly women

by Zaria Townsend Staff Writer ztownsen@xula.edu

Young Black creatives are eager to explore the transformative power of philanthropy. Xavier’s chapter of the N.A.A.C.P teamed up with local financial and philanthropic literacy experts on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to foster a spirit of giving back within the Black community.

“In order to make effective change, it requires resources; even small amounts can create the change we are looking for,” said Derick Houston, Jr., a vice president with J.P. Morgan Private Bank. “It gives us the

Campus Life

Alumni Spotlight: Ronicka Briscoe Inspires with “Brave Women at Work”

of color and Black women, as they strive to advance their careers and reach leadership positions,” she said.

Briscoe used her nearly two decades of experience as an

and her personal experiences.

Although leadership can seem to be this independent concept, Briscoe reminded her audience that it is important to know when to

educator and scholar to shape the narratives that she included in her book. She said her book can be a strategic blueprint for future leaders and offers practical recommendations that draw on extensive research

lean on others.

“A lot of times it is almost impossible for us to do everything that we do - from being a mother, a professional, a leader - without a strong support system,” she said.

Because support is important in leadership, Briscoe spoke about the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.

She explained how mentorship is about seeking guidance whereas sponsorship requires going a step farther and actively advocating for each other.

This concept was particularly important to Dana ClarkWilliams, an assistant principal at Hynes-UNO. “I was able to learn how to move from

mentorship to sponsorship, and understand the levels of membership,” Clark-Williams said.

The event provided a platform for women at various stages of their careers to connect, exchange ideas and draw inspiration from one another.

“I got connected to so many powerful women in this space, and I am grateful to

be here today,” said Gabriella Wicker, a psychology student at Xavier.

Empowering Young Black Creatives: A Philanthropic Gathering in NOLA

ability to directly impact those who are gifted and those who are receiving.”

Houston underscored the vital role that access to resources play in fostering a culture of service and philanthropy. For many young creatives, contributing their talents and ideas is also a way to uplift their communities. Sometimes an investment does not always require vast sums of money, Houston said. When individuals take action, they also reinforce the idea that every contribution, no matter the size, can lead to significant positive outcomes.

Financial literacy is important to the Black community. But what is often not always highlighted is that even with limited wealth, African Americans contribute the largest share of the earnings and resources to charitable causes. The Kellogg Foundation notes that African American charitable giving

averages $11 billion annually, with Black families giving 25-percent more annually than white households for the size of their earnings.

“A Black philanthropist space is not something you see so often,” said Destiny Scott, a political science major at Xavier. “As a community, we are givers as much as we are receivers,” Scott said.

This information, rarely discussed about the Black community, underscores the generosity of African Americans in the philanthropic space, especially given the systemic challenges to wealth creation the Black community faces. Despite being often excluded from mainstream narratives about philanthropy, African Americans consistently demonstrate a commitment to giving back, reflecting a deeply held value of community support and upliftment.

Scott called for creating

more platforms and spaces that celebrate and empower Black individuals in philanthropy.

“I love hearing about Black philanthropy. We are not always welcomed in these successful spaces so it was refreshing to meet likeminded individuals who take pride in their contributions and culture,” she added

Eventgoers discuss the Amazon bestseller.

Photo by Zaria Townsend

Author Ronicka Briscoe signs her book for a reader.

Photo by Zaria Townsend

Ronicka Briscoe (right) and Zaria Townsend (left) with the book.

Photo courtesy of Zaria Townsend

Dr. Norman C. Francis (left) and philanthropist Dr. Ernest Boyer, thenpresident of the Carnegie Fund.

Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

A NAACP member speaks among panelists at the financial literacy event held at The City of Love church in New Orleans.

Photo by Zaria Townsend

Xavierites: Then and Now

As the 2024 Fall semester comes to an end, it’s hard to believe how quick it flew by.

With midterm exams behind us, and homecoming knocking on our front door, we saw it fitting to remind Xavierites, new, and old, of our past as a student body. Though nearly 100 years has passed since Saint Katherine Drexel founded our dear school, the photos we present to you will show that dedication, hardwork, and most importantly having fun, has always been part of a Xavierites experience. The Herald partnered up with the Xavier University of Louisiana History Club to share some photos of our past, which, is not too far from our present.

by Ashton Broden Photographer abroden1@xula.edu

Sports

Let’s Travel Back in Time with XU Football

by Randy Smith III Sports Editor rsmith40@xula.edu

It has been 65 years since Xavier took a snap on the football field. The university’s last game occurred against cross-town rival, Dillard University, in a 21-to- 9 victory in 1959. Xavier’s football team was previously known as the “Forty-Niners” and were a part of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“They taught me the ways of life, how to be a young man, how to be respectful to elders, and how to treat kids who play for you,” said Eddie Flint, who was the starting quarterback for the Forty-Niners for four seasons.

Xavier football was victorious in 1950 and 1951, going 7-1 and 8-1. Collective and individual success on the field gave Xavier the credibility that they can produce talent. The 2024 XULA Athletic Hall of Fame nominees, Willie Bloxton and Ernest Campbell,

were selected to the Pittsburgh Courier HBCU All-America team their senior year.

Lineman Vidal Easton played in the first interracial football game in New Orleans on Oct. 9, 1954.

Football is a rich tradition in the South, where most people dedicate an entire weekend to watching the sport. But on Saturdays, Xavier University football was an entertaining social event that drew students, faculty, and alumni together during home games.

The College of Pharmacy and Library/ Resource Center used to be the home of the XU football field where games and practices were held.

Flint, a New Orleans native, believes his stint at Xavier was one of the greatest experiences he’s ever had. Flint is grateful for his coaches at the time because he learned not only to be a great man but a great coach.

“I’m very entitled to the people there,” said Flint. He became the head coach for St. Augustine High School and led his team to three state championships in four seasons. Flint became a defensive coordinator for head coach Otis Washington, a 2022 Xavier Hall of Fame Inductee, and won three more championships in 1975, 1978, and 1979. Flint will be

inducted into the Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 7, 2024.

However, despite the successes, administrators announced all intercollegiate sports will be discontinued at the university after the 1959 season. Administrators were looking for ways to reduce overall spending after the passing of St. Katherine Drexel in 1955. Furthermore, Xavier competed against large state schools that had a roster of 100 players while Xavier had not seen a roster of over 35 players in the program’s final 3 years. The university added rigorous academic standards and program cuts led to the demise of Xavier athletics at the time.

Some students transferred after the discontinuation of football, while others stayed on to complete their degrees at the university. Former Dean of Students, Norman C. Francis, told former athletes they had to earn a “C” average to maintain their scholarship, emphasizing the school’s academic standards.

With the expansion of the intercollegiate athletics program in 1966, football was left behind while sports such as men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, and tennis thrived.

Currently, Xavier’s student-body and alumni do not have the pleasure of watching their school play on the gridiron anymore. With the lack of support and funding, the sport is not realistic for the university or many HBCUs to pursue.

According to a study from Wichita State University, starting a FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) college program would roughly cost $75 million. About $30 million will be invested in a new stadium, if built. The payment for coaches and staff could average $4 million, and the cost of equipment for each player is about $1200. Additionally, Xavier would have to pay to join

a football conference either in the FBS or FCS (Football Championship Subdivision). Starting a football program would take a tremendous amount of financial planning, execution, and perseverance. The future is unknown about the revival of XU football, but the past can be a reminder of what can be.

“(It would take) millions of dollars and millions in commitment from people across the street from the athletic complex,” said Edward Cassiere, the associate athletics director for strategic communications, on what would it take for the school to revive a football program.

For now, current Xavierites can enjoy the other collegiate sports, but some students still hope to experience rooting for an HBCU football program.

“In a sense of HBCU culture, the marching band, homecoming, and tradition would maximize to another level if there was a football

team,” said junior, Saba Love, a biology pre-medicine major from Sacramento.

“(Football) gives an opportunity for students to earn scholarships and attend Xavier through their talent,” Love added.

Tulane University is the only collegiate program that has football in the city of New Orleans. Loyola University discontinued football in the 1940s. Dillard University hasn’t had a team since the 1960s, and the University of New Orleans never had a varsity football program.

Flint would be delighted to see Xavier restore their football program. He believes football will provide tremendous opportunities for young men in New Orleans.

“A lot of kids on the street would have a place to go to get scholarships and play at major university like Xavier,” Flint said.

The Xavier University of Louisiana Football Team circa. 1943 Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

The Xavier University of Louisiana Football Team in 1930 Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

Xavierites cheer on Xavier’s football team at the university’s stadium in the 1940s

Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

Can you smell what XULA Wrestling is cooking?

by Randy Smith III Sports Editor rsmith40@xula.edu

Reginald Robinson, a graduate student at Xavier, and Xavier’s Wrestling Club co-founder, established the wrestling community on campus in 2019 during his freshman year. He received several offers from predominately white institutions (PWI), but he made the decision to come to Xavier to start the now official program.

“I’ve never been to a predominately white institution or let alone had more than one student who didn’t look like me in [high] school,” Robinson said.

Robinson, who has 10 years of wrestling experience, believes the environment an athlete is in matters.

“Having that comfortability during my collegiate years and access to continue the sport I am

passionate about helped me a lot,” he explained.

Xavier isn’t the only HBCU in the country with a wrestling program. Howard University, Morgan State University, and Norfolk State University are some of the HBCUs that have also fostered a wrestling program. But the sport doesn’t have a significant presence in Southern states.

Robinson opened the door for new and experienced wrestlers at Xavier, and now the XULA Wrestling Club aims at present more sporting opportunities for Black athletes.

In preparation for tournament play in November, Xavier’s Wrestling club has been hosting intense practices. Practice is typically held at the university’s’ Fitness Center where members endure a variety of strength and core conditioning. Participants are pushed to their limits to be the best athlete on the mat. The wrestling club not only teaches students about the sport, but core development skills.

“[The wrestling club] made me more personable and connecting with students on campus,” James Searcy, a cofounder of the wrestling club, Public Health major from Macon, Georgia.

Though one of the main

reasons for the intense training is to improve wrestling skills for the players, teamwork is emphasized throughout the workout. Through each exercise, members laugh or encourage each other to persevere through the vigorous training. If one person was left behind during an exercise, the rest of the team would motivate them to continue.

“I made some of my strongest bonds with my teammates over crying on the mat in high school,” said Tru Jones, Xavier’s wrestling club secretary, Neuroscience major

from Long Beach, California, who added that she does not hesitate to be a helping hand due to her rough beginnings on the wrestling mat.

“Those things hold very true to me,” she added.

Micah Cook, a Xavier alumni from Sylacauga, Alabama, joined the wrestling club because his friends were a part of the club. Cook used his wrestling training as a supplement to improve his skills in mixed martial arts.

“Joining the wrestling club expanded my mind as far as number the different sports available to you [at Xavier],”

Cook said.

Cook is eager to continue expanding wrestling opportunities for black athletes beyond Xavier. The club encourages all students and alumni to attend their practices and offers students the opportunity to compete nationally and learn the fundamentals of wrestling.

“I am looking forward to starting an alumni chapter for the wrestling team,” Cook said.

XULA Wrestling partnered with Tulane Wrestling for a joint practice in the university’s Fitness Center

Photo courtesy of Xavier Athletics

Coach Kenn Barnes Jr. leads XULA wrestling club athletes through their warmup in the university’s Fitness Center.

Photo by Randy Smith III

Coach Kenn Barnes Jr. (left) with HBCU Women’s Wrestling Match-Up gold medalists, Tru Jones and Tamia Vaughn Photo courtesy of Xavier Athletics

XULA Tennis face strong competition at HBCU Nationals

by Jacobi Bain Staff Writer jbain@xula.edu

Xavier’s tennis teams, the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, competed in Fulton County, Ga. in the HBCU National Tennis Championship from Sept. 1922. Facing competition from over 15 schools, the men’s team finished 13th, while the women’s team placed 11th.

“This weekend was about evaluating and seeing where we are as a team,” said Alan Green, the head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams. “There were some good things and some not-so-good things, which means we have a lot of work to do.”

Green said that the freshmen gave a good performance in the tournament. “It was their first

college matches, and they handled themselves well. They look like they belong and have a bright future here.”

Gold Nuggets freshman Asadah Ma’at won both her singles and doubles matches on the first day of the tournament. However, as the competition progressed, she faced tougher opponents, underscoring areas where she can improve.

“I’m glad I won my first match, but there is definitely a lot of improvement that needs to be made,” Ma’at said. “This is not how I want to keep performing, but I hope to get better as I continue playing.”

Sophomore Amira Bergaoui also delivered a strong performance for the women’s team, advancing to the semifinals of the Women’s A-Draw, before being eliminated by Alejandra Hidalgo Vega from North Carolina Central University. Bergaoui finished in fourth place overall.

On the men’s side, the doubles team of Dedric Ray and Arthur Yakubov made it to the

semifinals of the Men’s Doubles B-Draw before their run ended.

“This year’s HBCU tournament was really high level,” said Nereo Suarez, a junior in his third year with the Gold Rush. He noted that the tournament featured strong players across all levels, making for tougher competition than in previous years.

Suarez faced early exits in singles, doubles, and consolation matches, all in the first round. Despite these setbacks, Suarez remained optimistic.

“The team did okay, even though we didn’t get the results we wanted,” Suarez said. “I believe it was a good experience to see where we are right now.”

by Jacobi Bain Staff Writer jbain@xula.edu

Alyssa Studvent, a junior on Xavier’s women’s volleyball team, wears pink lace on her tennis shoe every time she steps on the court. She does this to honor her mother and all the other breast cancer survivorsthose who lost the battle and

Volleyball team triumphs in Pink Out Game; Honor breast cancer survivors

those currently fighting.

Xavier hosted its annual Pink Out volleyball game for breast cancer awareness on Oct. 4, 2024. The Gold Nuggets beat the women of Louisiana Christian University in four sets: 19-25, 25-15, 2519, and 25-22.

The Pink Out game was particularly important to Alyssa, whose mother, Katrina Studvent is a breast cancer survivor.

“It was encouraging because she wasn’t alone as she stood with other patients, survivors and loved ones that were impacted by cancer,” Alyssa said.

For Alyssa, these games are about much more than just the final score.

“Breast cancer disproportionately affects black women, so to have a court full of African American women in the pink out game and my mom in the stands, it was incredible,” Alyssa said.

The Pink Out games send a message to the entire community that we’re in this together, she said. “No one truly stands alone, and they deserve to be celebrated for their battle, their wins and their losses, and we will do that together.”

As the Gold Nuggets continue their season, this pink out game for many serves as a reminder of the broader impact sports can have on important social issues.

“Know that it takes a village to get through a cancer journey and even after the treatment is done the journey continues,” Katrina Studvent said.

Sophomore Taylor Parker prepares to block a spike

Photo by Jacobi Bain

Freshman Kamea Uitenham looks up as she begins her serve

Photo by Jacobi Bain

Members of Xavier’s Baseball Team cheer show their support.

Photo by Jacobi Bain

Junior, Julius Hell

Photo courtesy of Xavier Athletics

Xavier Men’s Tennis pose with their 2023 Conference Tournament rings

Photo by Jacobi Bain

Xavier Men’s Soccer looks toward redemption in conference play

by Jackson Kuykendall Sports Writer jkuykend@xula.edu

Xavier Men’s Soccer played the nationally ranked No. 8 University of Mobile on Sept. 7. The game ended in a tie: 2-2. Although the Gold Rush came up short at last year’s Red River Athletic Conference, they have been making sure they come back stronger this season.

“The message is definitely that we can compete against anyone,” said Gonzalo Carranza, the coach of the men’s soccer team at Xavier.

Although they didn’t win the game against the University of Mobile, Carranza said it strengthened the team and provided an early test in the season for them.

“We are ready for conference play, and hope to be celebrating a title birth after the next 13 games,” he said.

An integral part of that winning team formula is having a strong goalkeeper. Breno Zanolla, the Xavier men’s soccer captain and starting goalkeeper is ready to take on that role.

“I think that with my personality and maturity I can get that out of my teammates as well,” Zanolla said. “You can’t be afraid when you play this game at all. Everything must be on the line to win.”

Xavier Men’s Soccer has a record of 1-1-1 in their non-conference games, scoring 8 goals and conceding 3. The defense of Xavier has improved tremendously, and local talent seems to have created that impact. Rajuan Beckford, the sophomore defender from Metairie, La. has been an impact player.

“Being a part of Xavier men’s soccer team as

a local player really is a proud moment for me,” Beckford said. “It sheds light on other

has been the same throughout my two years being with the team, to give my 100-percent

soccer is now on the road to start their conference games. They played Southwest at Bob

local players, giving them the opportunity to play the sport they love at a collegiate level. As for my mindset, it

every practice and wait for my opportunity to come,” Beckford said.

Xavier Men’s

Moran Field in Hobbs, New Mexico at 3:30pm MDT on Sept. 19 with the game ending in a loss: 1-2. Following that match, they headed to Dallas to play Paul Quinn at Gio Macias Field at 1:30pm MDT time on Sept. 21 where they

won: 6-1. As of now, the team is dominating the field with a record of 9 games won and 2 games lost. Go Gold Rush!

The Xavier Men’s Soccer Team pictured above. Photo courtesy of Xavier Athletics

Captain Eduardo Santos (right) with Dr. Cary Caro (left). Photo courtesy of Xavier Athletics

An old Xavier athlete receives an award. Photo courtesy of Xavier University Digital Archives and Collections

STROLL ON IN

CHICKEN FINGERS