As the 2024-2025 school year comes to an end, it’s time for the Saint Xavier University (SXU) community to reflect on everything the year has brought.
Throughout the year, we have lost two individuals from the SXU community. A student by the name of Mason Santiago, along with Professor Carroll. The two of them will be missed from the SXU Community.
However, SXU has opened up a new spirit wear store. A couple of years ago, SXU’s previous spirit wear store, which was located in the Shannon Center, was changed into the Esports Lounge. The spirit wear store was located in the diner near the atrium. Students and faculty members were able to experience the shop with new merchandise that came every month.
On Jan.14, the Office of the Provost sent out an email to students and faculty members about the library hours changing. Instead of the library closing at midnight, it will now close at 10 p.m. Monday-Friday. This change was to help the library staff be more available to students during the day.
Along with the new library hours, the counseling department has also welcomed new counselors to their family. The two counselors welcomed this year were Garrido Aviles Dennis as the new SXU Bilingual Counselor and Raul Andrade.
The new counselors started their time at SXU with a speech about Biases at the annual Synergy conference.
Synergy is an annual conference that takes place for students to learn more about being a leader. This year, students learned from a few faculty members about leadership, biases, and the importance of stories.
One of the presenters is Jacqueline Morris, M.A.Ed., M.A.Ed.Adm, Director of Career Development Center. She spoke about David through the Bible to further explain to the students about diversity, equity, and inclusion during that period, to relate it to SXU.
Morris stated, “My hope for my speech is for students to internalize the need and desire to embrace acceptance of themselves. I hope that they walk in their purpose of realizing the importance of advocating for their space to be in any room and to not shrink to pacify the mediocrity of others”.
However, as students arrived back on campus for the start of the spring semester, they noticed the new safety locks that were put up around campus. On Feb. 10, Public Safety sent out an email to faculty and students explaining the new locks that will eventually be put onto every door around campus. This was put into effect to protect students and faculty members when attending SXU.
As the semester is winding down, students are starting to receive awards for their work throughout the SXU community.
On Tuesday, April 22, students and faculty members received numerous awards. Some included, president’s award, which was given out to two students by President Keith Elder, Ph.D., MPH, MPA. Some of the other awards were given by eight departments throughout the campus. The departments were Campus Ministry, Media Center, Trio, Center for Learning and Student Support, Career Development Center, Student Advising Center, Office of the Dean of Students, and Office of Belonging and Engagement.
SAB hosted the annual spring formal that SAB hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday, April 11.
Another RSO, called The Green Movement, hosted its annual pop-up thrift shop. This provided a place for students to save some money on clothes and accessories as the seasons changed. The RSO collaborated with Women Entering Business to plan an event for students to attend that was off campus. The event called “ Zoo Not Worry” was to promote a “fun but relaxing day” that was free of charge for students.
Although there have been multiple events throughout this academic year, there have also been changes throughout the departments.
On March 6, Residence Life sent out an email to residents on campus to clear out parking lot six over break. It stated in the email that all students who have cars that are parked in the O’Brien parking lot (lot six) need to move their cars for large cranes to be parked there. This was due to contractors installing two Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems at the top of McCarthy Hall.
The semester began with an email sent out to residents about plumbing issues that were occurring in Morris Hall. On Jan.27, Isaac Torres sent out an email titled, “Morris Hall (Non-Flushable Items)”. Throughout the email, Torres explained to the residents not to flush certain items down the toilet. The items included disinfectant wipes, paper towels, Kleenex, flushable wipes, sanitary napkins, and tampons. This resulted in drains in Morris Hall being clogged in many residents’ dorms.
Lexi Clarke, Morris resident stated, “When Morris Hall was having plumbing issues, it was very difficult for the residents to do basic things such as showering. I hope that residents read the email from Isacc with eyes open”.
As the academic year comes to a close, The Xavierite is looking forward to the 2025-2026 school year’s events and growth that will come to SXU.