As the election for Student Council President draws near, the candidates are stepping forward with their ideas, eager to share their vision for the future of our campus. The role of president is a vital position that carries the responsibility of advocating for student needs, fostering unity, and leading initiatives that shape our experience here.
In preparation for the upcoming debate, I reached out to each candidate, posing the same set of questions to offer a glimpse into their motivations, leadership experience, and plans for the university. These quotes are presented exactly as spoken in local, without any alterations or edits. Remember that all responses are off the cuff, as candidates had no clue what I would ask.
While this article introduces the candidates and their ideas, it is only the beginning. Attending the debate is crucial for all students, as it provides the opportunity to see the candidates in action: how they respond in real-time, engage with tough questions, and interact with one another. I encourage every voter to attend the debate, where you can assess not just the policies, but the leadership style and presence of each candidate. This article serves as a foundation for understanding their platforms, but the debate is where the heart of the decision will unfold.
Candidate Lynn Reid was unavailable for comment. Candidate Tracy Angel pulled her application.
Q: What inspired you to run for Student Council President?
XANDER BELL: “As you probably know, I’m in the Woodcrest PD along with being a student. I’m getting… concerned about the growing drug culture at Woodcrest. I’m hoping with the help of the Student Council, we can clean the Student Body up.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “I am one of those people who always has more questions than the average person. When they advertised they were taking applications, I started to think about why I would. I want to make a difference. The why would be that I want to have a voice and a say so to speak. Many people sit by and complain about how things are done, or that they would do this or that. That’s not me. If I want to see change, I want to be a part of it.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “Well, I graduated a year ago and took some time to travel the world. When I returned home to Woodcrest, it was such a warm welcome and I realised that I wanted to get back into education and study more. Think of me as a degree collector and a Pokemon collector. Upon coming back I ran into my old friend, Yosh. He knows me so well and suggested that I run. At first, I was skeptical but after running a successful house like Omega Psi Phi before I graduated, I thought I could definitely run for Student Council President. My major this time around is Photography and Sports. They are both huge passions of mine. I have been on the swim team since 2017 but never majored in sports as I used to be a music major. But I decided to give it a chance because in the future, I want to be a teacher but I want to acquire as much knowledge before doing so. Photography just came naturally to me as I love nature and, as you can see around us, the world is just so beautiful so why not try and capture those moments?”
Q: What other prior experiences do you have that have prepared you for this role?
XANDER BELL: “Put it this way: I had my fair share of run-ins with the Boston Police Department before cleaning myself up and getting back on the straight and narrow. These kids, drugs are mere recreational thing to them; they don’t seem to understand how it all funds other vices, one hand washes the other, that sort of thing. I know how to knuckle down and study when needed, so that covers me as student, and I see things that disturb me.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “I have always been a leader in my own way. I run a business that is part of the Chamber of Commerce, and I am also on the Tri Pi Social Committee. Both of these things require me to be a leader and to be creative and interact with students, faculty, and others. I have previously held leadership roles in high school. I started with Secretary on the Student Council and each year, I moved up until I was Student Council President during my senior year. I also volunteered for the local food bank and then the second year of that, I was made the volunteer coordinator. Those are just titles and and things I did but leadership is partially about those things but also the person you are. Aside from that, I am a good listener and I believe in transparent and open communication. Lastly, I have proven since being at Woodcrest that I only want what is best for our school.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “Well, as I mentioned, I ran Omega for a long time alongside my friend, Neba. I have also owned my own record store and been in charge of people. I will admit that I may not have a lot of knowledge about the goings on around the Student Council in universities, but I was a part of Student Council when I was in primary school back in the UK. I also helped many a teacher with classes and was a part of the events committee with my best friend, Rosa. We would try and make college life the best it could be for the people as I care a lot about Woodcrest and the students as it is my home. And I know a thing or two about looking after people as I have 3 of my own.”
Q: This is a pretty heavy question, so take as much time as you need. What changes would you like to see on campus, and how will you work to implement them?
XANDER BELL: “Just off the dome? I’d like to see all the Greek houses implement a formal drug policy. Additionally, as a public safety measure, I’d like to see pill testing kits made available to students at parties and rave events held on campus. Finally, I’d love to for the Woodcrest PD to have a booth at Rush Week to hand out drug information students, making them aware of the dangers of substance abuse. I figure we can get the ball rolling on these arrangements the same way we would others. We get people to come to the Student Council Tables and negotiate.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “I would like to bring more diversity to the campus and celebrate all people. That would require setting up discussions or ask the newspaper to have a Voices of Diversity column perhaps. There is so much people can learn and in this day and age, it is imperative we have an open mind. I would also like the the council to be more visible. If you ask someone who is on the Student Council, most people can’t tell you. We need to show our leadership on campus in everything we do. If we make an event instead of just saying from the Student Council, identify each member so other students know who they can approach and that we foster communication with are open to new ideas. I would like to have a greener school by challenging businesses and students to recycle and utilize waste in productive ways, perhaps a sculpture made of waste to showcase or bringing speakers in to explain how we can reduce our footprint in the world. There are a lot of options since it is a big issue right now. Those are just some of the things. I could go on but you would need a lot of paper for the things I would love to do.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “I would like to see a lot more closeness with the students. You see them all laugh and joke in class and it is one of the best feelings being alongside classmates. But then after class is over, we all seem to go our separate ways. I would want to implement more group activities for the students when we aren’t in class. Stuff that keeps people together. I understand that people have lives and need to study but for the people who are lonely… You always see the stray student who wants to hang out and get involved with people. I want to implement more after school activities: it could be chess club, art club, or anything along those lines. It would make the campus feel a lot less lonely. I remember when I first started, I was fortunate to be taken in by an amazing house called Theta Nu Alpha and I never felt that lonely feeling. But, I see students who are lonely and I want them to feel more involved with everyone, make less cliques, and have it be about accepting and loving everyone.”
Q: How do you plan to represent and advocate for the diverse voices and communities at the university?
XANDER BELL: “Now, that’s a good question, but lets be honest: just how diverse is Woodcrest? We’ll take a poll if we have to and go from there.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “Well, first and foremost, ask what the students want and then listen. We have the Harvest Festival coming up. I think we should have more than one festival a year and one could be for diversity. Encourage people to bring out their culture, their heritage, their food, and more. A lot can be learned from one another. I would be open minded and nonjudgmental. Just like your book club, the newspaper could recommend a book for reading or a movie that has to with the diversity or unity topic. Student Council needs to be the voice but we need to listen.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “As a student, I plan to represent and advocate for the diverse voices and communities at the university by actively engaging with various student groups and organisations to understand their unique needs and challenges. I will make sure to listen carefully to different perspectives, especially from marginalised or underrepresented groups, and work to ensure that their concerns are heard at all levels of decision-making. I also want to promote inclusivity by organising events and discussions that celebrate diversity and foster understanding between communities. Collaborating with administration and student government to implement policies that create a more equitable environment will be a priority for me. Overall, my goal is to be a bridge between diverse voices and the university, ensuring that everyone feels represented, supported, and valued. I am for the many, not the few.”
Q: What is a challenge you foresee in this role, and how would you handle it?
XANDER BELL: “People don’t like cops. You’re going to see that I’m a badge on one hand, a Sigma Pledge on the other… and get confused by the whole thing and not know if I’m talking out the side of my mouth. I can only correct this misunderstanding by actually working to deliver.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “The challenge would be being allowed to do the things we want to do as a council. We can be the Council but we operate under the umbrella of the college itself. If the college doesn’t want something to happen, then it won’t happen. I would handle this by being proactively prepared. Anticipate what problems the college could see to make them say no and offer solutions before they can say no. Any large scale thing that we would want to be do would need to be approved by the college so I am sure we will get a lot of practice being proactive. The use of professionalism is also a must. They need to trust us just like we need to trust them.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “As Student Council President, a challenge I foresee sadly is balancing the diverse needs and priorities of different student groups while ensuring that all voices are equally represented. Students come from various backgrounds and have unique concerns, whether it’s related to academics, mental health, cultural representation, or campus facilities. To handle this, I would prioritise open communication and transparency. I would regularly hold forums, surveys, and office hours to ensure that students feel comfortable bringing up their issues. It’s important to stay accessible and approachable, so that students know they can rely on their student council to take their concerns seriously.”
Q: In light of the challenged that will undoubtedly come up in this role, what strengths do you bring to this position, and what areas do you aim to improve? Once again, take as much time as you need!
XANDER BELL: “I’m not some kid who’ll fall over at the first sign of resistance. That’s my strength: resilience. I’m probably a little hotheaded, but I’m working on that… all Zen stuff.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “I feel like I am a good listener, good with communication and can identify issues or problems pretty quickly. I am driven when I care about something and always want success in making things happen. I also tell people that I am the purveyor of awesome ideas and so being on a council, we can make things happen. I do need to improve on delegation. I sometimes just want to go and get it done but I can’t do that on a council and have to learn to let other people help and do things as well. I want to believe people are inherently good and kind and so I need to realize that not everyone is and sometimes people can be mean.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “I am a very calm and collected person. I also have all the patience in the world. I have shown from my past experience that I have good leadership skills. I ran a successful co-ed house that did have its problems and I managed to regulate arguments between brothers and sisters while also keeping a level head. Someone going for this role needs my experience. I have been a student at Woodcrest now since 2017 and I have grown to know the student both past and new. I feel like I can be a voice for them as I have qualities for this that include problem solving, empathy, and definitely communication. Leading a council can be demanding and occasionally frustrating. I feel as though I have the resilience that helps you stay focused and persistent, even when things get tough or don’t go as planned. I could be that voice that people need. I am approachable and want my fellow students to know that if they ever have problems, they can always come to me… even if I don’t win this thing… I will forever be a voice for them.”
Q: Is there anything else that I haven’t asked about that you feel is important for people to know when considering your candidacy for Student Council President?
XANDER BELL: “‘Nuff said, I think. I’ve incriminated myself enough for one day.”
MANDIE ROMANO: “I would just like to encourage people to vote when voting opens and consider what they want from their Student Council. We are for them after all.”
ABBIE VICIOUS: “I care so much about the students of our amazing University and so, if I win, I will throw the biggest party and pay for any tabs that have accumulated at the bars.”