Raise your voice, be the difference

is hard to believe that less than eight months ago, I was
elected as your Student Body President for the 2012-2013 academic school year. During that election, over 1,500 students took the time, however brief, to express their
opinion about the future of Xavier University. I had the privilege of interacting with many of those students during
the campaign. After winning the election, it was easy to make progress on our promises to you because we - Matt Morefield (Administrative Vice President), Kristin Sanfilippo (Legislative Vice President) and I- knew we had your support. We knew that when we said the students believed in our platform, they truly did. Eight months later, it is a lot
harder to say the general student opinion with that same amount of confidence, yet our role requires us to speak on your behalf on a daily basis to any number of different
administrators.While we have spent the last several months going to as many club meetings as we can and working to widen our knowledge base through social media, we need your help. Now, we need YOU to tell us
what is going on around Xavier. We need to know what issues you feel are important. We need to know how
you feel about anything and everything Xavier related.
The Hoff Dining Center isn't open long enough?
Xavier doesn't provide enough entertainment options on the
weekend? You want more study abroad options? Tell us! You won't be bothering us; you will truly make our day.
Many of you probably do not know me personally, so how an you tell me what it is going on? It is simple: send me an e-mail at walshs1@xavier, call my office at 513-745-4249, tweet us @ JointheTeamSKM or stop me on campus to tell me to my face. I always respond, and I am always willing to meet with anyone about anything. I know that sending me an email complaining about whatever is bothering you at Xavier does not seem to be the most productive five minutes you spend during the course of day, but it has the
ability to become more than just an e-mail. For example, when the Newswire ran an article about the need for bike shelters on campus, Matt, Kristin and I spent the next several weeks investigating the issue and trying to make it a reality. If you're having an issue, have an idea or want to change something, I guarantee countless others around campus do as well. All it takes is one person to speak up
though for it to become a reality. Together, we can make a difference not only for this year, but for all future classes that will walk through our great university. After all, who is better to help make Xavier better for the next generation? It is not just a single student who can solve the problems, it takes a team. When you voted to "join the team," your responsibility
didn't end there. I was elected to be your voice, but in order to be your voice, I need to hear yours first.