By Evelyn Limberg, Staff Writer
Following their election victory, junior chemistry and physics double major Brigid Burke and junior Philosophy, Politics, and the Public (PPP) major Allison Gorius are preparing to take on new leadership roles in Xavier’s Student Government Association (SGA). Their plan is to strengthen communication between students and administration, improve campus spaces and ensure every student’s voice is heard.
Last Wednesday, the SGA election took place, with each student casting their vote. Burke and Gorius won the race for President and Vice President, respectively, against sophomore PPP and French double major Kiaralys Rosario and sophomore PPP and economics double major Ben Jenkins.
For Burke, running for SGA President was a chance to make a difference in Xavier’s community and bring students’ concerns directly to the university administration.
“I decided to run for SGA because I want to make the student experience at Xavier the best it can be for every student,” Burke said. “I love being able to use my passion and enthusiasm to bring new ideas from students directly to the administration.”
Elected SGA President Brigid Burke and Vice President Allison Gorius plan to improve the experience of students and connect with them.
Burke said she was most impressed with the Xavier community backing her.
“Winning means so much to me because it shows that students support and believe in me,” Burke said.
Throughout their campaign, Burke and Gorius identified several areas they hope to focus on during their term, specifically improving communication between students and SGA. This includes making sure students feel represented and improving student-centered spaces around campus, especially the cafeteria and the Health United Building.
Some of the most common concerns students shared during the campaign included parking, communication between students and administration and creating a stronger sense of belonging on campus.
“These are all extremely important concerns, and Allison and I plan to work with students to find how best we can address these issues and ensure each student feels heard,” Burke said.
Both Burke and Gorius bring two years of experience working with SGA, which Burke believed strengthened their campaign. Their academic backgrounds also bring different perspectives to the organization.
Burke also emphasized the importance of making SGA more approachable and accessible to students who may not typically get involved in student government. Through more opportunities for students to share their thoughts and concerns, she hopes to create a stronger connection between the student body and SGA.
To accomplish this, Burke and Gorius plan to hold office hours in the SGA office and other locations around campus. They also hope to connect with students through everyday conversations in an attempt to be present in different campus spaces.
Their approach focuses on making student representation an ongoing conversation rather than something that only happens during election season. By listening to student feedback and working with university administration, the two hope to turn students’ concerns into meaningful improvements.
Ultimately, Burke hopes their leadership will make students feel more comfortable sharing their concerns and seeing those concerns addressed.
“I hope that by the end of my term, students will feel more comfortable bringing concerns to SGA and will see improvements in various spaces around campus,” Burke said.