Student Body President Jackson Ray ’28 set out in his platform to make the Student Senate more impactful than it has been in years past. Following each spring election, the newly elected president appoints all committee chairmen, who play a critical role in shaping their committees’ direction and influence on campus. These leaders help determine not only what their committees accomplish, but also how they engage with the broader student body.
With a new group of chairmen stepping into these roles, the coming year is expected to bring both continuity and change. Many of the newly appointed chairmen are entering their positions with ambitious plans that build upon the work of previous years while expanding their committees’ reach. Rather than introducing small adjustments, several leaders emphasized that their goals involve broader initiatives designed to address ongoing campus needs in more meaningful ways.
“Often, issues with mental health are not because of one event, but because of an accumulation of negative emotions, stress and experiences,” said Mental Health Concerns Committee Chairman Aidan Pierce ’27. “Addressing issues before they grow into a bigger problem is crucial. To achieve this goal, my team and I will work alongside living unit mental health chairmen to coordinate plans to identify and address the early warning signs of mental health crises.”
Pierce’s focus reflects a larger trend among the new chairmen: a desire to be more proactive rather than reactive. By strengthening communication between committees and student groups, leaders hope to address concerns earlier and more effectively. This approach also underscores an emphasis on collaboration, with many committees looking to partner more closely with different areas of campus life.
Student Life Chairman Kenton Chase ’28 similarly aims to build on past successes while expanding the committee’s role in improving everyday student experiences.
“I want to scope out the things we have around campus that could use improvement with the help of the students and attack those things,” said Chase.
Student Life had a successful past year, hosting a casino night and a Top Golf trip that got hundreds of students out to enjoy the brotherhood that Wabash offers. However, this is not the only thing Student Life is planning to do over the next year.
“I still plan to hold fun events, I think that I will put more focus specifically on advocating for the betterment of the lives of our students,” said Chase.
On the topic of events, there will certainly not be a shortage of them in the upcoming year through these committees. Nearly all committees plan to host more public events over the next year.
“I want to see a lot of events done through this committee,” said Intramural Committee Chairman Nicholas Kesler ’27. “I will also be looking into adding a few tournaments on the weekends and weekdays, depending on what the student body wants. The sports and activities of these tournaments will also reflect what the student body wants to play in.”
This highlights another recurring theme among the new leadership: responsiveness. Committees to be more reflective of the wants and needs of the Student Body.
“I hope this gets more participation from people we haven’t seen participate in intramural sports in years prior, and makes the experience better for everyone,” said Kesler.
Another aspect of involvement comes from the new Chairmen themselves.
“I am very passionate about academics as a whole and recognize the grey area that is AI policy campus-wide,” said Liam Fuller ’28. “It is something I want to change so students feel more confident using AI in accordance with the Gentleman’s Rule.”
As the new committee chairs settle into their roles, their shared emphasis on expansion, engagement, and responsiveness suggests a Student Senate that is aiming to take a more active role on campus. Whether through events, advocacy, or policy initiatives, these leaders are working to ensure that their committees not only continue past successes but also adapt to the evolving needs of the student body.