By Endya Gillard
The Xavier University Student Government Association (SGA) kicked off a donation drive on Sept. 7 to support students and residents impacted by the Jackson, Miss. water crisis. The student government said their efforts were specifically geared to support fellow historically Black universities and colleges: Tougaloo College and Jackson State University by donating water, hygienic supplies, snacks, cleaning supplies, and other necessities. These two historically black colleges, along with the rest of the state’s capital have been without water for more than two weeks leaving 150,000 residents under challenging constraints.
The SGA planned this donation drive to show the importance of community care, and some of the members said they were compelled to act because of the neglect of residents of that city.
“The water crisis in Jackson has made me realize that the government does not take certain urban cities in America seriously. Their way of treating Jackson is similar to the way they [were] treating Katrina. It is just really hard to see,” said Adam Washington, Mr. Junior, who is a business management major from Shreveport, La.
The members of the SGA are also partnering with Xavier’s Red Cross club and Xavier’s Public Health club to collect as many donations as possible.
“It quickly became an overall campus initiative. The Alphas started their own drive, and we did not have to force or beg people to help,” said Adrian Thornton, a senior who is the vice president of the SGA. “Just knowing that we are building a connection with other HBCUs is encouraging us that in the future we are going to be good, and we are going to have each other’s back, and it just reflects how the student body comes together to make things happen,” Thornton said.
The organization’s members said they were excited to see students come together and that they were impressed with the response and student initiative on campus to the crisis in a neighboring state. Thornton mentioned the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity started a water drive. In addition, many other organizations have started a water drive, for example, The Women of Xavier.
“The junior class had great appearance numbers for the water drive, and it was so nice seeing all of the classes come together to support another HBCU,” said Terrol Perkins, the junior class president, who is a political science major from New Orleans.
The SGA is still accepting donations until Sept. 14 in the University Center for students if who are interested in donating to the Jackson HBCUs.
“I wanted to donate water because I thought that was the best way to show my contribution and love for service,” said Izaiah Jackson, a junior, business management major from Dallas, Texas.