Voting Last Minute? All You Need to Know this 2023 Election Season

If you’re a Howard University student, you have likely been stopped on the Yard on your way to class by a hopeful HUSA or HU Royal Court candidate vying for your vote to elect them for the 2023-2024 academic year.  

For those who have been too distracted by the food, snacks and gifts these candidates offered to remember their names or listen to their actual platform, 101 Magazine has compiled a full list of the candidates and what they are about to help you with your last-minute decision.

Candidates for 85th Miss Howard University

Anaiyah Boone-Douglas – “It’s T.I.M.E”

Boone-Douglas, a junior honors elementary education major and psychology minor from Prince George’s County, Maryland, is running on the platform “IT’S T.I.M.E,” focusing on better connectivity within the Howard community. A few of her platform points include:

Teach – Bridges the gap between underclassmen and upperclassmen, creating mentors for “baby Bison” on how to adapt to a new environment, and making connections before classes even start.

On topics like diversity and inclusion, Anaiyah wants to see Howard make a bigger and earlier push to new students to feel accepted saying that to “encourage students that Howard is such a welcoming place, instead of starting at Bison Week, this needs to start when they get their acceptance letter.”

Daisha Scott – “The Mecca Family”

A junior marketing major from Orangeburg, South Carolina, Scott’s “The Mecca Family” campaign echoes the popular “The Proud Family” cartoon. A few of her platform points are:

Opportunities that let students take control and voice their opinions by cross-collaborating and bridging together all schools in hopes to create success for one another.

When asked why students skeptical of student elections should care about voting, Scott says “Student elections are worth your time because I’m worth your time…coming in as a freshman, I didn’t have a lot of opportunities, I felt like I was literally different from the school, I felt like I didn’t belong and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way.”

Yasmin Senior – The Revival

Yasmin Senior, a junior computer science major from Long Island, New York, is running on her platform titled “The Revival” giving Howard “The Missing Heartbeat that Howard University Needs”. Her platform points include the following:

Reuniting Howard’s Culture – embracing Howard’s diverse culture, using events like “the Mecca Melting Pot” to let students share their state or national pride, expressing themselves and who they are.

Restoring Howard’s Legacy – helping students prepare for the next level when they graduate, the initiative “Bridging the Gap” connects students with alumni who work in similar fields or roles.

During campaign season, Senior hosted events, like the “Beyond Howard” panel discussion, “A Night at The Apollo” Open Mic night, and collaborated on others such as “Soul Train on the Yard” with Rejon Jones and “Walk It Like We Talk It” with Ann Laurie (Ms. COAS candidate).

Armani NaJae Washington – “How to Get Away With Truth & Service”

Armani NaJae Washington is a  Junior Honors Broadcasting Journalism Major from Chicago. Grabbing the attention using her many creative visuals promoting her platform, “How to Get Away With Truth & Service,” has three pillars: 

How to Get Away With Truth & Service – focusing on balance, Washington wants to focus on balancing the service people put in on campus while still maintaining their own truth, supporting each other and their student leaders.

Bison Anatomy – is directed toward transparency. Making sure students are able to be transparent with their emotions, their bodies, and their mental health

Veritas – pushes for more service opportunities on and off Howard’s campus. Washington says that “There is always room, time, and ways we can give back!”

Michayla “Mickey” Maxwell – “Secure Howard”

Michayla Maxwell, a.k.a Mickey is a junior broadcast journalism major from Atlanta, Georgia. Contrary to Issa Rae’s “Insecure” Mickey plans to ensure Howard students with her platform “Secure Howard” focuses on securing legacy, identity, and community.:

Secure your Seat – Holding leaders on campus (student and administrative) accountable by giving students a seat at the table with leadership.

Secure your Legacy – Make sure that Howard is an inclusive place, allowing students to get adequate resources so they can make healthy connections and graduate

Candidates for 85th Mister Howard University

Joshua Hughes

Joshua Hughes plans to unite the Howard community, creating safe spaces for students to grow together. The Mathematics major and secondary education Minor from Sicklerville, New Jersey  wants to use his platform to:

Reinvigorate and re-envision the community aspect of Howard by creating a safe space for everyone. This includes promoting mental health, positivity, and expression

Hughes says one of the reasons he ran for Mr. Howard was to “be a representation and to show the entire Howard student body you can be unapologetically yourself and continue to make your community, make your world a better place.”

Michael Jerome Wright III – “Power”

Wright is a sophomore Nursing major from Columbia, South Carolina. His platform POWER is meant to inspire students to use the power in their voice and empower the community through:

Advocacy – Students are encouraged to use advocacy events to let their voices be heard, making it possible for students to achieve access to sustainable resources

Recruitment – Outreach to high schoolers in the DC metropolitan area can build the community and rebuild the gap between Howard and schools in the area

Partnership – With the help of organizations across campus, established partnerships can help ensure students with job security after graduation

Rejon Jones – “HU, You Know”

Jones is running on the platform “HU You Know”. Encouraging every student to present elements that make Howard the Mecca with a few of  his platform points being:

Mentorship – “I Win, You Win” A campus-wide mentorship program where incoming students are paired with upperclassmen mentors. On top of that, students will simultaneously mentor high schoolers in the DC community. 

Accessibility – “Blue Table Talk” where students will directly interact with leadership teams in their respective schools, making relationships more transparent.

Jones says that “You’re the author of the change you want to see,” encouraging students to vote, let their voices be heard, and to continue building on the legacy that makes Howard such an illustrious University.

Kobe Kegler – “Be H.E.R.D”

Kegler, the junior civil engineering major from Southern Maryland wants HU students to be H.E.R.D., when change is made to the University. He hopes to restore Howard’s foundation and build upon its legacy with his platform: 

Hope – Through advocacy, inclusivity, and accessibility, Kegler’s platform hopes to bridge the gaps in the student body, creating a better relationship between admin, faculty, and staff

Elevate. – Hopes to elevate the student body so that “The Mecca is a home away from home”, Mental health, food, and housing insecurities are some of the top priorities to be acknowledged

Restore – Alumni programs and relationships can help bridge the gap between “The Old Howard” and “The New Howard.”

When asked how his term as Mr. Howard would differ from others in the past, Kegler says “it will serve as a term that is not typically looked at in the usual light of royal court. I want students to see me more as Kobe, not Kobe Mister Howard. Being authentically who I am without the crown or sash is something I strive for.”

Mahlon West – “Not All Heroes Wear Capes”

West wants to inspire students and create a better Howard experience by “revitalizing, rebuilding, and rebranding”. The Junior Health Management major from Atlanta, Georgia is running on the platform “Not All Heroes Wear Capes” :

Community – Promotes “Bison Safety” through self-defense courses, community service initiatives, a Bison Buddy mentorship program, and increased opportunities to meet with professionals in mental health all to acknowledge needs in the community.

Connection – Stress-reducing activities like meditation and yoga, a town hall with the student body and student leadership. 

West focused his campaign on connecting with Howard students through his various events that would inspire conversation. At a pop-up shop, West stated his platform is “Prioritizing students taking responsibility to be the solution to the issues we face…more open and transparent communication with our administration, and just letting people know exactly what we expect from them.”

Candidates for 63rd HUSA President and Vice President

Nia Naylor & Murphy Jones IV – “The Bison Print”

Naylor, a junior political science major from New Castle, Delaware, and her running mate Jones, a sophomore political science major from Fortworth, Texas are running under the title “The Bison Print”. A few of their platform points are:

Housing – works with Student Affairs and Residence Life to house a certain percentage of seniors on campus, negotiating discounted rates for students with off-campus apartments, and advocating for free laundry and any other essential service.

Culture – featuring “Bison Meets World” where students travel to other HBCUs to network and learn more about the greater HU community. Also featured will be mentorship programs pairing freshmen with upperclassmen and various pep rallies each semester. 

G.R.A.D Program – Expands networking opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students while also planning a retreat for them as well. 

Naylor has served on the HUSA Senate before, and was able to tout the accomplishments of the previous administration, she mentions “the drastic change that we had not only in our culture but in the way Howard is between this year and last year, now we have Spirit buses, we actually have chance, two claps and a horns up at Burr..including the micro scholarship” 

Deshawn Carter & Hugh Goffinet – “Everyone In”

Carter is a junior political science major from the Bay Area, and his running mate Goffinet is a Junior History major from New York City. Together, their slate, “Everyone In” focuses on:

Community – includes a multicultural fair to embrace diversity and provide different student organizations the chance to create relationships with each other and the student body. 

Communication – improves transparency between students and student leaders.  

Transportation – Helping off-campus students and students with disabilities get to campus easier by extending shuttle times, reintroducing U-Pass to Howard for use of the DC Metro, and imploring the University to look at more shuttles for students with disabilities.

When reflecting on why he chose to run, Deshawn Carter says that “when I realized how difficult it was to speak about Howard University without addressing its many issues…We recognize the disconnect between students and their elected leaders” 

Ka’Nedria Boldin & Hassana Balde – “For the Culture”

The last slate features Boldin a junior political science major from Pahokee Florida and Balde a junior political science major from Northern Virginia under the title “For the Culture”

“For the Culture ” presents a wide range of policies on the agenda for Boldin and Balde. Some of these initiatives include: 

“HBCU Day” celebrates and raises awareness while also making networking with HBCUs across the country easier, 

“For the Culture Week” which would celebrate diversity, showcasing cultural heritage and traditions from different countries or regions, 

Many more agenda initiatives like water bottle refill stations, sensitivity training to help ensure students feel safe and supported, or test preparation can be found on their Instagram page. 

When asked about the feasibility of their goals, Boldin responds “we believe that they are realistic because they are grounded in the needs and concerns of our student body”. When asked about the lack of equity and diversity, she says, “We understand the importance of meeting students where they are; hence why our administration will attend various meetings for organizations on campus and communicate the missions and agenda of For the Culture.”

Happy Voting Day!