The new freshman class is a diverse group. Now in college, they have the ability to rise to the occasion and take hold of their education. For some, this is more than classroom learning. Eight freshmen have won the class elections and have become the 2025-26 freshman class senators and president. The senators include Trinity Sylvester, Rory Hansen, Elizabeth Linker, Ruby Farley, Anhtam Pham, Maddie Rosato, Caroline Black and Margaret Randolph. These students are eager to represent their fellow classmates in the senate. Gracia Misha Johnson ’29, an international business major from the Chicago area has been elected the freshman class president this year.
Johnson wants to work to improve the communication between the student body and the administration.
“A lot of issues [the] students are having [are they] just don’t know where the resources are. So, I guess communication [is] the biggest issue that I’m seeing.” Johnson added, “I would love to just like show people and like make it more accessible to have those ways of communication with like the higher ups.”
Coming from a family where both of her parents have been involved in the law, Johnson views her position as a way to make change happen. “I grew up in the legal field, I guess. My mom is a judge, and my dad was a state attorney [and] a state prosecutor before he became a pastor.”
All of the Senators have lofty goals ranging from improving public safety, increasing school spirit and communication between administration and the student body and even improving water quality.
“We’re recently trying to reach out for more public safety around campus so that everyone can be more motivated during the school year,” said Linker ’29.
“I feel like [in high school] I was really passionate about, like, a school spirit that’s something that I hope to bring to Dickinson, like an overall sense of comradery, not just within Dickinson, but also the Carlisle community,” said Pham ’29.
Besides specific goals, the new senators are eager to make change for the school with peers that are motivated to voice their opinions. “I think it’s so nice to have a place where people are passionate about making a change and just thinking of ways to do so,” said Pham.
While most of the new members have had experience with high school student government, most felt as if they can make more meaningful change here at Dickinson.
“I did student government in high school all four years, but it was not necessarily to this, I guess, extent. Like, we didn’t do as much back then. So I’m really excited now that I get an opportunity to have more of a voice and more of an opinion in college,” said Black
“I wanted to join a student senate here, because well, I’m in college now and I wanted to make a difference in a school that I decided to go to. In high school, I wasn’t super impressed in student government,” said Farley ’29.
The 2025 freshman class senators are all ready to hear from the student body. All Senators and the President are happy to receive emails or DMs and would be happy to see students engaging with the student senate by reaching out or showing up to the student senate meetings.
“Don’t be afraid to come talk to us if [you] have anything that [you] want. Just come to our meetings that happen weekly, sit in for a Senate meeting, or follow the Instagram page. Just interact with us,” said Sylvester ’29.
The new members are all willing to help and want to support the student body, especially the freshman class.
“There’s definitely not a single student that is alone with anything that they’re going through at Dickinson,” said Rosato ’29. “There’s always going to be somebody that can help you through a tough time by just simply relating to you and there are so many people at the consent that I’m sure are all going through the same things and don’t even know it and think that they’re like alone.”
“Your education is super important, having this opportunity to go to college is super important. This is a time when, like, you’re learning to live on your own, you’re learning to be independent, and meet new people. Cherish the time that you have in college and make the best of it,” said Randolph ’29.
