Blair Martin
The “Oh So Fine Class of ‘29” has taken its first significant steps toward leadership on Spelman’s campus. Spelman hosted its annual First-Year Class Council poster rush, where the first-year class gathered around waiting for the clock to strike midnight to officially begin campaigning for the election season. The energy and posters were equally high.
The poster rush is one of the first steps the Class of ‘29 takes on campus, but it is so much deeper than that. Spelman’s poster rush represents the first establishment of the first-year class claiming their space on campus. More than just leadership, it is the first step toward community and fellowship. The next class leaders step into their destiny and earn their place. Candidates must connect with their classmates and build a bond. The young women are ready to continue the legacy and tradition of Spelman.
“I’m happy it’s up. It is a Spelman tradition, honestly. It’s a little chaotic and hectic … I love the Oh So Fine Class of ’29. I’m so excited. There’s so much potential in just knowing that we are 650 out of 11,000 students chosen to be here,” Amira Pinket, a Class of ‘29 candidate, said.
Running for council as a freshman is more than just campaigning; it is building the foundation for the Class of ‘29. The potential they have carried for so long is finally ready to break free. These candidates are stepping up to the plate, knowing they were chosen to fulfill the legacy left behind by the women who came before them. Spelman’s rich and long tradition of leadership and sisterhood is coming to fruition.
“Honestly, I felt a little bit nervous. I was telling all of my friends, wide stance, wide stance, but then, honestly, nobody really put it up in the section I had it in, so I’m happy,” Dominique Ray, a Class of ’29 candidate, said.
For some, the pressure of tradition caused nerves. Regardless of nerves or possibilities, this class is ready to soar. Taking a leap of faith in their new home is like a baby bird leaving the nest. The leap is both symbolic and part of Spelman’s legacy. It takes an immense amount of courage, but there is comfort in knowing many freshmen have taken the same leap of faith and landed firmly on the ground. They are keeping their heads high and their stances wider.
“Ooh, I am excited for Campaign Week. I’m ready to help my roommate. She’s running for president,” Marlee Washington, a Class of ’29 student, said.
It is about the connections that form along the way, connecting to classmates and the broader Spelman campus, creating a name and a team, and finding your people on a personal level. These are the ones you meet who are along for the journey, no matter how bumpy the ride. The process creates lifelong bonds. It is more than helping your friend put up posters; it is about showing up when someone needs you.
Message to the “Oh So Fine Class of ‘29”
Class of ’29, your time is now. The “Oh So Fine Class of ‘29” is here to light the way. You are no longer just imagining Spelman and its opportunities, you are living it. The poster rush is only the beginning of what is to come on your journey. No matter the challenge, you have proven you are truly one of one. The new wave of changemakers is officially here. It is not just about campaigning or winning. First-Year Class Council is about setting the pace for the rest of the journey at Spelman, building a bond that lasts far beyond the gates of the institution.