Tori Schafer’s affinity for politics started early in her life in her suburban Ohio home. Schafer, a political science and journalism dual major, is now seeking to become the next MSA vice president in the 2016 special election.

As a self-described passionate leader, she wants the student body to know that she’s not doing this for the resume.

“I’m doing this because I care,” Schafer said. “Not because I’m involved with MSA leadership culture.”

Her father, a businessman, taught her to pay attention to current events and politics as she grew up. He also pushed her to get involved in the community around her. Her mother, a special education teacher, taught her to advocate for those in need. Schafer helped her in her education advocacy efforts throughout high school as the vice president of her student body.

She then continued those efforts after she came to college. She ran in the MSA at-large election her second week of freshman year and has been involved ever since. She served on the Operations committee and then as Academic Affairs chairwoman. Schafer supported the [failed library fee proposal](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2015/11/18/mu-students-fail-library-fee/) as the Academic Affairs chairwoman, which was turned down last fall.

Schafer said she’s not sure who approached who first with the idea of running for MSA. It was rather a combined decision. They did not plan on running in the special election after MSA president and vice president-elects Haden Gomez and Chris Hanner stepped down. However, after seeing the way their fellow senators reacted to the stress of the situation, they decided to run.

“Seeing everyone hurt through that was the moment where we were like, yes, we’re doing this,” Schafer said.

Outside of MSA, Schafer is a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. Her roommates have found her to be easy-going, though they don’t see her much. They believe her caring nature will make her a good leader.

“Tori cares about everyone,” roommate Alicia Smith said. “She’s just one of the easiest people to talk to. She’s a very dedicated person too.”

Schafer thinks her optimism and ability to communicate are her best qualities as a leader. She tries to emulate her favorite leader, Maya Angelou, in that regard.

“I think that having the ability to make peace with your voice is a powerful thing,” Schafer said.

_Edited by Waverly Colville | wcolville@themaneater.com_