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Queens of Slippery Rock Oral History Project
Interview of Tori Hill conducted by Anna Swartwout and Brenna Waugaman

A: Okay so we are here with Tori Hill. My name's Anna Swartwout.
T: Hello.
B: My name's Brenna Waugaman.
A: And we doing an interview for the Queens of Slippery Rock Oral History Project. So, can you begin
with your name, major, minors, and your hometown
T: My name is Tori Hill and I'm a psychology major with a minor in leadership. My hometown is
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Did I leave anything out?
A: Nope, that's good. The next one is activities. I was jumping ship already. Can you tell us what activities
you're in, like what you do around campus, just different stuff like that?
T: Definitely. Well I'm currently involved in Black Action Society, if you ladies heard of it, also the student
union for multicultural affairs or SUMA for short. I'm the secretary for both of those positions and it
does get a little confusing with the minutes and everything like that, distributing the minutes, but
basically, we just promote diversity on the campus of Slippery Rock University. So, I'm also an
admissions pride guide at Slippery Rock admissions, so I'm a tour guide, and stuff like that.
A: That's fun.
T: Pretty hectic schedule.
A: I'm sure. Before we start with the real questions about homecoming queen, what does being a
homecoming queen mean to you?
T: That's a good question. I was actually thinking about this this morning. I feel like being a homecoming
queen is representing for all the other girls on campus and people in general on the Slippery Rock
University campus so I know that the whole process of homecoming was a little stressful because of
campaigning and stuff like that and being able to reach all students so I mean it's like a popularity
contest – I don't like to say that – but it kind of is. But, being homecoming queen to me means that the
students see something in me, they elected me to be homecoming queen, so I'm very grateful for that
position.
A: What made you decide to run? Were you involved in high school or was it something that a club
brought up to you?
T: It's interesting because BAS or Black Action Society they had – we were actually looking for people to
actually run from BAS and they were like "well, Tori, you run" I'm like "oh no, oh no, this is all you guys."
Anybody in the general body who wants to run can run. So I had no intentions of running at all but they
had elected me to run and I was like alright, I'll wing it, I'll see if it goes, I'll see how it goes, if it works, I
win – we'll see.

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A: That's nice though, that they thought so highly of you.
T: Definitely. No intention of running at all, but
A: That's awesome. Can you tell us a little about your campaign? Did you run with a partner or did you
just run solo?
T: I ran with a partner, Jordan Bennet (SP???), who is a communication major I believe so, I ran with him
and he was actually representing his fraternity which was Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity incorporated, so we
ran together in hopes of actually homecoming court so we actually did make homecoming court so it
was really cool. He's a good guy.
A: Awesome. How did social media come into play with your campaigning?
T: Social media is a huge platform, for anybody, everybody knows that so social media for this campaign
specifically – we took advantage of it. I didn't really much of the physical flyers in buildings or student
center. I did more or less social media campaigning. It turned out really well. Like I said it's a huge
platform to use so I took advantage of it and just out our flyers out there.
A: Did you use like Twitter and Instagram and stuff?
T: Oh yeah.
A: Or did you guys do—I know that some people sent out surveys about homecoming – did you guys do
that route or did you stay pretty much with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and stuff like that?
T: Yeah, more like the major social media platforms so like Twitter, we utilized Instagram a lot, Facebook
not as much but we threw it in the class of 2018 Facebook page – we threw the flyer in there a couple
times. I was surprised to see how many people it reached from social media because I see a lot of
people who campaigned with flyers in buildings, like physical flyers, but we just did social media.
A: Definitely a good tactic.
T: Definitely.
A: What was the hardest part of running?
T: I would say the hardest part of running would be – I know I had a lot of friends who were actually
running for homecoming queen as well so it was a little competitive. Me, myself, I don't like competition
so it's like I'm all about friendly – being friendly—and peace and all that. I don't like competition or
anything. I would say that was hardest part for me was having those friends who were running and I did
feel that competition arise and I didn't like that at all. But I still pushed forward. Some of us are still
friends to this day.
A: That's good. Nobody took it too hard. Before the election, what did you think your chances were?
Especially because you didn't have any plans for running – did you think you had a good chance or did
you think "eh?"
T: Honestly it was mixed feelings because I didn't know if I would make court, but at the same time I was
like I've been pretty involved, I try my best to be involved and stuff like that, so hopefully I can make

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court but I really didn't expect it to be like homecoming queen – you know what I mean? I made court –
but queen? I did not expect that. Not at all.
A: That's awesome. Did you encounter any stigma around the idea of running for homecoming queen?
And, by who, if you did?
T: Well, are you saying more or less – did I encounter any like judgements?
A: Yes – because whenever you hear the term homecoming queen, sometimes people think like "oh it's
the popular girl who doesn't really care about anything but herself," and then they look at people like
you who have won and they see how much you're interested and that you want to be involved, so I'm
wondering if before they got to know you they didn't want anything to do with that or were negative
towards you.
T: I think when I went into the whole homecoming process I wanted to remain humble. I've always
remained humble and I try to remain humble so I would hope – I'm pretty sure people had their
opinions of me when I was running for homecoming queen like "Oh, she's stuck up" yada yada yada,
because not to mention I won Prom Queen in high school so it's this big thing. A lot of people from high
school were like "oh you're an overachiever I see". It's not only that, it's something that is fun that
people pushed me to do so I went ahead and did it. Like I said, the outcome was not expected but like I
said I just try to remain humble going in and coming out.
A: Once you were elected, you won prom queen so people had stuff to say about that, so what else
were people talking about after you won?
T: A lot of people were questioning as to whether I was actually involved or if I was just saying that. Is
she just saying that to have like a [Incoherent at approx. 7:03], give her a rap sheet or whatever. I don't
know how I could stress that to other people that I'm actually involved in these organizations: secretary
for BAS, SUMA, pride guide. May not be a long, long list but I do try to remain involved.
A: You do your best.
T: I do my best. You know, you don't want to just have that title and not be seen out and about doing
different things for the community and stuff like that. I've always been big on volunteering so it goes
hand in hand.
A: Definitely. Destroying the stigma.
T: Definitely. I agree.
A: Were there any anonymous criticisms that you guys got, maybe on any social media that you put out,
or just anything like that? I know that kind of goes along with that you didn't too much stigma but [was]
there anything anonymous you guys had to deal with?
T: I try not to pay attention to social media a lot, a lot of the negative comments and stuff like that. I'm
pretty sure they were out there, especially being that I was the first African-American homecoming
queen so I know a lot of people have their different opinions and I try not to pay attention to that,
because I know that would bring me down, so I just didn't really pay attention to any negative
comments. There were some people who actually removed my flyer and everything from different social
media platforms and stuff like that. I just try not to pay attention to that because I know they're trying

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to derail me from focusing on the competition. At that that moment it was like okay, I'm in this, people
elected me to run for homecoming queen. So, I'm going to make sure that I run and that I run positively,
that I run without having any type of – I don’t know – run without being so malicious, you know what I
mean? I don't want to be malicious while running for this whole thing so I don't make a bad name for
myself. I just tried to remain positive through the whole thing.
A: Definitely a good tactic. Why do you think you won? Do you have any ideas, details or anything,
possibilities?
T: That's so interesting you asked. I was just thinking about this this morning. But now that I think about
it, looking back on it months later, I honestly just -- it's going back to the first couple of questions that I
stated that people just see in me that I can go out and do this and still remain humble. Like I said I'm not
one to brag about being homecoming queen. You can ask a lot of people who I'm involved with, who I'm
friends with, I rarely brag about this -- being homecoming queen. My crown is at home like on my
refrigerator stand. I don't bring it out unless like someone asks me to. I don't feel the need to, you know
what I mean. Yeah, so it's like, I don't know. Did I answer your question? I'm sorry.
A: Yeah, no, that's great. Do you think that being African-American and being the first African-American
queen – obviously that’s a major step for Slippery Rock – what does that mean to you and to your clubs
and societies? How did that affect everybody?
T: I know they were super excited. I know the president of BAS, he like ran a lap around the football
stadium when thy announced my name so I know they were really proud. I have younger sisters also so I
try to be that role model, be that positive role model, and not saying that I wasn't before but I know that
being homecoming queen has elevated me in a way. I was able to use my platform and encourage other
girls, especially on this campus as it’s a predominately white institution. I wanted to encourage other
girls and men also to strive for what you know you can get. Reach your goals and stuff like that, because
I'm all about that. All about getting what you want.
A: It's a great influence, especially because you do so much with the community and with the university
itself that that was what showed, rather than some of the stigma behind the mainly white campus.
What did your family think of your victory? Your sisters – were they really excited?
T: Super excited. I know my mom was on Facebook live and she was like at the hair shop getting her hair
done and she was like "My baby just won homecoming queen!" And I was like oh my gosh. She was in
the chair and everything, getting her hair done. It was definitely a triumphant feeling because I felt like I
accomplished something. Homecoming queen is not everything to me. It's a really nice thing to have
behind your name. It shows you're involved. I was really excited. I hope that my family was excited too.
Hopefully they were, I'm pretty sure they were.
A: I'm sure they were thrilled. Especially your sisters.
T: Especially my sisters. That's who I do it for. My little sisters are my everything so I hope I encouraged
them.
A: I definitely think you would have.
T: Oh, thank you.

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A: Have your life changed since then? I know you have said multiple times that this is a big part of your
life but you don't make it – you don't shove it in people's faces – so have things changed for you
throughout it though?
T: I would say so, yeah. I've been given a lot of opportunities to go and help out other people – not that I
didn't do it before – but just being able to do the different duties and stuff like that. I know for
requirements for homecoming queen is volunteer hours so I did a lot of volunteer work and it allowed
me to actually connect with others. Back at home in community – back in Pittsburgh – I went to a lot of
churches and on Christmas day I went to a soup kitchen and I volunteered there. I really feel connected
to those people and see how good I have it. I was able to really -- I don't know – it took me back. I am
happy – I didn't need to have the homecoming queen to define me, because you know, I've been one
before, but it definitely helped me seeing more.
A: It gave you another opportunity to get out there and do things.
T: Definitely. It was really cool and actually tomorrow I'm hosting the Rising Star awards along with the
homecoming king, John.
A: That's awesome.
T: Yep. We're just trying to influence other people and get more females, specifically African American
girls, to go out and run for homecoming queen and do what you want to do. Run for positions in student
government association, run for things here and there, don't be afraid to do what you want to do. Did I
answer your question?
A: Definitely. We just kind of keep going back and forth. It's great. We know that you'll be here next
semester with homecoming so you'll be able to talk to the new queen, but do you plan on coming back
for [homecomings] after you graduate?
T: Oh yeah. Definitely. I will be back. That's one of the joys of being a student at Slippery Rock. They
make you feel so welcome here. I know I have tons of friends who graduated last semester and they're
already back, going to different events and stuff. I will definitely be back. I might pursue grad school
here so we'll see how it goes.
A: So, you might just stay here.
T: I might just stay here. We'll see.
A: Would you come back if there was a ceremony honoring homecoming queens during the
homecoming queen weekend? Or, homecoming weekend.
T: Most definitely because it would be interesting to actually meet previous homecoming queens. I
know I've met Kaci Vandergrift who won homecoming queen last year so it'd be interesting to see other
queens from previous years.
A: I know next homecoming I'm going to be in the archives office and we're going to have a bunch of
stuff up for other homecoming queens to come back to like look at the different stuff.
T: That's cool.
A: So, that'll be a fun time.

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T: I'll be there.
A: Did this – obviously it has positively influenced your college experience – has it negatively influenced
it at all?
T: I would say no because from that day in October to now it's nothing but positive vibes from all my
friends and everything. A lot of support from a lot of people. A lot of my friends still call me Queen Tori.
It's like please don’t call me that. It's not that I’m embarrassed. I would never say I'm embarrassed. I
don't know, I'm a little shy. Being humble is something that is really important to me and I had people
who were like "Ah, queen Tori" and like bowing down to me. I'm just like please do not do that. It just
directs all the attention onto me and I'm just like oh no please no. I'm a little shy person. It's been a
positive run from October to months afterwards. IT's been really positive. I've loved everything about it.
A: From everything you've said, it seems very positive.
T: Definitely. SO much support from everybody.
A: Do you think it will have effects after college?
T: I guess I could say yeah, about how you said about coming back for different events for homecoming
queen so I guess in that aspect. As far as everything else, I don't really think so. I'm not going to go to my
job or when I apply for a job be like "well I was homecoming queen so you should hire me." I don't think
that it will really go that far but it is nice to be recognized and to have that moment in the archives so
that other students can go back and see it. I'm a part of history and I love it.
A: You are a part of history.
T: It's been fun.
A: Do you have any questions?. . .Thank you for coming in today.
T: Thank you for having me.
A: We appreciate it.
B: Yeah, thank you so much.
T: No problem.