OSU hosting Big 12 Leadership Conference

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Oklahoma State University will host the Big 12 Leadership Conference for the first time in six years. Student government leaders from schools throughout the Conference will attend the Nov. 16-19 event and discuss issues facing college students.

Ashley Peebles, chairwoman of the OSU Student Government Association committee that organized the event, is confident the conference will be a productive forum.

“OSU’s Student Union is a big draw! Our campus is really welcoming, and we have an extremely friendly student body,” Peebles said. “I have no doubt all the student government representatives will be able to provide constructive solutions to problems facing students in the Big 12 while enjoying everything Stillwater has to offer.”

Peebles said the OSU students who planned the conference have organized it to allow visiting student representatives to conduct sessions of their design. Texas Tech students will present a program about student fees and fee advisory committees, and University of Texas representatives will offer a session regarding Big 12 federal regulations and how student governments can interact with Congress. Students from the University of Kansas and University of Oklahoma also are presenting sessions.

“This is going to be a great opportunity to find common ground with the different schools in the Big 12,” Peebles said. “One issue I look forward to discussing is the possibility of creating a program that offers students a safe ride home.”

“Our current Safe Ride program is almost nonexistent. We want as many ideas as possible and to receive input from other schools.”

The OSU SGA Speaker’s Board, which brings noted speakers to the Stillwater campus several times during the academic year, has scheduled an event to coincide with the conference. Former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh will speak on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Wes Watkins Center. Nigh’s speech, which is accessible to students, is also open to the public.

OSU Student Affairs Vice President Lee Bird will offer a session about First Amendment theory, while Kent Sampson, director of OSU Campus Life, will present on situational leadership. OSU graduate student Adam Cantley will present a seminar on alcohol awareness.

Other planned events highlight Stillwater and the state. In addition to campus and local landmarks such as Eskimo Joe’s and Hideaway Pizza, conference participants also will travel to Oklahoma City.

“On Saturday, we are visiting Oklahoma City to watch members of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature go through the legislative process, and we are also going to Bricktown,” Peebles said. “We want the out-of-state representatives to experience Oklahoma. Our state is growing socially and economically, and we take pride in that.”