Students compiled a list of list of things they would like the university to do at Star Summit.
Star Summit is an annual leadership conference hosted by student affairs. It brings together students leaders from many on-campus organizations to discuss ideas about how to be better leaders and how to improve the campus.
This year’s theme for Star summit was being an innovative leader. It was chosen to give students something new and different, said Levi Harrel, assistant director of student development.
“We want to provide students with an education that is poignant and timely and the concept of innovative leadership is just that,” Harrel said. “It’s shaking out the old and replacing it with something new that students want and that students need.”
One of the main activities during the event is for students to compile a list of things the university can improve on. Needs that were brought up this year include: better wifi, improved accuracy on the university website, a consistent housing draft process, improved parking spots, more sections of gen ed classes, and attention to environmental issues.
About 25 students participated in the event. Attendance was not as high as in past years due to it being scheduled on a Thursday afternoon, but it was expected, Harrel said.
Eric Capelle, vocal performance junior, said he learned a lot of new information from star summit, especially pertaining to the importance of innovation.
“My favorite tidbit was the simple fact that in our high speed society one cannot simply make a 10-20 year plan and call it good,” Capelle said. “In fact our school is currently creating a 3 year strategic plan because that is the current longest manageable time-frame.”
Many students saw the conference as a positive experience for not only themselves, but for their organizations.
“I learned a lot about styles of leadership and how to integrate them into the student organizations we have on campus. The speakers they had were engaging and gave me great tools to bring back to the organizations I’m apart of,” said Ashleigh Robinson, music theater sophomore.
Harrel said the event was a success.
“I think star summit is always an exciting opportunity for students across campus to come together and allow their ideas to bounce off of one another and to grow and to conflict and to build, and that’s exactly what we saw here today.”
The theme for next year’s summit is still being determined. Harrel said they love to hear from students and take their opinions and suggestions into account. Harrel can be reached at ljharrel@okcu.edu
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