Every fall for the past few years the USM has hosted a “Learn to Lead” conference at USM. Planned by the Leadership Development Board, a committee of involved students and university staff, the conference is designed to bring together students and faculty for workshops and lectures focused on leadership and civic engagement.
Historically, the LDB has seen about 90 people sign up with an additional 20-30 people showing up at the door, said Chris O’Connor, co-chair of the LBD and Assistant to the Dean of Student Life. Last fall’s Learn to Lead conference was all set to go-but never happened.
A lack of interest this year forced the LDB to make the hard decision to cancel. Only about 10 people signed up for the conference, a number not worth the amount of time and energy used to create the event. The LDB still isn’t quite sure what went wrong this year, but marketing and student involvement may have been the problem.
“Last graduation we lost a lot of involved students. The LBD has become primarily staff. Overly involved people are spreading themselves too thin. It’s been a hard year,” said senior Emily Fitch, chair of the Student Senate.
But this spring the group hopes things will be different. Currently in production mode is a “Summit for Change” conference called Change ’08. The summit will offer a chance for students to air their concerns about USM and the university’s future. But it will be more than just a chance to complain: students will also be given the opportunity to create plans to improve USM.
The LBD is working hard to involve important university offices and figures. They hope to gain the support of the administration and faculty as well as the diverse student groups on campus. The group wants students to know that their voices and plans will be heard and taken seriously.
“Events can’t just come off as something extra, they have to come off as something beneficial.” said O’Connor.
The group’s biggest goal, though, is to get student groups talking with one another. “There is a definite disconnect in the student community,” said O’Connor. The LDB hopes to draw from all departments of the university. By bridging the gaps between communities the the LDB and Change ’08 seeks to create a more unified student body that will generate an environment of responsibility and organized change.
The summit will take place on the Gorham Campus on February 29. More information is forthcoming from the LDB.