Journalist: Heba Saleh (TU)
Rebekah Williams is a delegate in the House of Representatives from Northwestern Oklahoma State University. This is her four-star session, and earlier today she presented her sex education bill, bringing it back from one of her previous sessions as it is a topic she is passionate about.
She recently became the delegation chair of NWOSU, finding out that she was nominated for the position a week before her university was set to begin. In her position, she has taken a more hands-off approach in comparison to her predecessor, Ash Crites who is now retired from the House. For instance, Williams did not force her delegates to bring legislation so that her delegates could participate in session without having the extra stress of having to present a bill. She adds, however, that one of her delegates did bring a bill, and she is excited to see it presented.
Williams is the lone NWOSU delegate in the House. Her three other delegates are currently serving in the Senate, two of them being 0-stars.
When asked what keeps her coming back to O.I.L, she said the community, adding that she has made many important connections in O.I.L. She also appreciates the constant reminder O.I.L brings that not everything is as black and white as she may think it is. Caucusing with her fellow representatives and hearing their perspectives on issues that seem evidently one way or the other to her are aspects of O.I.L that she appreciates deeply.
She further noted that, in hearing the perspectives of others, she recognizes that there is no “us versus them” and no “I’m right and they’re wrong.” O.I.L reminds her that difference in policy does not mean demonizing one group or the other; it does not mean, as she states, “that these people are terrible — I should never be around them.” Coming to session is her way of yanking herself back from falling into that line of thinking and refreshing her perspective.