By Alyssa Sperrazza
The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature’s (OIL) Second Session of the Forty-Seventh Legislature is kicking off the 2015 fall session. With many bills being presented and long hours at the Capitol, OIL is making time for delegates to have some fun.
Delegates have come from all over the state to represent their university in the House and Senate chambers, Moot Court and or the journalism program. Aside from working and gaining experience, OIL is providing some fun ways for the delegates to get to know one another outside of the Capitol.
“It does offer really great networking opportunities for the delegates,” said Governor Jacob Murphy. “Especially when you’re put into teams, you get to know each other a little better. You’re not in the professional setting that you are at the Capitol so you’re able to get to know everyone on a more personal level.”
OIL Attorney General, Britany Burris, discussed the benefits of having fun activities in the midst of the busy schedule.
“It helps with the bonding,” said Burris. “Delegates get together, they have fun, they bond, they have inside jokes and then they work better together in chambers the next day.”
With all the activities, delegates will have a lot of time to build relationships this week that could grow to last after the competition is over.
Last night was the annual mixer, giving delegates time to meet everyone.
“We try to do the mixer every single semester,” said Murphy. “Usually in the spring there’s a mixer/candidate forum where delegates are able to ask questions about platforms and such. But for the fall it’s mainly just a get-together where people have fun and food.”
Thursday will be a full workday for delegates but their day won’t end at the Capitol.
“It will be a scavenger hunt [happening in Bricktown],” said Murphy, “There’s going to be some prizes that you get as well as part of the scavenger hunt that’s happening on Saturday. On Friday, we’re going to Dave & Busters. Saturday we’re going to go to the zoo in the morning cause we don’t have chambers in the morning. And there will be a scavenger hunt that ties into the scavenger hunt for Thursday.”
Attorney General Burris discussed one of the events that she’s particularly excited for.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m really excited about the zoo,” said Burris.
With the extra activities alongside the experience OIL gives the delegates, Governor Murphy talked about his hopes for this session.
“I’m hoping that each delegate has a real memorable experience,” said Murphy. “I hope that whenever the delegate is in chambers, or whenever they’re in the journalism program or even in Moot Court, that hey get to make each competition more of their own.”