Danny Becker
Every session of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (O.I.L.), delegates from across the State of Oklahoma venture to the State Capitol to write and debate policy, report on the happenings of session, and make a case to the Supreme Court. I’ve prepared a list of the top five O.I.L. essentials (essential O.I.L.s? O.I.L.ssentials? There’s definitely a joke to be made there. Interpret it as you will.) every delegate needs to help them get through the week.
- Water Bottle
While the recommended amount of water to be consumed daily varies greatly from individual to individual, most should drink four to six cups every day. With all of the caucusing, questioning, and debating that delegates engage in while at session, surely we need even more than that. Thank you to the Lieutenant Governor for providing all delegates with this survival item!
2. Comfy Pair of Business Professional Shoes
At session, the days are long, and we’re moving around a lot! For this reason, comfy business professional shoes are a must. The possibilities of what you can accomplish at session are endless when you feel as good as you look.
3. Laptop/Tablet
As we approach the third decade of the 21st Century, technology is becoming deeply ingrained in all that we do, and O.I.L. is no exception. A laptop or tablet is extremely helpful in keeping up with legislation and researching relevant information about the topic. It’s also great for a brain break!
4. Placard
If you come to session and don’t have a placard, “good luck Charlie,” as protagonist Teddy Duncan of the Disney tv show “Good Luck Charlie” would say. Without a placard, you can’t make a motion or be recognized for a question. It’s also important so those around you and in leadership can learn your name, which is the first step of forming those critical connections for which O.I.L. is known
5. SNACKS
If there is one item on this list that deserves to be written in all-caps, it is definitely SNACKS. I cannot stress enough how important SNACKS are. As previously mentioned, the days at session are long, but somehow the time between meals feels even longer. SNACKS are what get you through those long spans of time and keep you motioning, debating, and caucusing at full speed. Personally, I recommend fruit snacks and Cheez-Its.