by Paige McQueen
If you see a lonesome figure lurking in the corner with an awed gaze, chances are they are apart of the elite group of zero-star delegation members. With Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature at its largest, zero-stars are numerous and easy to find.
Giving these zero-stars better tools to prepare them for OIL was a hot topic brought up during the candidate forum for Senate. Both Cainan Balagia of Oral Roberts University and Quincy Metcalf of Oklahoma State University advocated providing zero-stars with the tools necessary to fully equip them for OIL.
As a zero-star with no experience (the only politics I’m ever involved in usually has something to do with who’s going to take the trash out) my perspective is a little different.
For the most part, every time I tapped a fellow zero-star on the shoulder to ask a question or get an opinion, they answered with a surprising amount of understanding and information.
These zero-stars may indeed be solitarily standing in the background for the most part, but they know more than you might initially think.
“Walking into OIL was a little intimidating, specifically the executive team,” said Amelia Faulkner of Oral Roberts University of being a zero-star. “Everyone knew on another and it was a little intimidating, but I felt more prepared on the House of Representative side and we were able to do more than just talk.”
If confidence is a key to being successful in OIL, then the majority of zero-stars look as if they could take over the world, or at least the capitol. But as they old adage goes, fake it ‘till you make it.
“I feel a little bit nervous just because everyone knows what they’re doing and I don’t, but I have experience with student government and feel fairly confident in OSU’s preparation,” said zero-star and senate member Briar Lostlen. “Committee has gone really well so far and is a really good building block for me.”
First-timers in both the House and in Senate seem fairly prepared and fully committed to their causes, and to improving the world one bill at a time. So my question is this: why is focusing on preparing zero-stars for OIL so chief among the topics discussed?
If they only way to truly learn is to dive in, then perhaps us zero-stars have all the preparation necessary to succeed. Perhaps its time for the Senate to focus on something a little more prevalent to OIL. Perhaps it’s time to talk about the stuff that really matters. Topics such as having free coffee and snacks after session.