Catherine Hensley (OU)
Nov. 11, 2020 – The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (O.I.L.) gaveled in the first session of the 52nd legislature online, marking the start of the first all-online O.I.L. session.
The O.I.L. leadership team spent months preparing the all-online session to ensure that delegates still get the genuine O.I.L. experience. The opening-joint session on Zoom showed some hiccups at the beginning but was quickly resolved. The session started with a video and then Governor Hickey’s opening remarks.
“We can’t lose the fast-paced competitive atmosphere that brings us all back semester after semester,” Governor Hickey said.
She set a challenge for the delegates to make the most out of this online-atmosphere and applauds the perseverance students have shown through the unprecedented times. “The friendships we make here have to reflect a better dialogue that the society lacks,” Governor Hickey said. “Because we deserve it.”
She implored delegates to make a friend during the week-long session and have a good time because everyone deserves it. Her opening remarks set a hopeful, strong tone for the online-session.
Governor Hickey then introduced the first guest-speaker, President of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Jonathan Small.
Small’s main message to the delegates was to “…focus on the good that we can all do to empower each other.”
President of the Young Democrats of America Joshua Harris-Till was the second guest speaker of the session.
He delivered a speech that encouraged students to build up another person because that person could go on to do great things.
Online-session is new to O.I.L., but the O.I.L. leadership team put time and effort into ensuring that everyone is still able to participate, compete, and make new friends. Their efforts were evident, and the opening-joint session displays their hard work.