Becca Yanez (OU)
Spring session is typically the most emotional session due to the large amount of seniors that graduate and leave the organization. Tulsa University’s delegation chair and founding member of the House LGBTQ caucus Representative Maggie Giovannetti is feeling especially emotional. Giovannetti is a nine-star delegate with a passion for bill writing and bill presenting. She was introduced to O.I.L. through a peer she met while touring Tulsa University. She along with other delegates in TU leadership have worked endlessly to build TU’s delegation up.
“It brings me so much joy to help other people, and legislation writing helped me decide what I want to do with my life and I want other people to see what this organization can be like, so I love helping them get into it,” Giovannetti said.
However, this session is quite different from previous sessions. This is not only Giovannetti’s last session ever, but it is also the second virtual session this year. Giovannetti reflects on her time in O.I.L. virtually, including the struggles and triumphs faced. Specifically, Giovannetti wishes she could meet the people in person she met in the session of fall 2020. Giovannetti recalls caucusing in person, and talked about the importance it had towards making legislative amendments. Upon being asked, Giovannetti revealed that her favorite bill was in fact her first bill she ever took to O.I.L.
“High school was difficult for me because I was in a bad relationship, and writing that bill was my introduction to how writing policy can be an escape for me,” Giovannetti said.
Giovannetti recalls the passion of the debate around her legislation as a critical moment for her as a zero-star delegate. When asked about her favorite memory in the house chamber, Giovannetti said it was when her zero- star delegate was asked to be a supreme court justice for O.I.L. Giovannetti explained that O.I.L. has held a unique place in her heart and parting ways from the organization will be difficult, Giovannetti mentioned her disappointment for the inability to meet other delegates in person and that recruitment was stunted as a result of COVID.
Giovannetti expressed her gratitude towards TU leadership and every competitor.
“I am so proud of how far we have come. We started very small, we had no structure, and my delegates have stepped into these leadership roles,” Giovannetti said. “They showed me I didn’t have to do this alone and (they) have grown into such capable leaders”
The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature proudly sends off its seniors, including Maggie Giovannetti.
