By Jovana Poljasevic
A founding member of Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislation Joe Dorman opened the Second Session of the Forty-Eighth Legislature of OIL and spoke to future representatives and delegates. There is nothing more exciting and encouraging to new delegates than hearing someone that was sitting in the same seat many years ago, doing the same thing as many delegates are doing now.
Joe Dorman served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing the 65th electoral district. While he was a member of OIL many years ago, he had an opportunity to meet a lot of new individuals that later became some of his best friends.
“Joe Dorman was a beneficial speaker for the group,” Senator Reagan Tifft said. “While I can’t say I agree with most of his ideas, seeing someone who was once in our shoes and is now much further down the road helps me to see value in the effort we are putting in this week and the ways it will prepare us for the future.”
During his speech, Dorman tried to encourage all zero stars and other delegates to take this mock legislature seriously and understand the meaning behind it. He shared his experience with OIL along with his opinion on why this session is really important. One of the main points was to not allow diversity in political opinion ruin your friendship, especially with the election being so close.
“The most incredible thing about representative Joe Dorman is his history with OIL,” OIL Governor Preston Shatwell said. “He is not just an inspirational politician, he represents OIL.”
He believes that the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislation has a mission as an organization to influence and make the OIL organization, along with state of Oklahoma and our nation great. Representative Dorman encouraged each member to join the fight and enjoy the session, participate and make a mark that is going to keep this session moving forward.