We’ve Only Just Begun

Students are back on Bison Hill, and so are events. Last semester, OBU [Oklahoma Baptist University] adjusted their events to make them CDC guideline friendly and most importantly safe for students. The basic parameters for these events were as follows: everyone has to wear a mask, everyone has to be socially distanced, and no food or drinks are allowed to be dispersed unless they are pre-packaged. Even with all the new guidelines and inevitable setbacks, OBU clubs persevered. UCS [University Concert Series] hosted multiple Open Mic Nights, Trivia Nights, and even an “It’s Over-Fest” at the end of the semester. They partnered with Theta Sigma Chi, Kappa Phi Beta, Betta Gamma Theta, Omega Chi Delta, Lambda Chi Lambda, Student Government Association, and multiple off-campus businesses to put together a night full of activity and music. Ending on such a full night of events, clubs came back to campus unaware of what their fate was this semester.

On Saturday, February 6, 2021, campus leaders all congregated to talk about this next semester. This meeting was organized, “due to the repeal of the ineffective Club Council, the SGA Executive Branch partnered with the Campus Life office to create a more effective system of communication,” said Student Body President Gavin Yoesting who was also in attendance at the meeting.

When asked about any future meetings with all of the club leaders Yoesting responded, “ [A] Club Leadership Retreat will happen each fall semester to welcome future leaders to campus and show them how to host events, store documents, and request funds from SGA. After talking to current leaders, our Executive Branch noticed that many do not know how to fill out an event form, how to request advertising or funds from SGA, or how to pass along important documents to future club successors.” The Student Government Association has focused on creating better communication for all club leaders. Their end goal is to make the possibility of better events by creating better communication and future partnering.

“We [SGA] took this opportunity to create a yearly event to educate and inform the student body of resources that are necessary for a club to function. We also hosted key figures such as Professor Scot Loyd, President Heath Thomas, and First Lady Jill Thomas to encourage us and provide tips for the upcoming semester,” said Yoesting. Dr. Thomas was candid with the organization’s leaders, and he gave them the opportunity to ask any questions about OBU’s plan for this semester. It is not often that the club leaders are able to talk with President Thomas, but this meeting was able to bridge a gap between student and administration that was sorely missing

With the foundation being laid for better events Yoesting looked to the future, “In the future, we hope to host a yearly celebration of club leaders to show the progress they have achieved on Bison Hill. in an effort to help other club leaders know each other so they can partner together to make events more successful.” This club council meeting was new and it worked like a charm. Clubs leaders all introduced themselves to the group as a whole and were able to discuss with each other during breaks. The Head of Events Joseph Ross commented on the future of events.

“I can’t say anything right now. But, we should have some fun stuff coming up... [the events] we’re [SGA] brewing in the factory right now are pretty good, [a] pretty good event idea.” With the verbal hope of great future events, students now must wait to see if these beginning measures will prove fruitful in the future.