The Shorthorn - Registration begins for Shadow a Leader Week

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Registration begins for Shadow a Leader Week

Written by Johnathan Silver, The Shorthorn senior staff

Monday, 01 February 2010 08:22 PM

Organizational communication senior Kent Long is the current Student Congress President (The Shorthorn: File Photo)

Students interested in getting a behind-the-scenes look at campus leadership can sign up for a chance to follow student leaders for an entire week.

During Shadow a Student Leader Week, up to two students will follow a student leader to their meetings, stay with them during office hours and be with them at general body meetings.

Some student leaders that can be shadowed come from the Freshmen Leaders On Campus, UTA Ambassadors and EXCEL Campus Activities.

Registration began Monday and lasts until Wednesday, Feb. 10. All interested students may sign up. Students start shadowing Feb. 15.

Loretta Pequeño-Griffin, Leadership Center assistant director, wanted to shift the traditional Bring Your Child to Work Day into something that could highlight student leadership.

“When you go to meetings, you don’t know the preparation that went on prior to the meeting,” she said. “It’s a good idea to know about everything that takes place, when it comes to running an organization.”

Students have the whole week to attend at least two required meetings with their student leaders. This helps students understand the time commitment to leadership positions, Pequeño-Griffin said.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You learn about yourself, you make new friends and it’s learning a set of skills that will assist students in future endeavors.”

Student Congress President Kent Long signed up to be shadowed.

How to sign up

Contact Leadership Center assistant director Loretta Pequeño-Griffin at
817-272-9220 or e-mail her at lgriffin@uta.edu

Deadline – Wednesday, Feb. 10

In 2006, he shadowed the SC parliamentarian Holly Lortie. The experience exposed the commitment and structure that a student leader’s job entails, he said.

“It really led me to where I am today,” he said. “It gave me appreciation for that organization right off the bat.”

Students shadowing Long will see him preside over SC meetings, participate in executive board meetings and attend other meetings he’s committed to.

Long said that he doesn’t necessarily want future Kent Longs out of his shadows, but hopes they decide to participate in student government.

Freshmen Leaders on Campus President Jeff Hazelrigs, an undeclared freshman, said he’s interested in shadowing another student leader. The newly sworn-in SC senator said the experience will help him as he advances to future leadership positions on campus.

“A lot of people on campus, particularly freshmen, want to get involved but don’t know how or where to do it,” he said. “By shadowing a student leader, they’re going to know what it means to be a leader.”

At the end of the week, the center will host a reception for participants to voice their experiences.
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