Second Annual Leadership Exchange

The second annual Leadership Exchange was held Tuesday in the Rat, bringing together students to discuss and develop leadership skills, and build relationships within different programs.

The event included representation from the Emerging Leadership Program (ELP), Mentoring Leadership Program (MLP), Freshman Academy, Freshman UGBC Senators, Shaw Leadership Program, and Sankofa Leadership Program met.

"One of the main purposes of the event was to have the students in the different leadership groups meet each other in the first semester," said Billy Banahan, MLP director and CSOM '12. "We want the freshman to really get to know what each program is about, find out what the programs do, and meet students in the other programs."

Members of the leadership programs were seated in small groups around the room. Students and mentors of different groups sat at each table. "We wanted the students to meet other leaders and talk with one another at their tables," Banahan said.

"Lots of times, [students] will hear about other leadership programs, but won't really know what they're about," said Hope Benedetti, ELP coordinator and CSOM '13. "The Leadership Exchange helps students learn about the different programs. When students are putting on events, something like BC Idol, they can ask for MLP's help ... [The Leadership Exchange] helps to create bonds within the groups and forms collective knowledge. What students learn in ELP, MLP, or in another group, they can now share with others."

The night kicked off with "Leadership Bingo." Students walked around the room, meeting and talking with other leaders, as they searched for a "vegetarian" and a "skydiver" among other bingo categories. Four students, who were the first to finish their Bingo page and run to the front of the room, won gift cards to the BC bookstore.

The evening continued with icebreakers and discussion questions led by some of the program mentors. The groups learned each other's names, discussed their leadership programs and pondered important questions such as, "what is the best super power" and "what would you do if you won the lottery." Students also discussed the skills and qualities of a good leader, and the effects of a bad leader.

"One of the main things we are trying to accomplish is student collaboration on different events," Banahan said. "We want students to not only attend events held by other groups but to actually help put some of the events together."

A continuing goal of the Leadership Exchange is to encourage cooperation and relations between members of leadership programs. Last year's Leadership Exchange was led by a speaker for the majority of the night. Students had little time to meet and talk with other leaders. This year, the directors of the event focused more on student discussions to encourage collaboration of leadership programs.

"What we were able to gain tonight, from not having a speaker, was the actual talks and discussions at the table," Banahan said. "[Students] did not just listen to a speaker about a topic. Instead, they were able to talk about topics that actually matter for each group."