Students from dozens of campus groups gathered Sept. 2 for a mini-retreat designed to help them “Live the Maroon Life” as leaders at Elon.
Sponsored by the Center for Leadership, the half-day afternoon program on the second floor of McCoy Commons introduced 100 student leaders to the “Maroon Life” campaign launched this summer by Elon Athletics.
The group heard from several top campus administrators, including Smith Jackson, dean of students and vice president of student life; Provost Steven House; George Johnson, dean of Elon University School of Law; Alison Morrison-Shetlar, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; Rex Waters, associate dean of students; Greg Zaiser, dean of admissions; and Nancy Midgette, a professor of history.
The program started at 3:30 p.m. Following a short welcome, students headed to the parking lot in the Oaks residential complex for team-building exercises. Back inside by 4:15, Jackson shared with students the opportunities available to them for advancing the university by meeting goals outlined in the Elon Commitment strategic plan. He cited ways to meet goals related to diversity and global engagement, alumni engagement and athletics.
“The best organizations are the ones looking to the future and have a plan to get there,” Jackson said. “And that’s who others will follow, leaders who have a plan and have a passion for that plan.”
Other activities included a presentation by Whitney Gregory, Elon University’s director of the Office of Student Conduct. Gregory led the assembled student organization leaders through exercises that helped them identify four stages of “bystander behavior” and how to effectively intervene in situations that require a leader to take a stand.