One Singular Model?

I feel that having a singular model for leadership in a culturally pluralistic environment is not possible. First of all, it is hard to comprehend having one model of leadership. There are many different versions of what it means to be a leader. A leader can be as little as speaking up in a group in class. Or, a leader could be as big as stepping up to the plate and being a leader during a huge disaster (ex. 9/11). Therefore, it is hard to have one set of black and white guidelines of what it means to be a leader when there are so many gray areas.
Also, leadership in the 21st century includes living in a culturally pluralistic environment. This type of environment requires individuals to be flexible, and to be able to adapt to the innumerable changes that occur throughout cultures at all times. All cultures are incredibly different, and have completely different norms. Therefore what may be a leader in our culture could be the opposite for someone else’s culture. In order to know how to be a leader for another culture, it would take a great deal of research to understand what is “typical” for that specific culture. This can be done, but I feel it is impossible to have one leadership style for the many cultures of our world today.

If I retook the SLPI today, I feel that many aspects of it would not change. If anything were to change it would be the section for encouraging the heart. This is because this was my weakest section, and I have since put more thought about this into my leadership style. Some plans and goals I have for future leadership endeavors include, being more encouraging to my fellow group members, rather than assuming they feel encouraged on which ever task we are trying to accomplish.
When thinking about the SLPI I noticed that I was not the only one to score low on encouraging the heart, two of my friends who took this also scored low on this section. This made me wonder why this could be, and if this was the weakest component, what was the strongest component? So, I looked up some information on this, and what I found was an article called Leadership Practices and Effectiveness among Greek Student Leaders. Within there college aged population, they found that the SLPI scores showed that the women believed they had the most leadership skill in Enabling Others to Act and the least amount in Challenging the Process.
This gave me a little bit of insight as to what was the norm for college aged women. Also, this information showed me that encouraging the heart was not the strongest among college aged women, and therefore makes me want to further improve this quality.

The Leader

I usually lead by being the organizer. At first, I am not one to take charge of a group. I like to see how a group thinks, works, and performs together. After this, I then organize the main ideas of the group, and from there delegate a way to accomplish a certain task. I enjoy leading a group when I know my skills, and the skills of my fellow team members meet the task that needs to be accomplished. The only time I feel I am not namely the leader of the group is when I know my abilities will not be of use in a certain situation. In these types of situations I do not just walk away, however I do not “step up to the plate” to try to lead the group. However, when these situations occur I try to figure out who in the group seems like they know the most about the task at hand. If this takes place, then I try to encourage that person to inform and lead the group to a possible accomplishment.

I feel as though someone can’t be a leader all of the time. One can encompass leadership qualities at all times, but I feel that it is unrealistic to be the “main” leader in every group and leadership situation. Sometimes it is important to be the one being lead. Every experience helps one grow, and you never know the one experience in which you are not the leader, could possibly help you be the leader in the future.

2008 Election

One thing I haven’t thought about until now is the upcoming 2008 election and higher education. I have lightly listened to the debates and thought about who I would possibly vote for, but never on the basis of higher education. The only progress I made was sticking to the democrats and listening to their stances. However, now that I think about this it is ironic, since higher education is currently all I eat, breathe, and sleep.

After doing a little research it seems as though college students appear to be unanimously in favor of Barack Obama. This was found out by surveys that were conducted earlier this month by researchers at Quinnipiac University.They found that Democratic voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania more likely to favor Obama over Clinton if they have a college degree. So I had to ask why…

What I found was that the candidates have been appearing before large college campus audiences, and repeatedly telling them of their plans to help boost student financial aid. Also, Obama has proposed an annual tax credit worth $4,000 to cover the costs of tuition and fees. Thus upping Clinton’s suggested figure of $3,500. However, her campaign advisors complain that Obama has been stealing their ideas.

Also, Clinton’s daughter, Chelsea, has said to be bidding the price of campus support even higher. An appearance at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, showed that Chelsea Clinton had reportedly told students that her mother planned to “double” the value of the Pell Grant, which is the main federal subsidy for low-income students. The maximum Pell Grant is currently $4,731. However, Clinton’s own web site speaks only of a plan to increase its value, without making a specific commitment on size.

I feel like through all these debate issues both candidates seem just to be trying to “up” each other. Overall, Barack seems to be winning over the college crowds. Personally, I feel these two candidates generally seem to have the same thoughts. However, no one will know if they are telling the truth until one takes office and holds true to their word.

Sarkis U

If I were to create a university from the ground up it would be a wonderful place to learn. Let me start off with the basics, it would be a relatively small liberal arts school (small class size with excellent professors), with a beautiful clean atmosphere. My university would not discriminate on any level when students applied to it. Also, like Chatham it would be a SAT optional school, where ones whole portfolio from high school would be taken into account in order to be accepted. It would be a peaceful environment in which students could coexist in.

A few key things would help in achieving my vision. The first would be dinning services that did not shut down until 3 am. Also, there would be many options of food from different ethnic backgrounds offered. Structurally, there would be two main academic buildings, a library, a gymnasium/fitness center (with an outdoor pool), three cafeterias, a post office/bookstore, a ½ Starbucks & ½ burgers bagel shop, heated side walks in the winter, a pond, tons of trees, many (hidden parking lots possibly one large yet tasteful looking parking garage), and last but not least wide roads.

Each building would be painted in soothing colors with a modern Victorian architecture. On the inside of the buildings the walls would be painted bold and vibrant colors. Also, the school colors would be the spectrum of the rainbow. There would be no smoking in or near the campus buildings. Since my campus would be completely flat, it would not be hard for one to walk away from a building to smoke.

Resident Assistant ... not Super Woman

Unrealistic Expectations happen to RA’s all of the time. A Resident Advisor is not super woman. They will not be able to solve all of your problems, or always be on duty. An RA simply does the best they can with the situations that are given to them. Residents need to understand that they are among many other residents, that have just as many issues, and that the Resident Advisor can only do the best they can with the time they are given.

Many times when students first come to college they are unsure of everything. Anything from what clothes to wear for the Gateway Clipper party to how to register for classes, or even if they have made the right choice of college. Often times they rely on their RA to be there for them and their issues. But the truth in the matter is an RA can only do so much.

Yes, RA’s are able to talk things out with students, or to help GUIDE a student in the right direction, so they themselves can eventually solve their problems. However, it is unreasonable for a resident to think that their RA is perfect or on duty all of the time. RA’s will not have all the answers to res-life, family, friends, and educational problems, but they will try their hardest to steer a student in the right direction (whether that be to another RA, GRD or even a counseling service on campus)… which is a true quality of a leader.

15 Minute Leader

I think that a leader is someone who can be trusted in difficult times. Leadership isn’t always smooth sailing, there is going to be times where people or ideas bump heads, and a leader is well prepared for these times to occur.

A leader is someone who is independent, but takes everyone’s opinions into account. A leader should know how to take hold of a situation with their independence, but should gather a group consensus. A leader is someone who cares about the people they are leading (looks at them as human beings). Without others ideas and input, power struggles will occur.

A leader is someone who takes charge of situations. They are not afraid to speak up for what is right. They are motivated and can organize and pull a situation/project together.

A leader is someone cares about a job being done correctly. They can execute a plan by seeing all the possible outcomes and choosing the best way to accomplish a task.

A leader is strong. They know their limitations and are willing to work on them (they know they are not perfect). They have been able to learn from the past and are motivated for the future.

A leader is someone who is approachable. They are someone you should feel as though you are able to talk and give your opinion to.

A leader is intelligent. They understand that they do not know everything, and will continue to learn new things everyday. They make rational, educated choices to get tasks accomplished.