In addition to serving their specific groups, some leaders of student organizations set an example of leadership for the entire University community.
Others do not.
“None of the presidents of the groups I belong to really do anything to promote leadership,” said Blake Murry, a history sophomore.
Murry, who did not wish to disclose which student organizations he is a member of, said most campus leaders only look out for helping themselves and — sometimes — their organizations.
Two out of the three organizations Murry belongs to are service groups, he said.
“Every now and then we’ll go out and do stuff in the community, but mostly it’s just a social gathering for us,” Murry said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen any true leaders yet.”
A leader is someone who exhibits dedication, vision, creativity and availability, said Steve Masters, director of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
The BCM attracted more than 1,200 students this semester, Masters said, and those students need individuals in leadership positions to guide them in the right direction.
“Leadership is constantly a part of who we are and what we do here,” he said. “It’s a major thing for us.”
Masters said almost 80 ministry members will display leadership by sacrificing part of their upcoming Christmas holidays to travel to New York to sing carols at fire and police stations throughout the city.
Eight BCM students travel to local hospitals one Sunday each month to visit ill children. Doing things for others is what makes a true leader, Masters said.
Leaders at the BCM are strong campus leaders because they constantly are looking for ways to help other students, he said.
Leila Mathews, an accounting sophomore, said she visited the BCM with a friend and was impressed by the organization’s student leaders.
The leaders were polite, informative and enthusiastic about the program, Mathews said.
“They obviously cared that everyone there had a good time and learned something,” she said.
Students who are involved in student organizations and have demonstrated leadership qualities are essential to the University community, said Randy Gurie, director of University special events.
Gurie is in charge of Leadership LSU, a training course for select student organization members interested in learning more about being good leaders.
“We choose [Leadership LSU] participants who are well-rounded and have demonstrated solid leadership skills,” he said.
The program helps them prepare for leaving the University and working toward their future goals, Gurie said.
While Leadership LSU aids students exiting the school, the LSU Ambassadors help incoming students prepare for entering the University.
“We try to set a good example for new students and show them how to make the transition from high school to college,” said Meryn Allen, a two-year group member and biology junior.
Allen said members of the organization lead by demonstrating the unity and spirit the University is known for.
Although the group mainly focuses on prospective and new students, Allen said it does participate in other University activities, such as Fall Fest, Glorify the Gates and the annual tree lighting ceremony.
Some students believe groups such as the Ambassadors should concentrate on leading people already enrolled at the University instead of incoming students.
The school claims it has hundreds of ways for students to get involved, but the majority of organizations are social groups, said Tara Broussard, an electrical engineering junior.
“All most of [the organizations] do is hang out and talk,” Broussard said. “They’re not interested in being good leaders for the rest of the student population.”
Broussard said if student organization leaders want to be seen as campus leaders, they first must learn how to lead their own groups.
“Before [student organization leaders] can try to be campus leaders, they need to show us that they can lead people with their same interests,” Broussard said.