Leadership aspirations are dormant at CSC

Is leadership a lost goal among students at  Chadron State College?

Astonishingly few students out of the entire student body demonstrated their desire and enthusiasm at the recent election to serve in the capacity of student government representatives. Of the five who ran for office, four were already senators.

It appears that the majority of the college’s students are so complacent that they are not outwardly concerned with the student governing body of their college. Yet, it is the opinion of the general public that the youth of the nation attend college to prepare to be the future leaders of society. If students lack the ambition and determination to assume responsibility and demonstrate the ability to make effective use of their training while still on familiar grounds, how will they be able to meet the important problems facing them in the outside world?

Leadership is a quality learned and acquired by doing­—by active participation, not just something assumed or donned like a cloak at will. As a rule leadership and scholarship go hand in hand. Furthermore, leadership is not a mere process of dominating or captivating personalities; but a process of helping others discover their potentialities in achieving common goals of intrinsic value. One does not become a leader by merely attending college.

Real leadership strives to build sound attitudes and a concrete interest in developing a unified student body. To be the president implies assuming the burden of representing conscientiously every student on campus through the working senate. No doubt it is helpful to know the students on campus; to strive to become acquainted with the problems confronting them and to exemplify an interest in all college activities.

A speaker once said that all a genuine leader does is to combine human energies in such a way that creates a new and satisfying harmony of efforts. Then why is there no incentive among this college’s students to aspire for the qualities of leadership?

Editor’s note: Other than minor modifications, this editorial originally appeared in the May 8, 1962, issue of The Eagle newspaper.

The current editorial staff of The Eagle feel the words are still poignant today and that our campus would benefit from more students in leadership positions. Consider reaching out to others by joining Student Senate or The Eagle.