Core curriculum needs to include leadership training
COMMENTARY
Chelsea Hudson

One of the most unique qualities about TCU is the spirit of leadership that resonates on this campus. Leadership isn’t about being president of an organization or planning campus events. Being a leader has to do with the way you relate to people, how you make them feel and what you can inspire them to accomplish. Take a walk around campus at lunch and watch the way TCU students interact. For the most part, TCU students are very social and friendly. This is a spark of leadership waiting to catch fire, yet TCU students are not being challenged enough in this area.

Leadership needs to be integrated into the core curriculum. While TCU students are excellent at working and talking with others on an informal level, we need to learn how to combine our natural leadership strengths with our academic knowledge. If you listen to the various conversations of TCU students outside the classroom, we aren’t talking about challenging issues that face our nation or famous philosophers. Most students are talking about what happened Friday night. I do think social conversations are important to college life, but I also hope conversations of significance develop as well. My best friend goes to a tier-one university, and she tells me about the discussions she has with her friends. They talk about issues TCU students don’t talk about outside of their classrooms. The conversations are rich with intellectual thought, challenging beliefs and interesting ideas.

It is time for our two worlds of academics and leadership to join forces. We need leaders in the classroom and in the world. Chancellor Michael Ferrari set a goal at Convocation to encourage civic responsibility. This statement is broad and at times difficult to define, but I imagine the spirit behind these words is to integrate leadership into the curriculum.

Currently, our professors are pushed very hard and pulled in many directions. Professors have to produce a certain amount of research, teach, be active in their department and participate in University committees. On top of all that, they are strongly encouraged to participate in student programs. Not to mention that many of our faculty have families as well. It is clear that in order for civic responsibility to be a reality at TCU, additional reward for our faculty is a necessary incentive.

Currently, a group is putting their collective heads together to try and form a Model United Nations Delegation at TCU. This is an extensive process that requires collaboration, organization and courage. Many schools participate in Model U.N. programs across the country. These programs are enriching because they require that each delegation from different universities research a country and represent that country at a Model United Nations Conference. Students debate, compromise with other countries, make massive decisions related to the state of the world, face imaginary natural disasters and much more. Clearly this type of program would be enriching to our campus.

This activity is right on track with our mission statement in terms of educating ethical leaders for a global community. But in order for this program to succeed, parties involved must commit to helping and understanding one another. I hope TCU goes to a Model U.N. competition in the future and that our university and world are better off because of it.

Chelsea Hudson is a senior Political Science major from Plano, TX. She can be reached at c.n.hudson@tcu.edu.