Seeing as how I have three semesters left at the McConnell Center (four if you include this one), my weak math skills tell me I have eight blog posts left. That being said, this blog post and my next one will be the first two of eight installments of the McCenter Top 10 Lists.
8. Profanity - This one is simple. I know we're all college students and we might use profanity every now and then in real life, but in the presence of a major speaker, the profanity should turn off.
In the spirit of preparation for our Major Speaker for the Spring, I find it appropriate for the first topic to be:
Top 10 Things to Avoid Around our Major Speakers:
10. Inappropriate Dress - This should go without saying, but if the Senator is nice enough to bring in the Secretary of State or the Speaker of the House, then please put on a suit. If you're not in business attire, then it's almost insulting.
9. Exhaustion - Oftentimes, our events are early in the morning. Make sure you aren't up all night studying or partying the night before. We are adults. If we show up to an event exhausted from lack of sleep, it looks bad on us all.
Top 10 Things to Avoid Around our Major Speakers:
10. Inappropriate Dress - This should go without saying, but if the Senator is nice enough to bring in the Secretary of State or the Speaker of the House, then please put on a suit. If you're not in business attire, then it's almost insulting.
9. Exhaustion - Oftentimes, our events are early in the morning. Make sure you aren't up all night studying or partying the night before. We are adults. If we show up to an event exhausted from lack of sleep, it looks bad on us all.
8. Profanity - This one is simple. I know we're all college students and we might use profanity every now and then in real life, but in the presence of a major speaker, the profanity should turn off.
7. Pointed Questions - Sure, we don't always agree with everything our major speakers say. I would bet money that Eric Kiser was boiling over with liberal rage at most of what John Boehner was saying. However we feel about a major speaker or his/her political views, we cannot allow our questions to seem too...pointed. If you have a genuine interest in the topic, ask the question, but don't be accusatory. Remember, those guys in the suits with the wires are allowed to hurt you.
6. Misinformed Questions - Just as bad as the pointed question is the misinformed question. Oftentimes when asking a question, we give an introduction to give the question a little background. That being said, PLEASE do not assert anything that is incorrect. Do a little research before showing up to the event. Read the Wikipedia article on them. Something. Jeez.
5. Dumb Questions - Remember in high school when your teachers told you "There's no such thing as a dumb question?" That's bull. A dumb question is even worse than a pointed, misinformed question. We have one of the top leaders of our country here to speak to our small group in a very candid session. Ask about their views on a current event, ask about their heroes, ask about how they balance work with family, but PLEASE do not ask a goofy interview-style question. I don't need to know what kind of pie Joe Biden would be (Pecan, btw).
4. Apathy - If you can sit in the same room as the Secretary of State, the Vice President, or any of our other major speakers and not be thrilled and engaged, you're a spoiled brat. Okay, that's a little harsh, but if you can come to one of these amazing opportunities and complain about how it's too early or you have better things to do, then please, please grow up and recognize what you're being handed.
3. Bad Handshakes - If you get the opportunity to shake our esteemed speaker's hand, please do so in the proper manner. If you don't know how to properly shake hands, it's fine. Be firm; make eye contact. DO NOT be a dead fish, but DO NOT give the death grip. If you need a handshake workshop, I'll make Dr. Gregg schedule one.
2. Unprofessional Behavior - Not only are we representing the McConnell Center in our small-group setting, we also represent the Center at the public event. That being said, we are usually seated closer to the speaker (as we were at the Boehner event) and, because of this, are in the public eye. Please behave like adults...at least in front of everyone.
1. Your Phone - I understand that as members of the Dumbest Generation, we all have crippling addictions to our respective cell phones. However, don't you think that maybe "omg party 2nite at mii hous" can wait until the VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA leaves? I think if you're caught texting at a major speaker event, you should be forced to read your text out loud in front of the group, like in high school. That might be dangerous, though...I feel like Joe Biden might actually have been interested in the party...
And so ends our first edition of The McCenter Top 10. There will be two of these a semester, put out...really whenever I feel like it.
Have a wonderful break, everyone!
Have a wonderful break, everyone!
With McLove,
Max Morley