by Logan Meriwether. Student Reporter
The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature is the largest and one of the oldest mock government groups in the United States.
OIL allows students from all across the state to take roles as senators, representatives, attorneys, and members of the press. They practice running a government.
Corey Shirey, a senior at Northwestern, is the governor of OIL. There are 16 universities and 186 students currently participating in OIL. Seven of those members are from NWOSU.
This is the first time in 10 years NWOSU has had this many students participate, according to Shirey. Shirey has been a member of OIL for five years, and he said he has loved every minute of it.
Shirey handles all of the logistical aspects outside of the organization’s meeting sessions. He handles all the sectional planning, and he gets hotel contracts so that the organization may reserve rooms. During the session, Shirey handles typical gubernatorial duties; he signs and vetoes legislation, gives press releases, and take interviews from reporters.
Northwestern student Jake Ervin is a senator in OIL. Some of his duties include going down to the senate floor to present and vote on bills. This is his first year in OIL. Ervin is a political science major, and legislation is what he plans to go into after attending law school.
To get students more involved, Shirey said, “Ask them what is important to them.” He said OIL needs people that are passionate about different things and ideas because the government plays a role in everything.
To join OIL in the fall semester, students can start attending meetings during August and September. Students can also sign up for the spring session, as OIL has a regular session each semester.