On Friday, Sept. 27, Michigan State University welcomed a group of Ohio State University students to campus. These students serve as leaders in organizations similar to MSU’s Council of Racial and Ethnic Studies (CORES), Residence Halls Association (RHA) and Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) for a leadership exchange.  

During their visit, they connected with various student groups, toured the campus and attended the MSU vs. Ohio State football game. This collaboration between two Big Ten schools provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and showcase what it means to be a Spartan.  

“Student leadership exchanges are important for MSU students to learn techniques that are different than what we teach and facilitate,” said Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Leadership and Dean of Students Allyn Shaw, Ph.D. “MSU students will learn from OSU students, and they will learn from us.”

A Day of Connection and Collaboration

Upon traveling to East Lansing, the group gathered for a welcome breakfast at the MSU Union, hosted by Dr. Shaw and the Assistant Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Genyne Royal, Ph.D. Afterward, they visited the Beaumont Tower for a tour led by the honorary Tower Guard.

The group then headed over to Brody Hall for lunch and several breakout sessions. These discussions brought together MSU and OSU student leaders from various organizations, including student governments, Fraternity and Sorority Life councils, the Black Student Association (BSA) and sustainability groups. These sessions allowed the students to exchange ideas on leadership, campus engagement and student affairs.

Touring Campus and Engaging with MSU Leaders

In the afternoon, the group toured the under-construction Multicultural Center and enjoyed ice cream from the MSU Dairy Store. They later met with Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement Vennie Gore at the Student Services Building, where they participated in roundtable discussions with representatives from ASMSU, the Center for Community Engaged Learning, MSU Vote and WDBM Impact, MSU’s campus radio station.

The day wrapped up with a guided campus tour by Tammye Coles and Lance Sharp from the Office of Spartan Experiences, followed by dinner at Beggar’s Banquet. The evening included optional activities, such as attending a movie or a symphony at the Wharton Center.

Wrapping Up with Spartan Tradition

On Saturday, some OSU students explored Lansing, either attending a local Powwow or visiting the state capitol. The afternoon continued with a Council of Graduate Students (COGS) tailgate before the group joined the traditional march to Spartan Stadium with the MSU Band. The leadership exchange concluded with the highly anticipated MSU vs. OSU football game, marking the end of a memorable weekend of collaboration between the two Big Ten universities.

“Networking is critically important as the world is ever smaller, and this lets our students meet other Big Ten students as they may end up working together in the future,” said Dr. Shaw. “This leadership exchange was a great opportunity to make an impact.”