Last weekend, 23 former University of South Carolina Student Body Presidents descended on Columbia for the inaugural Student Body Presidents Council Retreat.
Among other things at the three-day conference, council members interacted with current Student Body President Kenny Tracy. From relaying stories of earlier years to advising Tracy on improvements he can implement, the inaugural conference seems was constructive and informative.
The former presidents certainly deserve to be commended for their continuing interest in the well-being of their alma mater, as well as their willingness to commute, some from as far as Chicago, to make this retreat a reality.
Any time an individual in a high-pressure situation has access to and input from others who have succeeded in similar situations, positive improvements are likely to be made going forward. Similarly, though on a much larger scale, U.S. presidents often reach across party lines to seek council from their predecessors, and such input can be invaluable for future success.
Hearing from presidents who experienced extreme diversity and cultural change during their time at the university must have given Tracy a better perspective to frame future incidents he may encounter. Campus policy these days may even seem petty compared to stories from former Student Body President Jones, who witnessed the first African-American students to ever call themselves Gamecocks.