In an effort to teach students about integrity, accountability and leadership, Partners in Learning is sponsoring the Character Summit, an event that will be held tomorrow in Sturm Hall from 7-9 p.m.
Corey Ciocchetti, professor in the Department of Business Ethics and Legal Studies at the Daniels College of Business, is the keynote speaker and plans to focus on the importance of not making excuses in one’s life.
The theme of the event is “chasing authentic success,” a concept based on Ciocchetti’s book, Real Rabbits: Chasing an Authentic Life.
Following his speech, six breakout sessions led by various faculty and staff members will be held in several rooms in Sturm Hall.
Karen Bensen, director of Partners in Learning, said she and Ciocchetti organized this event to offer students the opportunity to learn about the importance of character, a concept that is not necessarily taught in the classroom.
“It’s crucial that we turn out a group of graduates from this university who do have that integrity and are going to lead our country and our world with a lot of character that will lead them to make good decisions,” Bensen said.
She said this is an especially important topic in light of today’s problems, especially because of the current financial crisis.
“Decisions that were made weren’t necessarily ones that were made with a lot of integrity on the part of the financial institutions,” Bensen said.
Bensen said she expects as many as 200 people to attend the event.
Lisa Ingarfield, program director of the Office of Gender Violence Education and Support, said, “This summit can help students think about different ways to build and exhibit character.”
Ingarfield added, “Often times integrity or character is framed in such a limited way that students can feel trapped or stuck with no clear direction of how to demonstrate integrity or really understand what character means.”
Ingarfield is leading the breakout session titled, “Raising the Bar: Responding to Interpersonal Violence.”
This discussion will give students information about what they can do to stand up against or intervene in a situation that could lead to something negative.
“If students are unable to reflect on their experiences in any meaningful way, then authenticity can sometimes feel out of reach. Being a leader is much more than the dominant definition of a CEO or political leader.
“I think authentic success is tied to an expansion of the definition of leadership and the creation of space where honesty can prevail and authentic and real relationships are fostered,” Ingarfield said.
The event is free, open to all students and no RSVP is required.
