In 2022, PLC 61 members Caden Glasscock and Cyrus Mortazavi had the opportunity to study abroad together in Italy through PLC. During this trip across the pond, Glasscock and Mortazavi decided they wanted to run for SGA President and Vice President together.
Cyrus recalls a day in Italy when he and Caden began chatting about their love for OU while riding the bus to the next destination. Over 5,000 miles away from Norman, OK, the two bonded over their affection for the University of Oklahoma. As they reflected on their freshman year experience, the conversation evolved into how they wanted to improve the university. They began brainstorming ways they could implement impactful change, and over the next year, they developed their platform. In October 2023, Caden and Cyrus initiated the official campaigning process for Student Government Association President and Vice President.
“My favorite part of the campaign was visiting different student organizations and hearing their diverse concerns,” Caden said. “The support we received from our OU community strengthened our campaign.”
Caden and Cyrus’s platform, “BLOOM,” comprised five points they believed would help bring about the changes they wished to see at the university. BLOOM stands for: Bridging the gap, Leading us into the SEC, Optimizing Student Resources, OUr traditions, and Making your voices heard.
“My primary goal is ensuring student voices are heard,” Cyrus said. “As a first-generation college student myself, I understand how challenging navigating college life can be. Representing the students and advocating for them is crucial to me.”
The campaign process lasted three weeks - during this time, Caden and Cyrus spoke with various student organizations about their platform and listened to student concerns.
“Engaging with other organizations and learning from others was one of the highlights of the campaign,” Cyrus said. “OU is incredibly diverse, and being able to hear different perspectives and learn from them was an eye-opening experience.”
In addition to meeting through PLC, Caden and Cyrus also met their campaign team during their freshman year. Both reflect on how impactful their PLC experience was during their time at OU.
“My Vice President, Campaign Manager, Director of Communications, and Brand Manager were all friends I met through PLC. Through my freshman year in PLC, I made numerous connections and friendships that will last a lifetime,” said Caden. “PLC provided me with the confidence to engage in leadership organizations on campus. Without PLC, I wouldn’t have felt prepared to pursue this position.”
About President's Leadership Class
In 1961, the President's Leadership Class (PLC) was created to keep outstanding Oklahoma high school students in state for college. PLC has become one of the most recognized freshman leadership programs in the nation. For more information visit ou.edu/plc.
