Contact: State Rep. Joe Dorman
Capitol: (405) 557-7305

OKLAHOMA CITY (November 5, 2009) – This week former Gov. George Nigh addressed members of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, speaking on the need for public service, and presided over the group’s joint session, providing the students an invaluable insider’s take on the legislative process.

"Even as young adults, there is a place for everyone in public service," Nigh said. "I want young people to know they don’t have to wait for many years to become involved. Now is the time to be involved, and Oklahoma has traditionally been a place where young leaders have been given opportunity."

Nigh noted that when he was elected lieutenant governor in 1958, he was the youngest person serving in that office nationally and then-Gov. James Howard Edmondson was the nation’s youngest governor. Gov. Brad Henry was also the nation’s youngest governor at the time of his election.

The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature was launched in 1968 when then-Lt. Gov. Nigh met with student leaders to organize the group. Today, OIL is the longest consecutively running mock legislature for college students in the nation.

"It is only right that the man who helped launch the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature be a keynote speaker at this year’s session," said state Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs. "Having begun his political career while a young man, Governor Nigh knows from experience that young people can make a difference and he continues to share that message."

This year’s session began with Nigh’s address on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and runs through Sunday, Nov.8.

"It’s extremely inspiring to hear from the individual who had the tenacity to both envision OIL and bring it to fruition," said Colten Barnaby, speaker of the House of Representatives for the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. "The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature continues to have an impact far beyond Governor Nigh’s time in office and it is exciting to see that he remains involved and willing to come back and inspire the latest generation of students."

This is the second session of the 41st Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature. The group meets once per college semester.

The Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature is a student-run mock government that replicates all three branches of the state government of Oklahoma. The group provides students from institutions of higher learning across the state an opportunity to write, debate, and pass legislation. It is a non-partisan educational organization structured to teach the students the process by doing it themselves in the simulation at the State Capitol.

Students at this year’s session also heard from Dorman, who spoke about the history of OIL and public service, as well as current House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa.

"I was involved in OIL during my college years and developed an appreciation for the legislative process that led me to eventually run for office myself," Dorman said. "We’ve had thousands of college students go through this organization in the past 41 years and many remain active in public service."

Dorman noted that alumni of the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature include current Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Oklahoma City), former Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor (D-Claremore), state Sen. Jay Paul Gumm (D-Durant), state Rep. Dan Sullivan (R-Tulsa), state Rep. Wes Hilliard (D-Sulphur), state Rep. Jason Nelson (R-Oklahoma City), state Rep. John Trebilcock (R-Broken Arrow), former state Rep. Opio Toure (D-Oklahoma City), former state Rep. John Smaligo (R-Owasso), former state Rep. Clay Pope (D-Loyal), and former Attorney General Mike Turpen.

In addition to participating in the mock legislature, students were also involved in a service project, cleaning trash on Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City.