Welcome to Women in Politics: College Edition, where promising women leaders in student government on college and university campuses across the country will be featured on msnbc.com over the course of the year. Morgan Moore has been nominated by Lane College as a leader making a difference not only through key issues on campus, but in bridging the gender gap in politics.
As part of a new series at msnbc, “Women of 2014,” these hand-selected women become part of a larger discussion of women candidates and women’s issues on a national level. “Women of 2014” is a home for all women in politics – notably those in some of the year’s most pivotal races – with newsmaker interviews, profiles, photos, a Twitter trail following more than 35 candidates, and deep dives into the key conversations.
From the Ivy Leagues to the Big Ten to liberal arts colleges and beyond, young women are making a difference across the country – meet them here!
Name: Morgan Moore
School: Lane College
Concentration: Religion
Role in student government: SGA President
Dream job: Youth Counselor
Class year: 2015
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What is your biggest challenge as a leader on campus?
My biggest challenge as a leader on campus honestly, as any true leader may say, is being the example you want to see. Going to class, being in the library after hours, participating in the on campus activities making sure all organizations feel supported, as well as participating in social events. The hardest challenge can be daily not wanting to let people down and having to lead even when it is hard, and to stay on track when it feels like no one is following you.
When I came to college the Lord said to me, “if you lead they will follow.” Since then it has been my responsibility to do what I know is right, not because I want recognition, but because character is not judged if people see you do good works, rather what are you doing when they don’t see you. “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” —Lao Tzu
Also as a leader it can be hard to delegate because I know the vision that I want to see. I would much rather steal away to get the job done, and know that it is being done right or even know that it is being done. With that method I have found that can be very difficult to do everything myself and that is why I have board members, and committees to be helping hands.
Which female leaders do you draw inspiration from?
Since coming to Lane College I have come to appreciate the women that are in my everyday life who are too are phenomenal like Dr. Maya Angelou. Recognizing that in almost every era throughout history that women were not taught as their male counterparts seeing women such as the women in my family and the women on my campus strive for greatness, I am inspired every day to do my best.
When I saw on social media, which has now become the news outlet of our generation, that Dr. Maya Angelou had passed away, I almost cried sitting in a meeting. I came home and expressed to my mother how badly I wanted to meet her. Never had I ever been touched by a celebrities death to where I was taken back so. I hear replaying over my head where I quoted her in my introduction for the Miss. UNCF-Lane College Pageant (I won that pageant by the way!). At the end of my introduction I said so confidently “Profound words, from a phenomenal woman, I too am a phenomenal woman, and I am your contestant number three.” Though I may not have believed every word of that quote, or that I too was phenomenal at the time, but because I heard those words spoken by a woman that wasn’t raised in the most favorable conditions, and saw her strive to become every bit of phenomenal throughout her life, I have no choice but to believe that if I am not phenomenal today, I will be tomorrow. She not only was a part of history but she made history, and though it is 2014 I am striving to be 1st at more than one thing.
What comes to mind first when you think about important moments in history?
The most important moment in history, I would have to say would be the civil right movement. I say this because at the end of this movement no man would be bound by law, if they are a US citizen to be treated unfairly. Through this movement we saw a group of Americans stand up behind leaders of that day to fight for what they believe in. I emphasize Americans, because those who fought and died for equality of theirs fellow Americans saw no race they saw injustice, were the three assassins saw no race they saw strong leaders fighting for a just cause. Though the fight for equality still continues in everyday life to get over stereotypes from every point of view, the Civil Rights Movement showed that people with the same agenda can make a difference.
What do you think should be President Obama’s No. 1 priority?
I believe Obama’s No. 1 priority should be to focus on boosting the moral of our youth. Where we see violence and hardship taking over our youth I see a lack of discipline. It has been brought up many times that we need to focus on the education of our youth., focusing on teaching our children math, science and technology, but what good is it going to do to teach our youth those subjects if they have no discipline and morals behind it. To put it plain I feel we will have a lot of smart juveniles on our hands. I find it very disturbing that a common family show now-a-days is “Beyond Scared Straight,” whereas when my generation was growing up we saw “The Cosby Show,” and/or “Boy Meets World,” that showed what family should look like. Those shows showed discipline and morals being taught from the youngest child to the oldest. If a Cosby or Matthews child skipped school, or wrecked the car that there would be consequences. Today, we see children not being disciplined from a young age creating reckless teenagers and then adults. Though I do understand that circumstances across the nation range as to why we have issues in our youth but I can vouch to say that discipline has not hurt anyone but helped all those I know. Teaching a child discipline not only helps them in the real world but in the classroom as well.
If you could have one snack at the movie theater, it would be ...
I honestly don’t eat snacks at the movies because they cost too much, and I’m, a bit frugal. But you can never go wrong with popcorn!!!
Check out last week’s female leader at Arizona State University
To nominate an exceptional undergraduate female leader in student government please email Anna Brand at Anna.Brand@nbcuni.com