Silhouette

Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: News

Media Credit: Julian Ortiz As part of learning how pop culture affects communities, the Leadership Conference attendees visited the Clutter family´s grave site as well as the family´s home in Holcomb, Kan.

Media Credit: Julian Ortiz Phi Theta Kappa members from 14 colleges across the state attended the leadership conference. Attendees had an opportunity to view the Clutter´s former home, site of the Nov. 14, 1959 murders.

Members of the state collegiate academic honor society had a chance to refine their skills during the Phi Theta Kappa State Leadership Conference Saturday, Sept. 18.

"Leadership is a vital part of our campus life," Justin Kash, PTK vice president of leadership, said. "This leadership conference applied to me as much as anyone."

GCCC welcomed more than 100 PTK members from 14 colleges throughout the state as host of the conference. Kash said the conference is an important part of the education process and enhances students' abilities to be better leaders.

Highlights of the two-day conference included mock meetings consisting of situations that allowed participants to practice leadership skills. PTK members are conducting pop culture case studies and how incidents affect communities. As part of their studies, attendees studied the Clutter murders. Friday evening attendees listened to presentations by GCCC instructors Mark and Marla Jarmer before and after the viewing of the original 1968 movie, "In Cold Blood". Mark Jarmer presented slides from the Holcomb crime scene. John Sanders, GCCC psychology instructor, discussed the motives the killers must have had to commit the crime and how it drastically impacted the local community.

"As a group we wanted to be respectful to the situation because these were real people who were well known in the community," said Karen Gustavson, director of the teaching & learning center.

Aside from conducting case studies and having a leadership conference, PTK members throughout the sate helped collect personal hygiene items for hurricane victims in Florida. PTK chapters conducted the drive by emailing their respective campuses and asking for donations. Approximately $250 worth of items were collected.

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