St. Kate’s: Educating Women to Lead and Influence (within reason)
By Eleanor Anderson
At St. Catherine University, students are encouraged to become bold, visionary leaders. The kind who challenge systems, inspire change, and, above all, submit properly formatted publicity requests at least 13 business days in advance.
Leadership begins with visibility, which is why CdC offers students the exciting opportunity to hang posters across the most commonly used building on campus - provided those posters adhere to the university’s 14-point design rubric, avoid “unapproved tones of urgency,” and receive an official stamp from the Info Desk. Nothing says grassroots movement like a Helvetica font approved by three administrators, two students and a watermark confirming institutional enthusiasm.
“It’s empowering,” says one student. “I used to think leadership was about getting people’s attention, even if it upset some people along the way. Now I know it’s about playing by the rules and getting institutional approval.”
The administration also takes student activism seriously; so seriously, in fact, that it once implemented a temporary pause on all student protests. This bold commitment to responsible reflection allowed the university to spend over a year crafting a comprehensive policy on acceptable protest. The result is a groundbreaking framework that ensures all demonstrations remain impactful, visible, and, most importantly, pre-scheduled.
Students wishing to protest are now invited to select from a menu of approved options, including Silent Reflection Circles (with prior reservation), Stationary Sign-Holding (within designated zones), and Email-Based Advocacy (template provided). Spontaneity, while historically associated with social movements, has been thoughtfully removed for quality assurance.
“Protest is a form of leadership,” an administrator explains. “We want to make sure students graduate with the knowledge of how to be spontaneous. Responsive initiatives benefit from structure, oversight, and a clear understanding of where not to stand.”
Meanwhile, the university continues to invest in its student leaders - occasionally even reallocating space to support them. The Office for Student Leadership, once a hub of student organizing and collaboration, has recently been reassigned to accommodate a new employee who, according to internal communications, “really thrives when seated near colleagues.” The Wheel contacted this employee for comment, but they are no longer employed by the university.
Student leaders, ever adaptable, now enjoy the flexibility of leading from wherever they can find an open table. “It’s actually more realistic this way,” says a senior. “In the real world, you don’t always get a space to lead. Sometimes you have to figure out how to be effective from the corner of the library.”
Despite these minor adjustments, St. Kate’s remains steadfast in its mission. Students graduate not only with degrees, but with a deep, embodied understanding of leadership as it truly exists: guided, refined, and gently rerouted at every turn.
