On Saturday student leaders across campus will gather in the Old Union Hall at this year’s Student Association sponsored leadership conference: Leaders Engaging and Developing (LEAD). LEAD marks a departure from the previously-held SA Getaway, the conference notoriously criticized for being expensive and exclusive of student groups.

‘The SA Leadership Conference is being held on campus this year because I felt that we are able to hold a successful event without going away,’ said Joe Danko, executive vice president of the SA, who is running the event. ‘We’ll now save a lot of money and be able to accommodate more attendees. Student groups were not involved in the past but can now send as many members as they’d like.’

The number of people who could attend last year’s event was limited because of the higher cost, so there was virtually no student group representation, according to SA President David Bass, who attended the conference.

By holding it on campus this year, the event organizers aim for lower costs and increased attendance because the event will now be open to more groups.

Another change introduced this year, which event organizers hope will raise campus participation, is the difference in the time commitment required between this year’s conference and last year’s Getaway ‘ which was a weekend-long event.

‘I’m really looking forward to going and seeing more people there,’ said Hinman College President Polina Yeliseyev, who plans to attend the event. ‘The fact that it’s on campus means it’ll attract a lot more people, as it’s only a day long and it’ll no longer be necessary to devote a whole weekend to going away.’

According to Danko, LEAD is programmed to foster interaction between the three governmental groups on campus ‘ the community governments, the student assembly and the student groups.

‘This interaction will help each group better understand how they can work together throughout the year and inspire others to get involved as well,’ he said.

Following an opening ceremony, students will break off into sections depending on their individual interests.

Each unit of groups will participate in different workshops. Participants will also be entered into raffles with prizes ranging from gift cards for Moe’s, Wal-Mart and other popular stores, to the grand prize, an Xbox 360. Attendees will also be treated to a complimentary lunch.

The ceremony is slated to end with a speech from keynote speaker Pradeep Kapadia, the founder of Kapadia Energy Services, an energy engineering firm specializing in energy conservation and energy management.

Kapadia came to America in 1972 as a foreign exchange student from India and decided to stay after earning a degree from Tufts. He is set to speak about the leadership experience he has had by running his company, which designs buildings that manage energy in a responsible and efficient way.

The next day the Binghamton Students for Students International Gala ‘ a charity program taking place on Sunday designed to raise money for students to attend school in developing countries ‘ will also host Kapadia as a speaker.

The SA asks students to show up and stay as long as they can, as planners say it will be both a fun and valuable learning experience for everyone.