Leadership honorary Omicron Delta Kappa will host the second-annual closed-door event for seniors and faculty Feb. 4, featuring a mystery professor as its speaker. 

“We want to have a space where students can engage in an honest and authentic way with faculty about questions concerning life, life in general, but also the work of the college,” senior and ODK president Erik Teder said. “We think that students who are seniors, who have spent by this point, pretty much four years here, are best equipped to engage in those sort of conversations in a proactive way.”

The event will follow the Chatham House Rule, which allows attendees to speak about what was said at the event but not by whom it was said. They are also not allowed to reveal the identity of the guest speaker, according to Teder.

“We will also be taking cell phones and smart watches and stuff at the door as well, so there won’t be any recording,” Teder said. “So that’s part of fostering an open environment.”

Senior and ODK Vice President Aidan Kowatch said operating under these rules allows for truthful discussions without fear of rumors. 

“I would say that really just helps with openness,” Kowatch said. “I know people can sometimes be worried about what’s going to be said outside of a classroom or outside of a conversation. So it’s really so we can have a real and genuine and unique conversation that we might not be able to do in other places or other times.”

The event is open to all seniors and faculty and will be hosted in the Hoynak Room in the Dow Hotel. Social hour begins at 6:45 p.m., and the guest lecturer will begin speaking at 7:30 p.m. 

“We hope a lot of people can come so we can have interesting and unique conversations,” Kowatch said.