Muskingum University becomes sprinkled every fall with glitter and smiling faces for Recruitment Week. Recruitment is one of the pathways to Greek Life on campus, other than an open bid from a campus group.
This year’s recruitment took place Sept. 24, and for the week prior students gathered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, to participate in different school-organized parties to allow sororities and fraternities to get to know each other in a safe and fair environment. Eighty students became new members Greek Life, all going to different organizations they felt at home joining.
Katie Simms is a Muskingum Graduate, now working as the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement. Simms was part of Orbit Media, Student Senate, and Greek Life as a student.
Katie Simms, Muskingum’s Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, organizes the event with Greek Council, a student-elected group that helps with Greek Life on campus.
Simms is an alumna of Muskingum University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Design and got her Master’s in Higher Education and Administration from Tiffin University.
“If it doesn’t deal with athletics, academics or a little bit of residence life it’s me…. When it comes to doing anything on this campus outside of those three realms you come and see me. I work with all student organizations on campus, said Katie Simms, Director of Student Leadership and Engagement.
She helps run Greek Recruitment, Muskie Preview, Homecoming, Muskie Programming Board, Brewed Awakenings, and many other student-led activities.
Simms contributes to student life on campus in many ways, but for Greek Life she is able to act as a mediator for the organizations on campus. “My role is important to provide different aspects on a decision, because I can present different sides to things…. Organizations can sometimes focus on themselves and not think about the bigger aspects that can be a part of something. So my role helps bring the outside perspective,” said Simms.
Simms didn’t join Greek Life at Muskingum until her junior year. Her parents were not fond of Greek Life and that influenced her decision on not joining until later. “I ended up [receiving and] accepting my open bid and regretted that I waited until my junior year to join. It was so much fun and a great experience,” said Simms.
When Simms was a Muskie she was a part of Student Senate, Orbit Media, and Greek Life. She feels because she was so involved on campus it helped mold her into the person she is today and helped her find her passion. She is a social person who enjoys the collaboration her job creates.
Simms said being a Muskie graduate helps her relate more with students, which is why Greek Life means a lot to her. She understands the commitment Greek Life entails and how it can be difficult, but encourages students to try and push through it.
“Don’t go with the stigmas that you are seeing in the news, because I know it can be scary to see what other colleges are doing but Muskingum Greek Life is a different breed of students…. Give the organizations a chance and get to know them, so you can see we are not like what you are seeing in the news and that we are better than what’s in the news,” said Simms.
Simms feels it’s important for each student to find their home on campus.
Open Bid recruitment is Feb. 13-17, 2023. This is when Greek organizations consider students they think will be a good addition to their clubs. Students will have more opportunities to get to know the clubs throughout the semester. Simms can be contacted at ksimms@muskingum.edu.
