Today's Update: Friday, January 30, 2026

January 30, 2026

Dear Student Life team, 

Happy High Friday! 

I hope you have managed to stay safe and warm through all this snow and ice. Major High Fives to everyone who helped keep Student Life and the university up and running over the past week. I am Scarlet and Grateful for your commitment and dedication.  

We talk a great deal about “paying it forward” but rarely does it happen quite like this. On Sunday, Chef Cherrelle Rowser tried to leave campus to help one of her Sloopy’s teammates make it to work. A huge High Five to Cherrelle for going above and beyond to help another Buckeye. The story isn’t over, though, and I’ll let Cherrelle pick it up from there, “Unfortunately, I became stuck in the snow while trying to exit our garage. After 30 minutes of attempting to dig out on my own, a group of kindhearted Ohio State students appeared and jumped right into action. They worked together to dig and push my vehicle until I was finally clear. When I thanked them and invited them to Sloopy's for a treat, they were the sweetest group telling me they were simply walking around looking for people in need of help. It was such a heartwarming reminder of the incredible community we have here at Ohio State. I wanted to make sure this act of ‘Scarlet and Great’ kindness didn't go unnoticed!” Now that’s extraordinary Buckeye spirit from everyone involved!  

This past weekend was the Panhellenic Association's primary recruitment process with more than 1,100 students making their membership decisions. High Fives to everyone who helped, including Madi Barnes, Lindsey Boyd, Scott Brown, Matt Couch, Rachel DeMooy, Ryan Lovell, Christy Muhoberac, Stacey Renker, Meagen Rinard, Craig Rowley, Kristen Rupert Davis, Julie Schultz, Julia Skrabak, Kelly Smith, Tracy Stuck, Drew Sutherland, Nancy Thompson, Rochelle Toth and Liz Westrick. The snowstorm forced a quick pivot to a fully virtual process, and Sorority and Fraternity Life especially wanted to give High Fives to the Ohio Union and Events and Conferences teams who helped shift plans multiple times and were incredibly gracious throughout the weekend’s uncertainty, including Kady Gies, Michael Hilty, Chris Nesler, Jeff Pelletier, Sarah Rensko, Natalie Schroeder and the numerous student staff who supported all the operations and A/V needs for the process to run smoothly. 

Have a Scarlet and Great, and warm, weekend. And don’t forget, Go Bucks!  

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD          
Senior Vice President for Student Life           
The Ohio State University