Let’s pick it up Muskies

   Circle K International, a service group on the Muskingum Campus, took on Ellen Conkey as their new President this school year, and now they are on a mission to spruce up the campus.

    The campus clean-up takes place every Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., with Conkey borrowing trash cans from the dorm where she is an RA. She said they have limited trash cans, and it would be great if an initiative could begin to have more trash cans placed around campus.

   Places like the Thomas Stoop are a popular hangout spot where many smokers often sit for a quick break. Conkey said these places are the ones in most need, as the used cigarettes are simply thrown on the ground because there is no receptacle for them.

   The idea for the clean-up was not her own, and she says she must give credit to a man who frequently walks his dog around the campus. She began talking to him one day, and he mentioned to her the amount of trash littering the ground.

   "It's just a shame to see that people don't really respect it," said Conkey. "I love giving back to the community. So anything service, I love to do."

   The clean-up has been kept to just the campus because Conkey said that it's the students' campus, and they should leave it in a good condition.

   "None of it's my trash, but I just felt like it's the right thing to do," said Conkey.

   Currently, Circle K International is the only group involved,  yet Conkey has hopes to garner more interest in the near future.

   "It would be great if other organizations helped so that we could pick up more trash and make the campus look better," said Conkey.

   Circle K International is still working on involving more groups on campus, especially with Greek Life, as many of them are required to complete service and philanthropy projects.

   Cleaning up the campus is also a great way to meet new people.

   "This year we have a lot of new freshman in Circle K and my goal was to get to know most of the freshman," said Conkey. "You are with these people for an hour and a half on Sunday; you can start up a conversation and they maybe end up being your friend."

   Along with the campus clean-up Circle K International is pairing with the Optimist Club, another service club on campus, to have a food fight  later in the semester.

   Various organizations and groups on campus will be invited to compete to collect the most canned goods.

   Even if you are not in need of service hours, but want to help beautify the hills of Muskingum, you can still help out.   Or, if you are interested in any more information about how to become involved with a Circle K International service project, you can contact Ellen Conkey at econkey @muskingum.edu.