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Students take first look at SUSA clubs

By Alex Scarfone

On February 2, 2010

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The Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) held its First Look Fair in Van Munching Hall yesterday, where business related organizations, societies and fraternities were ready with booths, tables, pamphlets and candy to help students get involved in the business world.

Students who attended were greeted with rows of tables, featuring around 15 different clubs and committees. These ranged from Alpha Kappa Psi, to the Business Golf Club, to the Society for Green Business. Everyone was friendly and eager to recruit. Many were disappointed when they realized that I was not there to be recruited (but they still offered me candy).

SUSA is an unofficial student government that voices its students' concerns, funds clubs, and schedules events. It greeted students coming in with packets containing information on all 23 of the different organizations available.

The clubs featured at yesterday's event are mainly geared toward students in a business or economics related major. They aim to get students involved and help them make connections in the business community.

Business fraternities such as Phi Chi Theta or Alpha Kappa Psi offer opportunities for making alumni connections, networking and eventually getting a job. Sophomore marketing and supply chain management major Marla Benedek found Alpha Kappa Psi to be very friendly and is looking to get involved with them. Benedek "liked that [the fair] felt informal and relaxed, it wasn't as intimidating."

One organization did not give off this informal vibe: KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. One of the four major public accounting firms, KPMG recruits heavily at the University of Maryland for interns and students who are graduating and about to enter the "real world." As Ray Ruiz, Campus Development Manager for KPMG, put it, "we like to hire Terps!"

Some organizations that drew the biggest crowds included the Global Business Society and the Maryland Undergraduate Society of Entrepreneurs (MUSE). Freshman Melissa Lin, a business major, found the MUSE table to be one of the most appealing. She was really interested in the ideas presented to her by the organization's president, Michael Brunwasser. "The Muse represents everyone," Brunwasser said. "We facilitate creativity in ideas and focus on markets and human need." Lin thought this was one of the more interesting and unique organizations she talked to at the fair.

The SUSA First Look Fair also had a new organization, ASSET. President Mark Shorr explained, "The program helps channel students to graduate schools. This was our first career fair and we had a great turn out."