Bohman '90 Enjoys Dual Student Life Roles at Wesleyan

September 13, 2007- Participation in student life activities are an important part of an education for students at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Two of the most popular activities on campus include intramurals and Greek Life, and there is one man at Wesleyan in the center of both.

John Bohman ’90 serves as both the intramurals director and coordinator of Greek Affairs at Wesleyan. “The job keeps me busy,” he remarked. “I have never viewed what I do as work because I simply enjoy it too much. I like the interaction with the students and watching them mature from tentative freshmen to responsible and civic-minded adults.”

Bohman, who began working for the College following his graduation in 1990, also teaches health classes in addition to his current roles. “When I accepted my first job at Wesleyan, I was mentored by now-retired professors Bob Braine and Jim Smith,” said Bohman. “Their advice to me was quite simple at the time. They encouraged me to ‘Do the job right.’ Those are words I have never forgotten.”

He views both intramurals and Greek Life an important aspect of a well-rounded college student. “I consider recreation and intramurals for the general student body highly important to the structure and well-being of campus life at Wesleyan,” commented Bohman. “Developing good recreation habits contributes to the physical, social and mental health of individuals as they transition into adults. Intramurals serves many different aspects from promoting collaboration, integrity, and good sportsmanship. It is also an outlet for organized physical activity in a low-key, but competitive environment.”

Bohman’s duties with intramurals include overseeing all aspects from scheduling games, training field supervisors, overseeing budgets, and hiring of staff and officials. According to Bohman, over half of the student population takes part in intramurals. Activities this fall include flag football, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s volleyball, and women’s basketball. Spring activities will include women’s volleyball and men’s basketball.

As coordinator of Greek Affairs, he meets twice a week with the Wesleyan fraternities and sororities. “I am there to guide, advise, and support the fraternities and sororities and monitor their progress,” said Bohman. Wesleyan is home to nine Greek Life organizations – five fraternities (Alpha Sigma Pi, Chi Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Theta Chi, Theta Xi) and four sororities (Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Xi Delta, and Zeta Tau Alpha).

One of Bohman’s pet peeves about his job is the out-of-date myths and stereotypes that continue to linger when the words “Greek Life” are mentioned. “Some people still think “Animal House” when they think of Greek Life, a concept is that is not true in 2007. The current Greek system is about building the leaders of tomorrow and community service. Our Greek students locally assist the Parrish House with clothing and food drives, tutorial services, clean-up of the river walk, and they perform fundraising events for national organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, Breast Cancer Foundations, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”

“We are trying hard to shed that old image, and with the great work of our Greek students, I think we are accomplishing that mission,” said Bohman. “Statistics have shown that Greek members have higher retention and graduation rates rather than the general student population. Without a doubt, joining a Greek organization assists our students both in and out of the classroom,” remarked Bohman.

Whether it is coordinating the intramural program or advising Greek Affairs, Bohman is just one of many on the campus that is making Wesleyan “good to great.”

WVWC Press Release