2 minute read
So You Want to Start a Student Organization
THIS WEEK
Text by Cal Ransom, This Week Editor Design by Erin Koo, Layout Editor
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SO YOU WANT TO START A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
Yes! I’ve got a cool idea!
Does it include any illegal activity or anything against College policy? Is it exclusive so only certain people can join? Is it meant to be short term, existing for only a semester or year at a time?
No Yes
Yay! You’re on the right track. Keep going!
Yes! No clubs like this exist or have previously existed for the past four academic years.
Cool! You’ll need to find five other students interested in starting the club with you first. Then, you can write a charter and send it in to be approved.
ITS TIME TO GO TO THE OFFICE OF STUDENT LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT
See Figure 1.
I’m gonna have to stop you there. Organizations like these aren’t able to be chartered.
Is it an original idea? Think about any clubs that already exist or are considered inactive. No, an organization with this focus already exists.
It’s not original, but the organization was active less than five years ago.
Renew it! Join that organization or form a collective! You’ll meet some great new people.
You can use the same process clubs use to renew their organizations each year.
If your organization doesn’t get approved, you’ll have the chance to appeal the decision through the General Faculty voting body. Share five people interested in your club with the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement.
When you visit the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, you might end up in a meeting with Tina Zwegat, the director of student involvement.
“I often have students send me emails or stop in saying they’re thinking about starting a club on a certain topic,” Zwegat said.
She can then guide students through similar organizations they could partner with or show them charters from past clubs they could possibly renew.
I gave my information to the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement. What happens now?
If your organization is approved, you’ll be notified. Once this happens, you can reserve spaces, advertise, and get access to funds from the Student Finance Committee.
Congrats on your new organization! You did it! FIGURE 1
Photo by Abe Frato
