This opinion is in response to the Collegian Board of Opinion's Jan. 23 editorial ("Restructure Off-Campus Union to better serve students").

The Off-Campus Student Union (OCSU) can accomplish a great deal for the entire university community, but to do so, it must retain its autonomy, as well as establish itself as an organization of stature. OCSU has a solid foundation and each of the departments has a specific responsibility. The only thing it needs to do now is sever its ties with the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate. If anything, current USG President Ian Rosenberger is doing the appropriate thing by being hesitant about absorbing OSCU again. The blame for the shortcomings of OCSU to date is not simply because of singular leadership or paperwork being turned in on time.

OCSU needs to have a suitable and appropriate location off campus. To date, it is barely able to find room in the overcrowded HUB, and so they must use the resources of USG. OCSU also is not able to attract as many students because it does not have the resources typically allocated to student groups, such as Web space.

If anything, there is an urgent need to have an organization like OCSU at Penn State right now. The Daily Collegian can help aid in this issue by reporting on what projects OCSU does complete, as well as place an increased magnifying glass on just what town senators and Senate Town Caucus are doing to help improve relations off-campus on a weekly basis -- at least until OCSU has the staff to operate at full capacity.