The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate passed a resolution Tuesday recommending that the Penn State administration recognize Groove Phi Groove as an official organization on campus.

Will Williams, a group member, spoke before the Senate at its March 16 meeting, asking the body to support the group in its quest to gain official club status.

Because of its unique structure, the group has not been recognized as an official organization.

Groove Phi Groove, an African-American social group that was founded in 1962, is a national social fellowship that operates under a fraternal structure but is not considered a greek organization.

The Nittany Lion chapter has existed on campus since 1971.

It has been trying to gain official status since 2001.

USG does not charter organizations with a fraternal structure, he said.

Town Sen. Mike Yohannan, one of the senators who sponsored the legislation, said it is especially difficult for Groove Phi Groove to obtain official club status.

"If you're somewhere in between or neither of the two, then it gets tricky," Yohannan said. "Sometimes newer groups don't fit the mold of old structures."

Williams said the administration suggested the group attempt to meet the membership requirement of 20 to be recognized as an organization by Stanley Latta, director of union and student activities.

Williams said the group currently has 14 members, which is high for minority groups with a fraternal structure.

He added that there are only about 1,500 black people on campus.

Judy Albin, associate director for union and student activities, said the administration has not yet decided how to handle student organizations that fall into this gray area.

"In the next year or so, we're going to try to tackle this situation to help some of these student organizations that are viable," she said.

Senate Vice President Galen Foulke said the purpose of the resolution is to encourage any of the six chartering organizations on campus as well as the administration to find a way to make the group an official club.

Foulke added that having the Senate's support would add to the group's credibility.

"It's really Senate getting down to doing what it's supposed to be doing," Foulke said. "It's important because we recognize there are a handful of groups who are in these situations."