Aspiring clubs take note: While the recognition process for student groups has become easier, be prepared for increased competition for university funds and resources.
Deb Dworsky, assistant director of unions and student activities, said 27 clubs were approved just last semester. During the entire 2003-2004 academic year, 21 clubs were registered.
Formerly, students wishing to become an official student organization went before the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Supreme Court and, if approved, went through a probationary period. However, in early October, Vice President for Student Affairs Vicky Triponey changed the policy so student group registration would rest under the authority of the university.
Over the summer, a lawsuit was brought against Penn State by DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship because the USG Supreme Court had denied the group registered status because it was too similar to existing groups.
Now, a series of paperwork is all that stands between a group of students and becoming an official club.
"The school's attorneys recommended that the process change so that university employees would be accountable if something goes wrong with student group registration," Dworsky said.
Tom Truong, University Park Allocations Committee (UPAC) chairman, said new groups allow for new ideas and new perspectives. However, he said he hopes it will encourage increased group responsibility to get requests in on time, and in the future, might make receiving funds more competitive.
