In an effort to ease student organizations' communication problems, three student-centered leadership organizations have proposed an online forum, slated to launch by the end of the semester.
The initiative, proposed Monday night at the semester's first Leadership Forum, is aimed to promote collaboration and communication among student groups on campus. Sponsored by the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), the Student Programming Association (SPA) and the Center for Student Engagement (CSE), the Web site will be open for public use.
"We want to make it possibly a Web format; we want to make it very user-friendly, something similar to a Facebook wall," UPUA co-chief of staff Sean Flynn said. "Anybody [can] gain access [and] can answer or post questions on there for student organizations."
The idea was proposed because of a collaboration problem among student organizations, Flynn said.
"Communication is most important," he said. "Working together, I think, it would create more engaging thoughts and create a better opportunity for student organizations' success," he said.
Flynn said the Web site could be grouped by student interests, saying some possible subcategories on the Web site could be greeks and the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
The site will be established through Penn State Information Technology Services.
Within the next few weeks, UPUA, SPA and CSE are hoping to establish a committee of interested students, said Sherri Metcalfe, Student Affairs programming director, adding that the project is still "in the planning stages."
"Right now, we're working on finding students that are interested," she said. "Whether they are technologically savvy to help us with it or whether they have clear-cut ideas, [we're] looking for students who can push this to the forefront of what needs to be done."
Flynn said he wants to see the Web site running by the end of the fall semester, though the site's moderators will "keep modifying it" throughout the year.
"This is going to be the first step to bring student organizations together," Flynn said. "It's going to take time, but I think it's going to be the right step as far as collaboration."
Executive director of Safeguard Old State Gavin Keirans, who was present at Monday's Leadership Forum, said he's interested in using the Web site for his organization.
"I think it's vital that there's another outlet for student groups to communicate," he said.
Keirans said he had some suggestions for the Web site.
"For it to be effective, it has to be heavily marketed, heavily supported and user-friendly," he said.
