Clubs Increase

By Robert Wear

Registered Student Organizations, or student clubs, are getting more popular every quarter. At the beginning of this academic year, over 120 clubs existed on campus, a huge rise since 80 at the beginning of the 2010 to 2011 school year.

An average of six to eight clubs get approved each quarter. To get approved, each club must pass a number of simple guidelines, which include having at least 15 members, a constitution and at least two undergraduate club officers. It is very rare for one to not be approved.

A reason for this, according Tedd Vanadilok, director of Campus Programs, is that clubs offer the chance for a student "to have as many opportunities as possible to be involved, fulfill their interests, contribute to campus life and find their sense of belonging."

Getting involved is important to campus life, and with the diversity of these clubs it is easy for anyone to find one they like.
With this increase, however, the budget allotted to each club is stretched thin. The amount each club needs varies, and some clubs find other funding sources and do not rely on the Associate Student Government for funding, though.

Despite a small budget, students seem to be getting more and more involved as the diversity of the organizations grows. "
One reason for the increase in the number of new clubs," said Vanadilok, "is that their interests are becoming very specific and also modern with hot topics and trends."

For example, a group called TEDxSCU, which focuses on the popular TED Talks, has become an RSO.

Students are able to find a club that fosters their specific interests, whether it is wrestling, baking, scuba diving, martial arts, humor, history or even Quidditch. As long as enough people are interested, any type of club can be created.

Each club must also be renewed every year, and the same rules apply for renewal as the original approval process. If a club has enough interest, and the interest remains strong, then the club will have no problem becoming successful.

Getting involved with an RSO is easy. To find a club that suits you, look online at the Center for Student Leadership page on the Santa Clara website and go to the "Student Organizations" tab to find step-by-step instructions on how to get involved.

Contact Robert Wear at rwear@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.