Student organization triples in size

By BROOK TERHUNE

The Off-Campus Student Association's membership has nearly tripled since it was officially registered as a student organization three weeks ago.

The organization's president, Renee Morrell, petitioned to restart the club during the beginning of fall quarter. She registered the club with the minimum requirement of seven members. When Off-campus Students Organization was deemed an official club seven weeks ago there were already 25 interested students.

"It kept going with people knowing people, and word of mouth," Morrell said.

During the Off-Campus Student Association's first official week, Morrell received 40 e-mails from students interested in the club. The current membership list includes 72 students. OCSA Treasurer Daniel Pinna does not expect the list to stop growing anytime soon.

"The support and interest people have shown us has been great," Pinna said. "Our numbers seem to be gradually climbing."

Pinna became actively involved with the Off-Campus Student Association not only for himself, but also to help incoming commuter freshmen make the transition into the Santa Clara community. He is planning to start a "buddy" program for freshman commuters during Welcome Weekend.Commuter students constitute 16.2 percent of this year's freshman class. The specific number of sophomore, junior and senior students who commute is unavailable, but 59.3 percent of all undergraduate students live off campus, which include both commuter students and students within walking distance of the university.

Even though membership has increased, turnout to the Off-Campus Student Association meetings is low. Not all 72 members are active because of busy schedules.

"We usually get 10 to 15 people at the meetings," Morrell said. "We are still trying to figure out what the best times are to try and get most of the members at an event."

Morrell keeps in touch with members via mass e-mail and a bulletin board in the basement of Benson Memorial Center that provides information about upcoming events and on-campus activities.

The organization also hopes to start a contact sheet of phone numbers and e-mail addresses so members are able to correspond with each other.

No fees or paperwork are required to become an Off-Campus Student Association member. The only time money becomes an issue for an Off-Campus Student Organization member is when they participate in an event. The club's budget is $50 this quarter and $75 next quarter. RSO budgets are raised $25 each quarter they are active, or until a cap is determined.

The organization has no membership cap.

"We are including on campus students, trying to integrate the school more," OCSA Vice President Souvinh Tien said.

All Santa Clara students are welcome to join in OCSA meetings and events. There are a couple of members that live on campus, but the majority of the club is still commuter students.

The Off-Campus Student Association is encouraging members to attend the men's basketball game against Gonzaga tomorrow in Toso Pavilion.

"Attending school activities, like basketball games, is going to be a good way for the OCSA to show school spirit while being in a social atmosphere," Morrell said. "We are very excited to start planning more events and gatherings."