Bring your own flavor to campus clubs

Hopkins has always been known more for its undergraduate research opportunities or academic rigor, rather than its student life. Aside from the freshman-oriented S.A.C. fair that took place last week, the perception of student groups is limited to after-school study sessions and the occasional cultural organization.

Most students don't know that 276 approved student groups exist on campus today, and the number is always rising. Greek life, intramural athletics, community service organizations and performing arts troupes are just a few of the ways to get involved in the Hopkins community. But using the excuse that there just isn't a group out there for you no longer applies.

Take some initiative, get some people together and start your own! The process is easy, and the payoff is not only a group that includes your interests, but also the possibility of making something you believe or participate in available to other students as well.

Starting a new group is easy and relatively quick. The Mattin Center houses an office on the second floor known as the Department of Student Development and Programming, which includes the Office of Student Involvement. If you want to get your brainchild of a campus Bocci Ball team or Wicca Club approved and recognized by the University, Director of Student Involvement Jeff Groden-Thomas is about to become your new best friend.

As director, Groden-Thomas is responsible for approving all groups, and takes an active role in those established and wishing to be established as part of the Student Activities Commission, or SAC.

"Almost any group can exist on campus," Groden-Thomas said. "I basically decide whether they can exist independently."

But we're getting ahead of ourselves, so let's go back to the basics. If you have an idea, the first step is to make an appointment with Groden-Thomas. If you want to be prepared, it's best to bring with you a "Statement of Purpose," which explains the point of starting the group, about what size you think the interest level on campus would be and also who you would be affiliated with, if anyone. Some groups get backing from departments, including stipends and budgets. Some go through a year's probationary period to become part of the SAC, and some exist by themselves. It's important, though, that your interest is shared by at least a few other people on campus.

"It's not valid to the community to have a group existing for one person," Groden-Thomas said. "[These groups] are not independent of the institution."

In order to get approval, new and old groups have to exist in accordance with general rules, which are outlined in more depth on the Office of Student Involvement Web site. Leaders of the groups must have at least six completed credits and a 2.0 or higher grade point average. Membership also must follow Title IX federal law, which prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, etc.

If you want your group to be included in the SAC, things get complicated. The group must present a constitution drafted for the organization, complete with the names of four members of an executive board. The group also must go through a year-long probationary period before gaining official approval into the SAC and reaping the benefits of possible funding.

Sound a little daunting? Don't let it scare you. Members of the SAC, and Groden-Thomas himself, will sit down with you and go over sample constitutions and statements of purpose to help you write your own. If you come prepared to a meeting with Groden-Thomas and don't expect membership in the SAC, your group could be approved sooner than you think.

"Sometimes, [I approve them] the same day if everyone has their ducks in a row," he said.

Usually it's a month-long process, he said, but it's not without its benefits. Groups just have to make sure that they not only register using the form provided online, but also seek approval through the Office of Student Involvement. Groups that are approved can hold on-campus functions, sign up for a room to hold meetings, solicit for funding on campus and get a free e-mail account and Mattin Center mailbox. Groups affiliated with the SAC have the possibility of receiving funding that way, but independent groups are not provided with funding through the University.

All of the information you need to start your own Feng Shui Association, or even extend a group that exists at other schools to the Homewood campus, is available on the Office of Student Involvement Web site at http://www.jhu.edu/sao. If you have an interest that isn't a part of campus life, get out there, get registered, get approved and get moving!