OU students have until Thursday to register campus organizations

Students listen to Dr. Eric Day speak about applying 

to graduate school at the OU Psychology Club's 

meeting Thursday, Sept. 23.

OU students looking to start or re-register a student organization have until this Thursday, Sept. 30 to submit the online registration to Student Life.

The required registration information comprises having at least 10 student members, an OU faculty adviser, an organization president, a current constitution and statement of purpose and alcohol event management information.

According to Student Life’s student organization section, the University of Oklahoma has more than 420 student organizations, with interests that include academic, religion, culture, honor societies and hobbies. 

“With such a large number of organizations to choose from, you can be sure to find one (or several!) that you will enjoy,” the website states for those looking to join an organization. The website also suggests students start a group if they don’t find one that fits their needs.

Registered student organizations receive benefits including an OU website and e-mail address, a mailbox in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, department sponsorships and the ability to reserve university facilities and publicize on campus through chalking and fliers.

OU’s Psychology Club President Victoria Carrasco said she joined clubs her freshman year because she loves being involved and finding connections outside of class through professors.

“I love that feeling of letting people know what else is out there … and [what] they don’t get from just coming and having that major and going to class,” said Carrasco, a psychology junior who is also in OU's Young Democrats, Pre-Law Club and Hispanic-American Student Association. “I think people really do get surprised when they do come and they actually learn valuable information they can take with them.”

The Psychology Club, which reaches out to psychology students to provide them with opportunities at OU and after graduation with guest speakers and forums, has already turned in its registration and constitution.

More than 45 undergraduate students attended the club’s Thursday, Sept. 23 meeting to hear associate psychology professor Dr. Eric Day talk about getting into graduate school.

The club meets every other Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in Dale Hall Tower room 908. Its next meeting on Oct. 7 will have graduate students speaking about life in grad school.

Carrasco said starting a new club, however, is a lot more difficult at OU than running an existing organization like the Psychology Club. The best advice she has is getting to know people through other clubs to find the potential membership and to get an idea of how a club runs.

“The second you get involved in other clubs, you’re just meeting people right there, and you get that experience,” she said. “[Running a club] is a big responsibility…but obviously you gotta love doing it.”

If students are looking to join an existing club, Student Life encourages them to use its list of student organizations to contact the organization’s president or adviser and attend its next meeting or event. 

Look for a Q&A about student organizations at OU with Student Life’s Student Organization Coordinator Carmen Bao sometime Monday.