February 28 & March 6, 2008 Meetings

1. Applications for Recognition

The Committee has decided to recommend recognition of the following new organizations:

Yoga Club (limited funding, Sports/Recreation)
Artist Connection Community (funded, Art/Performance)
GET UP (limited funding, Service/Social Action)
Tai Ji Club (limited funding, Sports/Recreation)

In addition, the Committee received applications from the following proposed organizations and requested that they clarify language in their Constitutions:

German Club
Invisible Children United
Unite for Sight
UMBC Biodiesel Project

2. Constitution Change

The Committee approved requested changes to the Mama’s Boys’ Constitution.

3. Suspension of Privileges

The Committee recommended suspension of the privileges of Alpha Kappa Alpha and Zeta Phi Beta. Both organizations have fewer than five members. In accordance with the Student Organizations Policy’s provisions relating to Greek Life organizations, the two groups will have until September 15^th to comply with the Five Member Rule or face the loss of their UMBC recognition.

4. Meeting with Athletics Department

The Committee met with Mike D’Archangelo and Brianne Day from the Athletics Department on February 26^th. Mike and Brianne explained that the total number of Sports Clubs supported by Athletics is capped at 25 primarily due to financial constraints which make it impossible to provide staff support and ensure safety for more groups. If one of the 25 groups were to fold, it would be replaced by a new group from a waiting list maintained by Athletics. Mike and Brianne indicated that any increase in funding for Sports Clubs is very unlikely in the short term, because Athletics has other high priority needs.

The Committee raised its concerns about organizations that fall between the cracks: recognized by UMBC, engaged in physical/competitive activity requiring athletic equipment, but not recognized by Athletics and ineligible for SGA funding. All in attendance agreed that it would be helpful to stop recognizing new organizations that would be forced into such cracks. Mike and Brianne agreed to draft a proposed definition of such organizations: groups that would have to be accepted by Athletics as Sports Clubs before they could seek formal UMBC recognition as student organizations.

The Committee will meet with Mike and Brianne again on April 8^th to discuss their proposed definition.

5. Student Organization Ballroom Events

Lee Calizo met with the Committee to discuss the recent drop in the number of events held in the UC Ballroom. The Committee speculated about reasons for the decline, but arrived at no firm conclusions.