CollegiateLink, the online center for student organizations within Student Life, is now more user friendly.

The upgraded format of CollegiateLink is designed so that anyone who wants to start a club or organization can use a drop down menu similar to the selection menu on the St. Edward’s University website.

On this simplified menu, a potential club leader can skip the optional steps that precede the establishment of a club and proceed to the Official Registration page.

At this point, the instructions are specified, and the Recognized Organizations Council can respond with further details on the status of a proposed organization.

Some ideas for organizations never reach actualization due to miscommunication or confusion about how to create an organization though the CollegiateLink website used by the ROC.

“Many problems come up because the amendment laws are missing,” said Mimi Valladarez, a liaison for registration and renewal in the ROC. “These are necessary to make any future changes to an organization’s constitution.”

The three things an organization or a club needs to become affiliated with Student Life and St. Edward’s is a minimum of three committed members, an advisor to assist with supervision and a constitution with clearly stated laws on how to amend said constitution.

Valladarez said that there are links to examples on how to write a proper constitution on CollegiateLink and that someone in Student Life would be more than willing to assist those who need further help with the writing.

One story of success comes from a relatively new organization, the College Republicans.

“Everyone at Student Life was…really helpful,” Chair of the College Republicans Katie Thompson said. “As a new organization, we’ve received a very positive response.”

Some organizations have found other means of funding than the ROC. Operation T, a Brown scholarship program that gives T-shirts to needy families in Mexico started by junior Irma Fernandez, is one example.

A list of other new organizations and clubs, as well as those already established, can be found on CollegiateLink, along with further information about when various clubs meet, how to become involved and how to start a club of one’s own.