By
Benjamin Kim
Arizona Daily Wildcat
More than 35 new organizations recognized this year
The UA will recognize more than twice the usual number of new clubs this year.
Twenty-three new clubs have already been recognized through Student Organization Recognition Services, said Ann Wolnick, program director for UA Student Programs.
"This year, there are a lot more new clubs out there than usual," Wolnick said.
By Oct. 1, 35 new organizations are expected to be recognized, and more clubs may be added during the remainder of the semester, she said. Some of these clubs have interests like dance, sports cars, in-line hockey and forensics.
"I think students are looking for clubs where there's action," Wolnick said. "They don't want to go to a meeting and sit because I'm not seeing a lot of new professional clubs."
For the past three years, about 15 new clubs have emerged annually, she said.
The deadline for recognition was Sept. 14, but the Student Programs Office will take applications throughout the academic year.
"The reason there's an early deadline is so that services on campus need to have a list of who's recognized," Wolnick said. "If we didn't put a deadline on it would take people all semester for people to bring their paperwork into our office."
New clubs generally struggle with their constitutions, which must follow a certain format and include language that the university requires, and some find difficulty in finding a full-time adviser.
"I think people are realizing that anyone can start a club here," Wolnick said.
Two students said they are planning to start one of the new clubs during their first year at the university.
Jessica Zagnoni, a media arts and photography freshman, and Justin Quandt, a dance freshman, said they plan to organize a UA dance team to perform around campus and compete at the local and state level.
"I think we'll get a good turnout," Zagnoni said. "I honestly think that we'll be able to reach a lot of different people with different dancing styles."
The team will be named the Arizona Cat Crew and will travel to different state and local competitions and perform around campus, including UA basketball games, she said.
The two students have visited Gotham and Metro dance clubs to recruit students for their dance team.
Tryouts for the Arizona Cat Crew will take place on Oct. 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center, Zagnoni said.
They plan to choose ten men and women for the team, which will be partly sponsored through the sports clubs office at Campus Recreation, she said. The team will also organize fundraisers to help pay for costumes and trips.
The dance routines will incorporate many different styles including hip-hop and break dancing. Other dance clubs forming this year include ballroom dancing and international dance clubs.
"I wanted to give students that aren't necessarily dance majors an opportunity to perform and dance," Zagnoni said.
