Josh Fields/Arizona Daily Wildcat Mechanical engineering junior Stanley Yellowhair signs up for the American Indians in Science and Engineering Club Thursday on the UA Mall. More than 50 clubs had booths on the Mall to recruit new members.

Many multicultural organizations and resources are available on campus to students who may feel left out and are seeking more diversity in their college experience.

There are more than 30 multicultural clubs available to students, ranging from Students Promoting Respect for Individuality Through Example to the Muslim Students Association.

Raji Rhys-Wietecha, the assistant director of the Diversity Resource Office, said she believes diversity is crucial for the educational enhancement of all students.

"Studies have shown that students benefit from having a diverse educational experience," Rhys-Wietecha said. "It prepares our students to function in what is an increasingly diverse world."

Clubs are a great way to foster diversity and they can create a haven for students seeking acceptance, said Rebecca Covarrubias, the president of the Kappa Delta Chi Sorority.

"The university still provides the minority with a place to belong by establishing various culture centers around campus," Covarrubias said.

A traditionally Hispanic sisterhood, Kappa Delta Chi, is open to every female on campus and is a great way to promote multiculturalism, Covarrubias said.

"We allow people the opportunity to become involved within each other in a common goal of servitude," Covarrubias said. "Our organization is very diverse, filled with young women from very different backgrounds."

Along with advancing education, the role of many fraternities and sororities is to promote a sense of family, which can be important to Hispanic and minority students entering the UA for the first time, Tapia said.

Tapia said when she first came to the UA she felt the university was not as diverse as it could be.

"However, as soon as I found Gamma Alpha Omega my sophomore year was when I found that the UA is somewhat diversified," Tapia said.

Julian Billy, the president and rush chair of Beta Sigma Epsilon, said he feels the UA is diverse and his organization is just one example of the many multicultural clubs open to students on campus.

"We are the only Native American fraternity in the western U.S and the only one recognized by the university," Billy said.

Billy also said the fraternity benefits the UA community by providing continuous support for American Indian males on campus.

"Our fraternity has done a ton of work for the university," Billy said. "We are involved with community services and volunteer work. We go out to the local Indian reservation and do community service events while at the same time representing the university."

Billy said the fraternity's main goal is to promote diversity and the recognition of American Indian peoples.

"We strive to maintain our individual heritages, cultures and backgrounds, and incorporate that into our organization and make the general public aware of our existence," Billy said.

There are also a number of organizations open to people who do not wish to be a part of the greek system, such as various service, religious and identity groups.

SPRITE, or Students Promoting Respect for Individuality Through Example, is another alternative organization for students on campus who seek a sense of belonging.

Sabre Sarnataro, a first-year communication graduate student and president of SPRITE, said the organization is a residence-life based program focusing primarily on the acceptance of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning community.

"Our regular weekly meetings include social activities and discussions about important topics regarding the GLBTQ community," Sarnataro said.

Sarnataro also said she believes SPRITE is a good alternative to greek life and for people who want to be socially active within the residence halls.

"A challenge GLBTQ people might face in pledging to a greek organization is that they may not feel comfortable being themselves in that specific environment," Sarnataro said.

The UA seems to be improving upon multiculturalism and with the new chapter of Delta Lambda Phi, a fraternity for gay, bisexual and progressive men, even greek life is diversifying, Sarnataro said.

"I think that there are many organizations and people devoted to creating a diverse environment at the U of A," Sarnataro said. "While there is always room for improvement, it is a very welcoming place."