Well, I wanted to wait to update until I had some real news to share. So kddani and others here goes...
I just came from a student union meeting before the 50 strong union council (well it was a big square table so not strictly
before them) where one item was the affiliation of the XYZ interest group to the Student Union i.e. making us an official group, all the benefits that brings, yadda.
I don't think I'm the greatest public speaker but I had to be there obviously (I was the only one for the group). There were several questions/objections asked to me. Mainly due to hazing and what we would do given the reputations fraternities have from films (sigh), how much this'd cost for the union - would we expect them to pay travelling expenses etc, exactly what we'd offer that another law society couldn't (there is one), how many existing campus branches of the fraternity there were in the country currently, what benefits being part of the group would have over a normal society etc. Felt kinda vulnerable. Anyway, eventually it came to a vote (or someone called for one). And by a close majority the interest group is now an official student group at NTU (my university). The club and socs officer was on our side and I am grateful for that. I guess right now I should be feeling elated, right now I just feel like there's a big uncharted road and a difficult journey ahead? Maybe there’s no pleasing some people!
Other news is I met Friday with the Asst Dean/Head of the Law School - my faculty where I’m an undergrad - (this is an interest group to petition a professional fraternity), re
faculty recognition. He said he was not saying no and didn't want to dampen enthusiasm but wasn't saying yes because he couldn't say yes. He continued that he spoke with a departmental head (he's like
overall head) and they'll have a new Dean starting early next year and it would be best to make a decision with him installed. So what they want to do is review us as a group, early next year (Feb probably). This is on the twin concerns of it being an old boys network/selectivity (really speaking as far as any selectivity all we have are some member obligations like attend a few meetings). He said he knows I feel I have answered and dealt with those concerns and his position is not that it is an old boys network
but it could potentially be (obviously I see it as our duty to make sure it isn't and is fair and above board) so they shall review us and our activity as a group. In the meantime we CAN put posters up in the faculty, email faculty students and have activities etc just not position ourselves as an official group within the law school (so no website links on their website for example). And though there won't be a faculty advisor we can speak to any faculty staff if we need assistance as long as we let them know we're not (the other society).
I don’t know what the International Fraternity will say when I get in touch with them following what the Dean said and stuff, I really really hope they'll be okay with the review of us thing. I know either way they will make the best decision for the international Fraternity but I just hope for us that the door will still be left open for us to petition them for a charter when we are ready.
Other news, still doing most of the work, an officer isn't speaking to me at time of this post since I brought up that something which that officer produced to be sent out to members and interested members missed out lots of vital info and wasn’t the standard it should be, resulting in me having to do it.
Geez this is such a miserable sounding post I dunno why I'm not euphoric, I mean there was debate in the meeting earlier but ultimately we got a yes vote. 361 times I’m reminded of Space Camp where our counsellor would just make a duck-hand gesture and go “waah” whenever we complained like this. It always made us shut-up and smile.
