Georgia College Computer Gamers becomes newest RSO

Not every Recognized Student Organization has to be educational. On Sept. 20, the Student Government Association recognized the Georgia College Computer Gamers as a new RSO at GCSU.
Jessie Smith, senior computer science major and math minor, is the president of the Georgia College Computer Gamers and works on campus for the Department of Technology Solutions. He said that a gaming organization is just like any other club.
 “Gaming is a lot more mainstream than it used to be,” Smith said. “It’s just become a fact of life.”
Sadiq Oyapero is a graduate student studying management information systems, and is the vice president of the organization. He said that the RSO wants to provide entertainment and a better atmosphere at GCSU.
“It’s something to benefit the students, something they can do instead of going downtown on Thursday or going home on the weekends,” Oyapero said.  “They can all stay around and have fun, chill and socialize.”
Although the organization is still in its early stages of planning, Oyapero hopes that students will come together on a weekly basis to hang out and play games.  The RSO is considering setting up their gaming networks in computer labs in the Info Tech Center in the library, at Bobcat Village or at members’ homes.
In order to be approved as an RSO, the organization had to have at least 12 members, a constitution, bylaws and a senior advisor. The group must submit an application to Doris Henderson with Student Activities, who passes the information to the SGA president pro tempore. Once the president pro temp reviews the packet, making sure requirements are met, the organization must present itself to the SGA senate. The senate votes on the organization’s legitimacy, content of the constitution and whether or not its goals are in line with what the students want. If the majority of the senate votes for approval, it becomes an RSO.
Will Thompson, SGA treasurer said the Georgia College Computer Gamers had enough members and senators thought it was a good enough organization.
“I’m for them,” Thompson said. “I think they have some cool ideas. I think they said they wanted to set up huge networks of computers so students can come in and have a free-for-all.”
Other students on campus are surprised, but think that the Georgia College Computer Gamers is a good idea.
 “I think it’s good for those that are actively involved in computer games,” Candy Moore, a junior psychology major, said.  “It’ll be a good way for them to meet others with the same interests.”
Justin Bartuska, a sophomore creative writing major, said that he thinks the new RSO will be popular. He said so many people like gaming because it’s a fantasy life.
“You don’t have to be yourself,” Bartuska said. “On a computer game, you can do stuff that you can’t do in real life, like chop someone’s head off or snipe them.”
Smith said that the Georgia College Computer Gamers plan on playing about half shooting games and half real-time strategy games. However, Smith and Oyapero said that the RSO wants to be considerate and will not be playing any mature-rated games.
Oyapero said that he hopes the organization can be a stress-reliever and another way for students to socialize.
“Anybody can come in and join,” Oyapero said. “We’re actually looking for a diverse group of people.”
The Georgia College Computer Gamers plan to have fliers out soon about an upcoming Halo Showdown.
  Contact advisor Joe Kelley for more information at joe.kelley@gcsu.
edu.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 6 2006. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry