Spring Break
Chess Club complains
about lack of recognition
Liza Atamy
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: News
The SJSU Chess Club has had trouble being recognized as an official club on campus by Student Involvement, said Albert Rich, the president of the club. Rich, a senior economics major, said the club did not receive funding for a trip to a Pan-Am in Miami, resulting in the club's inability to participate in the competition.
"Associated Students provides the funds, and they failed to fully fund us because Student Involvement didn't promptly approve us as an official group," Rich said. "A.S. didn't want the paperwork until we were approved as a club."
The Chess Club on campus has 12 to 20 active members who show up to meetings and 150 members who have signed up for the club, Rich said. "Our team defeated Rowan University, the University of Utah and tied with George Washington University," Rich said, referring to exhibition matches held online.
Rich said he went to Student Involvement to complain about the lack of recognition of the club, but the meeting was unhelpful.
Faisal Gowani, president of the Entrepreneurial Society on campus, said he had dealt with Student Involvement on numerous occasions without encountering any problems.
"(Student Involvement) is there to help out student organizations," said Gowani, a senior business management and marketing major. "They do almost bend over backwards to help us."
Richard Kelley, director of Student Involvement, said he recalled speaking to Rich about the upcoming Student Organization Recognition Banquet. "I can only say that (Rich) came in to the office to discuss the Student Organization Recognition Banquet, specifically the packet he submitted on behalf of the Chess Club, as well as the club's ability to attend the event, to which seating is very limited," Kelley said. "We have nearly 300 student organizations, 148 nominations/submissions for the event and no venue on campus that will hold everyone."
Rich said he submitted the required information in a timely fashion. "As far as I know, we followed all relevant policies and procedures," he said. "If they wanted to retract the tickets, I wanted a reasonable explanation on the basis of such an unjust decision. I expressed that excluding Chess Club from the award banquet is unacceptable." Rich said the person who was dealing with his complaint at Student Involvement said he or she had more than 300 organizations he or she had to approve, and a mailbox is just a "bonus."
"Associated Students provides the funds, and they failed to fully fund us because Student Involvement didn't promptly approve us as an official group," Rich said. "A.S. didn't want the paperwork until we were approved as a club."
The Chess Club on campus has 12 to 20 active members who show up to meetings and 150 members who have signed up for the club, Rich said. "Our team defeated Rowan University, the University of Utah and tied with George Washington University," Rich said, referring to exhibition matches held online.
Rich said he went to Student Involvement to complain about the lack of recognition of the club, but the meeting was unhelpful.
Faisal Gowani, president of the Entrepreneurial Society on campus, said he had dealt with Student Involvement on numerous occasions without encountering any problems.
"(Student Involvement) is there to help out student organizations," said Gowani, a senior business management and marketing major. "They do almost bend over backwards to help us."
Richard Kelley, director of Student Involvement, said he recalled speaking to Rich about the upcoming Student Organization Recognition Banquet. "I can only say that (Rich) came in to the office to discuss the Student Organization Recognition Banquet, specifically the packet he submitted on behalf of the Chess Club, as well as the club's ability to attend the event, to which seating is very limited," Kelley said. "We have nearly 300 student organizations, 148 nominations/submissions for the event and no venue on campus that will hold everyone."
Rich said he submitted the required information in a timely fashion. "As far as I know, we followed all relevant policies and procedures," he said. "If they wanted to retract the tickets, I wanted a reasonable explanation on the basis of such an unjust decision. I expressed that excluding Chess Club from the award banquet is unacceptable." Rich said the person who was dealing with his complaint at Student Involvement said he or she had more than 300 organizations he or she had to approve, and a mailbox is just a "bonus."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Daren Dillinger
posted 5/13/08 @ 11:31 AM PST
I see that the fact that the college chess club did not receive funding for a trip to the Pan-Am event in Miami, is one aspect of not being recognized by the Collige bureaucracy in a timely fashion. (Continued…)
Jim Williams
posted 1/25/09 @ 12:59 PM PST
Studies have shown that chess does provide for many students to be self motivated to plan and think ahead. The same studies also say chess helps develop the skills that help achieve academic excellence. (Continued…)
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