NIU organizations upset because they have not been recognized by the Student Association will have to wait until their application mistakes can be fixed.

Student Association Vice President Tanya Smith said she has reviewed all of the organizations requesting recognition, but their applications have mistakes and omissions that are dragging the process.

“The process is very complicated,” Smith said.

Smith said she is having trouble getting a hold of around 50 of the 150 organizations requesting recognition to notify them their applications are incomplete.

“Some of the organizations that have been around for a long time have new officers who do not know where their constitutions and bylaws are,” Smith said.

Another part of the delay is a result of officers not having adequate grade point averages (2.0).

There are different processes for different groups. Organizations which were recognized before must be renewed. Each must submit a packet with separate sheets the officers and the faculty advisers had to complete, Smith said.

Applications are reviewed in the order of date received. Once the packets are turned in, University Programming and Activities checks with the Office of Records and Registration to make sure all the officers are NIU students and have adequate GPAs.

Smith checks the rest of the application to see if it is complete. She also makes sure the organizations’ constitutions and bylaws are included with their applications.

Each officer is supposed to sign a different part of the packet. However, some packets are signed by only one officer.

She also makes sure that the faculty adviser has signed the application, will represent the organization and make sure the organization abides by its constitution and bylaws.

For new organizations, Smith said she has to “walk through” and explain everything, review them and bring them up for senate approval.