Student organizations may increase by two
By Kristi Walker
Staff Reporter

Two new groups, Simper Society and People for Animal Welfare, have applied to join the roster of university-sponsored student organizations this semester, said Darron Turner, director of Student Development Services.

Turner said if both organizations accomplish what they have stated in their applications, then they will be a great addition to campus.

Don Peavy, a senior radio-TV-film major, said he co-founded the Simper Society with two other TCU students.

“The purpose of the group is to promote student diversity in all forms, promote self-exploration and strengthen the TCU community,” Peavy said.

The group wants to start a weekly column from the chancellor to students to give TCU a much needed focus, Peavy said. He said he hopes it would keep students connected to the chancellor and what he does.

The group intends to attend city meetings and to get members more interested and involved in the activities that directly affect their lives, Peavy said. He said he also wants the organization to conduct classes to teach students how to start their own student organizations.

Carol Thompson, a sociology professor and the faculty adviser of the Simper Society, said it is a very pro-social organization.

“Its mission is to increase civility and respect for human beings, as well as to encourage individual creativity,” Thompson said.

Free thinking, away from media generated ideas, and the realization of oneness through diversification are also some of the organization’s goals, Thompson said.

The group plans to accomplish their goals by bringing speakers and panels to campus to discuss issues like human rights, health, criminal justice, race and gender, Thompson said.

Approval for the Simper Society as an organization has not yet been given, Turner said.

Acceptance will be determined after the application process is completed, he said.

People for Animal Welfare, a group that will promote awareness and raise concern for animal welfare, is also hoping to be welcomed on campus, said Thompson said, who is also its faculty adviser.

Jeff Sebo, a junior philosophy and sociology double major, is the president of the organization.

“We don’t want to indoctrinate people to become vegetarians or to stop wearing leather,” Sebo said. “We want to create informed consumers and want to help bring animal welfare into their moral radar.”

Sebo said he looks forward to inclusive, broad-group discussions on animal welfare at the meetings. He said he hopes for vegetarians, meat eaters, hunters, animal advocacy groups and people of conflicting views to talk about what they believe is right and wrong.

“We want heated arguments that will push people to think,” Sebo said.

The organization plans to bring people to TCU to educate students about issues surrounding the treatment of animals in lab testing facilities as well as the treatment of animals who are raised and killed for consumption.

People for Animal Welfare is scheduled to hold their first meeting Wednesday, although the time and location have not yet been announced. For more information contact Sebo at (817)257-3483 or at J.R.Sebo@tcu.edu.

For more information about the Simper Society contact Peavy at (817)798-8893.

For information about forming your own student organization contact Turner at (817)257-7855.

Kristi Walker