Do you like sharpening you speech skills in a heated debate? How about inline skating well into the night?

Or maybe writing, shooting and editing your own feature-length film?

Believe it or not, there’s a group for each of those interest and much more here on campus.

With almost 1,200 registered student organizations, the University is not short on ways to get involved. From the serious to the silly, RSOs can tackle thought-provoking issues through discussions or tackle physical challenges on the outdoor complex fields.

Yet it is no wonder there are plenty of groups since creating one is practically effortless.

Any group of two or more people can found an organization as long as membership is restricted to currently registered students, faculty, staff and their spouses and that the organization is in full compliance with all federal and state nondiscrimination and equal opportunity laws.

The process is made even simpler by online registration.

To submit an application for a RSO, students should visit the office of Registered Organizations Web site at www.iurso.uiuc.edu then click on “Register your organization” and follow the steps.

After the director of registered organizations reviews the completed application, the applicants will be notified by e-mail of their status.

Brooks Moore, director for registered student organizations, oversees the many RSOs on campus and hopes students will take advantage of the experiences they offer.

“I would encourage any freshman to get involved,” Moore said. “If you have an interest, hobby or passion then find the RSO that fills that niche. And if we don’t have that organization, then create it.” u