UA students compete to become R.E.A.L. Razorbacks
Jennifer Joyner
Issue date: 10/27/08 Section: News
This month, R.E.A.L. Razorbacks is hosting a membership drive, where organizations will be given points based on the percentage of members who join or are current members of R.E.A.L.
Organizations will be divided into three categories: Greek, Registered Student Organization and residence hall.
R.E.A.L. is a student membership program established by the Arkansas Alumni Association designed to inspire loyalty and involvement with UA students, according to the its Web site.
R.E.A.L. is basically like the AAA for students.
"They enjoy the same benefits, and hopefully they will carry on the tradition after they graduate," said Grant Brewer, AAA coordinator of student programs.
Brewer is in charge of R.E.A.L and the Student Alumni Board.
The SAB is in charge of organizing planned events, such as Homecoming activities. The group focuses on bringing alumni back to the UA.
The SAB also tries to bridge the gap between students and alumni, Brewer said.
R.E.A.L. membership costs $15, and students can sign up online at www.realrazorbacks.org or by visiting the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.
If a student joins online, they must specify their RSO or Greek organization in the Promotion Code box, according to the UA 2008 Homecoming information packet.
Students also will be given opportunities to join R.E.A.L. at all SAB-sponsored Homecoming events or through an SAB member, according to the packet.
Benefits for joining R.E.A.L. include local merchant discounts, listed on www.realrazorbacks.org. Campus involvement opportunities and alumni-student networking benefits also are listed on the Web site.
R.E.A.L. members also receive a T-shirt and a drinking glass.
The count for the contest includes students currently enrolled in R.E.A.L and those who enroll before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The incorporation of the membership drive is another way for student organizations to gain points during Homecoming week that requires no artistic or athletic ability.
It is also a way to fund Homecoming, as the SAB's budget is directly tied to membership in R.E.A.L.
The SAB, which organizes Homecoming, is the governing board of R.E.A.L., and because the SAB does not fundraise, R.E.A.L. membership is its primary budget outside of sponsorships, according to the Arkansas Alumni Association Web site.
"How much we can do depends on how many memberships we have," Brewer said.
R.E.A.L. hosted this membership drive last year, and it was very successful, he said.
After the drive, the membership rate was higher than it's ever been since R.E.A.L. was established in 2003.
"We had a good response," Brewer said.
The success of last year's drive has helped fund the 2008 Homecoming, he said.
Many students don't mind the R.E.A.L. membership drive and think it's an integral part of the Homecoming celebration.
"Competing is part of what builds the brotherhood aspect of college," senior Pamela Isbell said.
Organizations will be divided into three categories: Greek, Registered Student Organization and residence hall.
R.E.A.L. is a student membership program established by the Arkansas Alumni Association designed to inspire loyalty and involvement with UA students, according to the its Web site.
R.E.A.L. is basically like the AAA for students.
"They enjoy the same benefits, and hopefully they will carry on the tradition after they graduate," said Grant Brewer, AAA coordinator of student programs.
Brewer is in charge of R.E.A.L and the Student Alumni Board.
The SAB is in charge of organizing planned events, such as Homecoming activities. The group focuses on bringing alumni back to the UA.
The SAB also tries to bridge the gap between students and alumni, Brewer said.
R.E.A.L. membership costs $15, and students can sign up online at www.realrazorbacks.org or by visiting the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.
If a student joins online, they must specify their RSO or Greek organization in the Promotion Code box, according to the UA 2008 Homecoming information packet.
Students also will be given opportunities to join R.E.A.L. at all SAB-sponsored Homecoming events or through an SAB member, according to the packet.
Benefits for joining R.E.A.L. include local merchant discounts, listed on www.realrazorbacks.org. Campus involvement opportunities and alumni-student networking benefits also are listed on the Web site.
R.E.A.L. members also receive a T-shirt and a drinking glass.
The count for the contest includes students currently enrolled in R.E.A.L and those who enroll before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The incorporation of the membership drive is another way for student organizations to gain points during Homecoming week that requires no artistic or athletic ability.
It is also a way to fund Homecoming, as the SAB's budget is directly tied to membership in R.E.A.L.
The SAB, which organizes Homecoming, is the governing board of R.E.A.L., and because the SAB does not fundraise, R.E.A.L. membership is its primary budget outside of sponsorships, according to the Arkansas Alumni Association Web site.
"How much we can do depends on how many memberships we have," Brewer said.
R.E.A.L. hosted this membership drive last year, and it was very successful, he said.
After the drive, the membership rate was higher than it's ever been since R.E.A.L. was established in 2003.
"We had a good response," Brewer said.
The success of last year's drive has helped fund the 2008 Homecoming, he said.
Many students don't mind the R.E.A.L. membership drive and think it's an integral part of the Homecoming celebration.
"Competing is part of what builds the brotherhood aspect of college," senior Pamela Isbell said.
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