From praising the mass text feature to questioning how the cost of about $15,000 would be managed, registered student organization members spoke their minds Tuesday on implementing OrgSync to campus.

OrgSync, a web-based community management system, provides features such as an integrated calendar of different organization events, a section where documents can be organized, an area where products like tickets and T-shirts can be purchased, and an option to send mass texts and emails to members.

Student Body President Ed Hotwagner, a senior mathematics major, described OrgSync as a combination of Panthermail, WebCT and Facebook during the Student Organization Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Hotwagner led the organization members through browsing the features of an OrgSync sample website.

“One of the interesting aspects of OrgSync is its feature to track the progress of tasks that members are assigned,” Hotwagner said. “You can also decide who has access to certain information so members can see information non-members can’t and the same with officers.”

Stephanie Gribbin, a junior English major and the SOC representative from EIU Pride, said she thought the only reluctance of OrgSync would be the cost of bringing it to campus.

“Even though individual organizations wouldn’t be charged, I think the cost of initially getting it here would turn people off, particularly whoever has to foot the bill, but I think it would be a good way to build that community feel that Eastern has,” Gribbin said.

Kaci Abolt, a junior communication studies major and the student vice president for student affairs, said the estimated first-year fee for implementing OrgSync would be about $15,000.

The cost is one of the more expensive options OrgSync offers because they would want to choose the maximum organization preference, which provides the service to 200 or more student groups, Abolt said.

“More and more RSOs are created every semester and we wouldn’t want to turn away any organizations,” she said.

If the Eastern community shows enough support for purchasing the system, they may try to form a new student fee to pay for OrgSync, Hotwagner said.

“There is no chance of bringing this to campus if the students and departments and offices are not on board,” he said.

Gribbin said the way features are organized on OrgSync might cause more people to want to join groups and contribute to tasks.

“I liked how organized it is because our group currently uses a Facebook page so things that are important get pushed down the feed,” Gribbin said. “It would also make assignments more organized and comprehensive because we have some huge events like the Diva Drag Show and the Sex Positive Fair where every member is involved.”

After providing feedback and reading case studies from other universities who use purchased OrgSync, the organization members scheduled a webinar session for April 17 with Courtney Jerdan, the OrgSync director of business development.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].