When I first moved to Utah, I was excited about two things: starting school and making friends. I was happy to be here, new opportunities existed around every corner, and Weber State was an adventure waiting to unfold. College life was here — and I was going to rock its face.

In fact, after strutting my swag across campus and seeing the local scenery for the first time, I began inquiring about the groups, clubs and organizations Weber State had to offer. If I was going to make friends quickly, I figured my best chance of finding others with like-minded awesomeness would be through WSU’s clubs and organizations page. I logged in, found the organizations site, and scrolled my way to anticipation and high hopes with every flick of the mouse wheel.

Weber State offered over 100 clubs, each a hive of lifelong friendship and entertainment, and I took notes on every organization with the frenzy of a mad scientist on Adderall. According to my annotations, I’d be learning the martial arts, investigating paranormal activity, cuddling in the Cuddle Club, and watching anime with kindred spirits and future friends. I was excited and determined to make college everything I’d ever wanted and more. I registered, filled out a few applications, and waited in anticipation for the adventure to begin.

Unfortunately, days turned into weeks and weeks faded into months as my inquiries went unnoticed and unreturned. No e-mails, no phone calls and no follow-ups as my dreams turned into the realities and demands of my studies and obligations. My club and organization days ended before they ever began as deadlines filled my schedule and my hopes of adventure drifted off alone and forsaken.

Now fast-forward two years to a junior with a beard and a bitter taste of disillusionment. The clubs and organizations still exist in their beckoning and enticing way, but my membership notice never came — my dreams went unfulfilled — and I’ve continued my studies without entertaining distractions or kindred support. I’ve learned to move on; I’ll live without the unity of club life and the companionship of organized groups and activities. I’m strong. I will survive.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Weber State has its share of tremendous clubs, like the Social Work Club or the Psychology Club, but organization and site-upkeep issues are hurting everyone. With multiple clubs boasting single-digit membership, offering little to no contact information for those curious about membership, and event schedules lacking activities both past or present, WSU’s clubs and organizations is a mystery more suited to the likes of Sherlock Holmes than the student body as a whole. With a respectable listing of 176 clubs, ranging from anthropology to the paranormal, one would assume that the extracurricular campus life of hobbies and special interests were alive and well, but — unless unsolved mysteries and organizational disappearances are your thing — you’ll find more shadows and dead ends than the after-hours camaraderie or study-time distractions club life potentially promises.

As of the writing of this article, the Clubs and Organizations Office remained unavailable for comment.