In an effort to save money, Associated Students has combined the programs Green Thunder and Sting Team to form an unnamed group for new students this semester.

Around 35 students have already signed up and ASI wants more to join as word gets out.Until this year, Green Thunder and Sting Team were separate programs made for students to get involved and make new friends. The programs helped students with their major and career plans for the future.

“This new program doesn’t have a name yet,” said Jennifer Millsap, director of student life and services. “We want the students to name the group themselves. Leadership skills will be a main focus in the group.”

Millsap started at Sacramento State as a member of the Sting Team and worked her way up to a director spot in ASI.

Freshman students aren’t the only ones who can join.

With the two groups now as one, transfer students will also be able to join and get involved in school.

The Sting Team used to be for freshman only. It was a pre-picked group of students brought together to work one-on-one with the board of directors at ASI. Directors teamed up with a first-year student to mentor them and prepare them for positions in ASI.

The Sting Team went on retreats and held fund-raising events for the new students to get used to the college life and prepare for the future.

Green Thunder was a group of students brought together for school spirit and to support Sac State’s athletics.

“Athletics is not the only focus anymore,” Millsap said. “We’re trying to mesh the two groups together for more students to have an opportunity to get involved and show their school spirit.”

The unnamed group was suggested last May and finally became official July 1, with the passing of ASI’s budget.

“This new group was created to reduce spending,” said Patricia Worley, ASI executive director.

ASI spent $17,672 to support Sting Team and $40,500 to support Green Thunder for the 2003-2004 school year. With the progrmas combined this year, ASI will spend $39,811.

Sting Team disappeared last May, during budget preparations for the newly combined programs’ spending plans.

“The unnamed group will be going off Green Thunder’s basic budget, with some reductions and modifications,” Millsap said.

Some plans to start a spirit group for Sac State sports are also underway at the athletics department.

There hasn’t been a final decision yet, but there is another possibility for students to have a chance to get involved and cheer for their school.

Gang Green might take the place of Green Thunder and offer an incentive program where students can come together and cheer at Sac State’s sporting events.

“ASI’s new program will have students coming only to the large games and not all of them,” said Scott Freshour, one of the organizers for Gang Green. “Without a good support group, what is the point to athletics? All other sports have a core of fans. UC Davis has their students boosting school spirit for sports. We’re trying to build that fan base here.”

T-shirts, food coupons, and other prizes will be awarded to students who attend games.Nothing has been approved, but Freshour is confident Gang Green will be a reality.

The athletics department, although separate from ASI, shares interest in student involvement.

“We want to work together with ASI and their new group. We do not want to compete with them,” said Terry Wanless, athletics director.

Plans for an athletic spirit group are not far off.

ASI kicks off their new program Wednesday at 6 p.m. with a meeting at Round Table Pizza in the University Union.

“The meeting is going to be run by the students. My co-adviser and I will be taking over the first three meetings and then it is up to them,” said Laura Cadranel, the group’s adviser.

The students will help plan, promote and decorate for the university’s homecoming events. Other activities will be discussed at the first meeting.