For University of Saskatchewan students, finding a sense of belonging on campus can be difficult. As such, what better way to get to know other like minded academics than through the U of S Pizza Club?

In early October 2015, the USPC Facebook community went online. Co-founded by U of S students Dylan Cooper and Holden Blue, the official description of the club is “a community gathering of students and pizza.”

With a premise so simple, how is this not be built for success? While the club is rather new, in an email interview with the Sheaf, Cooper, a second-year biology major, explains that its roots trace further back.

“The inspiration came from our weekly get togethers with friends for pizza and beer at [Aroma Resto Bar],” Cooper said. “We want to put emphasis on the group being more about meeting new people on campus because that seems to be something a lot of students struggle with.”

This is an incredibly valid point and it’s something the U of S should take note of. While the USPC has no actual affiliation with the U of S, it should. University is a gruelling experience a lot of the time and there’s no doubt it’s alienating as hell. Bonding over pizza sounds like a pretty good remedy to me.

At the time of print, the USPC Facebook page had 67 members — admittedly a number that could use improvement. However, ratifying the club as a student group through the U of S Students’ Union would still be doable — and incredibly helpful.

Being an official club on campus at the U of S is pretty heavy on the perks. Your club can get advertising from the USSU on their TVs, mailing lists, recruitment opportunities at events like Welcome Week and other forms of promotion.

By ratifying you can also rent spaces on campus to host events. When it comes to hosting events, Cooper has an idea or two up his sleeve.

“The kind of events we could put on are on-campus pizza study sessions where we get people of all sorts of academic backgrounds to congregate over pizza and help each other with their studies,” Cooper said.

Sweetening the ratification deal even further, U of S student groups can apply for USSU funding. This is where things really get interesting.

Funding would allow the USPC to finance the kind of pizza-oriented student events that Cooper speaks of, a fact not lost on him at a time when the club’s activity is somewhat limited.

“We can be more active if we had funding,” Cooper said.

Clearly, getting the club ratified is a great idea if possible. So is it possible? In a word — maybe.

Ratification is no easy process. While the USPC is already well above the 15 person minimum membership to be considered, bank statements, a club constitution, a delegation of executive positions and a list of planned on-campus activities are required, among other steps.

Worst of all, when USSU funding is such a big motivation for ratifying a club, the $100 fee may just be too steep for some groups to manage. However, all signs would seem to suggest that the only thing standing in the way of ratification of the USPC is a little bit of elbow grease.

Lastly, while pizza and beer with friends is obviously good for the mind and soul, it should be noted that even the group’s co-founder recognizes it may not be the best thing for your waistline. But in moderation, taking part in the club’s activities can still be part of a healthy lifestyle.

“Make sure you stay active after you eat pizza, unless you want a pizza body,” Cooper said.

Ratified or not, for the time being you can find the USPC every Wednesday night at Aroma Resto Bar in the Radisson Hotel Saskatoon.