Mr. Rodriguez declined. A year later, his money and former friends gone, his grades in the tank, he decided to leave the group, which he asked not be named for fear of retribution against him. He finally sought legal help to end phone calls from members questioning his decision. Only then did he discover the group's name was a front name for another organization. Each fall, millions of college-bound students leave home and leap feet first into myriad campus organizations that are a vital part of college life.
Most groups offer students exactly what they advertise.
Others claim to be churches, though they have no religious underpinnings. Fla. With so many new organizations, it's difficult for students to know much about them. A favored recruiting spot College campuses have long been a favored place for new religious and secular groups searching for energetic young members. Students are at a key transition point in their lives and are naturally open to new ideas. But today, like much of the adult population, more students are searching for deeper meaning in their lives, and for a sense of belonging.