Beyond simply recognizing students, NSCS offers internships, community service opportunities, merchant discounts and scholarships as benefits of membership, according to the society’s website.

Otner, who said she first heard about the NSCS when her friends at other schools were recently inducted, found out more about the society from the site.

Despite the long road ahead to get College recognition, Otner said she is up to the task. And Smith said that both he and the executive director would be willing to come to Harvard and meet with administrators to mediate any problems or concerns University officials may have.

For now, Otner said she will continue to collect names of interested students that have responded to e-mails she sent out over house open lists last week, as well as cement a faculty sponsor. 

She said that she hopes the administration will give NSCS a fair chance before deciding its fate at Harvard.

“To stop it dead in its tracks because they don’t want too many people involved is totally unfair,” she said. “To shoot it down now is like working with blinders on.”