Not one of the largest anime clubs in the US, AUSAM (Auburn University Society of Anime/Manga) is certainly one of the most energetic and opinionated. Based out of the Auburn University campus in Southeastern Alabama, Auburn's Anime Club currently consists of 10-20 regular attending members. The Tuesday night meetings and regular screenings are currently open to anyone who wishes to come and enjoy anime. Screening programs include a large bulk of commercially subtitled anime with dubs and fansubs thrown in for flavor. On rare occasions the members watch a raw Japanese video, making up their own translations as it rolls on.

AUSAM first became official during the Winter Quarter (January) of 1997. Among its first officers were founders Tim Black (first president), Chris Gray (secretary) and Aaron Weiss.

Still strong after three years, current AUSAM president Beau Frierson explains how the club utilizes the internet to maintain interest and momentum.

"We network with other anime clubs via e-mail and maintain a website (http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/anime_manga/). The club also gets lots of e-mail from various companies to test-screen their titles and send in feedback," Frierson says.

Due to some of the high-speed networking available on campus in recent years, AUSAM is able to download anime video clips as well. By distributing flyers and placing information pieces in the campus newspaper, the club is able to recruit new members. And since AUSAM's inception, members have circulated a schedule that serves mainly to attract newcomers. As a unit AUSAM has traveled to the Anime Weekend Atlanta convention in Georgia.

During previous president Jason Chuang's tenure, AUSAM reserved a room for the entire quarter to be able to watch anime on a regular basis - Foy Union, the University of Auburn's student union, became a semi-permanent home. Under Frierson, things have changed.

Frierson explains, "We use a computer lab for club. It is about 50 feet by 35 feet, has 16 computers, and a ten foot screen that we watch the tapes on. The room is on the third floor of an old building without elevators so we have to climb three flights of steps to get to it. If you can picture a group of about 10 collage students, most of who are in computer related fields, sitting in front of blank monitors watching sub titled anime on a ten-foot screen with a nearly continuous stream of comments, conversation, and laughter you have imagined us."

Current secretary Chris Gray describes the atmosphere of meetings as relatively laid back.

"The main issue of discussion among members is usually what we will watch for each screening. Anyone can bring in tapes and make suggestions," Gray says.

Frierson adds, "After every tape we usually have a 15 to 20 minute break where people go get snacks, drinks, and perform other petty chores. We also use this time to expound on what we just watched, and discuss the preceding topics. Also during the showing we will throw out comments, criticisms, and such. The beauty of subtitles allows us to do this."

But Chuang emphasizes the benefits of corporate anime. He says, "The strength of the anime company is the ability to bring so many different titles into the US. I find that a plus. Also I am happy they usually listen to fans input to bring the best of anime to the US."