Although any college-based organization with a vaguely pseudo-Greek name recalls images of "Animal House"-style fraternities, the neo-classically named Cal Animage Eta is actually UCLA's resident anime club. For the past ten years, Cal Animage Eta has brought anime fans together from all over Los Angeles.

"We're a student group, but the meetings are open to everyone," says President Angela Wang. "A lot of older people come to watch the shows after they get off work and we've even seen some high school students commuting to attend the shows. One kid has his mother drive him here, then wait for him in the arts library while he watches the screenings."

The club screens anime every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at 2160E Dickson Art Building on the UCLA campus. It is an auditorium replete with a big screen and leveled seating. Screenings generally reflect a taste for more esoteric anime series as the club works to promote Japanese animation unavailable in the United States.

"If something is available here, we encourage people to actually go out and buy it," Wang says. "We want to support American companies and encourage them to continue investing in anime."

Treasurer Steven Lee adds, "It's just better to keep the screenings new and fresh." Many series first screened by Cal Animage Eta go on to be picked up by American distributors. "Cowboy Bebop," now distributed by Bandai Entertainment, first screened at a Cal Animage meeting. Cal Animage Eta even participated in last year's "Gundam Wing" debut at UCLA, as Bandai unveiled plans to bring the series to Cartoon Network.

"It happened mostly through the UCLA Film and Television Archive," says Contact Officer Willie Hung. "We were contacted by Bandai before the event to remind us. Several companies use us for promotion; getting the word out, distributing fliers."

Although not affiliated with any other anime groups, the club is still active in the wider anime community. "We're not officially connected with Anime Expo or anything like that," Wang clarifies. "But a lot of officers do help out with it." Some members have even gone on to key positions in the industry, including two former club presidents - Rhona Medina from Urban Vision and Ardith Santiago from Digital Manga.

The club holds a drawing three times every academic year and club members are eligible to win prizes such as CDs, scrolls, animation cells and art books. "The art books are especially popular," Wang says. "Because those tend to be more expensive. Also, if you like a particular artist's style, this gives you the chance to really get into it."

Other membership privileges include access to Cal Animage's extensive video library, discounts with local merchants and frequent anime-related excursions. Most recently, Cal Animage Eta organized anime shopping trips to Banzai Anime, Mandarake and Little Tokyo. Although the club has experienced some difficulty coordinating discounts with distributors in the past, most stores display great eagerness in working with the club. Comic World, Banzai Anime and Anime Plus all participate in club events.