diff --git a/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua b/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
index e1d84f4..43ba3cc 100644
--- a/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
+++ b/modpol/orgs/orgs.lua
@@ -92,9 +92,8 @@ end
 function modpol.orgs.init_instance()
     local error_msg
     if modpol.orgs.array[1] then
-        error_msg = 'Error: instance has already been initialized'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: instance has already been initialized')
+        return false
     end
 
     local instance = temp_org()
@@ -128,14 +127,15 @@ function modpol.orgs:record(msg, entry_type)
     if type(msg) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(msg)) then
         entry.action_msg = msg
     else
-        print('Error: msg must be a non empty string')
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: msg must be a non empty string')
         return false
     end
 
     if type(entry_type) == 'string' and not(modpol.ocutil.str_empty(entry_type)) then
         entry.entry_type = entry_type
     else
-        print('Error: entry_type must be a non empty string')
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: entry_type must be a non empty string')
+        print(msg, entry_type)
         return false
     end
 
@@ -152,21 +152,18 @@ end
 -- ex: instance:add_org('town hall')
 function modpol.orgs:add_org(name)
     if self.id == nil then
-        error_msg = 'Error: add_org can only be called by another org'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: add_org can only be called by another org')
+        return false
     end
 
     if modpol.ocutil.str_empty(name) then
-        error_msg = 'Error: org name is required'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: org name is required')
+        return false
     end
 
     if modpol.orgs.get_org(name) then
-        error_msg = 'Error: org name is already being used'
-        modpol.ocutil.log(error_msg)
-        return false, error_msg
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: org name is already being used')
+        return false
     end
 
     -- creating the child sub org
@@ -185,6 +182,7 @@ function modpol.orgs:add_org(name)
     modpol.orgs.array[child_org.id] = child_org
 
     self:record('created sub org ' .. name, 'add_org')
+    modpol.ocutil.log('Created sub org ' .. name)
 
     return child_org
 end
@@ -195,7 +193,8 @@ end
 -- note: "reason" param was removed, can be added back
 function modpol.orgs:delete()
     if self.id == 1 then
-        return false, 'Error: cannot delete instance'
+        modpol.ocutil.log('Error: cannot delete instance')
+        return false
     end
     
     if #self.children > 0 then
@@ -207,7 +206,7 @@ function modpol.orgs:delete()
     end
 
     modpol.orgs.array[self.id] = 'removed'
-    print('Removed ' .. self.name .. ': ' .. self.id)
+    modpol.ocutil.log('Removed ' .. self.name .. ': ' .. self.id)
 
     self:record('Deleted ' .. self.name .. ' and all child orgs', 'del_org')
 
@@ -235,7 +234,8 @@ function modpol.orgs:add_member(user)
         -- adds to end if no empty spots
         table.insert(self.members, user)
     end
-    self.record('Added member ' .. user, 'add_member')
+    self:record('Added member ' .. user, 'add_member')
+
 end
 
 -- =======================================
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ function modpol.orgs:remove_member(user)
     if user_index then
         self.members[user_index] = ''
     end
-    self.record('Removed member ' .. user, 'del_member')
+    self:record('Removed member ' .. user, 'del_member')
 end
 
 -- ===========================================
@@ -299,16 +299,24 @@ function modpol.orgs:make_request(request)
     -- makes sure the request has the valid number of parameters
     local num_params = modpol.orgs.request_params[request.type]
 
-    if num_params == nil then return false end
+    if num_params == nil then 
+        modpol.ocutil.log("Error: request type is invalid")
+        return false 
+    end
    
     for k, v in ipairs(request.params) do
         num_params = num_params - 1
     end 
-    if num_params ~= 0 then return false end
+
+    if num_params ~= 0 then
+        modpol.ocutil.log("Error: request has invalid number of parameters") 
+        return false 
+    end
 
     -- checking to see if identical request already exists
     for k, v in ipairs(self.requests) do
         if self.comp_req(request, v) == true then
+            modpol.ocutil.log("Error: request has already been made")
             return false
         end
     end