Students interested in pledging a social club will not have to wait until the fall to do so. ACU men’s social clubs Pi Kappa and Frater Sodalis as well as a re-charter of women’s social club Zeta Rho will participate in spring pledging. The typical pledging requirements, such as being a sophomore by hours and having at least a 2.5 GPA, still stand, but the length of pledging will be only three weeks.
Luke Burnam, senior education major from Mesquite and president of Pi Kappa, said although spring pledging will be only three weeks, Pi Kappa views this as a positive opportunity to gain more members.
“We’ve had several guys that want to pledge Pi Kappa in the spring even though they graduate in May because they know what a special group Pi Kappa is,” Burnam said. “For Pi Kappa, it’s the experience as a member that changes you, not the pledging process.”
Spring pledging was an annual event on the campus from the 1950’s to the late 1980’s as a way for all clubs to add to their number of members. Student Life reinstated spring pledging last year after a recommendation from the Inter-Social Club Council.
The number of students registered to pledge this spring impresses Mark Jackson, associate director of Student Organizations and Programs.
“For the Office of Student Activities, it was about creating another option for students who want to participate in social clubs,” Jackson said. “We have had almost 50 people register to pledge, which is over 5 times the amount for last spring.”
Zeta Rho, a woman’s social club last active in the ’90’s, will beginthe rechartering process this semester. Women in the service group “Beloved” initiated the effort.
Becca Clay, junior speech pathology major from Salt Lake City, sees spring pledging as a better option for her schedule as well as an opportunity to create new traditions with her fellow pledge class.
“Technically we don’t have to pledge because we are the rechartering class, but we want to be able to tell the girls who come in that we too [have participated in the traditions] and we can walk alongside them in that experience,” Clay said.
Pledging registration closed last Friday, however eligible students will have the opportunity to pledge in the fall of 2012.
