This year’s spring pledging class will include the most social club involvement in years, with women’s club Alpha Kai Omega and men’s clubs Pi Kappa, Trojans and Nu Kappa Psi.

Social clubs were encouraged to add a spring pledge class to provide more opportunities for students who couldn’t pledge in the fall.

“In terms of why we are pushing spring pledging, it all really comes down to “on-ramps for community.”  We want as many opportunities as possible for our students to get connected to good relationships and know that social clubs provide that opportunity and that’s why we believe in them and promote them,” said Scott McDowell, vice president for student life.

Adding pledge classes in the spring also provides more opportunities for students who may be studying abroad in the fall.

“We saw it as the right direction for our club. We really wanted to expand to those who were studying abroad in the fall and also to freshman so they’d have more time in club,” said Sierra Sumner, Alpha Kai Omega president.

Spring pledging isn’t new to every club, however. Nu Kappa Psi has had a spring pledge class since its first in 2016.

“We try to take a pledge class every semester because Nu Kappa Psi’s goal is to bring together male African American students, not exclusively, but our target is male African American students, and to build them up and to grow together to become successful in life and school,” Roland Campos, Nu Kappa Psi president, said.

The rushing season will begin on March 2, with dates for individual rushes pending.