The spring social club interest meeting will take place this coming Tuesday in Cullen Auditorium at 4 p.m.
Associate director of student organizations and programs Mark Jackson said the meeting is open to anyone who has the slightest interest in rushing this spring and possibly pledging next fall.
“I think students interested in pledging get excited, though they do not know full know all the benefits of being a part of a social club,” Jackson said.
Although the meeting is not mandatory, Jackson strongly recommends it and says it will give students lots of valuable information.
Jackson said the meeting will highlight three main ideas; what social clubs are, eligibility and the benefits of pledging and how rushing works in general. He will also be open to answering any questions the students might have.
As one of the many opportunities for students to be involved on campus, vice president of student life Chris Riley said social clubs provide a unique and exciting opportunity for students to be active and engaged on campus.
“From a practical standpoint, clubs provide opportunities for students to enhance real world skills like leadership, organizations, marketing, communications and problem solving,” Riley said. “They benefit the university by getting students involved and creating life-long friendships that provide support to current students and keep alumni connected to the university.”
In previous years Jackson said the meeting has done a good job of removing any preconceived notions students might have about the pledging process in general.
“A lot of the times this meeting is sharing the history of how are clubs got started and how unique they are to our campus,” Jackson said. “It is important that students understand why our clubs exist, so they can make an informed decision about potentially joining.”
After the meeting, if students are interested in pledging, they can begin registering April 4 starting at 9 a.m. Jackson said registration will remain open until late August.
The first rush that students will have an opportunity to attend is the All-Club Rush at the GATA Fountain, April 7. There, students will have their first interactions with clubs and their members in the social club atmosphere.
“The spring meeting and rush process is a great opportunity for anyone, from the most to least interested, to learn more about clubs and decide if they want to get involved,” Riley said. “It provides time to ask questions, meet the clubs and talk to others about how clubs have benefitted their ACU experience.”
To pledge, students must be at least a sophomore and not be on academic or chapel probation.
