Since she was hired this summer, Kara Abston, assistant dean of student life, has been working with social clubs to change the induction process so that it meets new standards that administrators said will hopefully create a more positive experience for new members than in years past.
“The spirit of club week has changed from previous years when new members served the older members to the old members mentoring the new members,” said Abston, who participated in the club process as a student in 1984 with Tri Kappa social club. “The club officers have embraced these changes and have accepted the new spirit.”
Another change to this year’s club week is the amount of time allowed for club week activities each day. Previously, inductees were required to be active throughout each day of club week, but now club week activities occur from 5 to 10 p.m. only.
With the exception of the evening activities, Abston said each day of club week should look like any other day of the school year. Although the student center will not have the same frenzied atmosphere as before, clubs will be allowed to hang club banners that new members create, she said.
“The new members will still have club books with club verses, songs, histories and constitutions,” Abston said. “They will also have a signature page for old members to sign, but getting signatures will not be mandatory to get into the club. It will simply be something for them to check off on after they have met with a club member on an individual basis.”
Abston said the changes have not been easy, but she said the social club sponsors, presidents and vice presidents have adapted well.
Many social clubs’ vice presidents, who are the main organizers behind each social club’s induction process, have had to nearly recreate their club week to fit the new standards.
“We have had to spend a lot of time trying to create new traditions that fit in with the new attitudes surrounding the process,” said senior Heidi Tabor, vice president for Zeta Rho. “While we are excited about all of the changes, it is still difficult to let go of activities and traditions we have held onto since the beginning.”
Senior Drew Ater, vice president of Gamma Sigma Phi, said his club is working on creating new traditions to fit the new standards.
“We are going to start an Iron Man competition with Titans just to help bridge a gap between clubs,” Ater said.
There will also be changes to costume accessories that new members usually wear to differentiate themselves from other clubs. However, club clothing has not been wiped completely from club week.
“The usual accessories can only be worn during the 5 to 10 p.m. time range,” Abston said. “And all club members must wear the same outfit. Now, old club members can wear different colors from what the new members are wearing, but you can’t have the older members wearing suits while the new members wear camouflage.”
Also new to the process was the fourth-round mixer, which was held Monday night, Oct. 17. Students who did not receive visitation invites were able to visit smaller clubs to see if they would like to join.
“I think that adding the fourth-round reception was very beneficial,” said Mary Beth Noblitt, vice president of Chi Kappa Rho. “It allowed the girls who had been busy during the earlier mixers, or had not been voted on later in the process, to try and find a place in the open clubs. It was much better than the open table situations that we have had in the past.”
With so many students interested in social clubs and with only so many spots to fill in each club, Abston said there is a strong need for more social clubs on campus.
“We just have so many students interested in joining social clubs that we need more clubs,” Abston said. “Social clubs provide wonderful opportunities for students to make lasting relationships.”
