Social Clubs? There’s an app for that. Well at least that is the case for the orange and blue ladies of the women’s social club Pi Theta Phi (PTP). PTP president, senior Erin Raimondi designed a club app this summer in preparation for the fall semester. Raimondi said the app would help make club communication more efficient.
This app was originally planned to be used for taking attendance, function sign-up sheets, club event dates and general updates and notifications within PTP. However, it now doubles as a tool for recruitment in the club process. Students interested in PTP can download the app to get an overview of the club, see pictures of current and past members, get updates on upcoming events and sign in to mixers to avoid waiting in line, allowing for quick access during receptions. Raimondi expressed that she hopes more clubs will start using apps because it makes things so much easier.
While other clubs may not have their own apps, clubs easily find ways to make the best of current technology. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are commonly used among clubs –– for example, 20 out of the 29 social clubs have an Instagram page.
Instagram is full of content to show off what clubs are about. Pages often spotlight current and new members, queens or beaux, or pictures of upcoming events such as mixers, fundraisers or birthdays. With losses of loved ones or times of difficulty, clubs can also use social media platforms to turn their pages into something bigger than themselves.
Messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger or GroupMe have found a purpose for inductee classes to communicate during Club Week or even after Club Week has ended.
“[TNT] mainly used GroupMe during the Club Week process or just to message something out to everyone pretty fast,” said junior Addison Picker, historian of men’s social club TNT. “Other than that, everything else can be found on Facebook.”
Clubs find ways to use Facebook to create social club pages for activities, function information, meeting times or to post prayer requests. Some clubs create pages solely for prayer. Junior Angelo Felix, member of men’s social club Gamma Sigma Phi says Facebook is great for his club.
“[Facebook] is very beneficial; it is a helpful network that allows us to stay connected even when we’re not together in person,” Felix said.
In a world where technology is constantly upgrading, clubs have found ways to upgrade as well.
“Social clubs give you an opportunity to create things that nobody has done, and I think it is important to tap into that for your club,” Raimondi said. “No matter what your talent is, do something that is different, and you might change things.”
