Let’s hope your society doesn’t tick the boxes…
Now that the manic events of freshers week and taster sessions have died down in college, people are starting to think more seriously about which clubs they want to join and dedicate their free time to: A decision not taken lightly. With membership fees rising, no one wants to join a club and find out in the middle of the year that it’s swing and miss. To prevent this, here are the five biggest social red flags to watch out for and try to avoid.
1. Only drinking societies
Almost every society has drinking parties, especially in the first few weeks of term. For many, alcohol acts as a social lubricant, helping to form new bonds with people over purple drinks. However, societies should also make a conscious effort to include sober events, not only for people who choose not to drink, but also for those who just like to hang out sober from time to time.
Drinking alcohol as a guarantee of a good time doesn’t mean that communities generally appeal to you as a member, and just seeing people during drinking sessions (drinking or not) makes it harder to make the lasting friendships that make joining. such attractive societies.
2. Ugly logo
This is pretty self-explanatory. Communities with unsightly logos are not particularly ones you want to buy goods or supplies from. While it might be going too far to ignore that logo-based society, it’s something to keep in mind. Some logos look very low quality and should never be worn on a sweater.
3. A small group of friends
This red flag is honestly one of the biggest. Some societies, especially those with smaller Memberships and formed based on a niche market, act as just one big friendship group rather than a friendly and open society. These events feel like a group of clique friends hanging out and rarely include an advertised hobby. I can almost guarantee that all members of society have dated or interacted with each other in some way. Do yourself a favor and don’t get involved. Still strive for what you had, but miss the small, incestuous society. It’s probably too much drama anyway…
4. Humiliation rituals
This is a common societal red flag, and perhaps one you’d expect to find on this list. Humiliation rituals are commonly found in sports clubs during “initiations”. Many have happened recently and you may have heard horror stories. But as someone who has been to initiations both as a freshman and now in my second year helping lead it, the initiations themselves should not be a reason to completely ignore society. They can be a great way to engage in the quirkiness of activities and feel a sense of togetherness when they’re over.
But for some communities, this event is something worth noting. Initiations should push you out of your comfort zone for one night for the fun crime of being fresh, but they shouldn’t ignore your limits as a person or humiliate you for a year. Beware of societies that do not respect your boundaries. As a rule of thumb, anything involving nudity or bodily fluids is a society you should definitely avoid at all costs (but I hope you know that). I understand the absurdity of the previous sentence. They are meant to be a fun experience, I promise.
5. An unadvertised society
In the era of social media, almost all of society’s information is transmitted via Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp or Linktree. When communities do not have an active or organized online presence, it can be so difficult to understand the inner workings of the society and register for events or participate in the implementation. Clubs like this are often the ones you find at fuse fairs with just a piece of paper with their club name on it. To be truly effective, a society needs clear organization and marketing to attract and retain members. Trying to navigate society, especially as a freshman, is hard enough without access to information.