By Lori Bredemeyer, Student Reporter
As the pledging process comes into full swing, a few students are deciding not to partake in the activities.
Eleven men and nine women have depledged from social clubs, according to Amanda Spell, coordinator of Student Organizations and Campus Activities. Women’s club Delta Theta and men’s club Gamma Sigma Phi have had the most students depledge.
Depledging occurs when a student receives a bid or invitation from a social club, participates in club activities, such as a meeting or Bid Night, and then decides to drop out of the pledging process. Spell said the main reason students give for depledging is a time issue.
“It’s a big commitment,” she said. “Some people are overwhelmed with school, and they just can’t give up that time. It can often be stressful and there’s other stresses going on in their lives, and sometimes it’s just way too much.”
Chris Faulkner, sophomore youth and family ministry major from Irving, accepted a bid from Gamma Sigma Phi and participated in Bid Night.
He said he depledged for spiritual reasons.
“I didn’t know what to expect going in there, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for what happened,” Faulkner said. “I just didn’t believe they were the Christian organization they said they were.”
He also said he will probably not pledge again.
“I’ve really turned anti-club,” he said. “I just think we’re called to a higher calling and I really just want to serve God. I don’t want to get bogged down in pledging.”
“Club has meant a great deal to me,” said Gamma Sigma Phi president Michael Seibert, senior math major from Grapevine. “I have a lot of pride in it and in our guys. Everything we do has a purpose.”
Seibert also said that club has had a positive impact on him spiritually.
“I have been uplifted because of guys who have helped pull me and others through rough times,” he said. “It’s also uplifting to have a group of guys to pray with and for.”
Mary Foster, sophomore history major from Abilene, said she decided to depledge after reflecting on her reasons for joining Alpha Kai Omega and realizing time was a concern.
“I realized the only reason I was doing it was because all my friends were doing it,” Foster said. “The girls in Alpha Kai are really great-it’s not them, but I was looking at the schedule, and I just don’t have time. Spell said other reasons students depledge are because they work or there are family problems. She said the number of depledged students is rising.
“It seems to be a little higher this year,” she said. “I feel like in the past there’s been a stigma attached to depledging-that you would never want to do that. But now that’s kind of gone away, and I think it’s more accepted.”
