By Mallory Sherwood, Managing Editor

The men of Sub T-16 may end their two-year probation early, if they complete their required self-study soon. Dr. Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life, said in an e-mail that Sub T-16 has made progress with its self-study and that an earlier reinstatement would be contingent upon its work toward the evaluation process.

Jared Davis, Sub T president, said the 29 men active in club were digging up information about the club’s history in hopes that they could complete their self-study by the end of the summer.

“We’ve been interviewing Sub T alumni, researching our history, talking to our advisers and learning things about how the club works that we didn’t know,” said Davis, junior exercise science major from Cameron.

He said in the seven months since the club’s deactivation, members now have a better understanding about what the club was like when it began and how it has changed.

Since October, 16 members were elected to officer positions, which has helped bring a change in the club’s attitude, Davis said.

He said he thinks people will see a difference both in attitude and behavior once the club is back on campus.

“We want to show the school that we know what we’re about and where we are going,” Davis said. “I think its been good for everyone.”

Barnard said their process includes asking questions related to mission, purpose, goals, strategies, issues related to how groups develop and sustain themselves over the years, self-discipline, new member recruiting and pledging practices.

Davis said the club wants to complete the self-study by the end of the semester or by August, if possible, so in the best-case-scenario, the club could begin rushing or pledging members next spring.

“They didn’t say our probation was set in stone, so we’re trying to do this work as hard as we can to do this right,” Davis said.

This self-study process isn’t new to social clubs though and shouldn’t be new, Barnard said.

“Ultimately, Sub T, like many ACU social clubs, needs to gain a keen awareness as to who they are in relation to their original charter,” Barnard said. “Furthermore, Sub T needs to analyze their original charter in light of who ACU is as a university in the 21st century.

“No one can disagree with the fact that society, culture and the church has changed dramatically in the last 100 years. Social clubs and students organizations formed in the early 1900s are not the same as the similar group formed or existing in 2006.”

He said this process, which women’s social club Delta Theta recently completed, is important for all clubs.

“I believe it is essential for every club to engage in the same process as both Sub T and Delta Theta,” he said. “These clubs will be better clubs for having engaged this process.”

No specific timeline has been set yet for when Sub T can be reactivated.