Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Social clubs given option to lengthen phases

Social clubs given option to lengthen phases

August 27, 2009 by Linda Bailey

At the beginning of every fall semester, social club pledges can be seen wearing their club’s colors Monday through Thursday. For two weeks, students cross campus dressed in brightly colored skirts, suits and ties, but this semester pledges may be required to wear their traditional outfits longer.

After meeting with club members, advisers and other Student Life faculty, Mauri Westbrook, director of student organizations, said they decided to keep the length of pledging at about six weeks, but give clubs the option of extending Phase One. If a club decides to lengthen Phase One, they give up that amount of time in Phase Two, Westbrook said.

“We realized that in order for clubs to accomplish the goals they have and what they are wanting to achieve, they needed a little bit more time,” Westbrook said.

The two-phase pledging system was instituted two years ago. According to the Student Organization Handbook, students during Phase One “work toward unity among the pledges, learning club traditions, and participating as club activities as pledge. – The second phase of pledging will focus on overall club unity and community building.”

Alpha Kai Omega Kai-O Queen Rachel Smith said there is a distinct difference between the two phases, but the goal of both is unity.

“Phase One is really working on unifying the pledge class together, and Phase Two is working on unifying pledges and club members into one whole unit,” Smith said.

Pledges wear their club “colors” during Phase One and participate in a more traditional style of pledging. Smith, senior elementary education major from Richardson, said she thought positively about the change because it will allow pledges more bonding time and excitement.

“There is something about wearing your colors that gives you a sense of pride in the fact that people are aware of what you are doing,” Smith said.

The extension to Phase One is a change that Ko Jo Kai president Lanna Armstrong, senior accounting major from Dallas, thinks will be a good thing. She said students feel most like pledges during the first phase.

“Phase One is more traditional pledging,” Armstrong said. “I think that everyone is pretty excited about it.”

Conner Halstead, senior youth and family ministry major from Odessa and president of Gamma Sigma Phi, said they have been working for the last two years trying to determine what works best in the two-phase system. The second phase was the longer one, but also the phase that was most unfamiliar to club members. Halstead said he thinks the new length of Phase One will benefit the club.

“I’m not sure that the extra week will make pledging better, but I think it is more familiar to people and so it will be easier to execute,” Halstead said. “I understand the meaning and purpose of the second phase, but it has been the hardest for us to fully realize what we need to do to make that the most effective.”

Club rushes begin next week, and there will be an informational meeting for all students interested in pledging Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Hart Auditorium. Students seeking more information can visit www.acu.edu/socialclubs or look on the student events calendar found on myACU.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Social Clubs

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

About Linda Bailey

You are here: Home / News / Social clubs given option to lengthen phases

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257 Retweet on Twitter 1521918832738144257 1 Like on Twitter 1521918832738144257 8 Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Like on Twitter 1521607087553458178 18 Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved