Rather than letting the rain dampen their spirits, social club members and pledges said the rain made Bid Night a more memorable experience.

The five-week pledging process began on Friday night at 5 p.m. and ended on Saturday at 5 a.m. accompanied by four inches of rain. Bailey McMath, senior speech pathology major from Missouri City and GATA Pledge Mom said GATA planned around the weather.

“We saw the rain on the forecast, so we made a rain plan ahead of time in case we needed it,” McMath said. “Since we were prepared, we were ready to give the girls pledging just as good a Bid Night if not better than other ones. All of the activities were done; some just had to be relocated.”

McMath said the rain did not create negative attitudes throughout Bid Night.

“The girls pledging didn’t know what to expect, so their spirits were high even though it was raining,” McMath said. “We were still able to have fun. For some activities, the rain made the experience even more memorable and enjoyable.”

McMath said GATA pledges were allowed to change clothes after an activity outside left everyone wet and muddy from the rain.

McMath said, “We didn’t want anyone to get sick from being wet and cold.”

Frater Sodalis pledge and brat president Seth Montgomery, sophomore engineering major from Abilene, said his Bid Night experience was made more difficult by the rain.

“By the end, I was soaking, cold and muddy,” Montgomery said. “The rain made it hard and kind of miserable, but it also made it so much more memorable. I grew stronger with my pledge brothers because we were all in it together. It was the most fun I never want to have again.”

Ko Jo Kai pledge Mara Fleet, sophomore graphic design major from Abilene, said she heard several girls lost their heels in the mud when running from activity to activity.

“The rain definitely made Bid Night messier,” Fleet said. “I was ankle deep in puddles all night. When I got home, I found that mud had soaked through my shoes.”