This year social clubs are allowed to take a higher number of pledges than ever before and can extend up to 65 bids if they choose to.
Last year the maximum number of bids they could offer was 52, but this year they have had to accommodate the 325 women who signed up to pledge, almost 100 more women than last year.
When the girls ranked on Wednesday there were between 270-280 girls still in the rushing process. Even though this is less than the original 325 women registered to pledge ACU will still allow each club to accept 65 bids.
“Its definitely more than normal but I still think it’s a very do-able number,” said Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs. “It may mean that there are fewer girls who participate in Sing Song this year but I don’t think that’s going to be astronomical. We’ve added about 13 girls this year so its pretty minor.”
So far Alpha Kai Omega hasn’t made any cuts and they look forward to a large pledge class said AKO Vice President Abigail Talley, senior biology major from Tanga, Tanzania.
“If 65 girls wanted to be in our club we would love to have them,” said Talley. “We are hoping that we don’t have to make cuts.”
Audrey Zinsmeister, senior nursing major from San Antonio and president of Gata, is also excited about the overflow of pledges.
“We are really excited about it honestly,” said Zinsmeister. “If I could let them have 100 pledges, I would let them have 100. I just think girls are really excited more than anything.”
However, not every club will accept 65 pledges this year. Zeta Rho doesn’t plan to have as many pledges as other clubs and hopes to take around 30 pledges.
Jackson said that every club has the option to vote another time between now and next Wednesday night. The final results will be revealed to the prospective pledges Thursday night in Hart Auditorium from 5:30-6:00pm.
“We want to encourage all of the girls to continue going to rushes,” said Jackson. “We hope that 270-280 girls pledge. I just want to encourage girls to continue in the process and hope that they find a club where God wants them to be. Sometimes it can be hard when you don’t get your first choice, but I’ve just reiterated over and over to just trust God.”
