Take a deep breath, pledging ends this week. Most pledges have already been accepted into the clubs they have been longing to be a part of. Both members and pledges can finally see the end.

Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs, said, “Friday night is when pledging is officially over for all of our clubs.”

Unlike other pledges, the pledges of Zeta Rho got into club last week.

“We finished pledging Wednesday evening before fall break,” said Kelsie Andrews, senior nutrition major from San Antonio and president of Zeta Rho. “We were really excited about doing it before fall break because that way they could really enjoy their fall break, we could really enjoy our fall break and truly relax without that heavy feeling of coming back to pledging. They worked really hard over the past four weeks, so we really wanted them to be able to take that break and just be able to relax because they earned it.”

This week is not only the end of pledging, but is Halloween week as well. Halloween has fallen on the same week as the end of pledging for the past few years. Last year, Halloween was on Wednesday and in 2011 Halloween was on Monday. Jackson said that since Halloween is on Thursday this year, it could affect plans more than previous years.

The pledges of Sigma Theta Chi and Alpha Chi got in Wednesday night. The other club pledges got in Thursday night, except for one pledge class who will get in Friday night.

“The numbers were much bigger than we’ve had in the past,” said Jackson. “De-pledging was a lot less. Typically, in the past years, we would have 20 per year. But this year we have had probably in the 10 to 12 range, which is a lot better than what we’ve seen.”

The transition of going from six weeks to five weeks of pledging has been a good change. Everyone, whether a pledge or not, seems to be ready for pledging to be over.

“What’s always funny is presidents in particular, officers in particular and the pledges definitely, everyone is just tired,” said Jackson. “So, they get past Homecoming and everyone is always ready to let it be over.”

Every club has the option to do spring pledging, but because of the large pledge classes this fall semester, some clubs may not participate in spring pledging. However, Jackson anticipates that Frater Sodalis, Zeta Rho and Pi Kappa will most likely utilize spring pledging. One of the benefits of spring pledging is that it is only three weeks long.

“It is a tiring process but it’s worth it in the end,” said Andrews.