The annual ACU spring rushing season is back for another year beginning with a new all-club rush on April 9.
The students do not have to begin the registration process before they can participate. However, registration for pledging opened this week and will be open throughout the summer until August. Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs, encourages students to sign up regardless of whether they want to pledge or not.
“We tell them to go ahead and register, even if you are not 100 percent sure that you are going to pledge,” Jackson said. “If you decide it’s not for you then you can e-mail me and you don’t have to do it.”
The rushing process will include two all-club rushes the first of which will be the new all-club rush in the Hunter Welcome Center April 9 from 5-7 p.m. The second will be the traditional all-club rush around GATA Fountain on April 21.
Other rushes have not been disclosed, but two rushes for each club will happen between April 22 and May 1.
Mara Fleet, junior art major from Abilene and social director of Ko Jo Kai, is excited to meet the new pledges.
“I am always excited to meet new students,” Fleet said. “Especially with rushing, it’s exciting to meet potential new members and get to know people on a personal basis.”
Reilly Cox, sophomore art major from Austin and rush director of Trojans, is also looking forward to members getting to know potential pledges at the rushes.
“I am looking forward to the interaction between members and potential pledges and the activities we are going to be doing,” Cox said.
Multiple clubs are changing its rushing events from recent years while some are sticking to tradition. Cox said there could be some differences to their rushes this year, but he will keep some traditions alive.
“I have a couple of ideas for new stuff, but I am not too sure if we are going to be able to do them or not. It will be a lot of the same stuff we have done in the past,” Cox said. “But I do plan on trying to include a couple of new things just to keep things fresh.”
Eric Schinske, senior social work major from Argyle and Galaxy president, also said there will be a few minor changes to rushing and that he is excited for the process.
“There are some differences,” he said. “We are not doing our Olympian rush, but we are actually doing a rush with the Kojies. I love the spring process because it’s not stressful yet. I think that’s the fun part is just getting to know each other.”
