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You are here: Home / News / Changes in pledge process prove successful

Changes in pledge process prove successful

October 21, 2014 by Rachel Fritz

Pledging underwent some dramatic changes this semester, but proved to be just as rewarding as in the past.

This semester, the pledging season was shortened from five weeks to three weeks, physical activities were banned and pledges were admitted to clubs before fall break instead of after.

“Changes come each year in the pledging process,” said Mark Jackson, associate director of student organizations and programs. “Some are sweeping changes and some are very minor.”

Though there were many of these big and small changes to the pledging process, it was still a positive experience.

“I do think it was a successful pledging season,” Jackson said. “I think most of the credit goes to the club presidents, the officer teams and the advisers.”

Manaia Broom, sophomore biology major from Paragould, Arkansas, was skeptical about the pledging process.

“I was really on the fence about pledging my freshman year, and I didn’t want to do it alone,” she said. “So when my friends thought about pledging more seriously, I was leaning towards it more.”

Broom was finally persuaded to pledge Alpha Kai Omega after she found out about the changes that were being made.

“I wasn’t too sure about pledging when fall rushes first started, but I finally made my decision after the first round of rushes and knowing it was only three weeks,” she said. “I knew with the shorter amount of pledging I could handle that with school work.”

The shortening of the pledging process resulted in a more intense pledging season, but it was just as satisfying.

“Some of the best parts of pledging was getting to know so many new girls and having really unique memories now looking back on it,” Broom said. “There were a lot of sleepless nights, and I got to see the worst in friends – and even in myself – but I got to see even more good in them.”

Though the semester was different because of the tweaks made in the pledging process, Jackson saw it as a success.

“I think the general consensus was that pledging was a positive experience, but also a tiring one,” he said.

However, it is still too early to tell if the rule changes attracted more pledges, Jackson said.

“Our numbers were one person higher than last year,” Jackson said. “I did have some students say that the shorter pledging time frame was a plus to them pledging.”

This year, 390 students started the pledge process. In the end, 380 got into clubs.

“In my four years in this role, this is the best that I have seen things go in terms of the entire process, from rushes, voting, Bid Night, pledging, etc.,” Jackson said.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Pledging, Social Clubs

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About Rachel Fritz

You are here: Home / News / Changes in pledge process prove successful

Other News:

  • Student arrested on child porn charge

  • ACU to join Western Athletic Conference in July

  • Sing Song 2021 to ban sets, significantly limit act capacity

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acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
16 Jan

Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth-consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines.

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15 Jan

Yu Zhong, a psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below:
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Active COVID-19 cases dropped for the fifth- consecutive day at ACU Friday. There are currently 30 active cases and 86 quarantines. Taylor County continues to see increased numbers with over 2500 active cases. ...

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Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. This is a developing story. Read more below: ...

Student arrested on child porn charge - Optimist

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Yu Zhong, a freshman psychology major from Lijiang, China, was arrested Friday at his University Park apartment on child porn charges, according to police. Zhong, 23, was arrested after he was flagged by software that detects child porn. “While no corner of our society is immune from these challen...
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