Men’s social club Sub T-16 will return to campus this semester with an improved structure, newly defined core values, and a clear vision as a group.

The club was suspended for the spring semester after “they made some poor decisions in a Homecoming situation that was very public,” said Tom Craig, director of student organizations and productions. “And the end result was not positive for the club. That was the catalyst that set the wheels in motion.”

Homecoming Parade 2015

During the annual Saturday Homecoming Parade last year, members of the club spray-painted offensive language on their float, a repurposed school bus nicknamed the Gobmobile.

During the time the club was off campus, the club went through a process of self-evaluation and had to meet specific requirements required by the dean of student life. Craig said he has stayed in contact with the club’s leadership.

“In my conversations with the president, they are moving in a really good direction and hoping to create positive impact for both themselves on campus and the club on campus,” said Craig.

Garrett Coppedge, senior family studies major from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Sub T president, acknowledged some negative perception Sub T.

“I would say that’s misguided, but there are things that needed to happen,” Coppedge said. “Of course, it wasn’t ideal, but it gave us an opportunity to take inventory of where we are at and set a clear vision of where we want to be and the kind of people we want to be.”

After the club’s suspension, some alumni were upset that the club would not be allowed to participate in Sing Song. Yet Coppedge said the members accepted the consequenses and took responsibility.

During the process, Coppedge said members got together as a club and came up with a remediation plan. The club members defined their core values and gave the Office of Student Life a clear plan on how they wanted to move forward and completed 100 hours of community hours as a group.

The process did bring some attitude changes, Coppedge said.

“Overall we are more structured in order to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “Other than that I say we are in a good place.”

With pledging starting in three weeks, he has seen renewed interest from prospective pledges, many whom are legacies.

“If you compare Sub T-16 to chapters in LCU and Harding, we started here in 1923, and they don’t bear the same resemblance,” Coppedge said. “Sub T-16 has kept a lot of its traditions and in a lot ways it’s the same that it was in 1923.”

The club has 35 members, and Coppedge said after pledging, total membership will be about 50.

“I feel it’s important to note that while we are making positive changes, the characteristics that have always made Sub T-16 unique aren’t changing,” Coppedge said. “That’s one of my favorite things about Sub T and the guys that make it up. You always know what you’re getting.”