By Steve Holt, Staff Writer
A Homecoming-related decision last week has spurred mixed reactions from social club presidents.
Amanda Spell, coordinator of student organizations and activities, announced at last Monday’s meeting of club officers that pledges cannot stay out all night the day before Homecoming to work on parade floats, a practice of many of the clubs.
“That Saturday is a very long day for our pledges and our members, frankly,” Spell said. “To have them stay up all night long working on something, then all day Saturday-and many of their families are in, and they can’t go crash in their room afterward-I don’t think that’s fair to our pledges.”
Spell said the practice also violates policy set by the office of Residence Life Education and Housing that prohibits pledges from checking out of residence halls for club activities.
“We’re still talking to Amanda about possibly getting to stay out,” said Luke James, president of Galaxy. “That’s just the way it’s been done in the past, and it’s hard to find time … to get pledges to have time to build the float while staying under our 15 hours-per-week deal.”
Campus Life officials discussed the issue last year, Spell said, but pledges ultimately were allowed to pull all-nighters before Homecoming.
This year, she said, she “incorrectly assumed” that club presidents remembered the Campus Life stance discussed last year; thus some officers opposed the decision.
Men’s social clubs traditionally have completed their floats in the week before Homecoming, often working long hours the night before, a Friday.
Despite Galaxy’s efforts to stay out all night this year, Spell said she will grant no exceptions.
“I’m just encouraging them to work on it a couple of days ahead of time,” Spell said. “I’m hopeful that they can be creative and make some critical decisions and figure out a way to pull it off and get it done.”
Other club presidents say their clubs aren’t necessarily affected negatively by the rule.
“For Siggies, this policy isn’t really that big of a deal,” said Courtney Kerr, Sigma Theta Chi president. “In the past we have had Squigs stay out all night and protect the float-we wish they could still do that, but we are understanding of the safety issues regarding it.”
GATA’s president said the same is true for her club.
“We’re not really running last-minute as far as getting the float done and doing anything else,” said Julie Goen. “We try to get everything done beforehand, so we’re not having to worry about it the night before.”
Another question raised by club officers was the difference between staying out for Bid Night, which is allowed, and working on floats before Homecoming.
Spell said most club members are present on Bid Night, which is not true of the night before Homecoming.
“Because sleep deprivation is considered hazing by Texas state law, ironically a lot of things are not seen as hazing if there are members who are required to do the same thing,” Spell said.
But some clubs aren’t buying that distinction.
“We stayed out all night back when we pledged, and Homecoming weekend was the only fun weekend we had,” said Erin Osowski, Delta Theta president. “Staying out all night to work on a float isn’t hazing; it’s fun.”
