By Ryleigh Watson//
At Howard Payne University, school wide Greek organizations pledge in the spring of every year. This year, however, pledging was planned for the fall semester.
HPU has three local sororities: Chi Alpha Omega, Delta Chi Rho and Pi Theta Chi, and one local fraternity, Delta Epsilon Omega. The university also has three nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities: Alpha Psi Omega, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma.
Kailee Torgerson, director of student leadership and engagement, is the director of all pledging for the organizations.
“We are always open to trying something we believe could benefit the student experience. Over the summer, several local organization members talked to us about their desire to pledge in the fall. We discussed the benefits and negatives of a fall pledge class and ultimately decided it was worth trying this fall,” said Torgerson.
Pledging has always been a fun part of getting into different organizations. Students have the opportunity to bond with and get to know their fellow peers while pledging. When the presidents of the local organizations heard they would be pledging in the fall they were excited but also nervous.
“As soon as I read Kailee’s email, I was shocked! It was less than a week away from the beginning of the semester, so I was not expecting it. I immediately called and texted all my sisters to tell them the exciting news,” said Kassidy Nowak, senior computer information systems major and president of Chi Alpha Omega.
After the organizations’ presidents were made aware of the news, each organization’s recruitment officers needed to get a start on what their pledges, themes and events were going to be in just a short amount of time. Because the organizations were accustomed to pledging in the spring, the officers had to work hard for pledging to begin in the fall.
Delta Chi Rho President Patricia Davila, senior English major from Edinburg, said she was a bit concerned about fall pledging.
“I feel like freshmen like to get a feel of their first semester here and have their schedule figured out and then they decide if they want to rush. I feel like you keep more pledges in the spring than you do in the fall.”
But, the organizations prepared for pledging nonetheless and have enjoyed being able to meet everyone and get new members.
Changing pledging to the fall was a quick change but the groups made it work.
Luke Moss, president of Delta Epsilon Omega and sophomore English education major from Brownwood, said that they were able to make it work.
“Pledging in the fall gives us a good chance to get people involved early and gives us more time to get to know them and they can participate in all the events in fall and spring with the organization,” said Moss.