What Is Pledging? By: Madison Bratton

While we have already talked about rushing, it is time to switch gears to pledging.

After rushing and getting to know the different Greek life clubs on campus, students then have preference dinners where they share a meal with the club of their choice and likely have an interview with the club's officers.

Later that week there is a bid day. On this day, the club's leadership teams will place bids on the students they want to join their organization. If the student receives more than one bid, this is the time when they have to choose their favorite.  

After all the students have chosen, they are officially pledges and start the two-week tradition of pledging. During these two weeks, club officers work with student life so that pledges can be mentored by club members, educated on how to be a member, learn the club's rules and participate in many seemingly random activities to bond with each other and current club members. These activities build the sisterhood or brotherhood, giving students a family on campus that is always there for them. 

In the past, hazing during pledge weeks has been a big part of Greek life initiation. Nowadays, there are many restrictions that have been put in place to keep pledges safe. These boundaries prohibit many obscure activities as well as unwanted or even dangerous behaviors.  

Pledging can be quite a time commitment as students are to be at every event for the club they chose. Most or all of these events will take place after class times so that students can keep up with their studies. Along with time commitment, pledging can also be a financial commitment since once a student is inducted into a club there is usually some sort of payment requirement. After the two-week period of pledging, new club members are officially part of the organization and will forever be a part of that family.  

Once students graduate, they are recognized as an alumnus not only of the university but also of their club. Many schools, including Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) welcome back their alumni every year during the homecoming weekend.