Induction welcomed the freshman class of Bob Jones University to their new societies. Some details stay the same year to year. For instance, new students gathered in Founders Memorial Amphitorium while spirit leaders wore fun outfits and waved their societies’ flags (most notably Alpha’s razorback costume and the Patriots full Uncle Sam outfit). While these aspects rarely change, societies and the number of new students they rush varies each year.
Some societies rushed many freshmen, like the Royals, Stallions and the Classics, who had some of the largest rushes this year. Several societies landed in the middle with new member numbers ranging from 15 to the mid-20s, including the Eagles, Tornadoes, Kangas, Cardinals, Spartans, Ambassadors, Bandits, Wildcats, and Cardinals.
The Cardinals, for instance, rushed 27 freshmen. They started the year with 25 members and were set to lose 17 of them at graduation next spring. They needed a successful Rush. Their president, Emma Mendoza, said they were “intentional with how we represented ourselves. We wanted to make sure that we were welcoming and committed to the freshmen girls we met.”
The Cardinals’ president wanted the freshmen to know who the Cardinals really are and move away from misconceptions about the society.
The Stallions’ president, William Daulton, said the key to their success lies in “being intentional about speaking with freshmen during unstructured times.” They made sure to interact with the freshmen guys outside of society meetings. According to Daulton, the Stallions rushed 37 freshmen and now have 116 total members.
Following a brief run across campus during Induction, the new members were introduced to the society they had chosen and completed their society’s induction process. Some society initiations are well-known such as the Pirates, who have their new members “walk the plank” into a pool of water; and the Royals, who whipped up a “royal brew” made of ice cream, soda and energy drinks for their freshmen to drink. The vice president of the Classics told The Collegian that her society wore all black and formed a circle with the new members before receiving a pledge from the freshmen and squirting them with a water gun. The Wildcats drank milk, and Mendoza said the Cardinals blindfolded their new members and fed them gummy worms. Initiation is different for each society. Some keep it a secret, some just mingle, but at least most said they have fun.
BJU students look forward to Induction every year. It is the culmination of hard work and a weekend of fun. Freshmen may feel it is the most important decision they’ve made so far, but they should keep in mind that society is what you make of it. Society is an avenue where students can lead by example and invest in others.
