Webster's says little about it , but at Harding, the word "jump" has taken on a particular meaning which carries several connotations. When a student mentioned "jumping" at Harding, everyone knew that someone was thinking about changing from one social club to another. The reactions of outsiders ranged from indifference to sometimes strong criticism, but what mattered most was the attitude and experience of the jump" himself. Why did students jump? The reasons were different, but two main problems seemed to be common. One was the pledging came so 52Jumping Student Opinion early, students were not always able to tell which club would be best for them. Becky Shows, who jumped after her first year, commented, "I really don' t know why I chose the first club originally. The girls were really friendly to me and that made me feel secure to put them as my first choice. But I didn't have enough time to know if I fit in with them. I feel the pledging should take place second semester so that so many people would make the right choice the first time.'' From the opposite direction, many people changed clubs after several years. "My club had changed ," stated one girl who chose to remain confidential. After three years with her original club, she said, "I didn't do it just because the older girls were gone, but because it wasn't the same club it used to be; it wasn't me anymore." Jumping wasn't an easy choice for anyone. As Bobby Bluford put it, "It was a very difficult decision to jump. You put yourself on the line on both ends of the spectrum. I was scared that I would hurt my first club and create a barrier between myself and my friends in the club. Also, I was never sure that I'd get JON CORPUZ... into my second club." How did the clubs respond to those who chose to leave them? That probably depended on how the student handled the jumping process. Said Shows, "I went to a club meeting and told the girls then. If you confront them face to face, they understand. I told them it wasn't personal - the only thing that changed was the color of my jersey and what meeting I attended every other Monday night." Christy Thrasher said of her original club, "They were the best! They encouraged me to do what I wanted. I still stay in touch with some of the members; it's "Jumping from one club to another was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. When I got in my original club, I felt it met my needs, but the attitude of the club changed and I didn't agree with the direction it was taking. Then I made new friends and felt I would fit in better in a new club." DENISE JOHNSTON... "!jumped to Shantih because- because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things it does - I felt I could be myselfand grow from the friendships of those in the club." CHRISTY THRASHER... "When I made my decision to jump from OEGE to Ko Jo Kai it took a Jot of courage. My heart was set on jumping to Kojies so I could be an active part of the club. But I had to take the feelings of the girls in OEGE in mind. I didn't want to leave behind hard feelings with the members, but the club was very understanding. They made my jump easy and comfortable. OEGE just wanted me to be happy and Ko Jo Kai made me feel at home." JUANITA HART... ''As I became more comfortable, I wanted to be in a larger club, and I found myself being drawn to Shantih." hard to just break off, because we have shared so much together. I have some terrific friends in that club, and I know they are glad that I am happy." Since rules for men and women were different , opinions on the jumping process were also different. Philip Fletcher mentioned that he wished the men were not required to sit out of sports, but he was glad he could jump. And the anonymous source quoted above agreed, "I think it's great that people can jump - it's the best thing I've done all semester. I am having a great time now, instead of being 'inactive.' "
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