At the GATA formal induction Rachel Bell, Emily Brittand Valerie Compton read the club verse. Formal inductions were a tradition in some clubs that linked the past to the present. Photo by Jennifer Holt. After blowing out the candle at her ring ceremony, sophomore Randi Lyn Thurmon and her finance, sophomore Brandon Thomas, tell members of Delta Gamma Rhothe story of their engagement. Ring ceremonies were a tradition in women's clubs that allowed each member to see the ring and guess who it belonged to before the owner blew out the candle, which held the ring. Photo by Ashlee Johnson. 'Ip'A-t:'I'IIOI\J~ ~ OI\Jt:' ~I~ lVIe-tvI~ Traditions. They happened all over Harding's campus this year. Many clubs have traditions that go back as far back as the beginning of the club. A tradition Seminoles has is their annual Christmas party. The members buy two or three gifts for each of the children at the Searcy Children's Home. "The whole club gets together and throws a party for the kids," senior Wesley Duncan said. Like Seminoles, many club traditions involve service projects. Every year during the last Bison basketball game, GATA social club collects money by letting people throw their pocket change into a sheet. The money helps send children to camp Wyldewood. Titans and Pi Kappa Epsilon have an annual golf tournament at Riveroaks to raise money for the Sunshine School, and Chi Omega Pi helps with the Special Olympics every year. "The participants [in the Special Olympics] always know who to go to if they need help," junior Gena Davis said. "All they have to do is look for the pink and green jersey." Many club traditions occur during induction week. For example, Tri Kappa inductees are called "gophers." Gophers used to wear the same black socks all week and atthe end ofpledge week they would go and bury them. Now Tri Kappa inductees just have to do a cheer about black socks. The King's Men inductee shirt is the same every year. On the back it has the club logo and on the front is the pledge class and year. "King's Men has made a lot of changes in the last couple years. Older tradition is being lost, but new tradition is being found," President Charles Kaiser said. Titans uphold tradition during their second and third round mixers at the beginning of the school year. "Our second mixer is always the slip and slide, and during our third mixer, members always dress up in togas," President T.J. Whitehead said. Zeta Rho has brought some tradition back within the last couple of years. President Julie Sampley said inductees are now called "zugs" again. "A zug is a star that doesn't shine," Sampley said. "That is what they are working for, to be a shining star. A while back Zeta Rho used to call their pledges that, and we just brought it back last year." Functions provide more traditions. Among the "traditional" club functions are TNT's Zoo Tour, Chi Omega Pi's Broomball function, Knight's Dragon Roast, Chi Sigma Alpha's Shindig and Titans' Groundhog Day function. Each year Titan's has a stuffed groundhog to whom they make a toast, then the president gives a speech. After the speech they have a talent show provided by the new ind uctees. Some traditions are secrets; others are funny, but all are important. They hold clubs together and give members a reason for bonding. - Jody Knight ~T~rad~it~io~n~s7-____________ ~~ Social Clubs V
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