The Hype

Fall 2005 Initiations

by Andrew Chew and Jacob Sloan

This fall semester, the brothers of the Texas Colony of Acacia initiated eight new actives. The first pledge class consisted of six men who will improve upon the Acacia reputation both on and off campus. Five of these men were initiated on Nov. 13, 2005. The Texas Colony was also honored to have Barry Baxter, Texas Chapter alumnus and the current First Vice President of Acacia, in attendance at this first initiation of the fall. Brother Baxter praised our meticulous performance of the ritual by the book, as it should be done.

In order to take advantage of the new recognition of the Texas Colony currently has on the University of Texas at Austin campus, Keith Bushey, Acacia's Assistant Executive Director, suggested that the colony attempt to recruit and initiate a second class in the middle of the semester in addition to our first class already involved in the pledge program. Jacob Sloan, the Rush Captain during the fall of 2005, began a recruiting effort with the advice of Leadership Consultant Jarrod VanZant and Robert Kameen, Director of Expansion and Recruitment, that got Acacia a second pledge class of four outstanding men. The second class was initiated on Dec. 11, 2005 with Barry Baxter also in attendance.

At the second initiation ceremony on Dec. 11, we were honored to welcome to our brotherhood Gordon W. Kelso, General Secretary of the Austin Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Brother Kelso is a distinguished 33° Mason who has been extraordinarily supportive of our colony. He had hoped to join Acacia as a UT undergraduate but circumstances prevented his pursuing membership at that time. The Texas Colony is especially pleased to have facilitated Brother Kelso's becoming an Acacian. Please join us in welcoming him to our fraternity.

First Fall 2005 Pledge Class - Nov. 13, 2005

• Shaun Glasson (Pledge Class President)
• Adam Dotson
• Steven Liao
• Chris Wolfe
• Marcus Velasquez
• James Martinez (delaying)

Second Fall 2005 Pledge Class - Dec. 11, 2005

• Aneesh Bapodra
• Seamus McAfee
• David Metter (Pledge Class President)
• Robert Chen (delaying)