Sing Alliance rises from the ashes post COVID-19 hardships

Sing Alliance is trying to recruit and gain awareness for Sing in the spring, and also preparing for its first Pigskin Revue in over seven years. Photo by Baylor Photography

By Tori Templet | Staff Writer

As Sing Alliance prepares for its first Pigskin Revue in over seven years with its act, “Stupid Cupid,” members of the organization are trying to return to normalcy after handling the pandemic.

Sing Alliance paves the way for students who are not in Greek life but want to be involved with the long-standing tradition of All-University Sing. It has been a year and a half since any Sing act has taken the stage and Sing Alliance is finding ways to bring their third-place act from the 2020 show back to life through new leadership and new members.

Waco junior Josie Pooler, president of Sing Alliance, said through the pandemic, being a part of Sing Alliance was difficult.

“We do not have a huge recruitment effort like sororities and fraternities do,” Pooler said. “For us, it can be a good thing … but at this point, half the student body does not really know we exist which was really challenging while we were trying to recruit for Pigskin. We are so excited to perform our third place act, but about 90% of the people who performed in that act have graduated. Now we are currently just trying to recruit and gain awareness for Sing in the spring.”

Waco senior Lindsay Mastin said she is taking on her first year as a Sing Alliance member. Mastin said she has attended almost every Sing and Pigskin since she was born, and she knew she always wanted to be a part of it.

“I am just really excited to be a part of a production again,” Mastin said. “It’s been so long since any of that has been able to happen.”

Pooler said she loves Sing Alliance because the organization accepts everybody.

“We don’t turn anybody away, and that means so many diverse people can come together to do something we all love, which is perform,” Pooler said. “I’ve met so many different people from all across Baylor who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I think it’s a great opportunity, and I think a unique thing about Sing Alliance is that we all chose to be there. We all voluntarily signed up for this. The only thing we do is Sing, versus sororities and fraternities who have other obligations and fun things they do, [which] means some of their attention is unfortunately pulled away from Sing.”

The organization’s leadership team is made up of 16 members. There are five chairs accompanied by multiple assistants. After not placing for a decade, Pooler said Sing Alliance is “kind of like the underdogs,” and that she is really looking forward to this next season with new leadership.

“We want to make sure that as many people in our organization have an opportunity to contribute and build the act like they want to,” Pooler said. “I think that is what makes us really unique. Continuing the momentum from Sing 2020, we are just looking forward to showing everybody what we’re made of.”