CARLY SUMMERSON
Special to The Leader
With vaccines rolling out and mandates starting to slim down from past semesters, students can’t help but wonder what this school year is going to truly be like.
Greek life at universities have been severely affected by COVID-19. However, since this semester offers far more in-person interaction, club activities appear to be returning to normal.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, sororities and fraternities had to continue their recruitments to an online-only format, leaving them to come up with their own ways to keep a personal touch with their potential new members, while not being face-to-face.
Are these organizations starting to go back to a somewhat of a normal fall semester recruitment?
The answer is yes.
The current president of Delta Phi Epsilon, Mikaela Mahaney, expressed her excitement about this fall.
“Everything for recruitment is in-person again, and it is so exciting to be able to meet everyone face-to-face and not just through a screen.”
With recruitment designated online for all of last year, it made it hard for incoming students to hear about Greek life and want to join.
The Recruitment Chair of Kappa Sigma, Aidan Ceci, adds a similar explanation to Mahaney:
“We are still following CDC and local community guidelines with masks indoors. It is different because now we are able to meet potential new members face-to-face which is more exciting for everyone overall.”
The set up of recruitment during 2020 was something Greek life never experienced before and had to fully adapt to for the entirety of the school year.
However, sisters and brothers of sororities and fraternities used what they could to keep that human touch, even if it was through a Zoom meeting.
“Sororities and fraternities can offer so much more this year as we are finally able to do the things that make our organizations unique again. We are going back to being active within our community, as we can host events again and really get the campus involved,” said Mahaney.
Members of these organizations are hoping face-to-face interaction will allow even more students to become involved than before.
As far as the fraternities on campus go, there is “a social network available for students that couldn’t experience the normal social opportunities from last year due to the COVID-19 restrictions,” according to Ceci.
“We’re doing that by holding more social events this year such as volleyball, kickball and Kappa Sigma’s signature event which is ‘Night of 1,000 Nuggets.’”
Fredonia’s fall 2021 COVID-19 protocols give Greek life the opportunity to do what they are known for. Being able to host the Activities Night in-person this semester gave these organizations some perspective and excitement for what’s to come this fall.
If you’re wondering more about Greek life and the organizations Fredonia has to offer for students, there are three sororities — Delta Phi Epsilon, Sigma Kappa and Sigma Gamma Phi — and three fraternities — Delta Chi, Kappa Sigma and Sigma Phi Epsilon — on campus.
All of these organizations stay up to date on their recruitment season on their social media, mainly Instagram, which is the best place to keep in touch.
“Students should join Greek life because it is a way to not only make amazing friendships, but a way to network professionally.”
Mahaney, Ceci and all members of Fredonia’s Greek life hope to encourage more students to become involved and interested in what Greek life has to offer, especially since they are getting back to a new normal.
“I encourage my fellow students to join Greek life because it’s a great support system, socially and also career wise. It can open a lot of doors for you down the road. It’s also a family away from home for all of us.”
