Greek Life Adjusts to New COVID-19 Protocols

It is 9:30 p.m. on Monday night, and instead of halls filled with members of Greek organizations for their weekly meetings, chapter presidents across campus are sending out Zoom meeting links. Now, hundreds of students are virtually attending their sorority’s or fraternity’s “new normal.” 

Amidst social distancing protocols and restrictions on group gatherings, Greek life on campus has had to adapt to online-only events. (Pictured L-R: Emma Evans and Sam Graham) Source: Kappa Kappa Gamma Instagram (@kkgmarist)

In order to safely follow social distancing protocols, Zoom meetings are now the most important platform for Greek life chapters at Marist College to interact this semester. While they are grateful to be all together again, at least in some way, this new format has been anything but easy. 

“Right now we’re pretty limited in terms of what we can actually do,” Nick Kulbalski ‘21 said, president of the fraternity, Theta Delta Chi. President of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Jacqueline Hoffman ‘21, agreed and said, “Usually every other week, we would go to a children's home or an elementary school and read to the kids. We can’t do that anymore.”

The TDX fraternity has found creative ways to keep its members involved, including socially-distant and safe community service. Source: TDX Marist Instagram (@tdxmarist)

Unfortunately, for sorority and fraternity members who are used to interacting in-person with their sister and brotherhood members, Zoom meetings have been difficult to adjust to. “It feels much more structured, and even distant, having to do [a chapter meeting] through a screen,” president of the Tri Sigma sorority, Victoria Vigliotti ‘21 said. “I loved meeting everybody in person and seeing all of my sisters at least once a week, if not more.”

In terms of a possible Zoom recruitment the Spring semester, virtual rush doesn’t seem like the preferable option. “I hope that [virtual rush] is not the case, but I feel like it’s leaning towards that,” Hoffman said. The problem is this not only omits the full rush experience for new members, but it also makes it difficult for the chapters themselves. “I don’t think that you can really get to know someone’s personality through Zoom, or any type of virtual interface at all,” Kubalski said. Vigliotti also echoes that sentiment, “I don’t think you’d get the full feel of us as a sorority and the way that we interact.” 

Regardless of the physical distance, chapters across campus are still managing to maintain the close bonds they established with their brothers and sisters before quarantine. “We had a trivia night and we did a Netflix party last semester,” Hoffman said. Kubalski added, “We were always cohesive, and so we were always close. This hasn’t really affected that” 

For those looking to join Greek life during the Spring semester, chapters across campus are hopeful and excited for what the future holds — although it still remains uncertain. “Even despite everything going on, it’s definitely worth it to go out for recruitment,” Hoffman said. “Every sorority has something genuinely good to offer, so you can’t make a bad decision.” 

Although large groups are still not permitted and social distancing protocols remain in place, Vigliotti has found a way to put it into perspective, “We’re still us” she said, “just on a screen.”