C O V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E
Returning to Campus During COVID-19 Without question, the collegiate experience looks different this year. On every college campus, extra precautions are being taken to keep students safe and the risk of spreading COVID-19 low. In some ways, it dampens the excitement of college move-in, recruitment activities, fall social events and traditions — and in other ways, it becomes a great opportunity. The Summer issue of The Arrow focused on the Fraternity’s response to COVID-19. Of course, the response continues. As of our publication deadline, here’s what we know.
870 PI PHIS INITIATED VIRTUALLY
Above, from left: New York Epsilons TAYLOR YORK, RISHIKA CHAVALI and MARIA CURRAN celebrated being initiated.
With COVID-19 rapidly spreading across North America, the Spring 2020 term ended before Pi Beta Phi milestones – like Initiation – could be realized. More than 1,400 New Members left their campuses without the opportunity to be initiated. The Fraternity began to envision how these New Members could be welcomed into the bonds of Pi Phi sisterhood. On Saturday, August 8, Grand President MARLA NEELLY WULF virtually initiated 870 members. Kansas Alpha LOIS RHODUS WILLIAMS shared, "Virtual Initiation was wonderful! For my family, this is a third generation Pi Phi. We were worried when universities started to close because no one knew if sororities would initiate. Thank you for making this a success. We had our own Pi Phi masks and hosted a Cookie Shine of our own to celebrate."
Above: Indiana Gamma KATE CALLIHAN celebrated her Initiation on the front lawn of her family home with her mother and Pi Phi sister Kansas Beta STEPHANIE HOOP CALLIHAN.
PI PHI WILL STILL OFFER A PREMIER MEMBER EXPERIENCE Keeping members safe during a pandemic required change, but it did not mean Pi Phi lowered our expectations for a premier member experience. The New Member Education Program was shortened to six weeks to buffer against a potential resurgence of COVID-19. The Fraternity issued recommendations for virtual social events and chapter activities, coached chapter officers and Advisors on how to successfully implement meaningful and safe events, and provided resources for modified special Pi Phi celebrations such as Bid Day and the Pledging Ceremony. A special Academic Guide was 6
Left: Illinois Eta BAILEY LYN BANKS celebrated her Initiation day by showing her angel wings on Instagram. “I can’t believe I’m a fully initiated member of the best sisterhood.”
