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August 18, 2020
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The Update | August 18, 2020
Industry Update Provided by NPC
U.S. News & World Report, VICE and Reuters each offered coverage detailing the impact of COVID-19 on fraternity/sorority life nationally, with VICE and U.S. News & World Report citing comments from interviews with Dani Weatherford, National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) CEO. Throughout coverage, social aspects of fraternity/sorority life—including parties—are identified as risk factors to the spread of the novel coronavirus. Reporters often point to recent outbreaks at universities that began with clusters in fraternity/sorority life, including the University of Mississippi and UCLA, as examples of fraternal systems driving the number of cases on college campuses. Alongside social aspects, fraternity and sorority housing and recruitment are also identified as posing risks, but coverage also includes the restrictions being put into place, which include reducing the number of residents in houses and moving recruitment to a virtual environment.
Oklahoma State University is facing a coronavirus outbreak after an off-campus sorority house reported 23 positive cases, according to reports from Complex, NBC News, and FOX News. As the school and the Payne County Health Department revealed in a statement, the sorority chapter is currently under lockdown, and they will be closely monitored for the foreseeable future.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) has identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases at the off-campus Sigma Nu fraternity house, according to CNN, WBTV, and ABC11. The news comes a day after UNC reported two separate COVID-19 clusters in Ehringhaus Community and Granville Towers. On Monday afternoon, UNC announced it would move to virtual instruction and reduce residential density.
Grand Council Action
At its meeting Friday, Aug. 14, Grand Council:
- Received reports on crisis management of the pandemic and Abolish Greek Life movement;
- Approved Alpha Theta Chapter’s move to the Fraternity Housing Corporation;
- Considered an officer appointment;
- Appointed Theta Foundation Trustee Kimi Martin to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee; and
- Amended Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity Bylaws, Article II, Section 1, B by including an opportunity for exception: Any meeting where ritual is included must be conducted in person unless an exception is granted by Grand Council.
Back-To-School Video Message
On Monday, Aug. 10, an email was sent to active college members with a back-to-school video message from Fraternity President Mandy Wushinske.
Training Sessions
- This week we will host training opportunities on scholarship and accountability for college chapter officers.
- Last Tuesday we hosted a diversity, equity, & inclusion and COVID-19 update for advisors. This Tuesday, we will host the same topic for alumnae chapter officers.
- Our next monthly session for the workforce is Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Our topic is change management. Register for this session.
Workforce Opportunity
We will appoint a member to the role of college chapter budget committee chairman. To learn more of the role and responsibilities for this position, view the job description. If you are interested in applying, please submit an application by Monday, Aug. 31. If you have questions about the role, contact Assistant Director of Collegiate Services Kourtnee Vickrey.
Workforce Update
It is with regret that Theta Foundation announces that Vicki McCluggage has resigned her position as president of the board of trustees. The nominating committee reconvened and we are pleased to announce the new officers.
- President TJ Flynn Condon, Epsilon Lambda/Dickinson (former vice-president)
- Vice-President Nancy Milligan Frick, Alpha/DePauw
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