Brothers,
Now that you are getting back into the flow of school, we want to take a minute to thank you for your continued efforts to keep all of our Brothers healthy.
We are all seeing the media coverage of COVID-19 spikes on campuses across the country. University administrations and local law enforcement authorities are closely scrutinizing all student activities. At many schools we have seen individual students being ticketed, cited, and/or suspended from school for failure to adhere to COVID related laws and rules.
It is no surprise that Greek organizations are getting a lot of negative attention when they fail to live up to their obligations. We have seen organizational recognition being revoked for failing to follow basic COVID-19 best practices. On many campuses there is a more proactive response. Greek organizations are mandated to have their members get tested more often due to the fact that they live in group housing environments. If cases spike within a chapter house, the entire facility is placed under quarantine.
So far, AEPi Brothers overall are “being their Brothers keepers” and are taking this disease and the necessary response plans seriously. We have had a few Brothers test positive, but in almost all cases we have been able to quickly notify the affected Chapter’s members so that they can contact trace and exercise extra precautions. We have personally seen that when Chapters embrace the basics of COVID-19 prevention, especially in the form of wearing masks, social distancing, and not attending or hosting large events, we are able to minimize spread of this disease. AEPi can safely thrive, in spite of COVID-19, but we depend on each and every Brother to make it happen.
It is easy to become complacent and we urge you to instead remain vigilant. Keep social distancing, keep wearing masks, keep washing your hands, keep up with cleaning and disinfecting your houses, keep paying attention to how you feel and who you interact with closely. We urge you to isolate and get tested immediately if you feel any symptoms or you were around someone with symptoms. It is our responsibility as leaders and stakeholders within our communities to do our part. Follow the rules and follow the laws but also follow the spirit of these rules and lead by example. Do everything you can do, not only what you must do. We know that this is difficult but AEPi men are leaders and rise to meet our challenges.
We are here to help you and we are here to make sure you have the resources you need. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Scott