The title to this article may seem a little unusual – the date at the beginning of the title sets the timeline for the information. As most of you have been having abundant experience with during the COVID-19 pandemic things change frequently. What we know today is not likely going to be what we know two weeks from now. However, life does go on and so does the process for the Delta Chi Chapter for the University of Michigan – but oh so much differently than most of us ever had to deal with.
As we start the semester, we will have thirty-one (31) members living in our thirty-four-member capacity house. We have one other member trying to cancel his other off campus lease to make a total of 32. At the request of the members, the “move out” for the previous year was pulled forward so that the normal repairs and cleanups could be accomplished early to allow for an early move in. This Move in was moved up to Saturday August 15 so that there could be more than fourteen days for quarantine before classes start.
Classes start officially on August 31. As many probably know, there will be a hybrid process for classes for undergraduates this year on campus. The best estimate is that about 30% of the classes will have in person offerings but all classes (not including lab type classes) will have a virtual alternative.
In addition to the early move in, the Chapter decided to have virtual officer elections during the summer rather than part way through the semester. Therefore, the new E-Board is already working through a transition process with the outgoing E-Board. The members living in the house this fall also determined that they would prefer a new caterer. They did research and selected an out of state company (Maryland) and meal service will begin on August 31 when classes start. The meals will be ordered via an “APP” and then provided in a package. There will not be any buffet type service. The meals will be spaced out time wise so that social distancing can be achieved. We have moved half the chairs and tables out of the dining room to help enforce the concept of social distancing (we have done the same process in the library – removed half of the tables and chairs). The Chapter has hired the catering company to then clean and sanitize the dining room after each meal.
Other changes of potential interest to alumni include: Masks are to be worn in all public areas at all times except when eating and drinking (loophole there). Social distancing is to be enforced at all times in all areas of the house. No social activities are planned or allowed for the Fall semester (Washtenaw County Public Health just adopted a new rule limiting any outside gatherings to 25 people and the current State rule limits gatherings indoors to 10 people). For the really OLD alumni – there is a “new” Party Patrol just announced by the Ann Arbor Police Department. This new patrol will be out looking for outside activities with more than 25 people so that these partiers can be “educated” (their words not the authors) about the new public health orders prohibiting this type of activity. The old buzzer system in the old house would not help fight this intrusion into our socializing.
For those not familiar with all the details of the new house – we have a house well suited to some of the best practices for COVID-19. Every person has a separate sleeping room with a door. Most sleeping rooms have a window that opens (and a screen). Our HVAC system is a constant run type and is fed with outside air so the air make-up/changeover is far superior to many system (like our old boiler system). In addition, there is a maximum of four persons sharing a bathroom so Contact Tracing if it becomes necessary will be very easy to do. Finally, due to the shortfall in capacity, we will keep the first-floor suite of sleeping rooms (three rooms) available as an isolation area should the members need it. In the beginning, the living area in that suite (with a bathroom, kitchenette and gathering area) will be available to all). Should we get additional members to live in, we will then have to use this area and rely on the University to provide isolation housing.
Another significant change, the members will have a nurse visit the Chapter House once per week to have COVID-19 testing done (at their expense).
There are still many issues to deal with – how does the Chapter handle Rush, what happens if people do not follow the new “rules” for COVID-19, will the alumni assist with purchases of picnic tables for the patio and possibly some gym/workout equipment (all gyms are still closed legally per Michigan Executive Orders), will we have a cash breakeven or loss for the year on the operation of the Chapter House (far too early to determine this but the budget does have a significant shortfall due to the less than capacity number of members living in), and on and on.
It can be fairly stated that not all the lessons one learns in college come in the classroom. Learning about life is part of value of the college experience and in many of our opinions, learning those lessons is a great benefit that can be derived from the fraternity experience. Clearly this year’s in-house members and the Chapter as a whole will have a WHOLE LOT of new experiences to learn from.
Wish them well on this journey!
