Phi Gamma Delta - University of Kansas

www.kufiji.org 3 Visit www.kufiji.org for all things KU FIJI! The password to protected areas of www.kufiji.org is "morgan." Online Giving: tinyurl.com/fijikuannual Facebook: KU Phi Gamma Delta Instagram: @kufiji ConneCt with KU FiJi online I t goes without saying that our Pi Deuteron Undergraduate Brothers are ecstatic to be back on KU's campus after they were forced to return home and finish the spring 2020 semester virtually due to COVID-19. One Graduate Brother has worked particularly hard to ensure that all KU students could come back to Lawrence this fall in the safest possible manner. Chris Wilson '02 has spent five years as an executive with the University of Kansas Health System, focusing on a variety of initiatives related to digital health and public or population health management. He spent the past three months working with his University of Kansas Health Systems colleagues, the Douglas County Health Department, KU faculty and staff, and others from the Lawrence area to advise Chancellor Douglas Girod on the university's reopening plan and testing strategy. "Success is all grounded in sound infection prevention and the ability to identify positive cases as quickly as we can, isolate them, and remove them from the community where they have the potential to spread to other individuals," Chris said. "It's been a challenging time to be sure. No one has been on a college campus during a pandemic like this before, but so far, results are promising." Chris said that testing and positivity rates are in line with what KU's pandemic response team thought they would be. Overall, he's been pleased with masking compliance and distancing and infection prevention protocols that are being enforced on campus. For a successful fall semester, Chris is calling upon all Brothers to do their part in slowing the spread of COVID-19. "I would strongly encourage everybody to practice good infection prevention, including masking indoor and outdoor, distancing, and hand hygiene as the three primary means and do so not only when you're in formal settings like a classroom or a meeting, but also when you're in informal settings like a breakroom or hanging out among friends," Chris said. "That's where we see the most spread occur, when folks are letting their guard down in informal settings. I think it's going to take everyone's individual responsibility to be successful." For Chris, adhering to healthy habits and infection prevention protocols is not just about keeping himself and KU students and faculty safe. Chris lives in Lawrence and has family members at higher risk of negative outcomes from contracting COVID-19, so he's dedicated to keeping the whole community safe. In stressful times like these, Chris has been incredibly thankful for the support he's received from his family and FIJI Brothers. "The four years at KU were some of the best years of my life for sure. My closest friends are still the guys I was in the house with and roomed with," Chris said. "That's obviously something that was the most important part of the experience to me—the friendships that I developed there and have retained to this day. I've gotten to see those individuals grow, start their families, and see how they all weather a pandemic as well." You can connect with Chris at cwilson11@kumc.edu. KEEPING KU'S CAMPUS SAFE FROM COVID-19 Chris Wilson '02 Proud to Be a Part of KU's Pandemic Response Team Pi Deuteron mourns the loss of Brother Joseph Kolega '19, who tragically passed away on June 21 at the age of 23. As a recent graduate of the University of Kansas, Joe worked for Seaboard Corporation in Merriam, Kansas. He was well-loved and always surrounded and supported by many friends and family, living life to the fullest. Serving as Rush Chairman for his class, Joe was a true FIJI leader. He was a great Brother and friend who will be dearly missed. Please join us in keeping his family in your thoughts and prayers. AD ASTRA

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