Sigma Chi - Gettysburg College

3 SIGMA CHI W hile this school year has been full of change, the brothers of the Sigma Chi Theta Chapter have taken the new circumstances in stride. Our biggest challenge has been finding ways to adapt our traditions so that they may conform to Gettysburg College's health guidelines. Weekly chapter meetings, Derby Days, the recruitment process, and initiation are just some of the events and rituals that we have had to creatively adjust in order to maintain social distance and prevent the spread of COVID-19. To begin, our chapter meetings are now held virtually, and even though it can be difficult to connect with brothers online, the virtual meetings have been marked by full attendance and an impassioned brotherhood. Such consistent communication among brothers is what helped us achieve a successful and safe Derby Days. With a new online-only format, Theta was able to continue its long history of philanthropic excellence, raising nearly $30,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Institute despite a tumultuous ending to the spring semester. For our efforts throughout the year, the chapter was awarded our 11th J. Dwight Peterson Significant Chapter Award since 2009 by the International Fraternity. Upon our return to campus this fall, our recruitment team constructed events that demonstrated our values and interests to potential new members. Most notably, our traditional Seven Rooms event was held outside in school-sponsored tents to implement proper physical distancing between brothers and potential new members. All of the hard work and inventiveness paid off, and we were happy to welcome 16 new pledges into our ranks. Shortly following our successful recruitment week, Gettysburg College decided to "dedensify" the campus community, only retaining roughly 900 first-year students and a handful of approved upperclassmen. As a result, the Theta Chapter house is once again vacant, and the majority of our brothers have returned home for another remote semester. While this outcome is demoralizing, especially for our senior class, our successful transition last spring is an indicator of the chapter's dedication and motivation to excel no matter where in the world our brothers reside. Knowing what it takes to accomplish greatness during uncertain times, the Theta Chapter will once again be prepared to overcome these obstacles. In Hoc, Justin T. Letizia '21 Consul letiju01@gettysburg.edu tHeta CHapter Creatively and suCCessFully naviGatinG unConventional semester 11th J. Dwight Peterson Significant Chapter Awarded by Sigma Chi Fraternity Palmer Anderson '23 Morton, Pa. Nick Cox '23 Purcellville, Va. Connor Elliott '23 Media, Pa. Zac Evans '23 Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Jeff Gier '23 Oyster Bay, N.Y. Peter Halsey '23 Essex, Conn. Connor Heath '23 Huntingdon, Pa. Ronnie Lentz '23 Lewisburg, Pa. Erick Miller '23 Newtown, Pa. Josh Myers '23 Herndon, Va. Matthew Rau '23 Castle Pines, Colo. Ben Ropiak '23 Greenwich, Conn. Ken Spadaccini '23 Cresskill, N.J. Paul Szanto '23 Fanwood, N.J. Brett Travis '23 Leola, Pa. Andrew Weinbrum '23 Weston, Conn. Gus Brouillard '22 at Gettysburg Valley of Death battlefield. The Seven Rooms recruitment event was held outside this year due to the COVID-19 safety restrictions. Theta Chapter members ready to extend bids to worthy men. Welcome to the Brotherhood

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