Sigma Alpha Epsilon - University of Illinois

A t Illinois Beta Chapter, we are committed to maintaining a strong bond of brotherhood as well as playing a large role in bettering our community. Our goal is to do as much good in the community as possible while also using our fraternal bond to strengthen the overall scholarship of the house. COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges that have made our approach to recruitment and social interactions shift tremendously. The pandemic has provided a mindset to overcome and work diligently and safely to carry out the best we have to offer. This fall, all of our officers on the executive board have worked incredibly hard to advance and carry on the legacy put forth by those who preceded us. One example of this is our outstanding recruitment of 44 new members—a surprisingly large class size thanks to the efforts of Jarad Kurland '23, George Geroulis '23, and Cavin Armour '23. These individuals were presented with the challenge to acquire new members through the mist of the pandemic and proved that they were up to the task. Social events have been incredibly hard to plan with the looming amount of restriction the University of Illinois has put forth to ensure the safety of students. Nevertheless, we've been able to overcome and host events with a few of the sororities on campus, including Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, Alpha Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Delta Delta Delta. One such event was a Saturday block with Gamma Phi Beta. With the enormous struggle to carry out social events, huge efforts were made from our social chairman, who worked tirelessly to keep the safety and fun within our fraternity. Thank you, George Davidkov '23. Philanthropy was difficult through the fall semester as our normal annual events had to be canceled. This spring term, we are looking into options to continue our duty as brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon to contribute to our community and give back. Looking forward, we hope to continue with our annual hockey face-off against the Sigma Chi Chapter of ΣΑΕ. We also hope to host our grilled cheese philanthropy, and will be participating in Gamma Phi Beta's annual Feed My Starving Children philanthropy event, where they package food to send to those in need in developing nations. Fraternally, Jared Andrew Kurland '23 Eminent Archon George Geroulis '23, Cavin Armour '23, and Ben Kurka '23 enjoying pre-COVID-19 times together at the 2019 winter formal. Friend of the chapter Julio Adujnta, Jared Kurland '23, George Geroulis '23, and Cavin Armour '23 watching the Fighting Illini men's basketball team at their favorite bar. THE LION TATTLER I L L I N O I S B E T A C H A P T E R O F S I G M A A L P H A E P S I L O N • T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S SPRING 2021 Maintaining the Bonds of Brotherhood Illinois Beta Finds Success in Recruitment Despite Ongoing Challenges Cavin Armour '23, Tommy Marcotte '22, Kevin Enright '23, and Milan Patel '23 playing a round of golf on the University Links during a warm weekend last September. Illinois Beta and the Pandemic – How can you make an Impact? I want to ask you to step back in time. Think about your time living at 211 E. Daniels as an undergraduate. Who were your roommates? Do you have memories of the housemother, the cook, the House Director? When you got back from class for the day, what did you look forward to doing? Playing Bridge in the Card Room? When Friday afternoon arrived, how did you relax and blow off steam from the week of schoolwork? Was it a game of softball in Fraternity Park? Which sorority did the chapter have mixers with? How might this have been different had there been a pandemic during those years? (Continued on page 3)

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