Theta Xi - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

T he COVID-19 pandemic unleashed uncertainty and upheaval not experienced by our country, RPI, or our brotherhood in over a generation. Over the past 156 years, Alpha Chapter has weathered depressions and recessions, civil, world and regional wars, and the infamous flu pandemic. We pivoted and adapted to survive and thrive each time. Our alumni are hard at work helping our active brothers navigate this disruption as well. The fraternity is well positioned to emerge from this challenge as strong as we've ever been. RPI reopened in late August, telling sophomores to stay away for distance learning this fall (juniors will stay away in the spring). They opened dorms for freshmen and instructed all other students to live off campus, singling out Greek houses as the only housing option specifically disallowed for any student attending in-person classes on campus. We've not identified any other schools in the country who've made the decision to keep only Greek houses closed. Eighteen Greek houses at RPI chose to open anyway. Alpha Chapter opened in a modified fashion. First, several alumni joined a team of active brothers to craft and implement a detailed and thoughtful plan for our house that encompasses all applicable federal, state, and local guidelines and requirements for physical distancing, disinfecting, occupancy, and other recommendations. Next, we formed a team of alumni advisors that includes medical, legal, educational, and architectural professionals to work with the active chapter leaders to train, monitor, and adapt the plan as facts and circumstances evolve over the coming months. Finally, we supported the decision of each active brother taking classes on campus to not live in our house this semester. Their top priority must be education and RPI's threat to bar any student living in Greek housing from stepping foot on campus is not a risk we can ask any brother to take. The chapter house is being used by our brothers to study, gather, and support each other. There are very few living in the house (only those not required to attend classes on campus). The kitchen is closed and meal service is suspended. The good news is that our alumni association and active chapter are well positioned to weather this crisis together. We are extremely sound financially with sufficient reserves to absorb the economic impact of RPI's dictate (reduced rent collected to reflect brothers not living in the chapter house). Membership is strong and morale is high. We will be ready to pivot as needed this semester and next and look forward to the day when our actives can fully occupy our house. We missed seeing you in April. It's the first time in over 15 years that I wasn't in Troy to celebrate 6294 with our brothers. Please mark April 24, 2021, on your calendar as we plan to celebrate our 157th anniversary, to memorialize the close of our successful capital campaign, and to unveil a 10-year strategic plan that will take us to the 100th anniversary of our house's construction. We'll pivot again if required, but right now I intend to see 100 of my closest friends and brothers at 1490 Sage Avenue in April. I hope you're one of them! Yours in the Bonds, David Fowkes '89 (A1275) Alumni Association President dwfowkes@verizon.net ALPHA CHAPTER OF THETA XI SUMMER 2020 ALPHABET ALPHA CHAPTER – 156 YEARS AND COUNTING Annual Alumni Meeting Goes Virtual, Board Elected Remotely E xtraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and in the age of coronavirus, the alumni association adapted by holding its yearly April get-together virtually for the first time. On April 25, over 30 brothers logged in to participate as the board conducted its business via the Google Meet video platform. Board elections were also held remotely with brothers receiving voting instructions via email and choosing a slate of officers through the SurveyMonkey polling website prior to the annual meeting.

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