Sigma Chi - University of Cincinnati

THE BEARCAT SIG Zeta Psi Chapter of Sigma Chi at The University of Cincinnati V Spring 2021 A DEEP SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY The Importance of Staying Connected at Zeta Psi A s things slowly but surely get back to normal at the University of Cincinnati, I can't stress enough how proud I am of our undergraduate brothers and how they have handled the plethora of challenges that they've encountered during this unorthodox academic year. Aer unexpectedly finishing the spring 2020 semester from home and adapting to various COVID-19 guidelines throughout the 2020-21 school year, they've realized how important it is to stay connected with their Sigma Chi brothers—even if it's virtually or in socially distant settings. I've also enjoyed hearing about how Zeta Psi alumni have learned the ins and outs of Zoom and reconnected with brothers they haven't seen in person in several years. I am thrilled to say that there will be opportunities for you to reconnect with more brothers and the Zeta Psi active chapter in the coming months. Please mark your calendars for the 13th Annual Summer Sig Sports Stag on July 17, Homecoming on November 6, and the Cincy Sigs Holiday Party on January 14, 2022. Our undergraduate brothers have also expressed to me how much they're looking forward to those events and how much they've appreciated the support of alumni, especially in recent months. One thing that particularly impressed me about the undergraduates is how strictly they stayed true to the Jordan Standard during a virtual fall recruitment. Whenever I recite the Jordan Standard, the final stanza always strikes a chord with me—A Deep Sense of Personal Responsibility. I'm sure you've reflected on this many times as well, but please take a moment to think about how having a deep sense of personal responsibility has led you to many personal and career accomplishments. I firmly believe that part of our deep sense of personal responsibility is to build upon our lifelong friendships we've fostered and to stay connected at Zeta Psi. Whether you live in Cincinnati or hundreds of miles away, one rare benefit of the pandemic is that it has proved that we have outlets to stay in touch with each other and the chapter. I'm looking forward to sharing more opportunities for alumni to get involved at Zeta Psi in the very near future, but until then, stay safe and go Bearcats! In Hoc Signo Vinces, Drew Harmon '14 President, House Corporation alumni@zetapsisigs.com A s a researcher in the Department of Neurosurgery and Hansen Experimental Physics Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, Ryan Samarakoon '16 has been working on one of the most interdisciplinary projects you could imagine. Ryan's team that consists of neuroscientists, neurosurgeons, computer scientists, electrical engineers, and physicists has been working in collaboration with Google Brain to build a device to restore vision in blind patients. "I'm involved in everything from designing the computer chip of the device to determining the physics of surgically implanting a prosthetic onto the retina of the eye and investigating how the device will send signals to the brain so that it processes a visual stimulus correctly. I also run experiments on human and monkey eyes to gather an immense database of all the possible ways the cells in our eyes respond to different light stimuli," Ryan said. "e goal is for the device to see the world clearly and then communicate these signals to the brain since these pathways still exist even in blind people. It's an incredibly difficult project, but I'm excited for the potential results!" As Ryan hopes that the device will restore vision in blind patients, he's thankful for the people who gave him a vision to be successful in the (Continued on page 2) Ryan Samarakoon '16 Sets His Sights on Restoring Vision in Blind Patients Establishing a Vision for Success at Sigma Chi Ryan Samarakoon '16, Brian Farrell '17, and Andrew Pfriem '15 at Yellowstone National Park.

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