Greek life in times of strife: Hofstra's fraternities and sororities adjust to COVID-19

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra University

It was a Sunday evening in early March 2020 and Angel Azoulay, currently a sophomore film production major, had just joined the Hofstra University chapter of Delta Gamma. She sat on her bed, scrolling through the chat for Delta Gamma’s newest spring pledge class. They chatted about upcoming social events that they were excited for, as well as their plans for the upcoming spring break. With messages going so fast, Azoulay didn’t even notice the email notification from Hofstra University, until a text in the group chat read: “Did you guys get the email? Classes are cancelled for the next week.”

At the time, Azoulay and her new sisters believed it was just an extension to their upcoming spring break, as they all went home expecting to see each other two weeks later. Weeks turned into months, and Azoulay’s entire new member process for her sorority fell into disarray. All Greek life organizations had been thrown into this unpredictable situation.

“I joined a sorority to make friends,” explained Azoulay. “Social events make up a lot of what Greek life does.” But now that Greek life has moved from Zoom back to campus, new challenges are emerging.

Alexandra Federico, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) at Hofstra University, insists that it is impossible to compare COVID-19’s effect on Hofstra’s Greek life to its effect on schools with recognized frat houses. Unlike the large state institutes with Greek life housing holding upward of 50 people, fraternities and sororities at Hofstra University do not have recognized houses. Students participating in Greek life who do choose to live together in off-campus houses have an average of eight people per house, and many of these houses have instituted strict safety rules themselves.

“The FSL faculty have not received any reports on large parties as of now,” Federico said. Greek life students are required to take extra steps for safety, including the approval of all events, that will most likely remain virtual at this time.

Several pre-professional fraternities have held virtual quizzes and information sessions on navigating the virus in an attempt to educate other students about how to stay safe. Alpha Theta Beta, a sorority specific to Hofstra University, has held an educational speaker event on domestic violence over Zoom, while another sorority successfully self-managed their mandatory composite photoshoot for new members by using social distancing floor guidelines and a strict facial covering policy.

Colin Sullivan, the director of communications for Hofstra University, expressed his pride in Greek life during this time as he has seen many students in Greek life eager to participate in the new Safe Start program on campus. “They are willing to lend their voice[s] and face[s] and have displayed a lot of leadership during this time,” he said.

Even though strict regulations must be followed on campus, it is up to off-campus students to be responsible for their own safety protocols where school officials cannot monitor them.

“FSL has the same control over Greek life students as anyone else living off campus,” Federico said. “They are learning during their own journey of their first experience living on their own, all we can do is try to help them grow.”

Azoulay lives in a residence hall this semester, but many of her sorority sisters and friends in other organizations live in off-campus housing. Gillian Santos, junior public relations major and member of the Leadership Team for her sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, resides in an off-campus house with seven of her sorority sisters. While they are enjoying their time together this semester, they have also prioritized enforcing new rules around the house for the sake of their safety and health.

“We had a house meeting as soon as we were moved in to go over our new procedures,” Santos said. “We created a list that holds a few people we’re all comfortable with and are always allowed to come over.”

Santos also talked about her recent quarantine experience while she awaited her test results after experiencing minor symptoms: “I wore a mask around the house, even in the bathroom, and I cleaned up after myself, but I mostly tried to stay in my room as much as possible,” she said.

Bringing students back to campus has created many tricky situations, but most members in Greek life have proved their determination to get through them. Although Azoulay is fairly new to her sorority, she has already become close with other members.

“When quarantine started back in March, we were all put in hard positions. Having so many people reach out in scary times makes you more optimistic,” Azoulay explained. “We all missed each other, but we want to keep each other safe ... and we really don’t want Hofstra to close down again.”