Though COVID-19 has driven most students away from campus and canceled on-campus activities for the semester, students have not forgotten about their social clubs. Though Monday night meetings in the McInteer, intramural sports and spring formals have been canceled for now, many social clubs have still found ways to interact as groups despite the distance.
Several clubs have been more active than ever in their Facebook groups. Senior Laken Reddell, president of women’s social club Delta Gamma Rho (DGR), said they are trying their best to keep in touch with a large number of members. She said members have been posting in their Facebook group asking questions such as, “What’s your favorite quarantine snack?” and “What are you doing right now?”
DGR’s athletic directors freshman Aiden Moore, senior Meghan Rydl and junior Jessica Rydl created a bracket for “Starch Madness,” a series of polls between two types of potato snacks such as a waffle fries vs. potato chips or hash browns vs. tater tots, with the winner moving up in the bracket. Reddell said it has encouraged a lot of friendly debates within the club.
“There are many different options, and it’s making so much conversation with the girls,” Reddell said.
Results of the starch champion will be confirmed and announced Saturday, April 4.
DGR isn’t the only club keeping their game on. Senior Luke Humphrey, president of men’s social club Knights, has been in contact with the club’s officers about connecting and competing with each other through online games and GamePigeon, a program on iPhones that allows people to play one-on-one games such as checkers, archery and basketball.
Knights member junior Easton Davis posted in the club’s Facebook group last week to facilitate positive communication, Humphrey said.
“Easton encouraged us to comment how we were feeling,” Humphrey said. “Whether it be praises, laments, frustrations, struggles, prayer requests, whatever — all comments were welcome. This post opened up the door for us to be open about our feelings, and it’s been so beautiful to see.”
Humphrey also reached out to the historians about putting together a weekly photo challenge and asked the spiritual life directors to post a weekly devotional thought.
“We used to often boast about how close our club was, so I guess COVID-19 is really putting us up to the test,” Humphrey said.
Senior Laura Doyle, president of women’s social club Sigma Phi Mu, said their club is also doing as much as they can to ensure their members remain close. They have held Zoom meetings for their members, and their activity directors, juniors Melody Sutton and Emma Rose Hill, are hosting Kahoot games every other week, complete with prizes for the winners.
“Our devo directors gave a great devo at the meeting about how this is all in God’s control,” Doyle said.
Sigma Phi Mu’s service directors juniors Analee Reed and Rachel Ledbetter have come up with ways for their members to continue serving even while in quarantine, and historian Madyson Rowland has promised the senior class that they will still be celebrated despite not being together.
This spring semester will look much different for social clubs, but many have already gotten creative with ways to stay in contact in the weeks to come. From virtual devotionals to lighthearted “Starch Madness” competitions, club brothers and sisters are keeping up the camaraderie near and far.
