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By Jantomi Hall
\nStaff Writer\/MC201<\/p>\n
Greek life plays a significant role at Jackson State University for many students. Due to the Covid-19 coronavirus however, many incoming members of sororities and fraternities felt robbed of the Greek experience.<\/p>\n
The pandemic took away \u201cThee Great Reveal\u201d experience for spring 2020 initiates due to the cancellation of the in-person show that eventually turned into a virtual one.<\/p>\n
At Jackson State University, there were a total of 165 Greek initiates that crossed in spring 2020. Many of the new initiates were disappointed by the cancellation of their probates, along with supporters who purchased tickets.<\/p>\n
Sororities and fraternities had to take a new approach by posting a picture or videos of new members to show recognition.<\/p>\n
Trey Cotton is a spring 2020 member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Jackson State. He shared his thoughts on how the coronavirus affected his Greek experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, I was devastated when I found out there would be no probate,\u201d Cotton said. \u201cAfter months of practicing for our moment to be revealed, we were told that it wasn\u2019t going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cotton added, \u201cThings were different because while we were preparing for probate, more and more people were leaving campus due to COVID. Also, we had to take into account how much we had been with each other and if someone might have contracted the virus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cotton also expressed how challenging things were for the Alphas due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings were definitely challenging. We never truly got our moment in the spotlight like others before us,\u201d said Cotton. \u201cWe also never got our first day out or even a yard show, so there were many things that we missed out on due to COVID,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jai\u2019 Woodson, a spring 2020 neophyte of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. also reflected on how COVID-19 interfered with her Greek experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I found out the probate was going to be canceled, I cried for days. I was so hurt and sad because something that I waited my entire life for and worked so hard for was partially ruined,\u201d Woodson stated.<\/p>\n
Woodson said the probate was not the only things she has missed out on since becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t get to experience my \u2018PHirst Day out\u2019, celebrate my first charter day, and host events with my chapter,\u201d said Woodson. \u201cThings that I saw previous lines do and events that I attended before I was a member, I haven\u2019t gotten to experience yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first Woodson thought that COVID-19 was going to be short-lived but it made things more challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince this has become the new normal, it has gotten a lot harder and more challenging. My life feels so routine now,\u201d she stated. \u201cCOVID has ruined so many things for me such as my probate, my 21st birthday, and now my senior year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woodson continued, \u201cBut there’s nothing I can do about it but pray that everything becomes normal again and continue to stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlotte Sanders, a spring 2020 initiate of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. gave details on how COVID-19 limited the time she got to share with her line sisters.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce COVID came, it became mandatory to limit interaction with people and for students to go home,\u201d Sanders said. \u201cMost of my [line] sisters are from out of state, therefore they had to leave Jackson. We couldn\u2019t have as many activities together anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although COVID-19 made it challenging for some, Sanders indicated that it was not hard for her to adapt to the changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t hard for me to adjust to the new changes due to COVID,\u201d she said. \u201cMostly everything became virtual and I spent a lot of time using technology therefore it was easy for me.\u201d<\/p>\n