By Kate Gaertner
Among the spring celebrations missing this year are Alpha Sigma Nu inductions at 17 of our 32 AΣN member Jesuit universities.
Sadly, university presidents, chapter advisers, and AΣN student leaders know they have missed the occasion to personally recognize and honor students who have excelled academically, loyally lived the values of their Jesuit education, and notably dedicated themselves to service. Their families, too, missed seeing their loved ones recognized by the Jesuit honor society.
At the AΣN office at Marquette University, as we staff members transitioned to working remotely, we were also tackling other issues facing AΣN— those of practicality, rule and sustainability. As to practicality, there are tasks related to inductions, such as new member selection, ordering customized induction materials, and communicating with chapter advisers and coordinators – all made more challenging by the transition off campus. Rule presented a unique challenge. The AΣN bylaws require new members to recite the AΣN pledge, routinely accomplished during the ceremony and often led by the university president. Sustainability is a particularly difficult challenge. Would students be active in their chapters on their return to campus and see themselves as part of AΣN without a unifying pledge and ceremony?
During an AΣN Lunch & Learn webinar, Le Moyne College President Linda LeMura was asked how St. Ignatius guided her leadership. She pointed to his ability to pivot. When his career as a soldier was over, he looked to God to guide him in his pivot. Now, Alpha Sigma Nu was in need of a pivot.
Serendipitously, AΣN had long ago embraced technology to communicate with our 90,000 members electronically, sharing our programs and resources as well as those of Jesuit higher education and other Ignatian organizations.
We brainstormed, aided by experience with Zoom for regular meetings and our Lunch & Learn webinar series. Staff met virtually with the advisers to inform them of the bylaw requiring the pledge and of AΣN’s idea for a virtual induction. Advisers responded quickly and enthusiastically. We learned that Boston College, Gonzaga University, John Carroll University, and Seattle University were planning their own virtual inductions. All other chapters embraced the Zoom AΣN induction. We were grateful some university presidents even made short videos leading their new members in the pledge. Inductees were encouraged to be part of the AΣN virtual ceremony as well.
Inspired by Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s ability to pivot, the staff of Alpha Sigma Nu (AΣN) worked with chapter advisers to co-create chapter specific and joint virtual induction ceremonies. Two of the online induction ceremonies (above) featured an AΣN alumni welcome from Dr. Annie Selak, a former member of AΣN’s board of directors, who currently serves as associate director of the Georgetown University Women’s Center. Photo courtesy of Alpha Sigma Nu.
One especially meaningful aspect of AΣN inductions is the participation of the chapter e-board in the presentation of the ceremony. Therefore, it was important to include representatives from each participating university as speakers in our ceremony. To make inductees feel a connection to their universities, a PowerPoint presentation displayed photos of previous inductions. The chapter president presenters shared the ritual of induction, describing what AΣN is, AΣN’s history, the three tenets of scholarship, loyalty, and service, and the call to action that is AΣN membership. Recognizing that students and families need flexibility, we held two virtual induction ceremonies, at which more than 300 students recited the pledge, led by Board President Thomas Nolan.
In addition, on May 7, 2020, AΣN welcomed inductees from our newest chapter at the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru. The virtual ceremony was bilingual, with the ritual read in Spanish thanks to the former and current student leaders of the Loyola Andalucia AΣN chapter.
These virtual inductions have inspired me to such gratitude, appreciation of community, and recognition of the spirit of St. Ignatius at work. While all members have induction and the pledge in common, this group of inductees will have a keener understanding that they are now members of the global AΣN network. Alpha Sigma Nu has held its traditional, in-person inductions for 105 years. I am grateful for the Ignatian inspiration to pivot.
Kate Gaertner is executive director of Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit institutions of higher education.
The featured cover photo (above) is courtesy of Loyola Marymount University.