Zeta becomes national chapter

02/05/09 - Zeta Epsilon Tau Alpha (ZETA), formerly a local sorority at the University of Rhode Island, has lost the epsilon and gained national status.As of Jan. 26, the sorority ceased to exist and has been reincarnated as the newest chapter of the similarly-named national sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA,) also known as Zeta.

The similarity of the names is one of several parallels that made ZTA a logical choice and helped to ease the transition from local sorority to national chapter, said Zeta president Charlsey Gentile.

"They were such a great decision because.we reflected them so well," Gentile said, citing similar colors and shared goals, including its dedication to breast cancer awareness.

"We're a huge organization," said Katy Wilkes, one of three ZTA traveling leadership consultants on campus to assist the sorority in its transition. "We're the third largest in the country and there's a lot of benefits for them in resources."

With expanded resources, the sorority will be able to hold more events. ZTA is also looking to set up a sorority house on campus, although this is still in the planning and negotiation stages, according to Gentile.

Founded in 2002, the sorority's original incarnation did not have a house.

With the change, Zeta has become a full-fledged member of the Panhellenic Association (Panhel,) which oversees the university's sororities. Previously a Panhel affiliate, the sorority will now be allowed to participate in the formal recruitment process, and members will be able to hold positions on the association's executive board.

The transition was not completely smooth, with seven out of the almost 60 original members choosing not to join the new sorority, but Gentile said the overall reaction to the change was positive.

"The change and the unknown can kind of take you by surprise, but I think for the most part after having talked we realized we're sisters no matter what letters we wear, and we are always going to stand for, no matter what, what we stood for as a local chapter as well as what ZTA stands for as a national chapter," Gentile said.

Greek Affairs Coordinator Stephen Simo expressed a similar view.

"There'll be quite a bit of change and then in some areas no change at all," Simo said.

Beginning in mid-November, the transition process has been relatively quick, according to Wilkes.

A national sorority wishing to establish itself on campus must be approved by Panhel. The vote in this case was unanimous.

"Obviously that poses a threat to the other groups, for another group to come on and try and take girls from them, but I think that the numbers have been so high that I think this was a good choice for them," Wilkes said.

Numbers of students applying for membership in campus sororities are substantially higher than in the past, according to Panhel president Kerri Koppennaal.

"When bids went out, we would have had the ability to give two other houses full pledge classes, 27 girls or more, so really, it poses no competition at all," Koppennaal said.

Simo attributed the increasing interest in Greek life to strong student leadership.

"There's a lot of good student leadership involved now that's helping that machine go," Simo said.

Zeta's ability to participate in regular recruitment will also streamline coordination by bringing the sorority's recruitment schedule in line with the rest of the Greek system.

Previously, Zeta's later recruitment date caused applicants interested in the sorority to drop out of the regular recruitment process, Koppennaal said.

The new chapter gives ZTA the opportunity to impact more women and to build more leaders, Wilkes said.

"Obviously, Greeks are the future leaders of our country," she added.