Stieg 1

Alexa L. Stieg
Professor Fielding
WRTC 103
29 January 2016
Zeta Tau Alpha

Greek life is seen on many of the universities not only in the

United States, but also all over the world. Fraternities and sororities
can be social, professional, honorary societies for both men and
women. Most fraternities and sororities use combinations of letters of
the Greek alphabet as names for their specific organization. In the Mid
to late 19th century, students began to form their own groups to talk
about current events, literature, and other topics that were not offered
in the classroom due to universities strict curriculum. Soon enough,
these groups began to form deeper connections with one another and
began to depend on one another for more than just intellectually
stimulating conversation. Parties, sporting events, dances and so on
became to be planned regularly. Being a member of the Greek
organization, Zeta Tau Alpha, has affected my life significantly. It has
shifted my view on my community, the world and myself by forcing me
out of my comfort zone through the introduction of new experiences
and opportunities such as participating in many events for ours and

Stieg 2
others philanthropies, volunteering in the community, and being a
sister to 200 girls.
Zeta Tau Alpha was founded on October 15th, 1898 at Longwood
University in Farmville, VA. Nine young women established the
organization by the names of Maud Jones Horner, Della Lewis Hundley,
Alice Bland Coleman, Mary Campbell Jones Batte, Alice Grey Welsh,
Ethel Coleman Van Name, Helen May Crafford, Frances Yancey Smith,
and Ruby Leigh Orgain. The founders imagined an organization that
would perpetuate their tie of friendship.
Zeta Tau Alpha is founded on a few principles. Zeta holds a value
in friendship and love, creating positive attitudes, performing such
deeds, and the molding of such opinions that will be helpful in the
building of a purer and nobler womanhood in the world (Ashley
Sherman). Zeta Tau Alpha also has an open motto of Seek The
Noblest for a constant reminder for its members to always be
principled in life.
The creed of Zeta Tau Alpha states the beliefs of the
organization. These beliefs found in the creed consist of always being
true to yourself as well as to those within and without of your circle
(Shirley Kreasan Strout). To join an organization that values this has
helped me flourish by always being truthful and doing the right thing
for myself and for others, regardless of who they are. Another belief is
to think of terms of all mankind and our service to the world (Shirley

Stieg 3
Kreason Strout); meaning that when committing a deed, think of how it
is serving the world and everyone in it. Zeta Tau Alpha believes in
finding satisfaction in being rather than seeming, which will strengthen
the higher qualities of the spirit within the members. We believe in
preparing for service and to find the nobility in serving, to look for the
good in everyone, to be humble in success but not bitterness in defeat,
to have the welfare and harmony of Zeta Tau Alpha at heart, striving to
make our lives a work of high ideals, devotion to the Right, the Good,
and the True (Shirley Kreason Strout). The creed entails Zetas many
beliefs and assist in reminding members values to live by.
Along with a majority of Greek organizations, Zeta Tau Alpha
holds a few rituals/practices that are very sacred and private. These
rituals require the members to wear whites/creams and absolutely no
other color. Shoulders must be covered as well. One of the biggest
rituals is the initiation of new members, which normally occurs a few
months after receiving a bid to join the organization. In addition to
initiation, Zeta has pinning ceremonies of our sacred symbol and
ceremonies in which the new executive team of the chapter is sworn
in. Another practice in this sorority is called Big/Little, where a new
member is assigned a big sister who is an older girl in the sorority.
Big sisters become role models for their little sisters and help guide
them throughout college. These rituals are common throughout all the
chapters and remain sacred.

Stieg 4
In order to become an initiated member of Zeta Tau Alpha, a new
member must complete a few requirements. The soon to be member
must be regularly enrolled in the college with which her chapter is
associated at the time of initiation, sign a member expectations and
obligation agreement, complete the new member program with 90%
attendance at all new member meetings. The chapter must hold
initation within two weeks after the new member program concludes.
She must complete the new member evaluation, score 90% or better
on the member final exam, memorize the creed of zeta tau alpha,
clear all financial obligations to the chapter and fraternity- including
paying initiation feed- 20 days before initation. In addition, she must
purchase a badge and approve the initiate agreement regarding badge
ownership, complete an approved alcohol education course. With the
completion of these requirements, the new member may be initiated
into Zeta Tau Alpha.
Stereotypes of groups are found everywhere in the world. Zeta
Tau Alpha, as a part of Greek life, carries quite a few. There are
stereotypes of we are just here to party, hazing happens
everywhere and to everyone who join, sororities dont represent
their school well, sorority girls are stupid and dont care about school
or their grades, sorority girls only care about their selves, Greeks
culture is insular , and lastly Greeks are all about assimilation. After

Stieg 5
joining Zeta, I learned that these stereotypes are not true and are
proved to be false on a daily occurrence.
I joined Zeta Tau Alpha to be apart of something greater than I
am. I wanted to be involved with an organization that offers a
sisterhood, support, academic assistance, and many opportunities such
as job networking and service programs. I wished to be apart of a
sisterhood that valued emphasizing leadership development, service to
others, academic achievement and personal growth for women while
still keeping a commitment to friendship. In addition, Zeta supports
and fundraises for Breast Cancer Awareness. Throughout the year, we
have major events on campus. We have our annual 5K walks, an
illumination ceremony, and many more. I wanted to be able to
contribute to a cause that makes me proud to be apart of.
In each chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha there is an executive team that
runs the chapter. This team consists of a president, vice president,
recruitment chair, social chair, finance, sisterhood chair, and many
more. As a freshman, I am a new member and my role is to abide by
the expectations of representing the sorority well and attending
mandatory events and meetings. Zeta Tau Alpha expects each member
to reach required GPA of 3.0 and maintain good academic standing.
Grades always come first and the members are expected to do as well
as we are capable to. Members are required to follow the Zeta Tau

Stieg 6
Alphas policy of no underage drinking as well as fulfilling the
semesterly financial obligations.
Since becoming a member of Zeta Tau Alpha I have had many
memorable experiences. The first experience was pref night, the night I
decided that Zeta Tau Alpha was my new home. Looking around at the
girls of Zeta Tau Alpha, I felt such a strong vibe of sisterhood and love.
This night affected me because I made a decision that would affect the
rest of my life. I joined an organization that values trust, sisterhood,
and service and those values were now my values.
For my second experience, I participated on the Zeta team for a
dodge ball tournament, which we came in first place. Throughout the
tournament, we had our ups and downs as any team and had a lot to
work on. However, we worked not only as a team but also as a
sisterhood. We supported each other emotionally and physically. This
experience helped me grow by
teaching me the value of support
and hard work. Without the support
we gave each other and the effort
we put into the team, we wouldnt
have been able to take home the trophy.

My third experience since

joining Zeta Tau Alpha was an

October 6, 2015
4 p.m.
My sisters and I in celebration
post dodge-ball tournament.
This conveys happiness and
sisterhood.

Stieg 7
emotional one. Every year Zeta holds a 5k run for breast cancer. As I
ran through the 3.2-mile course, girls in my sorority were posted on the
sidewalk holding motivational signs to keep us encouraged. It
reminded me how lucky I was to have the opportunity to be
participating in an event with such a good cause and to do it with 200
girls by my side encouraging each other in the support of women
fighting against breast cancer.
In just one semester, Zeta Tau Alpha has become a very
significant part of my life. Adjusting to college is hard, however,
becoming a member of this group has made the transition comfortable
and natural. It has affected me in many ways. It has affected me
personally by giving me the 70 girls in my pledge class that I now talk
to everyday. It has affected me mentally by striving to be a better
person through service, doing the right thing, and being honest and
positive. I now view myself as a sister to 200 girls who trust me. I see
the world as a work in progress now. Ive realized through the service I
do in Zeta that there is always something to do or someone to help.
Zeta has shaped me in personal ways and mental ways and for that I
am forever grateful.

Stieg 8

Works Cited
"fraternity and sorority." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica
Academic. Encyclopdia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
<http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/690955/fraternity-andsorority>.
"Fraternity and Sorority Life." <i>Greeks Application State</i>.
Application State University, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Bonzo, Hannah. "History of College Greek Life." <i>Rehoboth
Journal</i>. Rehoboth Journal, 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
Sherman, Ashley. "Zeta Tau Alpha." <i>Zeta Tau Alpha</i>. Zeta Tau
Alpha Fraternity, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2016.
<i>Zeta Is Forever New Member Program</i>. Indianapolis: Zeta Tau
Alpha Fraternity, 2015. Print.