An Open Letter to the "Not-So-Sorority Girl"

When I came to college, I had no clue about Greek life except what I saw in movies like House Bunny and Legally Blonde. (I’m easily more of a Sydney White type of girl.) When fall recruitment happened, I laughed every day at my suitemate (who I didn’t really know) as she freaked out about outfits while running down the hall in heels trying to get to her group in time. 

My two other roommates and I, in an effort to be friendly, surprised her at her bid day and my first thought was “Yikes, I have never seen so much glitter and white converse in my whole life.” I looked around and fell victim to the most common stereotype of Greek life - thinking how ridiculous it was that these girls paid so much money just for friends. (Spoiler alert: that’s not how it works.)

So how did I become a Zeta?

Long story short, I was recognized by and old high school friend at bid day who was in Greek life. As we talked reminisced about high school and she told me about her Greek experience, she reminded me of how much I need a strong support system and fun plans on the weekends.

When I was offered a bid, it felt so ludicrous that I could belong to a sorority that I didn’t even talk to my parents about it. I never though of myself as “that kind of girl.” But in the end they wooed me with frozen yogurt. I got a chance to hang out with my high school friend and two of her sisters for a fro-yo date and fell in love with them and with the sisterhood ZTA has to offer.  

Feeling completely new and clueless after accepting my bid, I was introduced to my overwhelmingly large pledge class and it was nerve-wracking. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into.  

What did I get myself into?

1. Spirit/Tradition:  There are innumerable traditions we have as a chapter, in Greek life, and as UNT students but the one that stands out the most for me is Homecoming. Usually, all the Greek life chapters are paired into teams who compete in various competitions during Homecoming including creating floats for the parade. Yes, most schools do this but last year (my first year) ZTA challenged the status quo. Instead of spending countless hours and dollars towards building a float for a 30 minute parade, Team 8 (Zeta Tau Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Delta Sigma Phi) put that money and time towards rebuilding a local park. I have never been more proud to be a part of something. So many hours and so much manpower went towards such an amazing project that will last so much longer and bring so much more happiness than a parade float. Together our chapters put in over 800 hours of community service and I think that is amazing. 

2. Philanthropy: I wear pink because I not only feel great in it, but it supports a great cause - ZTA’s philanthropy: Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. I’m proud to wear pink. During our Pink-Out game, (a football game where we encourage everyone to wear pink to bring awareness to breast cancer), we teamed up with UNT athletics to create a human ribbon on the field at halftime. It was AWESOME. I was in color guard all four years of high school and being on the Mean Green field brought back so many memories. I was so proud to be on the field with all my sisters in our pink shirts. (I was actually so excited that I missed the group picture because I called my dad to tell him how cool I was.)

3. Growth: Though I am a newer member, I can hear the older members talk about the place our chapter used to be in. We’ve never been unsuccessful but the amount we have grown over the last few years is tremendous. In fact, our chapter has now received the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation Crown Chapter award for two consecutive years now. (We just found out last month, and we are SO excited!) Reading our president’s blog post about her experience at ZTA Convention with two other leaders accepting that award for us and feeling the excitement as our chapter congratulated each other made my heart so happy. We have worked so hard and being recognized for it means the world.

4. Commitment: Zeta is forever. This is one of those things you’ll hear everyone say: “it’s not four years, its for life” blah blah blah. But listen - we have an amazing alum group. They are so involved with our chapter and it’s incredible to know that even after you graduate, you’re still just as much of a Zeta as you were on Initiation Day (which is the BEST DAY EVER). Not only do you have strong alumni connections, we have advisors that go above and beyond for us every day. Knowing everything they do is strictly on a volunteer basis proves to me that this “Zeta world” means so much more than your four years as a collegiate.

What’s the moral of the story?

At UNT I’m 6 hours from home and everything I knew in high school. Let’s be honest, it’s a scary time. Exciting, but scary. For me Greek life wasn’t something I knew I wanted in my life until I was being invited in with sisterhood and ice cream. I NEVER thought I would be in a sorority but I am so glad I’m here because I have loved every minute of it.

Sophia Jackson, PC Fall’ 15

Recruitment 101: "What Do I Wear?!"

Ok ladies now let’s get in formation. For Panhellenic Recruitment that is!

The most exciting time of the year is quickly approaching and I cannot tell you how excited we are to meet all of the potential new members. While recruitment is a super fun and memorable experience, I will quickly admit that it can be a little nerve wracking. So to all the girls going through recruitment this year - here are some tips and tricks from a seasoned veteran!

Tons of questions will be racing through your mind the week leading up to recruitment, but the question that keeps surfacing will be “WHAT DO I WEAR?!?!?”. Have no fear ladies, I am here to help! This post should help guide you through each day and give you an idea of what to expect.

Round 1:

Today is the day your journey truly begins! You will visit each chapter on campus and get your first taste of Greek Life at UNT. A Panhellenic shirt is provided for you on this day, so show us your personality in the rest of the outfit! You can pair your shirt with a cute pair of high waisted or patterned shorts. Add on a few pieces of you signature jewelry and you’re set! Since you will be walking to all chapters this day, I recommend wearing comfy cute shoes like converse or vans.

Round 2:

Now that it’s round 2, you’re starting to get the hang of things. On this day you will visit up to 6 chapters and getting a tour of their house or lodge. It is such a great day to really get to know the different chapters! While today is a little less casual than round 1, you will still be doing quite a bit of walking and will most likely encounter some stairs. Comfy cute shoes or cute sandals would be perfect. Since today is the first day you get to choose your entire wardrobe, bring out your favorite cute casual outfit. A cute tank and jean shorts or a fun sundress are great choices.

Round 3:

Over half way there! Today is Philanthropy day where you will learn about chapter’s philanthropies and all that they do for them. The chapters will be dressed up more than on round 2 so a sundress or maxi dress is perfect for today. Cute sandals or wedges with a statement necklace or your favorite pair of earrings will complete the look perfectly.

Round 4:

IT’S PREFERENCE NIGHT!!! You are one day away from being a part of your future sisterhood - AAHHH! One more outfit to go: Preference Night is the most formal night of recruitment. Chapters will be bringing you in to their sisterhood and showing you something special on this night. Wearing you’re favorite cocktail dress or semi-formal dress with a killer pair of heels will surely make you stand out.

Bid Day:

You made it!! Congratulations!! Once you open your bid you will meet your new pledge class sisters and run to your chapter. Yes, you really do run. You sprint. Keep this in mind when you’re picking out shoes for today. Comfy cute shoes like Converse or Vans will be faultless. Now once you’ve sprinted to your chapter, screamed and hugged everyone in sight, and caught your breath a little bit, you will be given a shirt representing your new chapter! I recommend wearing shorts that are easy to run in, and match well with most colors. So your favorite jean shorts will be just fine!

And on every day, don’t forget to wear a smile. I know that was the cheesiest thing I could possible say, but in all honesty it’s true. Even if you’re nervous, just keep smiling! This is the most important tip I can give you - It’ll help you relax and enjoy your recruitment, I promise! Wear your favorite outfits, all the confidence you have, and a great smile.

Good luck with recruitment, I know you’ll knock ‘em dead with your outfits!

Halley King, VPIII Recruitment and Retention

Camp Birch Trail

From the moment I stepped foot on Camp Birch Trail I felt at home. Located in Northwest Wisconsin on Lake Pokegama, it is the perfect spot for summer adventures. The past few weeks have been jam-packed and I have seen some of the most beautiful nature sites. I’ve gotten to learn/teach rock climbing, sailing, water skiing, nature classes, tennis and yoga.

I started this journey with Google and a little faith that I would end up where I was supposed to be. If you are someone who isn’t really sure if traveling 1,000 miles for a summer job is for you, all I can say is have a little faith because it will work out. If you have ever considered a job as a camp counselor or specialty staff I 10/10 recommend it. If you give it your best shot you will gain so many new life skills and experiences.

I was assigned to the “upper maple” age group, which means I get to work with incoming 6th graders. They were a handful but they were a wonderful group of girls. Over the course of a session, we got to get ice cream at The Scoop (best ice cream ever), go tubing on the lake, have frosting fights, play trampball, and compete in Pandemonium: Color Wars. Basically I have the best summer job ever - I get paid to be silly, dress up, have fun and do activities with my campers, who wouldn’t love that!

I also got to take a three-day camping trip with my cabin to the North Shores of Lake Superior where we explored Tettegouche State Park and Gooseberry Falls State Park. Camping in Superior National Forest and watching the girls in my group grow so much in just three days was an amazing experience.

Developing new skills, making new friends, and making a lasting impact on your campers is what it’s all about. I am so glad that Google led me to Camp Birch Trail so I could become a part of the BT family. I can’t wait to see what my last few weeks have in store!

Roni Fraser, PC Fall ’15

Convention 2016 (and the Giant Cacti)

If you would have come up to me as a new member and said, “In 2016, you will get to go to convention as the official delegate of your chapter,” I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet here I am, 3 years later (and 3 years wiser) wishing my time in Phoenix, Arizona had been much longer. I can truly say that every late night, every early morning, and every hour of missed sleep was worth every obstacle I’ve faced in the past 3 years - obstacles which seem so small and irrelevant to me now that I’ve gained a truer knowledge of the meaning behind “Zeta is forever.”

            My trip to Convention began long before the opening celebrations. I can still remember the butterflies I got when I received my flight information months ago (this, however, was nothing in comparison to the excited I felt as I packed my bags the night before - always the procrastinator). I crammed a whole bunch of clothes and statement necklaces I thought were crucial to have in my tacky zebra print suitcase and prayed I hadn’t forgotten something important.

When Carly, Shauna, Kati and I landed in Phoenix we were met by TLCs (traveling leadership consultants) who escorted us to our shuttles that would soon take us to the resort & spa that would be our home for the next few days. On the shuttle bus, Carly (VPII, friend, fellow awkward appreciator of dumb jokes) and I spotted a GIANT cactus at the same time. So, naturally, we made a scene. Yes - at 7 am, us “Texans” were freaking out over the ultra-foreign Saguaro Cactus and thought it was the most hysterical thing in the world.

            We got to the resort and everywhere you looked were the letters “ZTA” and the women who wore them proudly. The first day, after checking in, included the opening session and opening dinner. The opening session was all about “Inspiring greatness” (which also happened to be the overall theme for the Convention 2016). Our National President, Carolyn Carpenter, spoke along with other leaders in ZTA and they all encouraged us to take our time in our college years and truly spend it wisely, to not be afraid to take on big leadership positions, to take interest in joining an alumni chapter, and to give back as much and as often to the organization that goes so much more beyond the word “organization.”

Inspired to seek greatness, we broke out for various meetings, shopping, and other fun options we had. Of course, I went shopping first, and I have never in my life seen so much ZTA gear in one place. Hats, buttons, bags, scarves, jewelry, jackets, and enough shirts to clothe a small army overwhelmed both my eyes and my wallet.

After a quick nap to recovering from “shopping ‘till I dropped” it was time for the opening dinner. We were again encouraged to inspire greatness except this time it was more focused around leadership. At this point I had only been there for 10 hours and I was already amazed at how just being there at Convention would open up my mind to so many things.  

            Day 2 was fairly similar - it began with a welcome, then a lunch, then more free time, and then a dinner featuring the Zeta Tau Alpha Housing Corporation Awards. Wearing my business attire, name tag, and button, I had never felt so official in my life. (The night before we even practiced the processional for the meeting, where each official voting delegate got her own seat in reserved chairs. Yep, I felt official.)

            Day 3 was jam-packed. We attended another business meeting, a lunch to award the scholarship recipients, the philanthropy program, Crown Chapter dinner, and a ritual to finish it all off. Starting bright and early with a business meeting, our chapter was awarded the Helping Hands Award- an award that recognizes chapters for contributing to the overall good of the fraternity, one that we are very proud to accept. At lunch, along with announcing the scholarship recipients, we were awarded the Founders Club award for raising at least $25,000 this biennial with our philanthropy fundraising (an AMAZING accomplishment!). I am so excited to take this award back to the chapter and prove to them that every passed out pink ribbon, every Pink Out game, every golf tournament, and every donation collected was SO worth it. Not only does it feel good doing these things to raise awareness, it feels SO good to know that the hard work we all put in each year truly does pay off.

            That night was the big dinner, the moment we were all waiting for. When they began to announce chapters to receive their own Crown Chapter awards, we got nervous, excited, and probably a little too loud for our table because we were trying to distract ourselves as to not think about it too much. Chapter after chapter was being called out, and the longer we were there the antsier we became. Finally they got to “G” in the alpha bet and we saw “Gamma Phi: Crown Chapter” in big letters on the screen above our heads. I swear I don’t even remember hearing our name get called, I just remember standing up, holding back my tears of joy, and accepting the award on behalf of the chapter from Lynn Chapman, VP Collegiate II. Next thing I knew, we were back at our table taking snapchat after snapchat to document the moment. It could not have been a more perfect night. As we posted pictures and notified our chapter that we had won, they went crazy! Knowing that this last semester was by no means easy for us, we reached a goal and I couldn’t be any more proud of Gamma Phi as I am today.

            Friday was our last full day of programming and it began with a continental breakfast to kick off collegiate programming. For programming, we were divided into large groups that rotated throughout the buildings at a different station. I traveled to each station with our VPI while Carly, our fabulous VPII New Member Coordinator, got to present to every delegate at convention about the brand new New Member program that Nationals unveiled this year. Our chapter got to pilot the program (a HUGE honor) which meant Carly was the perfect woman for the job!

            The rest of the day was full of Panhellenic love, academic achievement awards, and Crown Chapter Awards for the Alumnae chapters. All seven alumnae chapters in our province won Crown Chapter Awards which meant that every single chapter, collegiate and alumnae, won a Crown Chapter Award – how amazing is that?! And on top of that, our very own Province President, Stancy, received her Honor Ring. The night was full of fun, laughing, dancing, and cheering!

On our final day was the election and installation of National Council. Taking my seat as official delegate (again, feeling very official) and seeing this process was unlike anything I’d ever seen. Just knowing that we got to see women undertake huge roles of leadership in our sisterhood made me think about how there is so much room for growth in Zeta. Outstanding mentors, advisors, and alumni who have contributed so much time and effort to making ZTA great got to step into roles that could truly make a difference in our community. 

            The next morning at two a.m., we got on our shuttle and left the resort with a bittersweet goodbye. I said goodbye to my roommate, goodbye to the giant cacti, and goodbye to Convention 2016. Looking back, winning Crown Chapter is definitely one of my favorite moments but I will never forget staying up until 4 a.m. with my Zetas from all over the US talking about anything and everything under the starts (the epitome of sisterhood). I will also always remember the dinner where previous Convention attendees had a standing contest to see who had been to the most Conventions in their life. The winner, a sweet elderly woman in a wheelchair, had been to 27 in her life (that’s a lot). Her story made me feel like no matter what I do or where I go, Zeta will always be the sisterhood that changed my life for the better. I wished my time in Phoenix would have been longer, but I knew that my home away from home was waiting for me right where I left it. Though now, I feel more prepared to take care of it than ever.

Jordan Roberts, President