Delegates from the nine established sororities at Duke picked Zeta Tau Alpha over the other two finalists as the 10th chapter in Duke’s Panhellenic Association. The sorority received six votes; Kappa Delta received two votes and Sigma Kappa received one vote.
The representatives’ vote matched the recommendations made by the Panhel extension committee Sept. 16 in a presentation for chapter presidents and delegates.
“It was a really hard decision to make, but I would say that [Zeta] stood out because... we felt they would do anything in their power to make their chapter successful here,” said Panhel President Jessica Chilson, a senior.
Both Chilson and Assistant Dean of Students Andrea Caldwell praised Zeta for its strong dedication to new member orientation. In addition Chilson praised Zeta for having a very strong colonization plan, being extremely enthusiastic about starting a chapter at Duke and having a really strong alumnae base in the area.
National and local Zeta representatives will return to campus in November to publicize the sorority through a public relations campaign and to familiarize themselves with both the Duke and greek communities. In the spring the chapter will participate in the first round of formal recruitment with the other nine sororities. Instead of engaging in the rest of regular recruitment activities, however, Zeta will hold information sessions and parties focused on inviting upperclasswomen to join.
Starting next academic year, Zeta will participate in the week-long formal recruitment process with the other nine sororities.
“[Zeta] understands that most of the people going through recruitment will go to one of the other nine chapters, but their hope is to be as close as possible to [the maximum] of 114 women,” Caldwell said. “I think we are offering a wonderful opportunity to expand and expose other women to sorority life.”
The process of inviting a new sorority to Duke started last semester when Panhel voted to expand, citing a need to give more women access to greek life on campus. A call was put out to all national sororities that did not have a chapter at Duke, which informed them of the opportunity.
At the same time, an extension committee was formed with members of Panhel, the Interfraternity Council and the administration to review the 10 applications that came back over the summer. The applicants were selected on a number of criteria, including local alumnae support, new member programs, financial obligations and philanthropy.
The three finalists were invited to campus earlier this month to make presentations that were open to all women involved in Duke greek life.
“We were thrilled with all three. They’re very strong all-around chapters that we thought we would support [at Duke] and would do well here,” Chilson said. “They talked a lot about how they fit into Duke, their plans for colonization and were also open to questions from the community.”
Although current sorority members expressed positive feelings about the addition of a new chapter, they were hesitant about its ability to attract prospective sisters. “I think it’s a good idea, but as far as girls being interested, it will be a long incubation period before girls are specifically interested in rushing for that sorority,” said junior Vickie Cantore, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Sophomore Jenny Feldman, a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, echoed these sentiments. “I think it’s definitely good because it just gives girls more options, which is a benefit for sorority life,” she said. “But I think it’s going to be hard because when girls join sororities it’s a way to meet new people and interact with upperclassmen you would want to be friends with. With a new sorority there’s no way to measure that because there’s no one in it.”
Zeta Tau Alpha was founded Oct. 15, 1898 by nine women at State Female Normal School in Farmville, Va., now known as Longwood University. Currently the sorority has 233 collegiate chapters on campuses throughout the country and over 250 alumni chapters, including one that encompasses alumnae in the Research Triangle area.
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