Type Social Motto Seek the Noblest | Scope International | |
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Founded October 15, 1898; 118 years ago (1898-10-15)
Virginia State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) Farmville, Virginia Colors Turquoise Blue Steel Gray Symbol Five-pointed Crown (primary), Strawberry (secondary) | ||
Zeta Tau Alpha (ΖΤΑ) (known as ZTA or simply known as Zeta) is an international women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898, at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Zeta Tau Alpha is a part of the National Panhellenic Conference with over 235,000 initiated members and 168 active collegiate chapters, which include international chapters. It is the second largest sorority in the U.S. after Chi Omega.
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History
This women's fraternity was founded in 1898 at the State Female Normal School, now Longwood University, in Farmville, Virginia and is a part of the "Farmville Four." The "Farmville Four" refers to the four women's fraternities founded at the school, Alpha Sigma Alpha (1901), Kappa Delta (1897), Sigma Sigma Sigma (1898), and Zeta Tau Alpha (1898). They are all members of the National Panhellenic Conference.
ZTA's founding sisters:
Philanthropy
The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation currently has three Think Pink partners. These partners are American Cancer Society, NFL, and Bright Pink. Zeta Tau Alpha worked with a variety of charities before partnering with Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in 1992. However, the fraternity ended the partnership in March 2015. The organization later expanded its focus to include other breast cancer awareness and fund raising methods, which include the three partners it has now.
Zeta Tau Alpha has also copyrighted "Think Pink." Think Pink® had become a registered trademark of ZTA with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Since then, this term has become the umbrella theme for all of their breast cancer education and awareness projects.
In 1999, ZTA partnered with the NFL team the Washington Redskins for its "Crucial Catch" campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer. The campaign was expanded in subsequent years to encompass the entire NFL. Each year in October, ZTA distributes pink ribbons at NFL games nationwide. "Our partnership with the ZTA is strong," said Jesse Linder, director of community relations for the New York Jets. "Together we hope to make a difference by honoring patients, survivors and family members impacted by breast cancer while getting the message out to fans."
Symbols
The Founders chose the colors, the flower, and the motto of Zeta Tau Alpha to represent the Fraternity.
The five-pointed crown is the primary official symbol of the Fraternity. Many examples of crown artwork can be found within ZTA, and the crown contains exactly five points. The strawberry is considered a secondary symbol, after the crown.
The white violet is the official flower of ZTA, while the official colors are turquoise blue and steel gray.
ZTA has no official jewel or gemstone.
The Founders chose Themis in 1903 as their patron goddess to represent the Fraternity, and as the name of Zeta Tau Alpha's quarterly magazine which features collegiate and alumnae chapter news, photos and achievements.
Membership
Zeta Tau Alpha has 252 collegiate chapters as of April 2016. There are 169 active collegiate chapters and 238 active alumnae chapters. There are alumnae chapters in many cities and regions in the United States and a virtual alumnae chapter, ZTAlways.
Even as an alumna, a woman is always considered a part of Zeta Tau Alpha. Current members of Zeta Tau Alpha are referred to as Zetas, and the sorority is commonly shortened to Zeta or ZTA, opting for the English spelling, rather than the Greek letters. Their open motto is "Seek the Noblest."
Fraternity operations
"ZTA has 150 volunteer National Officers and more than 2,000 additional volunteers working at the local level. These women are helped by a professional staff of 36 at the International Office".
In the 2010-2012 biennium, the ZTA Foundation raised $6 million that went toward scholarships for 482 members, promoted the Zeta Tau Alpha philanthropy, developed leadership opportunities, and educated members on important women's issues.
Controversies
In 2009, the Alpha chapter of the sorority at Longwood University was closed down for repeated alcohol and hazing violations.
In 2010, 30 members of the sorority from the Miami University trashed a bus and shouted obscenities at the driver. The members were eventually tossed off the bus for their obnoxious behavior and forced to ride another bus home. The sorority was placed on a two-year probation for the incident at the university.
In 2011, 10 sorority members at Texas State University were arrested and charged with Class B misdemeanors for blindfolding a group of Sigma Nu pledges and forcing them to strip to their underwear and drink copious amounts of alcohol (most of the Sigma Nu pledges were under 21). 10 members of Sigma Nu were also charged with the same offense for helping to facilitate the hazing incident.
In 2014, Kelly Ann Hackendahl, a 20-year-old sorority member at Indiana University Bloomington was mysteriously found dead in the sorority's house. The cause of death is unknown.