Themis—Spring 2020

CONTENT WA S FINA L IZED B E F O R E C O V I D- 1 9 B E C AME A PANDE MI C .

C OVERA GE OF COVID-19 WI L L APPE AR I N T H E SUMME R I SS UE .

NATIONAL COUNCIL National President Alicia Patten Williams, Theta Psi Vice President Collegiate I Raechel Bennett Biggs, Delta Gamma Vice President Collegiate II Laura Moak Redman, Delta Lambda Vice President Collegiate III Shannon Ferguson, Alpha Psi Vice President Alumnae I Dana Brasington Atkinson, Delta Omicron Vice President Alumnae II Cheri White Armstrong, Theta Gamma Secretary-Treasurer Franlyna Barrett Charles, Zeta Iota National Panhellenic Conference Delegate Laura Ladewig Landers, Theta Psi Extension Director Dolores Gonzales Gastineau, Theta Omega ZTA FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION President Dinah Jackson Laughery, Beta Gamma Vice President Housing Area I Natalie Yingling Lisko, Delta Omega Vice President Housing Area II Julie Ward Moxley, Theta Sigma Vice President Housing Area III Marnie Marlar Frazier, Eta Omega Vice President Construction Leah Fields Ozment, Nu Vice President Design Julia Marthaler Hill, Eta Rho Vice President Operations Casey Guimbellot Pash, Iota Chi Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Arnette Powell, Gamma Pi Directors Alicia Patten Williams, Theta Psi Carolyn Hof Carpenter, Theta Tau Franlyna Barrett Charles, Zeta Iota ZTA FOUNDATION President Carolyn Hof Carpenter, Theta Tau Vice President of Alumnae Development Cynthia Byars Courtney, Gamma Tau Vice President of Collegiate Development Marlene Dunbar Conrad, Eta Iota Vice President of Philanthropy Sherry Server Tilley, Zeta Alpha Vice President of Scholarship Catherine G. Slaughter, Alpha Eta

From Where I Sit For the last 18 years, I’ve sat with my National Council sisters around a board table, in a hotel suite and even beside a pool discussing, dreaming and making decisions for the betterment of Zeta Tau Alpha. Serving as Vice President Alumnae II, National President and National Panhellenic Conference Delegate, the constant in my life has been the support of my sisters.

Those sisters, my volunteer involvement and my experience as a business owner helped me develop nine personal guideposts based on leadership, learning, laughter, loyalty, laws, life, loss, love and my Lord.

Volunteer work is incredibly valuable preparation for leadership in business. I’m so glad I made time for it.

Learning from mistakes is the best education; I am not afraid to make them.

Laughter is great medicine. I try not to take myself too seriously.

Few things are as special as loyalty. I learned that from my ZTA sisters— and from my precious Labrador Presley when she unselfishly cared for her 11 adorable puppies last year.

After serving as National President, I ran for and was elected to city council. To serve my constituents effectively, I needed to study the laws of our community. Understanding structure and precedent has served me well as a business owner and NPC Delegate.

Life is precious. My first husband, Robert Mauro, and my dear friend, ZTA Executive Director Deb Ensor, passed away in the same year. My father’s passing this past year reinforced this lesson. I have learned to cherish every moment. Loss taught me the toughest lesson in life: only time can heal a loss. It wasn’t something I got over, but rather got through. I became stronger for it.

Love is the greatest of all things. I married Darrell Landers in 2017 and feel so blessed to have had the love of two husbands in one lifetime and the love of my sisters, who continue to stand by my side.

Throughout my life, I have done some soul searching with my Lord, looking for answers. That searching has led me to believe I can help others who are struggling by sharing my experiences.

When the new National Council is installed at Convention 2020 this summer, it will be bittersweet for me to watch from a new seat—in a chair in front of the stage with the other former National Council members.

Secretary-Treasurer Kay Dill Kreutzer, Eta Rho Directors Nora Nell Hardy Jackson, Beta Gamma Becky Hainsworth Kirwan, Gamma Beta Alicia Patten Williams, Theta Psi Franlyna Barrett Charles, Zeta Iota Dinah Jackson Laughery, Beta Gamma Stephanie Arnette Powell, Gamma Pi

LAURA LADEWIG LANDERS National Panhellenic Conference Delegate

SPRING 2020

Contents 02

THINGS WE ZETA LOVE

03

LYNN PERCY HUNDERUP MEMORIAL

04

OFFICER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

08

INCLUSION PHILOSOPHY

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NOBLE ACHIEVEMENTS

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NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE NEWS

page 10

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Someone you can count on The advisor/advisee relationship inspires leadership and strengthens the bonds of sisterhood. Four collegian/alumnae duos share the personal impacts of their roles.

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Standing together The battle between Harvard and singlesex organizations that started in 2016 is far from over. Learn about the history behind the lawsuits and where legislation stands now.

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Ritual or tradition What’s the difference between a ritual service and a tradition? Find out with the help of ZTA’s National Ritual Chairman!

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FRATERNITY HOUSING CORPORATION NEWS

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ZTA FOUNDATION NEWS

38

POINTS OF PRIDE

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ARCHIVES

ON THE COVER:

This photo adapted from The Harvard Crimson depicts sorority women marching in support of singlesex organizations after Harvard announced sanctions against sororities, fraternities and final clubs.

THEMIS VOLUME 118 NUMBER 3 SPRING 2020 1036 S. Rangeline Road Carmel, IN 46032 (317) 872–0540 zetataualpha@zetataualpha.org STAFF Editor Ensley Caldwell, Omicron Graphic Designer Kahlie Cannon Senior Director of Communication Ashley Sherman Contributors Christy Marx Barber, Alpha Psi Katy Spears Beagle, Kappa Omega Susan L. Beard, Delta Psi Susan Canady, Beta Theta Heather Matthews Kirk, Delta Kappa Patti Cords Levitte, Beta Phi Karoline Park, Beta Theta Kery Reinkemyer Webb, Eta Iota Learn more about the contributing writers on the ZTA website at: bit.ly/Themis-writers

#BadgeDay20 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @ztafraternity |

Alpha Psi Chapter @mizzouzeta

Annie Hughes

A Zeta True

Annie (Ann Story) Hughes from Zeta Alpha Chapter. I gave my 1972 badge to my legacy daughter when she was initiated at High Point University, so I am wearing my replacement badge on #BadgeDay20

By Elena De Villiers

Delta Beta Chapter Florida Southern College In January 1967, I made a decision based solely on heart—I joined ZTA—and it turned out to be the best decision. Since then, ZTA has continually offered me opportunities to grow through service and leadership. I found lifelong friends as I served in alumnae chapters, as a General Advisor and as a District President. ZTA has been the only constant in my life since college. It’s home not only to me but also to my sister and two daughters. Why do I continue to be loyal to the Fraternity?

Because a lifetime is not enough to give back all that ZTA has given me.

WINTER 2020 CORRECTIONS In the winter 2020 issue, the name of Certificate of Merit recipient Kelsey Brownell Dugan (Lambda Beta Chapter, University of Rhode Island) was regrettably omitted.

On page 48, the full name of the Nancy Hicks Endowed Scholarship is the Nancy Ann Meagher Hicks Endowed Scholarship.

@mizzouzeta Happy national badge day!! Today we are wearing our badge over our hearts to show our Zeta pride

Jessica Anderson

Wearing my badge while participating in Greeks Read Across Nashville Day! I spent the morning reading books to elementary school kids!

Delta Zeta Chapter @shsuzeta

@shsuzeta it’s international badge day!!! today we are thankful for a badge that connects our sisterhood to our hearts. wear your badge today & comment below what the zta badge means to you! #shsuzeta #wearezta #badgeday20 #shsu24

Iota Rho Chapter @ecuzta

Franklin Alumnae ZTA @franklinalumzta Check out our Madam Prez proudly showing off her badge today!

Drop your #BadgeDay20 selfies below!

@ecuzta As Zetas we wear our badges to represent loyalty to our chapter, love for our organization, and above all sisterhood. #internationalbadgeday #badgeday20

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| Themis Spring 2020 | Things We Zeta Love

REMEMBERING

Carolyn Percy Hunderup

By Christy Marx Barber, Staff Writer Carolyn (Lynn) Percy Hunderup believed with all her heart in ZTA sisterhood and considered it her responsibility to make each sister feel included.

Her personal touch is what Zetas remembered after her passing on Feb. 12, 2020, in her hometown of Rochester, New York, at age 84.

Former National President Nora Nell Hardy Jackson served three terms on National Council with Mrs. Hunderup. “As Vice President Alumnae, Lynn was a leader in creating a more personal relationship with our alumnae chapters,” Mrs. Jackson said. “She wanted Zetas to have a love for their alumnae chapter just as they did for their collegiate chapter.”

Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Hunderup both had sons who played baseball. At National Council meetings, they would share stories of taking their ZTA paperwork to the ballpark.

“Lynn was a good mother who juggled her family life, her ZTA sisterhood and her teaching career. She did it because she cared about Zeta Tau Alpha.”

After retiring from National Council in 1982, Mrs. Hunderup held many offices in the Rochester, NY Alumnae Chapter. She was the Installation Chairman

for Iota Psi Chapter (Rochester Institute of Technology) in 1989 and served as the chapter’s Financial Advisor for many years. She was the founder and frequent chairman of International Zeta Day, which includes chapters in western New York and Toronto, Canada.

Karen’s two daughters, always remembering their birthdays and celebrating their high school graduations.

“Lynn was nurturing and comforting. She would listen as long as you wanted,” Karen said. “She had a big heart and shared her sunshine with others.”

Mrs. Hunderup was also the unofficial “Welcome Wagon lady” for Zetas who moved to Rochester, like former Province and District President Karen Sanctorum Foster (Zeta Omega Chapter, Ferris State University). “She brought me a yellow mum and we talked for two hours,” Karen said. “That was when I knew the move would be okay. I had a personal connection.”

Mrs. Hunderup was preceded in death by her son Dr. James Hunderup; and two sisters, Barbara Percy and Martha Ulp. She is survived by her husband, Allan Hunderup; her son Peter Hunderup and his wife, Shanna; and two grandchildren, Sarah and Matthew.

As the mother of two boys, Mrs. Hunderup doted on

ZTA members who wish to remember Lynn may send condolences to her family in care of International Office, 1036 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032.

ZTA MILESTONES INITIATED AT ALPHA RHO CHAPTER Syracuse University 1955 DISTRICT PRESIDENT 1972-1976 VICE PRESIDENT ALUMNAE I 1976-1982

AWARDS CERTIFICATE OF MERIT 1975 HONOR RING 1976 ORDER OF THE SHIELD 2005

Lynn Percy Hunderup (back row, center) poses for a picture at the Installation Banquet for Iota Psi Chapter in 1989 with District President Joni Fox Raybuck, FHC Director Christy Marx Barber, Vice President Collegiate I Catherine G. Slaughter, Province President Karen Sanctorum Foster, (front row, from left) General Advisor Dawn Maloney Conlisk, chapter founder Marjorie Kreppel (Robinson), chapter President Karen McLaughlin and Leadership Consultant Anne Sims.

In Memoriam | Themis Spring 2020 |

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LIFELONG LEARNING FOR COLLEGIANS AND ALUMNAE AT OLA 2019-2020

By Katy Spears Beagle, Contributing Writer

“To realize that within our grasp, in Zeta Tau Alpha, lies the opportunity to learn those things which will ever enrich and ennoble our lives…” was never my favorite line of The Creed as a collegian, but the opening words are now some of the most meaningful to me. While so much of my college experience was focused on learning, I saw my time in Zeta Tau Alpha as an accompaniment to my studies, not as a key component. ZTA’s understanding of the importance of Lifelong Learning is something I took for granted in my earlier days as a member, but as an alumna and advisor, I recognize it as one of the organization’s most shining accomplishments.

Challenges with university administrations, increased awareness of mental health and other pressures are shaping the collegiate experience, but at each step of the way, ZTA is leading collegians through critical programming, like Noble Workshops, My Sister, My Responsibility® workshop suites, and educational training at Emerging Leaders Academy and Officer Leadership Academy.

Serving as General Advisor for Delta Lambda Chapter (Georgia State University), I have had the immense privilege of attending OLA Area II twice. Introduced in 2017, OLA is designed to train incoming Executive Committee officers to help them succeed in their new leadership roles. During four weekends from 4

November to February, collegians from across the country gather with other officers from chapters in their collegiate Area and size designation, including individualized tracks for Mighty Chapters and an entire OLA weekend dedicated to Mega Chapters. In addition to the amazing training for collegiate officers, OLA 2019-2020 offered a learning track specifically designed for General Advisors.

When setting my intent for the weekend during the kickoff session, I wrote down two goals: 1) to better understand the leadership styles of the current Executive Committee to best support them in their roles and goals and 2) to learn and share ideas that promote kindness, authenticity and positivity within the ZTA experience—all in three short days.

The weekend of learning started with inspirational sessions and a goal setting activity, during which advisors were able to work with officers on outlining action plans to complete their goals. I am so proud of Delta Lambda for setting truly challenging goals to work on inclusion of “those within and without our circle,” to prioritize retention and sisterhood over all the extras, and to keep their sisters accountable for the goals and values that ZTA members make a commitment to uphold.

Through collaborating to understand both why these goals are important

| Themis Spring 2020 | Officer Leadership Academy

to them and how they feel they can achieve real progress in these areas, I came away from the session with several ideas on how to enable their success and with a feeling that we could all operate as a team, encouraging fellow officers where their strengths lie and supporting them where they might not be as strong.

As other chapters shared their goals with the large group, it was comforting to learn that many of the goals Delta Lambda is striving toward are not unique. ZTA as an organization is focused on how to be inclusive of all members while also maintaining accountability for the high standards described in its beloved Creed.

Day Two brought a new ZTA team to work with. All Area II General Advisors spent the day together learning about policies, resources and standards expected of the collegiate chapters and sharing ideas to help serve the Fraternity. Spending time diving into Crown Chapter criteria helped me better understand how to communicate and track progress alongside Delta Lambda’s EC officers as the chapter strives to hit this standard of excellence.

The afternoon sessions of the Advisor Leadership Academy covered an amazing amount of content, which was helpful even for those advisors who have served multiple years in

Officer Leadership Academy | Themis Spring 2020 |

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this role. There were jaw-dropping moments (Who knew the President does not automatically serve on the slate nominating committee?), great ideas from other chapters furiously scribbled in the margins of the advisor track packets (enticing members to move into ZTA housing through using movie trailer-style promotion videos), and lots of nodding as everyone shared common challenges, like balancing all the emails and texts that come with the General Advisor role.

The General Advisors also got a special visit from the ZTA Foundation and Fraternity Housing Corporation with exciting information about ZTA’s philanthropic successes and ongoing fundraising efforts. In addition to advocating for the organization’s philanthropy, breast cancer education and awareness, through key partnerships, the Foundation also provided significant scholarship funding to both undergraduate and graduate school women, again

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demonstrating ZTA’s commitment to Lifelong Learning.

FHC representatives gave updates on new developments, including how the new board structure is working, a walk-through of the new online housing Wish List process on ZetaBase, and a phone tree for triaging and escalating housing issues. Hearing about these new processes reinforced that the Lifelong Learning Key Value isn’t just for collegians but for all members—even volunteers on the national level.

Even two years into this role, I left this day-long session with renewed confidence and armed with a new manual of ideas and information. A little ZTA trivia was a perfect way to end the day and celebrate this newfound wisdom.

The final day of OLA focused on sisterhood and belonging, a critical component of both collegiate and alumnae chapters. From this presentation, the phrase “connection

| Themis Spring 2020 | Officer Leadership Academy

creates belonging” has stuck with me as it relates to ZTA and so many other areas of my life. The importance of building authentic and sustainable connections is critical in work relationships, friendships, families and other interpersonal interactions, no matter how brief or how long.

There are so many tangible benefits about ZTA that might attract someone to join, but I can sincerely say it is the genuine connections I’ve made through membership in ZTA that have helped me find a sense of belonging. I’ve had the honor of working with so many talented collegiate officers, advisors, National Officers and alumnae throughout my ZTA journey. I encourage every member to look for ways to get involved at any level; it truly has been one of the most wonderful and blessed experiences of my life. I am so grateful to my sisters for seeing in me the potential to lead and for the opportunity to continue to learn from and serve this organization.

at a glance Total Attendees

Undergraduate Officers

Collegiate Chapters

Collegiate Advisors

National Officers

1,260

1,052

173

123

23

88 % SAID THEIR OFFICER TRACK ANSWERED ALL OF THEIR QUESTIONS RELATED TO THEIR OFFICER ROLE

“I feel much better prepared. I loved the structure and the opportunity to attend the General Advisor track with other advisors. I also loved the enthusiasm of my officers whenever we would meet together. They came away much more confident in their positions and their ability to lead the chapter.”

“It was amazing. I was hesitant at first about the time commitment, but I definitely benefitted from it. It was a great opportunity for me to grow individually as a leader and also for team building with my EC. I feel far more confident in my role now than I did before OLA. I’m so grateful that this program was available to me.”

SAID THEY UNDERSTAND HOW TO APPLY THE NINE KEY VALUES TO THEIR CHAPTER GOALS

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INCLUSION “WITHIN AND WITHOUT OUR CIRCLE”

By Susan Canady, Inclusion Committee Chairman

In the earliest pictures of Zeta Tau Alpha’s Founders, the nine young women in high-collared white dresses with their hair pulled back seem to have a sameness to them. However, although they were all raised in Virginia, their family experiences and interests were different. Sisterhood brought them together.

More than a century later, that sisterhood now resembles a beautiful mosaic, created by the experiences of nearly 200,000 active members.

Today’s collegiate and alumnae chapters reflect each sister’s uniqueness. Embracing all the aspects of members’ individuality increases the sense of belonging in the chapter, which is vital to making every sister feel included.

At the beginning of the 2018-2020 biennium, ZTA increased its focus on inclusion in multiple facets of the organization. The newly installed National Council acted quickly to implement the Inclusion Task Force, which soon became an official Special Committee. The alumnae, collegians and staff members who serve on the committee live in different regions of the country, come from various backgrounds, and bring to the table unique understandings and perspectives on inclusion that will further sisterhood.

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| Themis Spring 2020 | Fraternity News

Together, National Council and the committee developed an Inclusion Philosophy, which reads, “Zeta Tau Alpha is a sisterhood made of many individual women and it celebrates the uniqueness each sister brings. We respect and support each member’s personal identity, and we seek to provide an accepting environment within every chapter. We believe in creating a space of belonging for every member. We expect everyone to treat their sisters with Love, ‘the greatest of all things.’”

“Belonging and inclusion are the whys that drive our commitment to sisterhood...”

ALICIA PAT TEN WILLIAMS National President Introduced in 2019, the Inclusion Philosophy is just one initiative through which the Fraternity is being intentional about ensuring all members and potential members feel the authenticity of ZTA’s sisterhood.

In keeping with the Key Value of Lifelong Learning, the organization is focused on furthering inclusion through accessibility on its website and social media platforms, dialogue and educational programming.

After establishing the Inclusion Philosophy, ZTA made updates to the Fraternity’s website, including the rephrasing of key language within the Membership Policy and About sections. Closed captioning is now a standard for all videos shared on social media as well as those used to train officers to ensure information shared on digital platforms is accessible for all sisters.

The Fraternity also implemented an intentional, ongoing plan to celebrate members and their backgrounds on public platforms. Taking the opportunity to feature a wide representation of sisters, including women in the military, firstgeneration college students, body-positive advocates, members of the LGBTQ+ community and differently abled sisters, in the annual I Am a Sorority Woman campaign this past August is one way ZTA celebrates members.

The impact of inclusion and belonging on sisterhood is invaluable.

“Everything we do in ZTA has a purpose, or what we often refer to as the ‘why,’ behind it,” said National President Alicia Patten Williams.

“Belonging and inclusion are the whys that drive our commitment to sisterhood. Making sure everyone has a place at the table is the best way to further the bonds of Zeta Tau Alpha.”

To help chapters expand the space for self-expression and open conversations, ZTA created an Inclusion Chairman office on Program Council. The position provides a framework for chapters to enhance belonging within the chapter.

ZTA’s leadership programming also reflected its dedication to improving belonging and sisterhood among its chapters. General sessions and small group meetings at the inaugural Emerging Leaders Academy and National Officer Academies in the summer of 2019 allowed participants to see the positive impact that the inclusion of members with differences

in backgrounds, perspectives and identities has in building trust among chapter members.

This past fall, ZTA updated the My Sister, My Responsibility® program and shared it with all campuses with a fraternity/sorority life office. As part of the update, the Fraternity launched a new component called Seeking Understanding, which encourages chapters to partner with campus resources on diversity- and inclusion-related topics. Additional programming specifically for ZTA is in development for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Moving forward, the Inclusion Committee will continue to work closely with National Council to develop more initiatives and discover new ways for ZTA to foster inclusion and belonging for sisters of all ages, including a focus on these aspects in programming for both collegians and alumnae at Convention 2020.

ZTA is committed to becoming a leader in this important conversation and to “remembering always that the foundation precept of Zeta Tau Alpha was Love, ‘the greatest of all things.’”

“ Zeta Tau Alpha is a sisterhood made of many individual women and it celebrates the uniqueness each sister brings. We respect and support each member ’s personal identity, and we seek to provide an accepting environment within ever y chapter. We believe in creating a space of belonging for ever y member. We expect ever yone to treat their sisters with Love, ‘the greatest of all things.’”

– ZETA TAU ALPHA INCLUSION PHILOSOPHY –

Fraternity News | Themis Spring 2020 |

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F

emale mentorship within the Fraternity has been a priority since the advent of Zeta Tau Alpha. From its earliest origins, the idea of an advisor, or an alumnae mentor, has sustained generations of leaders, inspirational women and trailblazers who call ZTA home.

ZTA’s advisor history goes back to 1905, when Founder Alice Grey Welsh began her transformative work with Iota Chapter (Richmond College).

Setting the standard for what was expected of an alumna advisor, and later, a Province President, was no easy task, but Alice knew the advisor/ advisee relationship was crucial for the future success of Zeta Tau Alpha’s collegiate chapters as well as enriching the lives of alumnae.

Years later, alumnae across the country continue to enhance and raise the bar on how the role should look, feel and function.

In a sisterhood over 120 years old, the fundamental relationship between an advisor and advisee is one of the primary foundations of a collegiate chapter and the member experience.

Four of ZTA’s inspirational advisor/ advisee pairs explain why this relationship is so special for both collegians and alumnae as well as why they serve and give to the Fraternity.

These important connections formed through time, energy and love will ensure ZTA’s chapters sustain for the next 120 years and beyond.

10 | Themis Spring 2020 | Feature

Some you co

eone can ount on | By Karoline Park, Collegiate Services Manager |

ADVISORS’ ADVICE FOR ADVISORS “Say yes until you have to say no. Listen to the chapter members and their ideas. Try to make it work, and if it doesn’t, help them find a way.”

— BRITTANY HOPP — Mu Chapter, Drury University “Don’t answer questions you don’t know the answers to.

Do your research.”

— DAWN WILCOX — Theta Zeta Chapter, Wofford College “Really meet with and get to know your person. Creating that connection early is super important for the future of her position and the way the rest of the year will go.”

— NICOLLE FRISBIE— Gamma Tau Chapter Texas Tech University “A large portion of advising is gaining the women’s trust. They need to feel like you have their backs. There can be a disconnect, but if you earn their trust and establish respect between yourself and the chapter, great things can happen.”

— MARIANNE ORTEGA— Delta Sigma Chapter Lamar University

ADVISOR STATS AVERAGE AGE 36.5 years old AGE RANGE mid-20s-70s TOTAL LOCAL LEVEL ADVISORS 1,321 advisor positions held by 1,097 women

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President and General Advisor Former chapter President Sophia Black (Mu Chapter, Drury University) knows the role comes with a long list of responsibilities, but having a supportive General Advisor like Brittany Hopp makes obstacles easier to face and successes sweeter to celebrate.

“Brittany is always there. She never misses a beat. She gives so much of herself to us,” Sophia shared. “Even during tax season—she’s a CPA— Brittany is there to push us to be motivated, driven and intentional with our ZTA experience.”

Brittany truly makes a difference in the lives of all the women who call Mu Chapter home, and her impact on Sophia is particularly meaningful.

“Overall, I think Brittany has been one of the people who has kept me grounded and real throughout college, especially during my Presidency,” Sophia explained. “She kept me in ZTA. She made me excited about my membership, and I have her to thank for giving me the life and college experience that I have.”

always happy to see me. They make me better every single day.”

Treasurer and Financial Advisor Jessica Runyan, former Treasurer of Theta Tau Chapter (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), experienced firsthand what an incredible impact a strong advisor makes, especially when it comes to a chapter’s budget.

“She’s a genius when it comes to finance,” Jessica shared of Dawn King Wilcox, the chapter’s Financial Advisor. “When setting up the chapter budget, Dawn is always focused on the chapter. She is very intentional and wants to make sure we get the most out of our membership in ZTA. Sisterhood is always the priority.”

Thanks to Dawn’s dedication, Jessica was able to travel abroad last summer without worrying about what needed to be done for the chapter. “Dawn would come to the house to pick up the bills from the mailbox and make sure everything was squared away,” she noted. “I didn’t have to stress because I knew Dawn was there.”

The women of Mu Chapter have an equally profound effect on Brittany.

“I couldn’t imagine my life without them,” she said. “Regardless of when members graduate, we stay connected.

I care about who they were in college, and I care about who they will become in the future.”

When reflecting on the last 15 years of serving as the Financial Advisor, Dawn said, “Even though I am an initiated member of Theta Zeta Chapter (Wofford College), the women of Theta Tau feel like my own. Over the years, they have impacted my life and the life of my family.”

The skills she hones as General Advisor also translate into her professional career. Being an advisor refines her people-managing skills, which comes in handy as a CPA who oversees others.

Managing financial operations and a large budget isn’t easy, but Dawn welcomes the challenge and enjoys helping a Treasurer find her voice and confidence within her role. “Jessica, much like the Treasurers before her, has been an exceptional officer to work with,” she said. “She is an intelligent woman, and it has been humbling to watch her juggle a large chapter budget, schoolwork and her personal life over the past year.”

As with any role, Brittany acknowledges some days are tougher than others as a General Advisor, but the benefits of volunteering are invaluable. “Every time I go to a chapter meeting, I leave recharged and refreshed,” she reflected. “They always make me smile, and they are

At the end of this spring term, Dawn will hang up her advisor hat to spend

more time with her children. While taking a step back will be difficult, she is excited to watch the chapter continue to flourish and thrive.

Ritual Advisor and Ritual Chairman Gamma Tau Chapter (Texas Tech University) is no stranger to largescale Primary Recruitments, but with big new member classes comes great responsibility to the ritual services that take place during their new member education. Navigating those responsibilities this past year wouldn’t have been possible without the love and support between former Ritual Chairman Lillie Brindley and Ritual Advisor Nicolle Reasoner Frisbie, who both cite their dedication to the Fraternity and love for the chapter as the foundation of their relationship.

Lillie and Nicolle’s relationship had a unique commonality from the start. “When I met Nicolle for the first time, she had her daughter with her, and it instantly reminded me of when my mom would take me to her ZTA alumnae events as a little girl,” Lillie recalled. “Knowing Nicolle and learning from her has made me a better person.”

Nicolle’s support was particularly instrumental in the success of this year’s Initiation. Because of construction on Gamma Tau’s chapter facility, the women had to find an alternative space for Initiation this

year. “Nicolle stepped up and helped me through Initiation after she had lost her dad the week before,” Lillie said. “She was such a blessing and went above and beyond to help our chapter, even when she had personal things happening in her life.”

House or no house, large new member class or not, advising is one of Nicolle’s favorite things to do. “I get a chance to be involved, make a difference and reflect on the wonderful things ZTA has given to me over the years,” she shared. As mother to a young daughter, Nicolle enjoys introducing her to the collegians. The powerful female relationships they model for her daughter is just one aspect of sisterhood that makes volunteering as an advisor “worth it and then some.”

VP III/Membership Chairman and Membership Advisor In year four of recruitment for Lambda Xi Chapter (Seton Hall University), former VP III Katie Wanger, Membership Advisor MariAnne Ortega (Delta Sigma Chapter, Lamar University), and Director of New Chapters Cassie Edlis (Eta Beta Chapter, Duquesne University) all recognized the importance of turning the page on the chapter’s beginning stages and propelling it to the next level. The working relationship between these three women was vital to achieving that goal.

Katie describes MariAnne as one of a kind. “Her knowledge of recruitment and overall chapter operations is unparalleled,” she shared. “Our chapter loves her.” Cassie further elaborated on MariAnne’s hard work, adding, “She has been an integral part of Lambda Xi’s increasingly successful Primary Recruitments. Her consistency and willingness to help have been crucial.”

Eager to share the credit for Lambda Xi’s success, MariAnne explained, “Katie took this chapter from a new chapter that was still learning to a chapter at the next level that pushes to be the best it can be.”

Starting a new chapter from scratch is a daunting task, but it’s exactly the work MariAnne wanted to do. “It has been exciting to advise a new chapter and a chapter that isn’t my own,” she said. “It’s good to have a different perspective and to marry my skills as a former Leadership Consultant with the skills I learned from my chapter experience at Lamar University.”

Over the last four years, MariAnne has worked with and mentored many women, and creating that special bond with Lambda Xi is what makes it all worth it for her at the end of the day. “They really love each other, and they have each other’s backs,” she emphasized. “It’s been extremely humbling to see how they all fit together and feel connected to ZTA.” In a women’s organization that aspires to empower alumnae and collegians through sisterhood and mentorship, there is no greater gift than the gift of time, dedication and love to the Fraternity. Advising is about more than just passing down knowledge to a new officer every year; it’s about helping her accomplish her goals and inspiring her to fulfill her dreams.

The mutual bond formed through the advisor/advisee relationship makes a lasting impact on both collegians and alumnae and plays a critical role in sustaining ZTA’s sisterhood for future generations and empowering members to “Be Zetas true.”

Feature | Themis Spring 2020 |

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Noble

A c h i e ve m e nt s As Zeta Tau Alpha’s mission states, the Fraternity “emphasizes leadership development, service to others, academic achievement and personal growth for women.” It comes as no surprise, then, that our members are doing amazing things within ZTA and in their communities. From earning recognition for professional success and outstanding volunteerism to helping improve the lives of others around the world, these members are making ZTA proud.

Do you know a ZTA collegian or alumna who should be featured? Submit her name and her accomplishments through the Themis Story Submission form at bit.ly/ThemisStories. *denotes alumnae members

*Olivia Beins

Kelly Cattani

Ingram’s Magazine, a top business magazine in Kansas City, Kansas, named Olivia Beins as one of 2019’s 20 in Their Twenties in its October issue. A product manager at C2FO, a financial technology company, at the time of recognition, Olivia rose through the ranks from intern while she was at Baker University to implementation manager for a year after graduation before assuming her current role.

Kelly Cattani landed an internship with the “Today” show in New York City. As she has aspirations of working in the film industry, the internship was an amazing experience for her, and she had the opportunity to meet guests ranging from celebrities to politicians and everyone in between. Kelly said that this has been one of the coolest experiences of her life.

Sigma Chapter Baker University

Lambda Xi Chapter Seton Hall University

Jamie Burton

Gamma Epsilon Chapter Pennsylvania State University Senior broadcast journalism major Jamie Burton interned with NBC Universal Media on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” this past summer. During the internship, she assisted with studio operations, the remote team, and talent department, researched material for the show’s writers, and logged and purchased each costume used in segments during the show to keep a record for continuity.

14 | Themis Spring 2020 | Noble Achievements

*Amy Davenport Beta Delta Chapter Miami University

At National Panhellenic Conference’s Annual Education Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, Amy Davenport, a policy advisor at Arnold & Porter, was one of three joint recipients of the 2019 Interfraternal Partner Award, which recognizes her role in advancing NPC during the last biennium. Together with her co-workers Kevin O’Neill and Samantha Martin, she helped monitor important issues at the federal level and directly impacted legislation to benefit students and NPC organization members.

*Madeleine Dassow Delta Omicron Chapter Lenoir-Rhyne University

Madeleine Dassow is finishing up the first year in her threeyear term on the LeniorRhyne University Board of Trustees. She is the first woman elected to the board of trustees in its 127-year history. Her 2019 election followed her experience serving on numerous alumni committees and leading a donor campaign for the university as well as holding leadership roles for other organizations like the Girl Scouts and the Greensboro Children’s Museum.

Abigail Davis Epsilon Chapter University of Arkansas

Abigail Davis received the National Youth Advocate of the Year Award from the American Heart Association.

This award recognizes a young person who advocates on behalf of the American

Heart Association with state and federal lawmakers regarding heart- and strokerelated issues. Since losing her grandfather to heart disease, Abigail has advocated for a number of policy issues, including physical education assessment and raising the sales age for tobacco products to 21.

*Aleita Sullivan Fitch Gamma Zeta Chapter Mississippi State University

Aleita Sullivan Fitch’s impressive strides in the legal field culminated in her induction into the University of Mississippi School of Law Alumni Hall of Fame in 2018.

Graduating from Mississippi State in three years with a bachelor’s degree in history and political science in 1962, she went on to enroll in the University of Mississippi School of Law and graduate with a Juris Doctor degree in 1965. She opened her own practice, served as president of the Simpson County Bar

and the Four County Bar and was on multiple legal committees throughout her career. She’s only the sixth woman to be inducted.

Lauryn Fulton

Iota Psi Chapter Rochester Institute of Technology This past fall, junior Lauryn Fulton won the Statler Scholarship of Excellence worth $25,000 for her academic achievements and leadership potential in the area of hospitality and tourism management.

Lauryn participated in a co-op in a restaurant environment and studied abroad in Croatia to learn about its ecology and changes in tourism in the area.

Association Board of Directors. She is also a new member of RIT’s board of trustees and previously received the Entrepreneurial Award and the Sarah Margaret Gillam Memorial Award.

She believes any sorority woman can impact and inspire the next generation through leadership roles on college campuses.

*Vicki Decker Griffith Iota Psi Chapter Rochester Institute of Technology

At the beginning of this year, ZTA’s NFL liaison, Vicki Decker Griffith, started her term as the new president of Rochester Institute of Technology’s Alumni Noble Achievements | Themis Spring 2020 |

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*Heather Matthews Kirk Delta Kappa Chapter Louisiana State University

Heather Matthews Kirk is the first-ever recipient of the NPC Impact Award. The work she directed for the Stand Up to Harvard public relations campaign this past year strongly influenced public opinion in the fight against Harvard University’s biased sanctions policy against single-sex organizations (Check out her article on pages 20-25 of this issue to learn more!). This award recognizes the passion and extensive hours she contributed to this campaign over the past biennium.

Amanda Hagedorn Beta Phi Chapter Michigan State University

Last summer, Amanda Hagedorn helped conduct breast cancer research in Scotland. She studied the incidence of male breast cancer in Scotland from 19922017 and gene expression in male breast cancer tissues with the goal of identifying potential biological markers of the disease. Her work was published earlier this year in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology.

*Teri Paul Harrison Delta Theta Chapter Ohio Northern University

Crain’s Cleveland Business recognized Teri Paul Harrison as one of its Notable Women

in Nonprofits in 2019. Teri is the board chair and founder of Menlo Park Academy, a school which serves over 500 gifted children. She founded the school in 2008 after the school her children attended closed. She has led Menlo through expansive growth since its founding and recently secured funding for a multimillion dollar historic building renovation project that resulted in a one-of-akind learning environment.

Kelly O’Neil Eta Zeta Chapter Elon University

Sophomore Kelly O'Neil saved a life this summer in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. During her fourth summer working as a lifeguard, she noticed

16 | Themis Spring 2020 | Noble Achievements

the irregular backstroke of a swimmer who was a significant distance out from the shore during high tide.

She swam out and brought the unresponsive beachgoer back to land with the help of another bystander. Thanks to her quick action, emergency services personnel were able to revive the man, who suffered no lasting damages from this experience.

*Jackie Lindbergh Parslow Theta Omega Chapter California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Jackie Lindbergh Parslow was one of three women recognized as a Teacher of the Year in San Bernardino County in the fall of 2019. Her 16 years of teaching, including the past six as an AP psychology and peer counseling teacher at Los Osos High School in the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, have

provided countless students with practical education and attention to individual needs.

Students have described her as not only a teacher but also a mentor and leader.

Carson Myers

Iota Theta Chapter Georgia Institute of Technology Music technology major Carson Myers earned the ADVANCE Woman of Excellence Undergraduate Award. These awards are

presented to women in the College of Design who have distinguished themselves through professional leadership, mentoring, academic excellence and sustained service on behalf of the university and the College of Design. She was the only undergraduate woman in the College of Design at Georgia Tech to receive the

award. She also received the President Undergraduate Research Award to fund her research in the Georgia Tech Brain Music Lab in a joint project with Emory University’s Brain Health Center to design a music technology intervention to promote positive engagement among people with mild cognitive impairment.

*Yvonne Pruitt Lambda Xi Chapter Seton Hall University

This 2019 alumna and charter member of Lambda Xi is putting her theatre and performance degree to good use. Last fall, she worked with The Fools and Kings Project, which, according to its website, was founded to “bring accessible, engaging theatre to New York City with an emphasis on classical texts.” She played the role of Queen Margaret in Shakespeare’s “King Richard III” during a two-week run of free performances in New York parks and continues to act in the New York area. She credits her high school theatre director with preparing her to pursue a degree in this field.

*Dr. Darcy L. Russell

Daniella Mata

Darcy L. Russell, Ph.D., dean of the college of arts and sciences at Baker University, was the recipient of National Panhellenic Conference’s 2019 Women in Higher Education Achievement Award. The award recognizes an outstanding woman who has made or is making a significant difference in higher education through her scholarship and leadership.

She has taught courses in molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, advanced cell biology and virology and served as chairman of Baker University’s department of biology and chemistry from 2013-2018, and she was named the dean of the college of arts and sciences in May 2018.

Daniella Mata conducted international research through the Minority Health International Research Training program. She spent eight weeks working with the elderly Panamanian population, looking at their blood biomarkers and cognition status to uncover blood biomarkers that indicate Alzheimer’s, dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Additionally, she looked at the socioeconomic factors that influence elderly Panamanians’ health status. Daniella and two fellow students presented their extensive research to professionals in the biology field at the BUILDing Scholars Symposium.

Sigma Chapter Baker University

Melissa King Alpha Mu Chapter Washburn University

Melissa King was selected as one of four women from Kansas to be part of the Study of the U.S. Institutes on women’s leadership. It is a Department of State exchange program where 88 women from over 23 different countries attend leadership trainings at different host institutes around the U.S. She was part of the Kansas women’s leadership cohort at Kansas University. She studied the adaptive leadership paradigm with women from Morocco, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Pakistan and India.

The program included a conference with all 88 women in Washington, D.C.

Gamma Gamma Chapter The University of Texas at El Paso

Noble Achievements | Themis Spring 2020 |

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*Laura Segna Beta Delta Chapter Miami University

Columbus Alumnae Panhellenic Association President Laura Segna had the opportunity to speak during a breakout session at the 2019 Annual NPC Education Conference in October. Her session, called “Sisterhood in Action: Engagement Across Badges,” reviewed case studies where the use of social psychology led to successfully growing

sisterhood as well as the health and happiness of the sisters.

Ashton Vonnahme Eta Theta Chapter Missouri University of Science and Technology

A geology and geophysics major, Ashton helped establish the first Missouribased chapter of the Association for Women Geoscientists and now acts as its vice president. She is also a member of the Association

of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, the C.L. Dake Geological Society and Sigma Gamma Epsilon Honor Society. Last fall, she traveled to Houston, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, to present her undergraduate research. All of Ashton’s hard work led to her acceptance into the university’s accelerated master’s degree program, in which she will study petroleum geology and travel to Guatemala to collect data.

McQue Wilson

Delta Zeta Chapter Sam Houston State University As the vice president of member services for the university’s Public Relations Student Society of America, McQue Wilson leads recruitment efforts, updating recruitment materials, organizing outreach sessions for high school and community college students, and sharing information about the scholarship and award opportunities within PRSSA. The university recognized the December 2019 mass communication graduate on its website and shared a brief but detailed Q&A session about her experience in the organization.

*Lauren Seber

Iota Gamma Chapter The College of New Jersey In November of 2019, Lauren Seber began her two-year term as vice president of marketing for the Honor Yoga Foundation Board of Directors. The foundation works to bring yoga to underserved communities, provide training and resources for teachers and students, and encourage engagement through the yoga community and beyond.

Naomi McQuiller Theta Sigma Chapter Winthrop University

Naomi McQuiller received the Felicia Small Ragland Conference Award at the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children Conference for her hard work and dedication to the organization over the last two years. She was a social media intern for them, on the board for student and young professionals and now sits on the executive board as the student member. She also received the Sally McClellan Member Scholarship.

18 | Themis Spring 2020 | Noble Achievements

CROWN IT Your ZTA style in a box

STORE.ZE TATAUALPHA.ORG | (317) 872–0540

Pick your pieces from the website. Shop the items in your box. Buy the pieces you love; send back the ones you don’t.

For more information, please email crownandco@zetataualpha.org.

HOW OUR COLLEC TIVE VOICE EMPOWERED WOMEN TO STAND UP TO HARVARD AND FOR THE SORORIT Y EXPERIENCE | By Heather Matthews Kirk, Contributing Writer |

20 | Themis Spring 2020 | Feature

P

ut yourself in a familiar pair of shoes for a moment.

They’re well-worn and comfortable. You’ve walked miles in these shoes…

You’re wrapping up your third year of college, and while you’re far from where you grew up, you feel right at home. Being in a sorority has helped you find your place. When you came to campus, you actively sought out joining an organization like this because you were looking for a sense of community—a sense of belonging.

The women who surround you today have become your closest friends, your confidants and your people.

They push you and support you academically and personally as you prepare for your future. This year, you were honored when they elected you to serve as their chapter President.

Together, you’re thriving. The chapter is well-respected in the campus community for hands-on service and the opportunities it provides members. Even though your chapter is just 20 years old, your alumnae are successful and show the power of this amazing women’s network.

On a campus that has been cranking out U.S. presidents and titans of industry—virtually all male—for hundreds of years, you are proud to be a sorority woman.

Now here’s where the shoes might start to feel less comfortable, as if they don’t quite fit.

It’s May and nearing finals week, and you’re studying with sisters when your phone starts blowing up.

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Did you see THE email?

How can they do this?

What does this mean?

Did we just get canceled?

Starting with next year’s entering students, any undergraduates who are members of unrecognized single-gender social organizations— fraternities, sororities and final clubs—will be banned from holding leadership positions in recognized student organizations or athletic team captaincies. They’ll be ineligible for university faculty and staff recommendations for top fellowships and scholarships.

You’re at Harvard. It’s May 6, 2016.

This is reality.

Dec. 4, 2018 Front-page headlines on The Harvard Crimson demonstrate the impact of the university’s sanctions on campus and across the nation.

Iota Tau Chapter of Alpha Phi International Women’s Fraternity, which initially disaffiliated from the international organization, returned to campus to join the lawsuit.

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Texts are flying. “Did you see THE email?” “How can they do this?”

“What does this mean?” “Did we just get canceled?” And there it is in your inbox. An email from the university president announcing a sweeping action:

What the university president just said is that within a year, any woman who joins one of the four sororities in Cambridge, Massachusetts, will face university restrictions. Her options for leadership and academic opportunities—which is the whole reason she’s at Harvard— will be limited because she has chosen to belong to an all-women’s, off-campus organization.

What you hear is that within a year, your chapter will likely be forced to close doors because women will be scared to take that chance. What you hear is that this empowering, supportive, vibrant space that you

May 2016

August 2017

Harvard announces a sweeping policy to sanction members of single-gender social organizations.

Sanctions go into effect for Harvard first-year students.

Virtually all Cambridge, Massachusetts, sorority and fraternity chapters as well as other all-men’s and all-women’s social organizations either disband or go genderneutral, changing their names and charters.

built—along with the women around you and the women who came before you—will be erased.

COLL ATER AL DAMAGE Before Harvard announced the sanctions, one in four undergraduates belonged to sororities, fraternities or all-women’s or all-men’s final clubs— opportunities protected by Title IX and the First Amendment.

The impact on women’s organizations has been devastating. As a result of this policy, almost all of the oncethriving sororities and women’s final clubs open to Harvard women have either closed or had to renounce their proud status as women’s social organizations. Despite membership soaring to record highs in prior years, Harvard has eliminated the organizations designed to create opportunities, resources and sustainable networks built by women for women.

When Harvard introduced these sweeping changes for all singlegender social organizations four years ago, it claimed the purpose was to prevent sexual assault, as a university report purportedly linked men’s final clubs as having an increased risk of assault. In short, the women’s groups were collateral damage. Further, Drew Faust, the university president, who attended an all-women’s college herself, stated that by having a singlegender membership, the groups enacted “exclusion at odds with Harvard’s deepest values.”

or fraternities since 1984, so unlike all of ZTA’s current chapters, these groups were operating “off campus.”

For Harvard students—at a university that celebrated its 325th birthday before it awarded its first diploma to a woman—the rationale did not add up. The policy was met with sharp criticism by students, administrators, faculty members, parents and others.

“In the classroom, where men speak more than women, and on weekends, where women are targeted and shamed for their sexuality…on campus and in a society that is so male-dominated, female spaces are crucial sources of empowerment,” one undergraduate woman stated when the sanctions were announced.

“Looking around at all of my sisters, the support that I have received from them and provided to them in terms of academic support, mental support, and emotional support is just unparalleled,” said one chapter president. “Harvard’s a really hard place to be, and those support networks are so incredibly vital to students’ success.”

Harvard is what is known as a bellwether, defined by Webster’s New World College Dictionary as “anything that suggests the general tendency or direction of events.” As the oldest and one of the most prestigious colleges in the U.S., other schools observe its decisions and happenings at the university as a predictor of what’s to come.

In the months following Harvard’s announcement, ZTA saw its Panhellenic peers Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Kappa Gamma all be forced to close their chapters’ doors. The Alpha Phi chapter has remained open, but as a shadow of the former community’s strength.

Collectively, inter/national fraternal organizations knew preventing a ripple effect was paramount to our ability to offer the fraternity and sorority experience in the future.

We knew we had to stand up for the sorority women and fraternity men who no longer had a voice at Harvard to prevent this valuable experience from being taken away from others in the future.

“Make no mistake, this is sexism—as it has existed in the past but now in a more insidious form, as it is now clothed in anti-discrimination verbiage and purported rationale,” said another undergraduate woman.

THE RIPPLE EFFEC T You might be asking yourself, “Why does this matter to me? Zeta Tau Alpha has never had a chapter at Harvard University.” Further, Harvard has not recognized sororities

We knew we had to stand up to Harvard.

On Dec. 3, 2018, a group of fraternities, sororities and students

December 2018

August 2019

October 2019

January 2020

Sororities, fraternities and students file federal and state lawsuits that challenge Harvard’s ban on single-gender organizations.

Federal district judge denies Harvard's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

U.S. House of Representatives introduces a bill with protections for students in singlegender groups, the first critical step in the legislative process.

State court denies Harvard’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Litigation ongoing

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filed a pair of lawsuits challenging Harvard’s sanctions policy, citing how the university used a campaign of threats and intimidation to scare students into abandoning their fundamental rights to free association and to live free of sex discrimination, stating the policies dictate punishments based on gender stereotypes.

The two suits—one filed in federal court and one in Massachusetts court—called to bring a stop to Harvard’s sanctions by seeking an injunction prohibiting the university from continuing to unlawfully punish students. Both complaints recounted Harvard’s campaign of threats and coercion in unveiling and implementing the sanctions policy and documented the devastation the policy has wrought on all-women’s social organizations despite their proven value.

As part of a coalition of more than 100 single-gender organizations, Zeta Tau Alpha and the other 25 National Panhellenic Conference sororities supported the litigation, providing a strong voice behind the plaintiffs.

It has been nearly 18 months since the suits were filed, and the litigation process is still playing out. Harvard filed to dismiss the case in both federal and state court. In August 2019, a federal judge categorically dismissed the university’s motion, and this January, a Massachusetts state court judge also denied Harvard’s claim, concluding that there is “more than sufficient evidence that Harvard interfered with the constitutionally protected rights of its female students,” said the plaintiff’s attorney.

In addition to the lawsuits, fraternities and sororities have rallied support on Capitol Hill to “prohibit institutions of higher education from

24 | Themis Spring 2020 | Feature

taking an adverse action against a student solely because the student is a member of a single-sex organization.”

Last year, ZTA collegians and alumnae were part of a sorority and fraternity lobbying day, where they met with nearly 500 lawmakers to support these protections. In October 2019, the House of Representatives introduced the protections as part of its higher education reauthorization bill being considered by Congress, the College Affordability Act. This is the first—but significant—step in the legislative process, and Zetas lobbied again this spring to continue to further advance this legislation.

A R ALLY CRY Fewer than three days after the sanctions were originally introduced, hundreds of women rallied in front of Massachusetts Hall, the oldest building on Harvard’s campus, to protest the new policy. Carrying megaphones and posters, they chanted, “Hear Her Harvard,” a rally cry calling upon the university to acknowledge the value and necessity of women’s organizations.

Fast-forward to the day the lawsuits were introduced, when a similar rally cry resurfaced.

ZTA and other sororities and fraternities reported the news to their members and asked them to “stand up to Harvard” alongside the brave students and organizations filing suit.

We asked you, our sisters, to care about what was happening to a group of students in Massachusetts and to lend your voices to students you didn’t know who went to a school most only see in movies. We asked you to share why the sorority experience matters in your lives and what it has brought to you. We asked you to boldly stand up for

Learn more, sign the petition and take action at standuptoharvard.org.

your ZTA experience and for what women deserve today—supportive, empowering networks.

And you did.

From coast to coast and around the globe, tens of thousands of women used #StandUptoHarvard to share their stories on social media and advocate for the sorority experience.

Tens of thousands signed an online petition in support of students’ rights, saying, “Harvard, you can’t take opportunities away—not from our women.”

Together, you brought international attention to the issue, resulting in hundreds of media outlets covering the lawsuits. This bolstered the sorority experience and exposed the “collateral damage” of Harvard’s sanctions. To date, no other college has implemented similar actions.

But perhaps, your influence was even bigger than Harvard.

This issue galvanized sorority women, showing the value and the beauty of what can come from women using their voices. It showed how advocating for what matters to us and to our communities can have a real impact.

At a time where women are fighting for equal pay, for a seat at the table, for the corner office, for the ability to “do it all” or for a meaningful cause, perhaps this laid a foundation for what “standing up” can look like when we use the power of our voices and the power of sorority.

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ZTA CELEBRATES A GRAND NEW TRADITION: NPC ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

By Ashley Sherman, Sr. Director of Communication

The National Panhellenic Conference hosted the inaugural NPC Annual Educational Conference Oct. 3-5, 2019, at The Peabody Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.

With a new format from past NPC Annual Meetings, this year’s event featured both large and small group educational sessions on topics centered around the 2019-2022 NPC Strategic Plan.

The event kicked off with a celebration of the 2017-2019 NPC Executive Committee and the introduction of the 2019-2021 NPC Board of Directors. Malaea Nelms Seleski (Eta Rho Chapter, The University of North Alabama) received recognition for both her previous service as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and for her current seat on the Board of Directors.

As a director under NPC’s new structure, Malaea plays a vital role in helping guide NPC. The board establishes the strategic path for NPC as it addresses the many challenges facing the fraternity/ sorority community. Along with her various other duties throughout the conference, Malaea led a group discussion for all Panhellenic organization Inter/National Presidents and Executive Directors/CEOs. 26 | Themis Spring 2020 | NPC News

The first evening concluded with a memorial service honoring notable NPC women, including ZTA’s own Betty Gilmore Woods (Beta Epsilon Chapter, University of California, Los Angeles), who passed away in August 2019. Mrs. Woods was recognized for the creation of what would become NPC’s Release Figure Methodology for Structured Recruitment. Using a $10 hand-held calculator, she developed the method in 1967 while assisting the four NPC groups at California State University, Fullerton.

RFM is now the standard for campus Panhellenic associations across the country, equalizing the Recruitment process and bringing as many women as possible into sorority membership.

In addition to Malaea and Betty, several other Zetas received recognition throughout the week for their various contributions to NPC. Dr. Darcy L. Russell (Sigma Chapter, Baker University) received the Women in Higher Education Achievement Award, and Heather Matthews Kirk (Delta Kappa Chapter, Louisiana State University) was the recipient of the first-ever NPC Impact Award. Amy Davenport (Beta Delta Chapter, Miami University) was one of three joint recipients from Arnold & Porter of the 2019 Interfraternal Partner Award. (Read more about these award winners in Noble Achievements, pages 14-18.)

To celebrate the accomplishments of these sisters and enjoy a wonderful evening of sisterhood, local Memphis, TN Alumnae Chapter members gathered with ZTA conference attendees for a reception at the hotel.

Given the new educational focus of this annual gathering, the conference hosted an abundance of speakers and sessions over the weekend. The educational sessions kicked off with a keynote session from motivational speaker Liz Murray, who shared the inspirational story of her journey from being homeless at age 15 to graduating from Harvard in 2009.

NPC Chief Executive Officer Dani Weatherford moderated another impactful large group session, “Reflections from the Anti-Hazing Coalition,” with Richard Braham, Evelyn Piazza and Jim Piazza, three parents who have lost sons to hazing. This discussion provided an opportunity for the parents to share lessons from their discussions with thousands of sorority women about hazing, their legislative efforts to end hazing and the future work of the AHC. Attendees also benefitted from educational breakout sessions each day. Sessions covered topics such as using data and patterns to grow the sorority movement, drug use trends among college-age students, current

membership expectations from potential new members, how and why women haze, mentorship in today’s sorority world, and personality trends and member motivations within sorority chapters.

ZTA member Laura Segna (Beta Delta) facilitated a small group session called “Sisterhood in Action: Engagement Across Badges,” which reviewed case studies where the use of social psychology led to successfully growing sisterhood as well as improving the overall health and happiness of sisters.

“Laura’s session on alumnae development was insightful and informative,” ZTA National President Alicia Patten Williams said. “Laura is very passionate about alumnae growth and development, as evidenced by the successful membership increases in both her ZTA alumnae chapter and in the Columbus Alumnae Panhellenic Association.”

As part of the conference’s goal to foster education among its members, Inter/National Presidents and Executive Directors from all NPC organizations present also had opportunities to network and learn from one another. These groups have their own leadership structure to help them organize and share ideas, strategies and advice.

The Inter/National Presidents elected ZTA National President Alicia Patten Williams to lead their strategic conversations and arrange their twice-yearly meetings. This highprofile position also entails serving as the key liaison between NPC’s Board of Directors and the Inter/ National Presidents.

The Executive Director Association Board also voted in Meghan Vicinus Parker (Alpha Upsilon Chapter, Oklahoma State University), Executive Director of International Office, as Director, a position slated and voted on at the Executive

Director Association Board’s annual meeting. The Director works throughout the year to plan additional meetings and educational opportunities.

“The time we spend together as Executive Directors is precious,” Meghan said. “We represent likeminded organizations, but the different perspectives and leadership styles we bring to the table is beneficial for everyone.”

The weekend served as a time for both recognition of accomplishments and collaboration to tackle current challenges. Practicing ZTA’s Key Value of Lifelong Learning through this annual educational event will allow it and the other 25 NPC organizations to continue to advance fraternity/sorority life together and ensure future members will be able to take advantage of the lifeshaping benefits these organizations have to offer.

(from left to right) Panhellenic Alternate Delegate I Hannah Drum Norman, Panhellenic Alternate Delegate II Malaea Nelms Seleski, ZTA National President Alicia Patten Williams, RFM Analyst Dr. Darcy L. Russell, Executive Director of International Office Meghan Vicinus Parker, ZTA NPC Delegate Laura Ladewig Landers and National Panhellenic Support Liaison Alison Templeman; (not pictured) Panhellenic Alternate Delegate III Katie Peoples Zamulinsky NPC News | Themis Spring 2020 |

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Reader Survey Do you look forward to every issue of Themis? Is there something missing from the publication? We want to make the magazine YOU want to read, so share your thoughts in the upcoming reader survey launching this May! Be on the lookout for an email with a link to the survey!

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or

Tradition | By Kery Reinkemyer Webb, National Ritual Chairman | Ritual and tradition are the two major components that make ZTA different from all the other groups and organizations on campus and in local communities.

But what does that mean?

Every member joined Zeta Tau Alpha for different reasons and at different times.

Some joined for fun, a home away from home, endless support, leadership opportunities or ZTA’s philanthropic efforts, but most women probably joined for friendship and sisterhood.

Many new members probably didn’t even give any thought to ritual and tradition at the beginning of their ZTA journey.

No two chapters are exactly the same, but ritual is the common bond that links all collegiate and alumnae chapters together and makes them uniquely Zeta Tau Alpha. Some chapters are big.

Some chapters are small. Each one has a wide variety of members, and there are ZTA chapters from coast to coast. Hometowns, alma maters and college experiences are different for every Zeta, but one thing remains the same: ritual.

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We share this bond with all those who have gone before us and all those who will follow.

It’s important to understand the terminology surrounding this topic. The term “Ritual,” when capitalized, precedes a committee or officer position, like the National Ritual Committee or chapter Ritual Chairman. When the word “ritual” appears lowercase, it is a collective noun which refers to all of the services contained in the College Service Book and Alumnae Service Book. To refer to an individual ceremony found within either of these texts, the terms “ritual service” and “service” are appropriate, but adding an ‘s’ to “ritual” is not an accurate use of the term as it relates to ZTA. The National Ritual Committee and each chapter’s Ritual Chairman are responsible for preserving the essence of all ZTA services.

Although in collegiate chapters the Ritual Chairman bears the responsibility of ensuring that all of the special services found in the College Service Book are never altered in any way, all chapter members have access to it and therefore hold responsibility for what is contained within it.

Remember, chapters must follow the directions of the College Service Book to a T—even if there might be an easier way—because anything less would make the experience different than what another chapter is doing. Before long, members would not be experiencing the same beautiful services that have lasted over a century.

Alumnae chapter Presidents should have a copy of the Alumnae Service Book and pass it along carefully to their successors so alumnae members can continue to participate in these special services as well. Just as collegians must adhere strictly to the College Service Book, alumnae members must also follow the instructions in the Alumnae Service Book exactly.

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As the National Ritual Chairman, members often ask me questions about how to distinguish the difference between ritual services and traditions. Here’s the short answer: if it is not in the College Service Book or Alumnae Service Book, then it is not a ZTA ritual service. So what makes a ritual service a ritual service?

Services have rules and do not change. They are formal, rehearsed and symbolic, and most importantly, they bring together all ZTA chapters and members.

These services are more than obligations to check off every semester. As the foundation of sisterhood, the principles behind services are values that should guide members’ day-to-day lives.

ZTA’s ritual services bind every member together from the Pledge Service to the Alumnae Initiation Service and even beyond, to the Remembrance Service at death.

Zeta Tau Alpha services are cherished throughout each stage of life as a constant thread that ties each woman to the Fraternity and every other sister.

We share this bond with all those who have gone before us and all those who will follow. This connection is the very thing that makes sisterhood incredible. As loyal members of ZTA, it is our responsibility to help preserve this heritage by presenting services with dignity, pride and respect, just the way the Founders intended them to be.

Like ritual services, traditions can be passed down within a group and should increase pride for ZTA, but they have more room for interpretation and can be altered and changed to meet the needs of chapter members. They should be fun and meaningful and include everyone. It is important

to distinguish that traditions cannot include activities that are not in congruence with Zeta Tau Alpha’s values and national policies and state and local laws.

or returning the new member pin.

However, when it comes time for the Initiation Service, it is to be set up and performed exactly the way it’s outlined in the College Service Book.

There are some traditions that happen with such regularity that they might seem like services, like the Preference Ceremony typically performed during Primary Recruitment. This special ceremony is often changed to meet the needs of the recruitment event. It does not look the same for all chapters, and it is not described in the College Service Book; therefore, it is not a ZTA ritual service.

Joining Zeta Tau Alpha is all about building lifelong friendships through shared ritual services, traditions and values unique to this organization.

It is not just about the promises new members make to their sisters locally and nationally, but it’s also about the promises initiated members make to them. It is the job of every single member, regardless of her chapter, to educate new members on all aspects of ZTA membership, especially the importance of ZTA’s ritual services.

Some chapters hold a mother’s pinning ceremony where the members present their mothers with a special pin that symbolizes the respect, strength, understanding, time and love they give to their daughters. Mothers of Zeta Tau Alphas have enjoyed this tradition for years, and it gives them an opportunity to participate in part of their daughters’ sorority experience. She does not have to be a member of ZTA to wear the mother’s pin, and this activity is not in the College Service Book. Since this ceremony is not a ritual service, it can be changed, altered and used however a chapter desires.

The most important part of both ritual services and traditions is participation. Choosing to be mindful and fully present ensures every

woman gains the most from her experience. Simply going through the motions distractedly dilutes the experience and weakens the connections with all of those who share it.

Traditions and ritual services tell the story of ZTA. They both shape chapters as well as members’ lives and remind us we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves, we are not alone and we are better together. They also reinforce ZTA’s strong history while helping each member to evolve into the woman she is becoming. Continuing to always “Seek the Noblest” by performing the ritual services exactly as written and sharing traditions that are intentional and mindful of all members turns ordinary days into extraordinary ones.

Other traditions may include activities that take place during the week leading up to Initiation.

The new member program offers ceremonial options for collegiate chapters to use, but each chapter has the ability to create their own unique events, like passing down a sentimental item from Big Sisters Feature | Themis Spring 2020 |

31

HOW TO INCORPORATE ZTA IN YOUR WORKSPACE

PERSONAL Turn your ZTA memories and accomplishments into decorative accessories with pretty silver frames for certificates or sleek frames for college photos to create a professional look.

By Christy Marx Barber, Staff Writer

Long after you leave behind your college room or apartment with its sisterhood picture collages and memory boards, you can still show your love for Zeta Tau Alpha in the working world—just a little more subtly.

The Fraternity Housing Corporation Design Committee decorates chapter facilities with impeccable taste and ZTA nuances. Here are Vice President of Design Julia Marthaler Hill’s tips for adding a little Zeta Tau Alpha influence into your office workspace.

Make it personal. Display your Lifetime Membership certificate or your Certificate of Merit in a pretty frame. Upload a graduation picture—especially one where you’re wearing your ZTA sash—to a photo site and have it encased in an acrylic box to make a stylish keepsake.

like the pillow with just the first names of our nine Founders, available at Crown & Co. And you don’t have to be a lawyer to show off a statue of Themis. Just Google it and own it.

Rock the colors. Turquoise as an accent color and gray as a neutral are both popular and current. Shop your favorite home decorating store for a great desk lamp, vase, tape dispenser or stapler. Gray makes every color look brighter, and turquoise always catches the eye.

Crown & Co. offers other fun items that let your coworkers know you’re a Zeta. Visit the website at store.zetataualpha.org to pick up a coffee mug, frameable prints, coasters, notepads, to-do lists and even the three-volume set of The History of Zeta Tau Alpha 1898-1998.

Include a unique ZTA item.

Pick an accessory that will cause visitors to say “what’s that?”

32 | Themis Spring 2020 | Fraternity Housing Corporation News

UNIQUE Your co-workers are sure to ask “Whose names are on that pillow?”

It’s the perfect prompt for you to share how much you value your membership—and the Founders will always have your back.

CO LO R F U L Placing a Themis statue on ZTA’s turquoise History books is a great way to bring ZTA into your office, but any small touch of ZTA colors will show visitors you are a Zeta with great taste and style.

Fraternity Housing Corporation News | Themis Spring 2020 |

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NEW RECOGNITION PLAN HONORS LIFETIME GIVING TO ZTA FOUNDATION

By Christy Marx Barber, Staff Writer

To honor those sisters whose donations reflect that “ZTA is not just four years, but for life,” the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation announces a new recognition program for cumulative giving.

Beginning at Convention 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, donors will receive gifts from the Foundation for reaching lifetime giving levels of $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $75,000 and $100,000. Currently, 137 living Zetas have achieved one or more of these levels.

“We want to honor the commitment, consistency and longevity of these sisters whose contributions help sustain the work of the Foundation,” said ZTA Foundation President Carolyn Hof Carpenter. “Their ongoing generosity allows us to grow

our scholarship program, provide leadership training for our collegiate officers and support the Leadership Consultant program. In effect, they are helping us instill loyalty and responsibility in our future donor base.”

The five new lifetime giving levels have distinctive names (listed below) and unique gifts.

Karen Lowman West (Beta Delta Chapter, Miami University) and Bobby Seitz Turnbull (Alpha Theta Chapter, Purdue University) both cite the positive impact of ZTA’s sisterhood and the Foundation’s programs as reasons for their sustained giving.

Karen has been a ZTA Foundation donor since 1978. Her giving includes memorial contributions, Valentine’s

Day cards, Zeta Day donations, gifts to the general fund and an Endowed Scholarship, given for the first time this academic year. The scholarship will rotate between a collegiate member of Beta Delta Chapter and a collegiate member of Alpha Zeta Chapter (The Ohio State University).

“I give to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation to celebrate and support all the things that ZTA does for women and for me,” said Karen, a longtime active member of the Columbus, OH Alumnae Chapter. “ZTA provides opportunities for friendship, sisterhood, scholarship, philanthropy, leadership and service. It gives me much more than I could ever repay, and I am proud to support the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation.”

New Lifetime Giving Societies

$10,000

$25,000

36 | Themis Spring 2020 | ZTA Foundation News

$50,000

$75,000

$100,000

Bobby models her commitment to ZTA after her late mother, Kitty Phelps Seitz (Beta Alpha Chapter, George Washington University).

“Ever since I was old enough to understand my mother's love and enjoyment of Zeta Tau Alpha, I began to feel the same way and have loved every minute of it,” Bobby said.

Her father left funds in his will to the Foundation in memory of Kitty and in honor of Bobby. She added her own donation to that bequest to establish an endowed scholarship in 2010. Bobby also gives to the general fund at Zeta Day, makes memorial tributes and donates to her collegiate chapter’s philanthropy efforts.

While serving as Treasurer of the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter, Bobby began the precedent of donating $25 to the Foundation on behalf of the chapter in memory of deceased members. “I feel strongly about the importance of all the Foundation does and want to continue to support it,” Bobby said.

“I became a Major Donor when that designation was first introduced and then made larger contributions as I was able.”

Members of the five new giving societies will have special seating and be honored at the ZTA Foundation’s luncheon at Convention 2020. They will receive the gift from each level they have attained. Future Conventions will continue to honor donors as they reach new giving levels.

Beginning at Convention, recognition for all donors will have a new look and concept. Individuals and chapters who have made a donation up to $299 in the current fiscal year will receive a donor sticker for their nametag.

Those who give $300 or more will

receive a ZTA Foundation donor button and one of five new giving level buttons:

ANNUAL GIVING LEVELS

LINK: $300 to $499 THEMIS: $500 to $999 TORCH: $1,000 to $2,499 SHIELD: $2,500 to $4,999 CROWN: $5,000 and above “We hope this new, fresh way of recognizing donors will continue to show our appreciation for every gift to the Foundation,” Mrs. Carpenter said. “We value all gifts and thank our members for entrusting us to use their donations to carry out our Founders’ vision.”

Members of the lifetime giving levels and donors who give $300 in the fiscal year will also be listed in Themis magazine.

$300 to $499

$500 to $999

HOW TO CHECK YOUR CUMULATIVE GIVING You can see your own giving over time on your profile page in Sisters Only. Follow the steps below to learn more!

$1,000 to $2,499

1. From the ZTA website (zetataualpha.org), select “Sisters Only login” in the top left corner.

2. If you do not have a login, the site will guide you through the process; all you need to complete it is your maiden name and chapter of initiation.

$2,500 to $4,999

3. Once in Sisters Only, select “Foundation” on the turquoise bar above your personal profile.

4. Your gifts summary and history will appear on the screen.

Still have questions about your giving history? Reach out to the ZTA Foundation at ztafoundation@zetataualpha.org.

$5,000 and above

ZTA Foundation News | Themis Spring 2020 |

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THE GRE A TE S T O F A LL THI NGS 38 | Themis Spring 2020 | Points of Pride

5

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8

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9 [1] Lauren Heddy (Iota Gamma Chapter, The College of New Jersey) and Blakely Graham (Theta Zeta Chapter, Wofford College) throw the crown at Fort Sill after realizing they are both Zeta Tau Alpha alumnae.

[2] Theta Phi Chapter (California State University, Fullerton) alumnae are all smiles during the chapter’s 40th anniversary celebration at a local park.

[3] Members of Gamma Beta Chapter (Washington College) pose together during a photoshoot to show some sisterly love.

10 [4] Women of Lambda Rho Chapter (Piedmont College) think sisterhood is sweeter than strawberries, pausing for a quick photo during a service event.

[8] Photoshoots with sisters never get old!

The members from the Memphis, TN Alumnae Chapter take advantage of any opportunity to get dressed up and have fun.

[5] Daytona Beach, FL Alumnae Chapter officers proudly hold up a flag with the ZTA logo and open motto at an officer meeting.

[9] Collegians at Gamma Mu Chapter (University of Nebraska at Omaha) Bid Day strike a fabulous pose to celebrate the chapter’s new sisters and another successful Recruitment.

[6] Big Sisters and Little Sisters at Delta Zeta Chapter (Sam Houston State University) celebrate their unique bond at a ZTA family night event.

[7] Members of the Washington, D.C. Alumnae Chapter stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial during a day of exploring the hotbed of history.

[10] Austin, TX Alumnae Chapter members meet up for brunch to catch up with each other and share in sisterhood.

Points of Pride | Themis Spring 2020 |

39

PRESERVING ZTA’S PAST FOR THE FUTURE

By Patti Cords Levitte, Archivist, and Susan L. Beard, Archives Committee Chairman

What do the words metadata, acidfree, digitize and stabilize have in common? They are all methods of protecting and cataloging different media formats in ZTA’s archival collection at the Historical and Educational Center at International Office. Over the past decade, the Archives Committee has been targeting objects and papers that need conservation work to remain stable for the future.

The artifacts come in many forms, and there are many different types of materials on display, from the fabric of the first wool felt banner and the metal of the sterling silver Chain of Chapters to photos, like the original board-mounted photo of the Mystifying Picture, and the handwritten pages of Founder Maud Jones Horner’s precious diary The collection even includes textiles, such as Founder Ethel Coleman Van Name’s tiny silk evening slippers and hosiery.

The viability of materials used over the past century to document ZTA’s history varies. Some are stable by nature, while others tend to selfdestruct without intervention. Taking the time to identify potentially destructive materials helps preserve these historical pieces, but it is a painstaking process to go through piles of scrapbooks or file folders of mixed media and isolate all the problematic items.

40 | Themis Spring 2020 | Archives

Paper is a particularly fragile medium. Many of the Founders’ letters deteriorated due to repeated handling and folding, so their seams required archival hinge tape to prevent the pages from coming apart.

Storing old newspaper clippings where they can touch other pieces of paper often leads to stains and other material deterioration due to the acid in wood pulp used in newsprint during the 20th century. Isolating old newspaper items maintains the readability of precious original clippings, including the announcement of ZTA’s incorporation by an act of the Virginia State Legislature in 1902 that Founder Frances Yancey Smith cut out and saved for historical records.

To maintain the integrity of paper items, the committee stores the oldest documents and photos in Melinex sleeves, a form of archivallysafe plastic film, and houses them in acid-free boxes or flat files.

Items not on display are stored in a temperature-controlled workroom.

Backing documents with acid-free mounting board is also important for storing them safely, especially if the paper fibers have weakened over time.

Another odd, archivally sensitive item in ZTA’s collection is a train case made of celluloid, an early plastic that can mimic many natural materials like bone or wood, that Shirley Kreasan Strout used in her travels in the 1920s and 1930s (below). It is a beautiful art deco example of what a stylish woman would have used as carry-on luggage during that time.

Unfortunately, unavoidable celluloid rot infected the case, making this piece too unstable to have on display for long periods of time. Additionally, the case must be isolated from other items that might have plastic content that could interact with the celluloid and cause damage to both pieces.

The textile collection also requires special handling, as natural fabrics need to be isolated from chemicalbased ones. Fabric items on display must be rotated so the garments and objects have “resting” periods off display forms and away from light sources and any humidity, which

THEMIS READER’S GUIDE Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, the official publication of the Fraternity, has been published continuously since 1903.

HOW TO MAKE AN ADDRESS CHANGE Go to sistersonly.zetataualpha.org and update your information. You may also email changes to zetataualpha@zetataualpha.org (subject: Address Change) or call IO at (317) 872–0540.

Parents: While your daughter is in college, her magazine is sent to her home address.

If she is not living at home, please send in her new address.

HOW TO SUBMIT NEWS Send all news and photos to the Communication Department by emailing news@zetataualpha.org or through bit.ly/ThemisStories. All submissions become the property of ZTA and are subject to editing.

Include full names and chapter(s). Photos must be 1 MB (1,024 KB) or larger to be printed.

Safely removing paint from a 1920s bronze doorplate without harmful chemicals is a painstaking process that requires time and patience. can cause fibers to break down. The Archives Committee has already completed conservation work on parts of Maud Jones Horner’s wedding outfit (top), Founder Frances Yancey Smith’s dress from her toddler years and evening gowns worn by former ZTA National Presidents.

documents and photos is daunting.

Fragile documents and photos cannot be run through a scanner but must be scanned by hand one at a time. It is a time-consuming operation, as there are thousands of ZTA documents, photos, slides, negatives and objects to sort and process.

From a practical standpoint, this preservation work makes artifacts stable, but its purpose is also to work toward making archives available to all members and visitors, not just those who can get to the HEC. To ensure copies of all items exist and limit the handling of original objects, the committee is focusing its efforts on digitizing documents and photos and adding digital metadata to ultimately preserve and make them searchable in an online archive.

The HEC has been open for almost a year now and will see many more visitors in years to come. Zeta Tau Alpha’s commitment to archival sustainability ensures the extensive collection of historical artifacts that tell the story of its history will be available for future generations to observe and study. Because ZTA history grows every day, constant organization, preservation and digitization are important priorities to ensure future members and visitors can continue to marvel at both the physical and digital manifestations of ZTA’s history.

Online digital archives are common for museums; however, the task and expense of digitizing thousands of

HOW TO SUBMIT TO THE ARCHIVES Have something to contribute to the archives?

Email Patti Cords Levitte (patti-levitte@zetataualpha.org).

Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha (ISSN 1529-6709); (USPS 627-120) is published quarterly by Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 1036 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032.

Subscription: $2 per year. Single copies: $0.50. Periodical postage paid in Carmel, Indiana, and additional mailing offices.

Printed in the United States of America.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha, 1036 S. Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032.

Member, Fraternity Communications Association and National Panhellenic Conference © 2020 Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Zeta Tau Alpha.

1036 S. Rangeline Road Carmel, IN 46032 zetataualpha.org

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