Delta Zeta

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Delta Zeta (ΔΖ)
Founded	October 24, 1902 (1902-10-24) (106 years ago) Miami University, (Oxford, Ohio)
Type	Social
Scope	International
Colors	Rose and Green[1]
Symbol	Roman lamp
Flower	Pink Killarney Rose
Jewel	Diamond
Publication	The LAMP of Delta Zeta
Philanthropy	Speech and Hearing; The Painted Turtle, The Starkey Hearing Foundation
Members	207,000[2] collegiate
Mascot	Turtle
Headquarters	202 East Church Street Oxford, Ohio, USA
Homepage	http://www.deltazeta.org

Delta Zeta (ΔΖ) is a college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Today, Delta Zeta has 158 collegiate chapters in the United States and over 200 alumnae chapters in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In total there are over 207,000 college and alumnae members. In 2007, the sorority received a great deal of media attention regarding a controversy at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where the national organization was accused of placing members on alumnae status based on appearance and not on the women's commitment to recruitment, as the organization asserts.

Contents 1 History 2 Philanthropy 3 The Delta Zeta Foundation 4 Mission statement 5 Creed 6 DePauw University controversy 7 Notable alumnae 8 Collegiate Chapters 9 References 10 External links 10.1 Philanthropy

[edit] History

In 1902, Dr. Guy Potter Benton was elected as the new president of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. One of the first things that Dr. Benton did was to allow young women to enroll in the previously all-male university. That coming fall, six of the newly admitted female students organized the first sorority chapter, an idea that was widely accepted due to the three fraternities that already existed.

Seeking help in the planning of such an organization, the six women consulted Dr. Benton. He was familiar with the processes of a Greek organization due to his leadership in Phi Delta Theta fraternity and therefore became a helpful resource for the girls in the establishment of the first Delta Zeta chapter. The six women faced harassment for wanting to form a sorority. One account tells of a person stealing the constitution from the hand of the group's secretary, however Dr. Benton pursued the offender and was able to get the constitution back.

It was on October 24, 1902, that the the State of Ohio issued formal Articles of Incorporation establishing the Delta Zeta Sorority. The founding members were stated as follows; Alfa Lloyd Hayes, Mary Jane Collins, Anna Louise Keen, Julia Lawrence Bishop, Mabelle May Minton, and Anne Dial Simmons.

Dr. Benton aided in preparation of a ritual, badge, and colors. Four new members soon became part of the sisterhood, Elizabeth Coulter being the first. Dr. Benton was named as Grand Patron, and became the only man to ever wear the Delta Zeta badge.

The sorority joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1910. Over the years, Delta Zeta has absorbed four other existing sororities: Beta Phi Alpha in 1941, Phi Omega Pi in 1946, Delta Sigma Epsilon in 1956 and Theta Upsilon in 1962. The year 2002 marked the Centennial Celebration for Delta Zeta. Chapters nationwide celebrated the event as well as a special convocation during the summer at the Delta Zeta National Convention.

[edit] Philanthropy

The sorority supports several programs for the hearing and speech impaired. The national philanthropic project is the Sound Beginnings Program which raises awareness for newborn hearing screening. Individual chapters are also involved in fundraising for Gallaudet University, and programs such as House Ear Institute.

In 2006 Delta Zeta partnered with The Painted Turtle and The Starkey Hearing Foundation; adding both to the national philanthropic project.^[3]

Another philanthropy that several Delta Zeta Chapters are involved in is Turtle Tug. Both sororities and fraternities participate across campus in a tug of war contest to raise money for the painted turtle and their local hearing and speech foundation. Trophies and prizes are given to the winners of the contest and most spirited team.

[edit] The Delta Zeta Foundation

The Delta Zeta Foundation is a non-profit entity within the organization that provides various scholarships to members of the sorority as well as providing funds for leadership, philanthropy and education programs.

[edit] Mission statement

Article II "The purpose of this sorority shall be to unite its members in the bonds of sincere and lasting friendship, to stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge, to promote the moral and social culture of its members, and to develop plans for guidance and unity in action; objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort."

[edit] Creed

To the world,
I promise temperance and insight and courage,
To crusade for justice,
To seek the truth and defend it always:
To those whom my life may touch in slight measure,
May I give graciously
Of what is mine;
To my friends,
Understanding and appreciation;
To those closer ones,
Love that is ever steadfast;
To my mind,
Growth;
To myself,
Faith
That I may walk truly
In the light of the Flame.
–– Dorothy Mumford Williams, Alpha Zeta (1939)

[edit] DePauw University controversy

At the end of 2006, the Delta Chapter of Delta Zeta at DePauw University became enmeshed in a controversy that would eventually make national headlines and result in the chapter's closing. Founded in 1909, the Delta chapter was the sorority's second oldest active chapter and its fourth oldest chapter overall. Despite its long history at DePauw, however, the Delta chapter in recent years had struggled with declining membership and acquired a negative reputation on campus.^[4]

[edit] Notable alumnae

For a full list of notable Delta Zeta alumnae please visit here. [4]

• Mercedes Bates (Theta) – first female corporate officer of General Mills Foods. After being appointed to head the Betty Crocker division, she was often referred to as "Betty Crocker".^[5]
• Joy Behar (Beta Pi) – host of The View on ABC^[6]
• Marti Dodson (Theta) – lead singer for national recording artist, Saving Jane^[7]
• Nanette Fabray (Xi Omicron) – actress, worked to bring sign language and captioning to television^[8]
• Edith Head (Alumna Initiate, Mu) – Emmy Award-winning designer; 7-time Oscar winner in costume design^[9]
• Florence Henderson (Alumna Initiate, Alpha Chi) – actress, (The Brady Bunch)^[10]
• Maurine Brown Neuberger (Omega) – former US Senator^[6]
• Melissa Ordway (Unknown) – actress and model^{[citation needed]}
• Pat Priest (Alpha Chi) – actress, (The Munsters)^[6]
• Ivy Baker Priest (Alpha Chi) – Former United States Treasurer^[6]
• Märtha Sofia Lovisa Dagmar Thyra (Alumna Initiate, Upsilon) – Known formally as Princess Märtha of Sweden, she was both a princess of Sweden and the Crown Princess of Norway.^[11]
• Marcia Wallace (Delta Nu) – TV and stage actress^[12]
• Kay Yow (Zeta Lambda) – women's basketball Coach, NC State^[13]

[edit] Collegiate Chapters

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Delta Zeta Official Website

[edit] Philanthropy

• Sound Beginnings Program
• Gallaudet University
• House Ear Institute
• The Painted Turtle
• The Starkey Hearing Foundation

v • d • e National Panhellenic Conference Alpha Chi Omega · Alpha Delta Pi · Alpha Gamma Delta · Alpha Epsilon Phi · Alpha Omicron Pi · Alpha Phi · Alpha Sigma Alpha · Alpha Sigma Tau · Alpha Xi Delta · Chi Omega · Delta Delta Delta · Delta Gamma · Delta Zeta · Delta Phi Epsilon · Gamma Phi Beta · Kappa Alpha Theta · Kappa Delta · Kappa Kappa Gamma · Phi Mu · Phi Sigma Sigma · Pi Beta Phi · Sigma Delta Tau · Sigma Kappa · Sigma Sigma Sigma · Theta Phi Alpha · Zeta Tau Alpha