University of Virginia Library

Established In 1952

ZTA Guides Way For Sororities

By Debra Kroner
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

The University student body is not
composed of a single psychology. Neither
is there one overriding social system.
There are those who prefer the closeness
(and the ensuing euphoria) present in the
fraternities, just as there are those
students who choose to remain socially
independent.

With the promised influx of women,
questions are posed, one of these
concerning any future sororities may have
on the Grounds (some individuals are
more concerned with the future of
women here).

Zeta Tau Alpha

To the surprise, and possibly the
dismay, of some members of the student
community, one such feminine institution
has already embedded its claws into the
University structure. Yes, Virginia, there is a
sorority in your midst. And it has been here,
subtly existing, since 1952.

Zeta Tau Alpha is it.

The sorority differs from the Rugby Road
male institutions in a way that some students
would find not only exasperating, but also
unamerican - in other words, not in the
tradition of the University. Cumulation of
alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the
sorority house, for example.

No Drunks

Ruth Cox, House Manager of the sorority, in
commenting on this rule says, that the house is
"nice" and the girls "don't want it messed up
with a bunch of drunks." This does not
preclude the assumption that the sorority
members are nondrinkers, for such an
assumption would be false in most cases.
Different fraternity houses have already invited
the women for parties, and have provided the
sisters with beverages more potent than milk.

Miss Cox is optimistic about the survival and
place of sororities in Charlottesville. "Zeta Tau
Alpha does have a place here and has shown
that it does because it's been here since 1952,
whereas two other sororities have left."

Same Benefits

The benefits of the sorority system parallel
those espoused by members of fraternities.
Friendship, opportunities to serve, social
gatherings. Miss Cox states that "the aims and
principles of sororities can be meaningful to the
individual, depending on what the individual is
looking for."

Miss Mary Whitney, Dean of Women,
believes that the University is in a unique
situation. It can either benefit from other
college's experiences with coeducation and
sororities, or it can disregard everything and set
out on the same path that the other institutions
followed - 30 years ago.

Dean Whitney wonders if sororities are
actually necessary here. Recent trends, in both
sororities and fraternities, show that membership
in these organizations has been decreasing.
Following this line of thought, is it necessary to
organize sororities here, organizations which
were so popular in the '40's?, she asks.

No Takers

At this point, Dean Whitney says that no
other national sorority has approached her
concerning the establishment of chapters at the
University. Commenting on this information,
Miss Cox feels that other sororities may take
root here in three or four years. Possibly these
other groups will wait and see how membership
of Zeta Tau Alpha is affected by the incoming
first-year women students.

Miss Cox further believes that the coming of
more sororities to the Grounds would benefit
Zeta Tau Alpha, as well as the other groups.
"Competition," she says, "could make sororities
better."