Source: Shawn Eagleburger, 785-532-5546, sge@k-state.edu

Thursday, May 7, 2009

ZETA TAU ALPHA SORORITY TO RETURN TO K-STATE

MANHATTAN -- Zeta Tau Alpha sorority has been invited to recolonize at Kansas State University.

The invitation came after a May 4 vote by K-State's Panhellenic community to support the recommendation of the Panhellenic Extension Committee to extend the recolonization offer to Zeta Tau Alpha. The offer is the result of a lengthy extension process, which is how K-State's Panhellenic sororities decide which new sorority would be the best fit for the current community.

Representatives of Zeta Tau Alpha will begin their work at K-State in the coming fall semester, and plan to offer their first membership invitations to K-State students in fall 2010.

"I was certain going into the Panhellenic Council meeting those voting would support the recommendation to ask Zeta Tau Alpha to return to our campus," said Meghan Butler, senior in finance, Overland Park, and president of the K-State Panhellenic Council. "Not surprising, the vote was unanimous. All 11 National Panhellenic Conference sororities currently on campus knew Zeta Tau Alpha had what it took to be successful at K-State."

The Panhellenic Extension Committee recommended Zeta Tau Alpha because it best matched the desired qualifications the Panhellenic community wanted in its newest sorority, according to Shawn Eagleburger, assistant director of Greek affairs at K-State.

"I believe several aspects of Zeta Tau Alpha caught the ears of those on the Extension Committee," Eagleburger said. "Most notably, the Extension Committee was impressed with the international sorority's ability to provide housing in an expedited manner, illustrate a commitment of many local alumnae, the sorority's award-winning and nationally recognized educational programs, the sorority's commitment to many philanthropic efforts, as well as the opportunity presented by Zeta Tau Alpha to reestablish a lost K-State sorority chapter."

Zeta Tau Alpha was present on the K-State campus from 1931 to 1941. Reopening the chapter has many excited, including Muriel Fulton Alexander, a 96-year-old initiate of the K-State Zeta Tau Alpha chapter and K-State alumna, who said the recolonization of the sorority at K-State "just gave her goose bumps."

"Zeta Tau Alpha has offered me more than I would have believed. Zeta Tau Alpha gave me sisters I never had," Alexander said.

More information about K-State's Greek community is available at http://www.k-state.edu/greek or by contacting the office of Greek affairs at 785-532-5516, and more information about Zeta Tau Alpha is available at

http://www.zetataualpha.org or by contacting the Zeta Tau Alpha International Office at 317-876-3948.