Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Victoria Jacobsen Zeta Psi Eta sisters Erica Sapp, Erin Ashford, Rebecca Mitchell, Samantha Edwards and Scarlett Morgon.

Every semester at the University of West Florida, sororities and fraternities have the opportunity to show students what greek life is all about by hosting a "rush." Rush week entails numerous social activities planned to give students a taste of greek life as well as to recruit new members.
On Thursday, Jan. 25, members of the local sorority Zeta Psi Eta and their visitors gathered in the Great Hall of the Commons clutching pillows and sporting colorful pajama pants. Rush week was almost over for most of the University's sororities. However this particular greek society had something exciting left to look forward to.
This April, Zeta Psi Eta will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary, explained Joy Beach, a sophomore and the social chair for her sorority.
"I'm excited I get to be a part of it," Beach said.
The anniversary will be celebrated on April 14 at an event called the Founders Day Formal, which includes a sit-down dinner and awards.
As a local sorority, Zeta Psi Eta is not affiliated with any national organizations, according to the Zeta Psi Eta Web site. A former UWF student, Julie Frank, founded it in 1997.
Three local sororities have been founded on campus. However, two of the three have already failed, Beach said.
Though not linked to a national sorority, Zeta Psi Eta still participates in the Greek events on campus. They support a sport's team, host fundraisers, and participate in greek events.
Rush is also an important event to them, as it gives them an opportunity to recruit new girls. Ashley Pettis, a sophomore and a member of Zeta Psi Eta said the sorority recruited new members by word of mouth. Last semester, they had more than 25 students attend rush.
Rush week for the sorority included a dinner at the local Mexcian restaurant Los Rancheros, pottery making at Killing Time, and a pajama party.
Pettis and the other members eagerly advocate their sorority.
"It has given me a life," Pettis said. "I've met so many people."
Friendship and a social life are common reasons that many of the girls decided to join.
"Your sisters are always there for you," said Beach.
She said that any one of her sorority sisters would help her if she needed it. Sisterhood above all else is their motto.
"We definitely live by our motto," she said.
Junior Laura MacKenzie, the pledge educator for the sorority, joined because it gave her an opportunity to get involved.
"We're a lot different than what you may think," she said.
To join, the new recruits have to plan their own fundraiser, design a t-shirt and make a scrapbook for the sorority.
Zeta Psi Eta also raises money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through annual cookie sales and a Valentine's Day chocolate-dipped strawberry sale.
Through service events like these and numerous social events, the sisters are given opportunities to bond and to become close to each other.
"We're all different, and we all bring something to it," Beach said.

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