Ti’Ana Marshall
“I thought it came easy and was just something you’re granted when you join. This is something you work for.”
Coming to college is both scary and exciting. The adrenaline rush from knowing you are stepping out on your own brings blood rushing to your ears out of excitement and can cause the heart to feel as if it jumped into your stomach.
In the midst of all that excitement, however, many feel homesick. Gone are the days where mom and dad are across the hall. They have been replaced by a snoring roommate and textbooks with words that are way too complicated to be real.
To every problem there is a solution, as said by someone great, and the popular solution for many incoming freshman feeling the blues is (drumroll please) Greek life.
Whether it is because of homesickness, early recruitment processes, enhancing a resume, or continuing a legacy, many turn to Greek life once stepping onto campus.
Greek life is without a doubt important to college campuses, and taken seriously by all who join, but it does not come without stereotypes, judgement, and serious liability problems.
Texas A&M University-Texarkana, lovingly known as TAMUT, is home to four Greek life organizations, one of which, Zeta Phi Beta, is a part of the Divine Nine.
There are a total of nine historically black Greek letter organizations (bglos) hence their name as a collective unit and are tied together through a family system. The Divine Nine include: Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta.
Of the Divine Nine, only one chose to start up a chapter here on the A&M campus in Texarkana, Zeta Phi Betta, forming the Gamma Kappa chapter.
Annette Forte, a past president of the chapter, is heavily involved in the recruitment process of the organization. Each year the campus has a vendor day where several local organizations and businesses are welcome to set up booths to catch the attention of the students.
Forte is always at the table stopping girls left and right to inform them about the Greek organization she is more than proud to bare the letters of.
“It is more than letters,” Forte says “I believe in the principles that define a lady of Zeta Phi Beta”.
Founded in the Roaring Twenties, a time where racism was more than alive and well, the Great Depression was running amuck, and times all around were tough, this sisterhood was created.
Five coeds dared to break the mold of the stereotypical black woman of that time, and chose instead to stand on four principles that the organization centers on today: Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love, and Finer womanhood. From then on the five, known now as their Five Pearls, spread their wings and embraced select women who embodied those beliefs.
When choosing a Greek life organization to possibly become a member of Forte states that “these women are the definition of what it means to be a Zeta woman, it is imperative that each member truly believes in all that is the makings of a finer woman”.
What defines a finer woman? She is strong, intelligent, confident in her abilities, and above all knows in her heart that God is the reason she has been granted such talents.
Such great pillars of success are what each organization of the Divine Nine believe in. Of course it is a wonder why the Zeta Phi Beta’s decided to create a chapter on TAMUT’s campus instead of others. When asked, Forte stated “We wanted to be trail blazers, the first of the Divine Nine to step foot and make our mark here, maybe others will come in the future, but they will never be able to say they were here first”.
Ironically, making your mark is a statement that several organizations on campus repeat all the time to encourage students to stand out among their peers.
Angel Greer, a member of Zeta Phi Beta out of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana reflected on her own decision about joining this specific Greek organization and stated
“Growing up as an only child sisterhood was fairly new to me, but something I looked forward to. As a legacy, I grew up watching my mom with her sisters and I wanted it. I thought it was something easy and was just something you’re granted when you join. Needless to say I was wrong. This is something you work for. You have to learn your sister and learn to love her as well. Most refer to joining organizations such as Zeta as ‘buying friends’ which is incorrect. I see my sorority as more than an organization but a sisterhood. Though filled with women from different walks of life we learn how to blend. I won’t say it’s been a walk in the candy store. I have learned how to battle with my sisters and yet pick up the pieces after. Even if we aren’t seeing eye to eye at the moment, I know I can call on my sisters for any and everything at anytime. This is a real sisterhood.”
Greek life definitely has its advantages and are an impressive mark on any resume. According to an article run on Elite Daily, an impressive 85% of Fortune 500 companies are run by members of Greek organizations. Greek’s are also more likely to finish college, and are generous givers to their communities as a result of the community service hours required as an undergrad member.
Although statistics for educational success are high for Greek members, it does not come without its downfalls. Hazing, as well as substance and alcohol abuse are concerns that no organization have really been able to shake off as a stereotype.
Forte commented on hazing stating “Hazing has multiple definitions, sure there are sacred practices that each potential pledge must go through for membership; however taunting, publicly embarrassing/humiliating our members is not a process we believe in. That is not Finer womanhood”.
In 2014 two pledges filed lawsuits against Alpha Kappa Alpha after being denied membership. The two claimed to be publicly humiliated having to run errands for their potential big sisters, and cut off communication with their friends during rush. Members of the sorority rolled their eyes at the situation claiming that their feelings were just hurt because of their denied membership; however, the rush process was suspended for that season, the two are allowed to pledge for graduate chapters of the organization, and the chapter is under investigation.
BGLOs have a long way to go in order to fight the slow extinction that several believe is bound to happen. As stated by Gregory S. Parks, in his article The End of BGLO’s “Honestly at the rate that BGLOs are going, I can only foresee two having any longevity.”
Regardless of being faced with this opinion, Forte does not see the death of Zeta Phi Beta coming anytime soon. “It sounds quite cliché, but I did not choose Zeta Phi Beta, they chose me. I am more than proud to be a woman of the organization. Being a part of such an outstanding group of women brings a joy to my heart that is unmatched by anything other than my love for Christ Himself.”
Joining a Greek organization is a huge choice and should be thought out, but it is more than worth it. The bonds that are created are for a lifetime, and that is absolutely priceless.
For more information about Greek life on campus students can visit the student life office on campus and also visit the Gamma Kappa chapter website to learn more about Zeta Phi Beta.