Next fall semester, Greek life is becoming a bit livelier. While much speculation has been surrounding what changes are to be made in the fraternity and sorority community, Dean of Students Amy Badal has confirmed that Delta Zeta sorority and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will return to the University.

With the assistance of a specialized committee, Badal has been working strenuously to reestablish these Greek organizations at the University. Her main priority is to hear a cumulative voice of students, which she does by attending meetings or activities where she knows she can gain some useful knowledge about the student body.

“I am here to serve students and provide them with the best experience possible,” Badal said.

Delta Zeta was first colonized at the University in 1930. The chapter was reselected to join the University’s sorority and fraternity community in the fall of 2012, the same year Alpha Xi Delta sorority was introduced to the campus. However, the University felt it was important to stagger the Greek chapters, and thereby allowed Alpha Xi Delta to become established first.

Delta Zeta is being brought to campus now to accommodate the large chapter totals. Badal said that she doesn’t expect the addition of Delta Zeta to cause an increase in the number of students participating in sorority recruitment; rather, she said that the organization is being instituted to allow “for the numbers of women per chapter to be more manageable.”

The University went through an extensive application process and interviewed 26 other National Panhellenic Conference sororities when selecting Delta Zeta as a sorority to bring to campus. When established on campus, Delta Zeta will have its own suite in the basement of Hunt Hall.

“The committee that selected Delta Zeta was impressed with their values—to enrich the world of a lifetime and their commitment to developing strong student leaders,” Badal said.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon will also be participating in the fall recruitment process. Members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alumni Corporation and their national headquarters have been partnering to ensure its successful return.

In renewing their chapter at the University, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is hoping to inspire men who are focused and driven. It is important to the University, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alumni Association, and their national headquarters for them to embody a “True Gentleman” model.

“Each time a fraternity closes at the University, the expectation is that the chapter returns with a commitment to serving as a values-based organization,” Badal said.
Badal stated that this fall she is looking forward helping both chapters construct a welcoming atmosphere and smoothly transition each organization into the recruitment process.