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ZOE Overview and History

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An overview of Zeta Omega Eta.

Zeta Omega Eta is a women’s independent Greek sorority whose name in Greek means spirit, vivaciousness, and liveliness. As an independent sorority, Zeta Omega Eta admits to membership those women selected by current members who hold the qualities in which Zeta Omega Eta stands upon: honesty, a true heart, determination, loyalty, charisma, and above all else, the drive to make a positive difference.

Our Colors

Sunburst Gold and Fire Red

Motto

“Redefining the spirit of sisterhood.”

Symbol

Monarch butterfly. It represents the ability to change and that the monarch butterfly is the only butterfly that is migratory.

The daisy is the national flower because the daisy has such a friendly nature.

Mission Statement

Zeta Omega Eta sorority is an independent sorority for collegiate and alumnae women dedicated to encouraging strong friendships, community and campus involvement, and intellectual, social, and spiritual excellence.

Vision Statement

The vision of Zeta Omega Eta is to be a leading organization within the universities where or chapters are functioning while establishing excellence form our members and helping to improve or communities, or universities, and the lives of others.

How we came to be.

The Greek system of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, UAM, sparked the foundation for a new sorority, Zeta Omega Eta. Already UAM housed five Greek social sororities: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Sigma Sigma, and Zeta Phi Beta. Also, UAM did not have and independent sorority that allows for new opportunities both locally and nationally.

Charlie Belin, a founding member of Zeta Omega Eta, considered establishing a chapter of a sorority belonging to the National Panhellenic Council. However, after looking through the requirements, dues, fines and pledge procedures of these sororities, she decided what might actually be best for UAM was a brand new social sorority with guidelines and purposes more suitable for a small-town Arkansas, predominately commuter university that could also break some of the racial barriers of the already present UAM sororities.

Next, Charlie researched potential names for this new sorority and the purposes for which it should be based. After discovering Zeta Omega Eta in Greek means spirit, vivaciousness, and liveliness and that the name was not used by any other organization, she began establishing the principles of this new organization- less demanding pledge periods with free choice of financial commitments yet still offering opportunities for new friendships and community and campus services while bringing together women from different cultures and backgrounds.

After determining a potential name and the general objectives, she presented her ideas to Melinda Burke, Holly Strickland, and Candice Westbook. Charlie wanted these three women because she felt that each would bring something different yet crucial to the foundation of Zeta Omega Eta. Holly was known for her scientific mind, and through her work with the UAM Biology Club; she was noted for her determination and excellent work ethic. Melinda was active with the UAM Ambassadors helping in-coming students and she has a warm heart. Driven in her passions, Candice brought in a large portion of the first pledge class. Through softball and her activities with various student groups, she knew all the hotspots and fun things happening on campus and in the Monticello community.

Through their ambitions, these four women together took the basic ideas of a social Greek-lettered sorority and created an entirely new independent sorority with less emphasis on social, new pledge procedures, new financial requirements, and new secrets. Together, they broke away from the standard rush ritual and offered membership through hand-delivered invitations without formal interest meetings or awareness of this organization form potential members. Each of the four founders hand selected new prospects and between those prospects, friends of those prospects, and the four original founders, Zeta Omega Eta celebrated the first pledge class of 38 members and their official birth date, April 21st 2003.

Although Zeta Omega Eta is still a far walk to its toddler years, the initiation of the first pledge class sent a sweeping cry of both controversy and interest throughout the UAM campus. The founders’ purpose to bring together a variety of racial membership included pledges from Vietnamese, African-American, Hispanic, and European-American descent. Currently, the national sorority is a recognized member of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, and the Alpha chapter is a recognized organization of the University of Arkansas at Monticello. In order to be noticed, the charter members of the Alpha chapter wore blue shirts with a yellow oval across the chest highlighting their name, Zeta Omega Eta.