Alpha Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority closed by their national amidst allegations of underage drinking and hazing and will not be able to come back till 2011
Excepted from WSET-TV
A Longwood University sorority is having to shut its doors after allegations of hazing and underage drinking. This isn’t the first time the Zeta Tau Alpha chapter has been in trouble this year, in fact they had just gotten off probation, and less than a month later their national council voted to shut them down.
As Longwood University gets ready to say goodbye to graduates this weekend, a long-time sorority is also saying farewell. VP of Student Affairs Tim Pierson said, “We are saddened by this, this is a loss for Longwood.”
The Zeta Tau Alpha chapter’s national headquarters was tipped off about possible underage drinking and hazing. “There were no reports of any physical harm,” Pierson said.
After a brief probation–the national council found the chapter broke the rules again and decided to close ZTA. Meaghan Marsilia, member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, said, “That’s really shocking to me sad.” Alpha Sigma Phi Member Chris Grant said, “I thought it was a little too drastic.”
What makes it so difficult to close these doors is that this is the Alpha Chapter of the Zeta Taul Alpha sorority, founded here on the campus of Longwood University–more than a hundred years ago. “That’s where your history is–that’s where your foundations are,” Marsillia said.
And some wonder whether the chapter is falling victim to a more sensitive time. “You can’t even sneeze the wrong way on a pledge and they’re going to think it’s hazing,” Grant said.
“When you define hazing, what do you really mean? You know, it’s go take the trash out? Yeah it happens… I ask my boyfriend to take the trash out–do I haze him?” Marsilia said.
A privacy policy prevents the sorority from discussing the specifics of the hazing allegations. But they say it was severe enough to close the chapter down. A tough decision for everyone involved.Delta Zeta member Christina Olveira said, “Even if you don’t have the letters, sisterhood means something else, I know it sounds kind of cliché, but it’s true.”
