Follow the pink and turquoise road to a ZTA bid

Pseudonyms were used in this article to protect the identities of the two students as they go through the uncertain rush process.

Though College sophomore Juliet Emerson was originally worried about the time commitment that comes with joining a sorority, she couldn’t be more excited about rushing Penn’s newest sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha.

“I am really interested in Zeta,” Emerson said.

After extensive advertising on Locust Walk and in Houston Hall, ZTA kicked off its official rush events this week. The first one Emerson participated in was the “infoview” — an informal interview with ZTA national consultants.

“It wasn’t exactly what I expected,” she said.

The consultants primary concern was informing the girls on the organization they were preparing to join.

“They talked more than we did,” Emerson said, adding that the ZTA representatives were focused on answering all her questions.

Another factor the ZTA consultants brought up was the cost of joining a sorority.

“Considering that it is going to be over $1,200 a year, I’m going to have to talk to my parents,” Emerson said. “My mom’s probably not going to be thrilled, but the benefits will exceed the cost.”

On Wednesday, Emerson attended ZTA’s “Think Pink” event, which highlighted the sorority’s philanthropy cause, breast cancer awareness.

The Hall of Flags, all covered in pink, was crowded with potential new members, Emerson said. The women talked about the organization’s philanthropy as well as participating in an arts and crafts event inspired by one of ZTA’s sponsors, Yoplait yogurt.

“We decorated the handles of spoons,” Emerson said.

While a fun craft, the spoons were “symbolic” of their partnership with Yoplait and the “Lids for Lives” campaign, which encourages consumers to raise money for breast-cancer research by collecting yogurt lids.

Emerson, though committed to Zeta, couldn’t help but bring up her work-study job again and again.

“My biggest concern is the time commitment,” she said.

However, after talking with fellow rushes who were also involved in other activities, Emerson said she became more at ease.

She explained that the women she has met through ZTA rush have been “super friendly,” standing out from other sorority girls on campus because they are “interested not only in being in a sorority but starting a new one.”

The “Think Pink” event was the last open rush activity for ZTA. Potential members were due to receive text messages early Thursday morning informing them of whether or not they will be invited to ZTA’s closed rush party on Thursday.

“It’s a little stressful,” Emerson said. “From what the consultants said, pledging is a really fun process.”

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College freshman Natalie Green wasn’t interested in rushing an existing sorority at Penn this spring. Instead, she said, “I like the idea of creating your own Greek life.”

Green was intrigued by ZTA from the start, signing up for an infoview early in the organization’s recruitment process.

“I thought it was a good way to introduce the house to the interviewees,” Green said.

Her “very conversational interview” on Tuesday detailed the process potential Zetas would be going through in the upcoming week.

Green attended both the open house on Tuesday night and the “Think Pink” event on Wednesday.

The open house was “basically like a bigger infoview,” she said. “They’re really pitching Zeta so well.”

ZTA consultants stressed how the future of Penn’s chapter was in the hands of the founding pledge class.

Green said the women she has met so far are “definitely a really good group of people.”

Her only lament is the fact that she will not be able to live in the ZTA house this fall.

“I would be interested, but previous plans have kind of foiled that,” Green said, adding that she has already made plans to live on campus in a community living group.

The “Think Pink” event also really hit home with Green.

“It was a little bit emotional for me,” Green said, since she recently lost her grandmother to breast cancer.

Green added that ZTA’s emphasis on breast cancer awareness “definitely” influenced her decision to join.

“I’m not really passionate about any of the other sororities’ philanthropies,” she said.

Even if Green isn’t invited to become a ZTA member, she is still glad she participated in the process.

“If Zeta doesn’t work, I’m definitely going to be friends with a lot of people who are rushing or pledging,” she said.

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