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Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

If I'm wrong about your history, then correct me.

Fixed that for ya.

My knowledge of Gamma Phi Beta history is limited to what my Triad Sisters have shared with me on GC. I find it odd that you were led to believe that "sorority" meant the organization is coined as such because they had the help of a man. It's the first I've ever heard of this...and I've been reading GC almost 7 years.

FWIW, Alpha Gamma Delta was also founded at Syracuse years after Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Dr. Wellesley P. Coddington (A MAN!), a professor of philosophy of psychology, noticed there was a need for a new women's group on campus when the campus population doubled. He helped unite our 11 Founders and served as faculty advisor.

Despite the term "sorority" already being at Syracuse, Alpha Gamma Delta is a Women's Fraternity and has been for 103 years now.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by OTW

Fixed that for ya.
I find it odd that you were led to believe that "sorority" meant the organization is coined as such because they had the help of a man. It's the first I've ever heard of this...and I've been reading GC almost 7 years.
.

That's the gist of what we are told, yes. Almost every ZTA can recite the line about ZTA being founded as a fraternity to distinguish themselves from sororities. Took GC to teach me the correct definition.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Tippiechick

That's the gist of what we are told, yes. Almost every ZTA can recite the line about ZTA being founded as a fraternity to distinguish themselves from sororities. Took GC to teach me the correct definition.

Hey Tippie - since you can discuss things without getting your panties in a wad - is there anyway that you would look up a little more info on that statement for us?? It seems weird that ZTA would have a statement that's so (maybe unintentionaly) insulting to almost half the NPC. I'm thinking there's something about it that we're not understanding. Were there local sororities on the campus when ZTA was founded that were little sister type orgs, and that statement was meant to be campus-spesific, possibly?

[catiebug]

I myself would like to know this, as well.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Hey Tippie - since you can discuss things without getting your panties in a wad - is there anyway that you would look up a little more info on that statement for us?? It seems weird that ZTA would have a statement that's so (maybe unintentionaly) insulting to almost half the NPC. I'm thinking there's something about it that we're not understanding. Were there local sororities on the campus when ZTA was founded that were little sister type orgs, and that statement was meant to be campus-spesific, possibly?

[SWTXBelle]

And I'd like to interject that I don't think that those NPC member orgs who had the help of a man (or men) in their founding are somehow inferior.
It's like the thinking giving birth to a baby without any drugs makes you superior- the important thing is the BABY, not the hows and whys of the delivery.
No matter who helped in the founding, the beauty of a GLO is the same - the ideals and creeds of the founders, living on in the members today.

[scbelle]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

And I'd like to interject that I don't think that those NPC member orgs who had the help of a man (or men) in their founding are somehow inferior.
It's like the thinking giving birth to a baby without any drugs makes you superior- the important thing is the BABY, not the hows and whys of the delivery.
No matter who helped in the founding, the beauty of a GLO is the same - the ideals and creeds of the founders, living on in the members today.

well said.

[FSUZeta]

i found my old pledge manual (1975)and will quote directly from it :

"zeta tau alpha is known as a fraternity, not as a sorority. a "fraternity" is an organization whose members have banded together for reasons of common interest and mutual benefit. there is usually some element of secrecy in its design. the terms "sorority" and "fraternity" are often used interchangeably and it is frequently necessary to do so. some women's organizations prefer "sorority", while others designate the use of "fraternity". current usage seems to favor the latter to distinguish collegiate organizations from high school or business clubs using Greek letter names and calling themselves "sororities." it was the intent of the Founders and confirmed by action at two early conventions that zeta tau alpha be designated as a "fraternity". this was done to distinguish our organization from the sisterhoods organized in connection with men's fraternities, called "sororities."

i would venture to guess that at the time of our founding, there were women's auxillary organizations linked to fraternities, much like little sister organizations of my era, and they were calling themselves sororoties.

honest to goodness, all those years ago, it never crossed my mind that fraternity and sorority could not be used interchangeably. everyone referred to the girls as members of sororities.in fact, i thought it was odd that we are a women's fraternity.

to me, it is "you say potato and i say po tah toe." we all have strong sisterhoods and do good works. enough said!