Flanked by two colorful display tables bearing Zeta Tau Alpha paraphernalia, ZTA representatives made their presentation before the Panhellenic Council extension committee and members of the student body Thursday night.
ZTA is the fourth of the five sororities to make presentations at Penn. The five presentation events are a crucial part of the Panhel extension process, which seeks to add a new group to Penn’s Greek system that best suits the campus culture.
During the presentation, ZTA’s philanthropy — breast cancer education and awareness — was very much in the forefront. Representatives from the group stressed that ZTA’s philanthropic efforts are a unifying factor and a source of organizational strength.
According to Deb Ensor, executive director of ZTA, the group was one of the original sponsors behind the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and even trademarked the phrase “Think Pink.”
Through its involvement with Race for the Cure, ZTA has also formed partnerships with big names, such as the National Football League, Yoplait and Betsey Johnson.
“It isn’t just something we do. It’s a part of who we are,” Ensor said during the presentation.
Similar to previous presentations made by Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta and Alpha Omicron Pi, much of the time was spent hashing out the colonization plan for Penn.
Marlene Conrad, the extension director at ZTA, said the group is very well equipped to enter the colonization process, having “successfully” chartered 12 new chapters in the last five years.
“We have a great Zeta way of doing things,” Conrad said, but added that ZTA is also looking forward to engaging with the student community and forming partnerships with Panhel and the Interfraternity Council in order to learn “the Penn way.”
Ensor supplemented Conrad’s statements by saying that ZTA is “quietly confident” in its colonization process. “We know for sure that we can create a successful chapter at Penn,” she said.
The student response to the presentation was warm, and the event ended with a round of applause.
College senior and Executive Vice President of Panhel Brooke Patkin said the presentation was comprehensive and articulated ZTA’s “goals and morals” very well. Patkin also said a ZTA chapter at Penn would attract “natural-born leaders.”
Lauren Ambler, a College sophomore and Alpha Phi member, agreed by saying the presentation was very thorough. “They gave a ton of information,” she said, which made her confident that ZTA would have a “seamless” colonization process.
The next and final presentation will come from Alpha Delta Pi and is scheduled for tomorrow in Irvine Auditorium’s Amado Recital Hall at 7:45 p.m.
