Delta Zeta Priorities

Some if you may have seen the recent coverage of Depaw University's Delta Zeta Sorority chapter takeover and ousting by the national organization:

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070227/FRONT01/70227045

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=nation_world&id=5073799

http://home.businesswire.com/portal...d=news_view&newsId=20070227006036&newsLang=en

http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=18984

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/pla...7/02/27/oppenheim.sorority.eviction.cnn&wm=10

I know one of the former members well, and it seems the national media is missing a few facts and misconstruing some as well. What is happening to these women is no less appalling though.

Here is the order of events, from the point of view of the former Delta Zeta secretary and volunteer treasurer, who was ousted with the president of the chapter and 2 other women:

Depaw University is a small university in Indiana. More than 80% of its students are in the greek system. Delta Zeta has had a long record of diversty and intelligence in its Depaw chapter, not basing membership on looks or popularity. Most of its members are the highest academic achievers in the university. It also has a reputation for NOT being a party-heavy sorority. Some party-goers made fun of Delta Zeta women for not putting their social life before their academic life.

Over the last two years, Delta Zeta has recruited 20 new women. Last August, the national organization, in preperation for their 100 year birthday, told them to either recruit 30 women this year or close the chapter. Most of the women felt this was an ultimatum.

When freshmen came in September to talk about joining, the national organization brought in women from OTHER universities to give the tour, and told the chapter women to remain upstairs. They were told not to come down unless they dressed "more sexy". Some of the freshmen wanted to join. The national reps took them downstairs and met with them, and ALL of the freshmen left the house angry. The chapter members were never told what was said in the meeting downstairs.

Then, one week before final exams, a form letter was sent to 23 members of the chapter, including all of the officers, telling them they were "not committed enough to recruitment", and saying they had to be out of the house by January 29. My aquaintance was one of these members.

She had volunteered more than 40 hours a week doing sorority business, and yet she was "not committed" enough. All of these women had to scramble to find new places to live - during FINALS WEEK.

The few women they kept were women who had never volunteered time for the sake of the chapter, but they were popular with frat boys and "pretty".

Now only 5 women remain.

Because most of the women ousted were overweight or a minority race, some think it was only about how they look. My aquaintance is neither a minority or overweight though, so I think it was more about trying to keep the socially popular people in and get rid of those who were not in the Univeristy "in crowd".

What do you think? Should the national organization be able to swoop in and do this to these women with such conditions?