DZ Info on DePauw Chapter

[Angela Fox]

Sisters- I know everyone has about the events that occurred at DePauw Delta Zeta chapter by now. I wanted to send everyone the facts since the media has not been covering it accurately.

The articles which have been published regarding the Delta Zeta chapter at DePauw University and the university are inaccurate and grossly mischaracterize the situation. 

 The facts are: Delta Zeta DePauw members voted in August to close the chapter at the end of the 2006-2007 school year.  The women's majority vote meant that they could live in the house and be relieved of active membership duties, including the intense work of recruiting on a daily basis.  The intent was for Delta Zeta to close and reorganize to return at a later date.  Delta Zeta national representatives immediately came to campus and met with members of the chapter and the University administration.

 The University indicated that Delta Zeta, which has been on the DePauw campus for 98 years, would not be guaranteed a return.  Then Delta Zeta followed the University official's recommendations to undertake a membership review.

 This review was to see which women could commit to the rebuilding of the chapter.  Those women who could support the rebuilding process were asked to remain active.  Other members, who no longer wanted to engage in day-to-day recruiting and commit to the rebuilding process, became alumnae members of the Sorority.  The sole basis of the decision and the membership review was the women's commitment to actively recruit.

 It is here in communicating the results that Delta Zeta made a mistake.  Delta Zeta misjudged how these communications would be received.  Delta Zeta deeply regrets that.  On December 2, we informed each woman by mail whether she would be relieved of responsibilities to recruit and become an alumna member or remain on active collegiate status.  As you know, active status at a struggling chapter requires daily recruiting.  In hindsight, Delta Zeta national leadership should have once again returned to campus and communicated the results in person with each woman. 

Finally, we are offended at suggestions that decisions made at DePauw were related in any way to our members' races and nationalities.  We are proud of the diversity of our members and alumnae nationwide, which reflect the mandate in our Constitution that members will be selected solely on their merits and without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin or handicap.  On each of our campuses, our faces reflect those of the communities of which we are a part, and it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise.  Without its diverse population, Delta Zeta could not thrive as it does on college campuses today.

In the bond,

Angie Fox

Charlotte Alumnae Chapter President