DELTA ZETA
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GRAND VALLEY sTATE UNIVERSITY
Delta Zeta History
National History
In the fall of 1902, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, opened its doors to female students for the first time. Three fraternities existed on campus, but sororities were yet to exist. This motivated six young women to create a lifelong sisterhood, fostering with ideas of their own. On October 24, 1902, these inspiring women- Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Simmons, chose to name their newly created sorority, Delta Zeta. The colors of the sorority were to be Old Rose and Nile Green.
On October 24, 1902, the Delta Zeta sorority was officially founded-the first sorority at Miami University. Today, Delta Zeta has changed the lives of many, bringing endless sisterhood to over 240,000 alumnae and collegiate members in the United States and Canada. Delta Zeta is the largest national sorority by number of collegiate chapters having 158 chapters nationwide. The Delta Zeta badge was designed by Tiffany & Co. and has been displayed in the Library of Congress. Some famous Delta Zetas include Florence Henderson (Carol Brady on the Brady Bunch), Joy Behar (Host of The View), Hazel Smith (the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing), and Edith Head (Oscar-winning costume designer).
Quick Facts
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Nickname: DZ
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Symbol: Roman Lamp
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Colors: Rose Pink and Nile Green
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Flower: Pink Killarney Rose
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Animal: Turtle
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Jewel: Diamond
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National Magazine: The Lamp
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National Website: http://www.deltazeta.org/Home
Local Xi Psi History
Before Delta Zeta existed on Grand Valley's campus, there was a local sorority called Chi Omega Delta. They were the first local sorority on campus when the University was still Grand Valley State College. Their colors were blue and green. Their symbols were the three-leaf clover, which stood for luck, and the yellow rose, which signified friendship. Their letters stood for love, luck and change. Chi Omega Delta was in existence for eight years before it became a colony and affiliated with Delta Zeta on December 3rd, 1988. From the beginning, our sisterhood was formed by a group of women who felt a special closeness and were determined to form themselves into a sorority. Although there are some differences between Chi Omega Delta and Delta Zeta, the original local sorority was based on the same principals, morals, and ideals that Delta Zeta possesses. If it were not for the Chi-Delts, our Delta Zeta Xi Psi chapter would not be here today. Our heritage will never be forgotten as long as we pass it on, there is a little bit of Chi-Delt in each Delta Zeta!