Chapter
Name:
Delta Nu National Founding: October 15, 1898 Chapter Founding: October 14, 1961 National Web Site:www.zetataualpha.org/ Chapter Web Site:http://zta.uno.tripod.com Official Colors: Turquoise Blue and Steel Gray Nickname: Zeta Philanthropy: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Chapter President: Ashton Clause
Zeta
Tau Alpha was founded October 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal
School in Farmville, Virginia. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired
permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long
after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, the
band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of "???"
was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the Founders.
Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark,
she asked "Who are you?" In unison, the group answered "Yes,
Who? Who? Who?" Thus, the group came to be known as "???" while
they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group
received valuable assistance from two of the members' brothers - Maud's brother,
Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith's brother Giles Mebane Smith. Both were
students at the College of William and Mary, members of men's Greek-letter organizations
and knowledgeable of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the
group chose the formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.
