Zeta Delta Xi ("Zete") is a co-educational fraternity at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1852 as the Epsilon chapter of the all-male national fraternity Zeta Psi. In 1982, the Epsilon chapter decided to admit women as brothers. This led to the chapter's withdrawal from the national in 1986, and the birth of Zeta Delta Xi on January 24 1987.
History
Today, Zeta Delta Xi is an independent, co-ed fraternity of men and women from many different walks of life. But that wasn’t always the case. This is the story of Zete, from its origins as an all-male fraternity in the nineteenth century, to the dramatic events when it went co-ed, to its life today.
Origins as Zeta Psi
Zeta Delta Xi began life in 1852 as the Epsilon chapter of the national, all-male fraternity Zeta Psi. It was the eighth Zeta Psi chapter in the nation and the sixth fraternity to take root at Brown University.
For the next one hundred thirty years, the Epsilon chapter of Zeta Psi remained a fixture of life at Brown University. The activities of the Epsilon chapter during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries are rather poorly documented; however, it is known that three members were expelled from Brown University in 1876 for “voluptuous activities.” In 1916, the fraternity moved into a house at 48 College Street. This remained its quarters until the 1940’s, when -- along with all of the other fraternities at Brown University -- the fraternity agreed to sell its chapter house and move into on-campus housing around the newly-constructed Wriston Quad. The old Zeta Psi house is now the home of the Classics Department.
Going co-ed and the birth of Zeta Delta Xi
In 1982, the Epsilon chapter decided to expand its membership to include women. However, the Zeta Psi national organization refused to recognize these female members. According to their rules, the women were not full brothers of Zeta Psi and were prohibited from becoming officers in the fraternity.
The chapter's members were justifiably upset at the inequality of this arrangement. In 1986, they deliberately defied the national’s rules by electing women as officers. The national was outraged by this insubordination, and threatened to revoke the charter of the Epsilon chapter if it did not submit to its authority and remove the female officers. On December 10 1986, the Epsilon chapter decided that it could not justify membership in a national fraternity that did not recognize all of its members, and voted unanimously to withdraw from the Zeta Psi national.
Within weeks after receiving the Epsilon chapter’s letter of withdrawal, the Zeta Psi national sent a squad of moving vans to remove all of Zeta Psi property from the chapter house at Brown University. They took away almost all of the chapter’s property -- ranging from couches and televisions to photographs of past members -- and declared the Epsilon chapter dead.
On January 24 1987, penniless and stripped of their belongings, the former Zeta Psi Epsilon chapter began life anew as Zeta Delta Xi, an independent, co-ed fraternity.
Zeta Delta Xi since 1987
Since 1987, Zeta Delta Xi has thrived on campus, continuing to uphold its founding ideals. Its membership is drawn from people of many diverse interests and backgrounds, with relationships founded on equality and mutual respect. In 1994, for instance, it was the first fraternity at Brown University to elect an openly gay man (Cristobal Modesto ’95) as President.
The strength of these relationships is reflected in the large number of Zetes who continue their relationship with the house beyond their undergraduate years. Many of Zeta Delta Xi's alums make regular pilgrimages back to Zete in January, to celebrate the anniversary of their founding, and in May, to watch younger members graduate. These elders form a strong community and a shared support network that lasts long after graduation.
Current Officers
SPRING 2006
President: Monica Payne
Vice-President: Meghan Gill
Treasurer: Steve Johnson
Secretary: Ben Boas
Sergeants-at-arms: Michelle Bravo and Scott Wolin
Corresponding Secretary: Leann Barnes
Social Chairs: Emily Hopkins and Miles Hovis
Rush Chairs: Ayesha Nzeribe and Chase Huneke
Bar Chairs: Scott French and Natalia Bilenko
Athletics Chair: Scott Wolin
Fooz Boy: Ben Boas
Historians: Blanche Case and Lena Dondik
Web Chair: Chie Fujioka
Brothers-at-large: Dan Schiffrin and Michelle Bravo