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Zeta beta history - Women in ZB
National History
Discussion to include women in some way into the fraternity began on the national level in 1972. It was then when our national Board of Directors made a recommendation concerning the admission of women to be considered before the 1972 national convention in Denver, Colorado.
At the 1974 national convention, by a vote of 284 in favor and 57 against, legislation was enacted to permit chapters to admit women into Alpha Phi Omega as affiliate members. The requirements for affiliate membership and the rights, duties, benefits, and privileges of affiliate members were left up to the individual chapters.
There were certain limitations imposed on letting women become affiliate members. Women could not be initiated with the official ritual used by the men of the fraternity, and could not hold sectional, regional, or national offices. They could not vote at regional conclaves or sectional conferences unless decided otherwise by those bodies.
Then, in December of 1976 at the National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, women were granted full membership rights as brothers in Alpha Phi Omega. This marked a great moment in Alpha Phi Omega history, which would forever change the course of Alpha Phi Omega both nationally, and on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Little Sisters
Mike Medney chaired a committee in 1975 that started it all for women in Zeta Beta. Zeta Beta started a Little Sister program in the fall of 1975. The Alpha Class of the Little Sisters overwhelmed the all male fraternity with their 24 pledges. It was a shock to many having a female touch during the service projects. In the spring of 1976 the Beta Class had four pledges, and an additional four in the fall of 1976 in the Gamma Class. Women were taking a more active role in the fraternity, as their numbers grew within Zeta Beta. The Margaret Blair Award was given, as a counterpart to the M. Buford Blair Award of Merit, for outstanding service by a little sister. It was awarded to Lauren Lewis in spring 1976 for her work with the U.M.O.C. project. In December of 1976, at the national convention in Atlanta, Georgia, women were given full membership rights in Alpha Phi Omega. Under the guidance of Advisor James Dean, Zeta Beta was the first chapter in the nation to admit women as full brothers. Zeta Beta held an initiation on January 24, 1977, to induct the Little Sisters as brothers.
Discussion to include women in some way into the fraternity began on the national level in 1972. It was then when our national Board of Directors made a recommendation concerning the admission of women to be considered before the 1972 national convention in Denver, Colorado.
At the 1974 national convention, by a vote of 284 in favor and 57 against, legislation was enacted to permit chapters to admit women into Alpha Phi Omega as affiliate members. The requirements for affiliate membership and the rights, duties, benefits, and privileges of affiliate members were left up to the individual chapters.
There were certain limitations imposed on letting women become affiliate members. Women could not be initiated with the official ritual used by the men of the fraternity, and could not hold sectional, regional, or national offices. They could not vote at regional conclaves or sectional conferences unless decided otherwise by those bodies.
Then, in December of 1976 at the National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, women were granted full membership rights as brothers in Alpha Phi Omega. This marked a great moment in Alpha Phi Omega history, which would forever change the course of Alpha Phi Omega both nationally, and on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Little Sisters
Mike Medney chaired a committee in 1975 that started it all for women in Zeta Beta. Zeta Beta started a Little Sister program in the fall of 1975. The Alpha Class of the Little Sisters overwhelmed the all male fraternity with their 24 pledges. It was a shock to many having a female touch during the service projects. In the spring of 1976 the Beta Class had four pledges, and an additional four in the fall of 1976 in the Gamma Class. Women were taking a more active role in the fraternity, as their numbers grew within Zeta Beta. The Margaret Blair Award was given, as a counterpart to the M. Buford Blair Award of Merit, for outstanding service by a little sister. It was awarded to Lauren Lewis in spring 1976 for her work with the U.M.O.C. project. In December of 1976, at the national convention in Atlanta, Georgia, women were given full membership rights in Alpha Phi Omega. Under the guidance of Advisor James Dean, Zeta Beta was the first chapter in the nation to admit women as full brothers. Zeta Beta held an initiation on January 24, 1977, to induct the Little Sisters as brothers.