Kappa Alpha Theta

Chapter

Zeta Nu

Address

200 Parkway Circle, Davis CA 95616

Website

http://www.thetasatucd.com

http://www.kappaalphatheta.org

Kappa Alpha Theta is one of the eight Panhellenic sororities on the UC Davis campus. If you're interested in joining a sorority at UCD,
then you can check out the Panhellenic Recruitment page at http://www.davis-panhellenic.com/page.php?page_id=4822. Once you go Theta, you'll never go back!

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Kappa Alpha Theta exists to nurture each member throughout her college and alumnae experience and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual, and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.

• Colors: black and gold
  

• Flower: black and gold pansy
  

• Symbols: kite, twin stars

Famous Thetas include Laura and Jenna Bush, Lynne Cheney, Sheryl Crow, Melinda Gates, Amy Grant, Nancy Kassebaum, Ann-Margret, Marlo Thomas, Joan Ganz Cooney, Dian Fossey, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Kerri Strug, Rue McClanahan, Adelaide Macdonald Sinclair, Marjorie Child Husted (Betty Crocker), Walt Disney's daughters, Mary Ritter Beard, Jo Anne Gunderson Carner, Tillie Fowler, Barbara Hackman Franklin, Cindy McCain, Julie Moran, Mary Kay Place, Melissa Stark, Jenna Von Oy, and Taylor Cole.

Kappa Alpha Theta was founded at Indiana Asbury University (now DePauw University) in Greencastle, Indiana on January 27, 1870, making it the first Greek letter fraternity for women (The word "sorority" was not coined until after Kappa Alpha Theta was founded).

Bettie Locke was one of the first women admitted to Asbury in 1867, and she believed that uniting with other female students in pursuit of similar goals would greatly enrich their college experience. She was familiar with the fraternity lifestyle, as her father was a member of Beta Theta Pi and her brother of Phi Gamma Delta. Impressed with the fraternity ideals, Bettie searched for a women's counterpart. Finding none, she shared her vision with Alice Allen, Bettie Tipton, and Hannah Fitch, and the four of them together founded Kappa Alpha Theta. Together, they wrote a constitution, planned ceremonies, designed a badge, and sought other women on campus worthy of membership. These four pioneering women initiated themselves on January 27, 1870, becoming the first Greek-letter fraternity known among women.

The founders proudly wore their black and gold badges to Asbury's chapel service on March 14. The Alpha Chapter at Asbury quickly grew to 22 sisters. Later that year, Kappa Alpha Theta expanded past Asbury, as they established a Beta chapter at Indiana University. In the more than 130 years since, Kappa Alpha Theta has grown to 123 chapters all across the United States and Canada. The number of total initiated members is more than 170,000. The strong friendships within chapters and across the continent are what hold the fraternity together.

“We had to make a place for all who would follow.”

Theta was established at UC Davis in 1992 as the Zeta Nu chapter. As of Fall 2006, there were approximately 89 members in the chapter with 33 members living in the house. The physical house is the largest sorority house on campus and is right across the street from the ARC and down the street from the Rec Pool and the new football stadium. They have a chef in the house who cooks a nightly dinner. Thetas claim the highest GPA of all the sororities at UC Davis and have received the Excellence in Programming Award from Panhellenic for the past two years.

Overall, UCD Panhellenic sororities raise over $42,000 each year for various causes. Theta runs an annual community-wide Rock the CASA, to benefit Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASAs are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court. With the information provided by CASA volunteers, judges are able to make informed decisions as to what is best for the child - foster care, reunification, or adoption, and in a more timely fashion, so these children still have a chance at childhood.

Rock Our CASAThis year, Theta hosted Rock the CASA (Rock Our CASA) at their house across from the ARC. The event was held on Thursday, May 17. Bands included David Ronconi, Overload, Out of Place, the Jazz Minstrels, the Spokes, and the Liquid Hotplates. All proceeds went to Yolo County CASA.

Dancing in the Picnic Day ParadeOther events for CASA this year included donating money raised from auctioning a mosaic created during Recruitment, participating in the 2007 Picnic Day Parade to raise awareness, and answering phone calls for KVIE in order to fund an advertisement.

In addition, Thetas regularly participate in local community service events and other Greek philanthropies.

Each year, Theta offers many special events including alumnae luncheons, mother-daughter and father-daughter brunches, fall and spring formals, a winter theme dance, various sisterhood events and retreats, big sis/little sis week, senior wills, and more.

If you are interested in joining a UCD Panhellenic sorority, please fill out the online application available at DCPA's website. Formal Recruitment begins September 21, 2009 so be sure to register as soon as possible!

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