By Jamie Ruff
Published: May 7, 2009
FARMVILLE—A sorority founded more than a century ago at Longwood University is closing its chapter there in the aftermath of allegations of hazing and underage drinking, officials said.
The closing of the Alpha Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha comes less than a month after it had been reinstated with sanctions for policy violations.
“All of Zeta Tau Alpha is deeply disappointed that the members of Alpha Chapter have shown disregard for the standards of conduct and expectations of behavior that our fraternity values,“ national president Laura Ladewig Mauro said in a statement.
“Closing any chapter is a painful decision; closing your first chapter is difficult beyond words,“ Mauro said. “But all chapters must abide by the ideals and principles of our sisterhood if they wish to remain a part of our organization.“
On May 18-19, representatives from ZTA International will conduct hearings with current chapter members that could result in expulsion from the sorority. At the same time, Longwood will conduct an administrative hearing regarding the chapter.
Longwood said in a statement that it hoped ZTA would be able to return to the campus in the future.
Longwood claims to be the only college in the country where as many as four national sororities were founded. The others are Kappa Delta, Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Sigma Alpha.
