Sorority’s founding chapter closing at Longwood

FARMVILLE -- A sorority founded more than a century ago at Longwood University is closing its chapter at the school 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 of Austin, Texas, 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 and May 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 its own administrative hearing regarding the chapter so that its members can "get [a] chance to be heard on campus as well," said Tim Pierson, Longwood's vice president for student affairs.

Zeta International began an investigation into the sorority's conduct based on calls to the national hazing hot line, said Pierson. The national organization led the investigation and the decision to close the chapter, Pierson said, though the school concurred with its decision.

There is no indication that the hazing "was physical kinds of things," but they were organizational violations of rules and guidelines, Pierson said.

There was also no indication of anything that would warrant police involvement, but, Pierson said, the school will notify authorities if further investigation is required.

ZTA hall in Stubbs residence hall will no longer exist, and the school will work with sorority members to help them find alternative housing, Pierson said.

Longwood said in a statement that it hoped ZTA would be able to return to the campus.

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.

Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or .