National chapters had a stranglehold on the UNM sorority scene for years, until a group of three women put their heads together and decided to change the Greek landscape.
Zeta Psi Pi sorority is the only chapter among the University's eight sororities and 14 fraternities that is not part of a larger Greek organization. It is the brainchild of Jessica DeLuna, Arlinda Smith and Nedra Iwerks.
"We sort of played around with the idea over the summer," said DeLuna, a senior and the sorority's president. "The conversation became pretty serious in mid-June."
DeLuna was a former member of Kappa Delta Chi, which she left after "political situations came up.
"I did some research and found out that locals have been on and off campus since the early 1900s," she said.
Zeta Psi Pi received recognition from Greek Life on Sept. 16 after drafting a constitution, electing officers and establishing bylaws.
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Recruiting members has been mostly a word-of-mouth and flier effort so far, DeLuna said, but special rules allow start-up sororities to solicit new members year-round.
The sorority doesn't recruit during UNM's traditional four-day rush period, Vice President Iwerks said.
"We're so small that it's kind of hard to do that," she said.
Today, Zeta Psi Pi's membership sits at eight.
Iwerks said meetings have been scattered all over campus; many have been at Zimmerman Library, others in the lobby at El Centro de la Raza. The women hope to eventually find a permanent home in the SUB, she said.
Part of the appeal of a sorority that has no affiliation with a national organization is that members get to make all policy decisions, DeLuna said. But the constant need for bylaw and constitution revisions, coupled with the lack of an alumni network, make the local route disadvantageous at the same time, she said.
Cost effectiveness is another of Zeta Psi Pi's attractive qualities. Dues are $200 per year, DeLuna said, significantly less than UNM's national sororities.
Moreover, prospective members wouldn't have to pay for a place to live because the sorority doesn't have a house.
The sorority's goals include creating multiculturalism and encouraging diversity on campus, and any woman with a 2.5 GPA is free to join, Iwerks said.
Establishing a lifelong bond of sisterhood and dedication to community service in Albuquerque and at the University are other focus areas, she said.
Regardless of its small membership and local-only affiliation, the women of Zeta Psi Pi are offering a good alternative to the traditional Greek experience, said Jennifer Gomez-Chavez, the organization's adviser.
"They're providing another avenue for students to see if they fit into a sorority system," she said. "It's really more like a regular student organization. I'm just really excited that the Greek community is finally reflecting the diversity of our state."
