All of my drawers are stuffed with oversized Zeta t-shirts, all of my pictures show me with my Zeta sisters, and my apartment is plastered with ZTA letters on every single wall. Some say it’s overkill; I say I turned Zeta into a lifestyle (yes, I just referenced Drake #noshame). Despite my overwhelming accumulation of Zeta t-shirts (42 are in my drawers… I just counted… don’t judge), my Zistas and I are extremely involved in so many other organizations on campus!
Getting involved in organizations at UT is a great way to explore your specific interests and meet a diverse group of people. Not only will you have about 70 sorority sisters, but you will also find yourself with even more close friends with similar interests and hobbies! Not to mention you get a ~ton~ more Insta likes (insert cool emoji with sunglasses here).
By now you’re probably like, “Rachel, I’m totally sold on joining some orgs. Can you give me the deets on some?” And to that I’d say, “Heck yes, UT has orgs for any interest you could possibly have, even underwater basket weaving if that’s your thing!” With that being said, here are some super cool organizations that my sorority sisters are involved in:
For the Sporty Girl:
Texas Wake
Do the sweet, sweet sound of waves and a day on the lake call your name? If you love water sports, then Texas Wake is for you! Spend the day with Kelsey Applebaum, Rachel Redmon, and our very own Database Chair on Rush Team, Collyn Robison, as they wakeboard all over Lake Austin! This organization offers you the coolest study break (both in the temperature sense and the awesome sense) because you can shred the waves all day long. Or if you’re me, then you can awkwardly crash into the waves face first, but still enjoy yourself! Not to mention you can get the cutest Insta pics!
Texas Cheer
Are face tats your favorite accessory? Do you bleed burnt orange? Are your friends in awe of your peppiness and your ability to do the splits?? If you answered yes to all of those questions, then it looks like you should be trying out for cheer! Texas Cheer does an incredible job of hyping up the crowds on game days, making appearances to take pics with kids and families, and running cheer camps. Nothing beats a UT football game with the BEST cheerleaders on the sidelines doing backflips while looking ~fabulous~ doing it. Zetas take over the cheer squad, as we have Paige Loren, Brea Almodovar, Tina Burke, and Head Cheerleader Taylor Mueller all on the team! Can someone say squad goals??
UT Gymnastics
PC’14 Kate Gothing joined this co-ed competitive organization her sophomore year and has loved it ever since! Gymnastics is open to all skill levels, and competes with other clubs. If you’re freaking out because you have the grace and style of a baby elephant, don’t you worry! They offer instruction to beginners as well. Kate says she is a “beam queen” who always loves to try “new and crazy skills, from one handed cartwheels to insane jump series.” If you’re adventurous and want a good workout, join gymnastics with Kate!
For the Leadership Girl:
UT Senate
UT Senate members serve as the official voice for students in academic affairs at UT. This organization works to represent the needs, concerns, and opinions of students. If you’re the girl who likes to make the world a better place one pantsuit at a time, then this org is perfect for you! PC ‘14 Callie Blumenfeld serves on the Senate and helps to advocate issues and ideas on the Forty Acres to continually improve the university. If you want to make a difference, then throw on your best boss lady heels and check it out!
Communication Council
Are you a comm major who’s obsessed with your school and wants to work to make change happen? Then join Zetas like Ashley Prince, Sofia Kampfe, and Landry Teeter in this student government organization! Ashley says the Council does “tons of volunteering and, as it also fosters change in the school such as working with professors and then admin to add classes and change curriculum based on what the students want.”
If this council sounds great, but you’re not in the communication school, don’t fret! There’s a council for every school on the UT campus. If you like dressing in fun costumes and playing games, then you’ve found the right org! As pictured in the photo, Ashley and her team dressed as monkeys during the annual broomball game against the Liberal Arts Council to promote friendly relations of all the councils together.
For the Community Service Girl:
Latte Losers
The members of Latte Losers are super passionate about transforming the lives of children all over the world, as their mission is to provide food for those who are at serious risk. Once a month, instead of choosing to buy a latte or coffee drink, you could save a child’s life by donating those five dollars to a child in need. Join PC ‘14 Esther Bajgier as she loses a latte and saves a life! Now if you’re anything like me and you have the entire Starbucks menu memorized and whip out your gold member status Starbucks card on the daily, then coffee is a must! But how amazing is it to join this organization and help children all over the world go to bed with a full tummy? That’s definitely worth skipping the caffeine.
S.M.I.L.E.
(Students Making Impacts Through Love and Empathy)
If you ask PC ‘15 Caroline Purtle (Assistant Entertainment on Rush Team #GOTEXASZETA) how you can make a positive impact, she’ll tell you to join S.M.I.L.E. She and her fellow members fundraise for children battling cancer and other life threatening diseases. This org is involved in many great causes such as Relay for Life, Dell Children’s Hospital, and CureSearch, all of which will get you smiling in no time! During their “Brave the Shave” event, volunteers signed up to have their head shaved in honor of those who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. If you have gorgeous Rapunzel hair like Caroline, don’t worry, you don’t have to shave your head! Although you would definitely have the coolest haircut for summer… literally.
No matter what your interests include, UT definitely has an organization for it. Being part of such a large and diverse university, you have an amazing opportunity to find friends who are just as passionate as you are about something. Whether it’s the anime club, the quidditch team, or the beekeeping society, we are sure you will find your niche. As much as we love Zeta, our sorority does not solely define us. We are young women who come together under the great letters of ZTA, but also come together under the organizations and causes that we are individually passionate about.
XOXO,
Rachel Jones
Star Team Manager
Day 3 & 4
Day 6
