Sixteen students in the fledgling Zeta Beta Tau fraternity have been invited to join the eight other Interfraternity Council fraternities and colonies in the Cal State Long Beach Greek system.
ZBT was founded in 1898 in New York City as the nation’s first Jewish fraternity. As of today, it is the oldest and largest historical Jewish fraternity, with more than 80 chapters and 110,000 undergraduate and alumni members nationwide.
Fraternity members participated in the campus’ IFC fall recruitment last year, and were successful in recruiting 16 new members. They are still searching for additional members for their proposed Beta Pi chapter.
LBSU Sports Information Director Niall Adler, a ZBT alumnus and Beta Pi chapter adviser, said the recruits will have to wait for approval from the national fraternity.
“As of right now, the current members are still considered a colony until ZBT [from a national standpoint] decides to initiate them into a chapter,” Adler said.
The members who get initiated into the first official chapter will be considered the founding fathers for ZBT at CSULB.
“An amazing leadership opportunity is at hand by becoming a founding father,” Adler said. “I say this in the sense that these guys are going to be the ones that make the ZBT chapter at [CSULB].”
Becoming a member of ZBT comes with more than just the title of founding father. Like other fraternities, there are many different academic and leadership programs available to help the personal development of members. Members can become involved in social activities, community service projects and academic leadership programs.
“My brother was in the ZBT chapter at UCLA, and the alumni association still contacts him about upcoming networking events,” said ZBT President Matt Legro. “I saw the amazing leadership and networking opportunities that my brother was given and that’s what initially made me want to join also.”
Shortly after becoming involved, Legro decided to take the title as president. “I really want to take this new chapter and turn it into ‘a powerhouse of excellence’ by bringing together a great group of guys that excel in academics and leadership.”
ZBT abolished the idea of pledging in 1989, making it one of the first national fraternities to do so. The elimination of pledging allows the group to recruit people throughout the year.
“We can give out bids year-round, so you can pretty much join whenever you want,” said Adler. “We have to initiate you within 72 hours of giving you a bid; basically we say you’re a full brother from the start.”
By becoming a part of the fraternity almost instantaneously, new members receive all of the responsibilities and rights as the rest of the chapter. They are eligible to take on any position within the house, regardless of how long they have been considered an active member.
“The process of joining was so easy for me,” said new ZBT member Ben Fox. “A lot of the guys in my dorm were getting involved with it and they asked me if I wanted to join also. I was interested from the start … I am really excited that I found a group of guys like this that I can identify with. We are all really eager to be known as the founding fathers of the CSULB chapter.”
Legro said that the new members are ready and willing to initiate the chapter.
“All of the guys are so excited to build this new fraternity,” said Legro. “To be known as a founding father and to know that we are going to be responsible for shaping this fraternity into what it will ultimately be is an amazing feeling.”
