| Eta Theta | |
|---|---|
| HΘ | |
 | |
| Founded | November 15, 2003 |
| College | Harvard University |
| Location | Cambridge, MA |
| Homepage | Eta Theta Homepage |
| Media related to Eta Theta Chapter | |
Eta Theta, Harvard University Harvard University, established 1636, Cambridge, Mass.
Founded November 15, 2003
38 charter members
426 initiates (as of June 2013)
Some of Eta Theta’s Outstanding Members: (If you have chapter alumnae who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)
Fraternity Officers:
Fraternity Loyalty Award:
Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:
Contents
Harvard University History:
Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was named after the College’s first benefactor, the young minister John Harvard of Charlestown, who upon his death in 1638 left his library and half his estate to the institution. A statue of John Harvard stands today in front of University Hall in Harvard Yard and is perhaps the University’s best known landmark. Eight Harvard alumni signed the Declaration of Independence.
The University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 20,000 degree candidates including undergraduate, graduate and professional students. As of 2012, there are more than 360,000 living alumni in the U.S. and more than 190 other countries. Harvard University has 12 degree-granting schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. As of 2012, eight U.S. presidents have received Harvard degrees: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt,; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
The Early Years
In 2003, Kappa Kappa Gamma proudly announced the colonization of its soon-to-be 131st chapter to be installed at Harvard University. The colonization process began in October of that year with the recruitment of charter members and culminated with formal installation in November. Kappa complemented two existing women’s fraternities on campus: Kappa Alpha Theta and Delta Gamma.
“Kappa was chosen because of its strong national reputation and resources. It also has a large number of successful chapters nationwide and that was a factor in our decision as well,” said Thayer S. Christodoulo, Kappa Alpha Theta member and president of Harvard’s Panhellenic Council. Information from The Key, Summer 2003, page 6
On November 15, 2003, 38 Harvard University women were initiated as members of Eta Theta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma. The chapter was guided by Janice (Jan) Franklin Larson, Akron, Coordinator of Chapter Development, and Felicity Meu, UC Berkeley, Traveling Consultant. Information from The Key, Winter 2003, page 2
Highlights of 2003-2010:
(Information from chapter history reports, scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
In 2005, the chapter’s archives display included a scrapbook of its events with pictures of bid day, initiation and other sisterhood activities such as a trip to pick apples. There was a scrapbook-unveiling party to celebrate the completion, and the book was put on display during a chapter meeting. This book preserves the fun and bonding that the chapter experienced during the past year.
The chapter became truly united without any divisions between pledge classes this year. The members participated in many date events together, as well as several low-key functions. Eta Theta matured as a cohesive chapter thanks in large part to dedicated efforts to plan and execute events and to include all members of the chapter. A Professors Tea made it possible for Kappas to meet professors and to learn about their sisters’ accomplishments and fields of study.
The Philanthropy Committee had an outstanding year. It started a new mentoring program with a Cambridge school and mobilized a significant effort to participate in Relay for Life. The chapter became a force on campus.
At Harvard, the chapters do not have houses, so the meetings were held in the same all-male social club every week. Most of its functions were held at local restaurants and spaces while low-key functions were frequently held in each other’s suites.
Eta Theta was composed of intelligent, talented women, including athletes, artists, writers and scientists. It was a diverse group, but everyone had a great time when they got together. Diversity and individuality, as well as classiness, define the chapter.
As a relatively new chapter, the members had to funnel significant efforts into publicizing the chapter in order to show it as a group that potential new members would want to join. The chapter had to establish itself. In a large part, they succeeded in accomplishing this successfully during 2005. During the weeks following recruitment in 2008, several sisterhood events were held. These helped the new members bond with the older members, further enhancing chapter unity. The initiation was truly a special event as the chapter welcomed one of its largest pledge classes. The social events included Sapphire Ball, Kite and Key and an Army Krush Party. On the philanthropy side, many of the women participated in the big spring event, Relay for Life, to combat cancer.
With a strong returning Chapter Council, the chapter was ready to take on new challenges, forcing it to grow exponentially.
The members grew closer through sisterhood events and several date events: Match Made in Heaven on Halloween and Rock ‘N Bowl (bowling). The musical and philanthropy events included helping to pack cans for a canned food drive.
Fall 2008 marked the fifth anniversary of Eta Theta’s founding. The members took time to reflect on the progress that had been made in those five years and everything that has been accomplished. Harvard does not officially recognize campus sororities. However, it is hoped that such events as Professors Tea will help to legitimize Eta Theta’s status on campus.
During 2008-2009, two of the biggest challenges were the continued problem of housing (or lack thereof) as well as the deficiency in philanthropy hours. Chapter members looked ahead and contemplated realistic steps the chapter could take to better itself. The goals the chapter members set included to further legitimize its status on the Harvard campus, establish a House Board with the hopes of acquiring a house in the near future, increasing committee involvement, multiplying philanthropy involvement and increasing the members’ awareness of the Kappa Foundation.
The lack of housing placed a burden on the chapter as the meeting places, with the exception of chapter meeting, have been scattered around the campus. The members hoped by establishing a House Board and putting all the pieces in place, they could acquire a house.
In February 2009, Eta Theta welcomed 40 new members into the chapter. These women proved themselves to be exemplary members and integrated extremely well into the chapter. The annual Sapphire Ball was held at The Estate in Boston, the seniors were honored with a classy senior dinner and during the summer the women stayed in touch with a letter-forwarding chain organized by the Corresponding Secretary.
After settling back into school for the fall 2009 semester, the members traveled to Nantucket for Columbus Day weekend for a relaxing and well-deserved getaway at one of the member’s homes. That weekend continues to be one of the favorite and most-talked-about Kappa memories for many of the members.
The campus moves at a fast pace, and its atmosphere at times can be overwhelming and stressful. This is why the members always need their Kappa sisters. Harvard doesn’t formally recognize the Greek organizations on campus, and Harvard meeting space can’t be reserved for any activity related to Greek life. The chapter rented meeting space from one of the all-male social clubs for its weekly chapter meetings and other sisterhood events. Relations between the administration and the Greek community showed some improvement, but the Greek organizations still weren’t recognized.
The members of Eta Theta in 2009 were extremely poised, composed, competent, motivated and friendly women who sought bonds with other like-minded women. The chapter experienced tremendous growth since its founding, and this year there were 83 active members.
Eta Theta Chapter faced significant challenges in finding a place to call its own. Each semester, the chapter signed a contract with one of Harvard’s all-male social clubs to rent space for weekly chapter meetings. Despite persistence on the part of the House Chairman and President, the progress toward obtaining property for the chapter moved slowly. The members showed remarkable professionalism and poise while dealing with the housing matter and made the best of a difficult situation.
During 2009, Eta Theta had difficulty with philanthropy. Even though many philanthropy events were planned, circumstances often seemed to intervene at the last minute that forced the chapter to cancel several of the events.
2010
Eta Theta Chapter members assisted the Fraternity to colonize a new chapter at neighboring Northeastern University in 2010.
Social events this year included the Sapphire Ball, a Back-to-School crush event, Kappa Kosmic Bowling and the first Kappa Kappa Glamour Masquerade Ball. Philanthropy activities included the chapter’s continuing commitment to RIF, organizing a blood drive Give Blood for Your Mother, participating in Relay for Life, organizing a river clean-up day and participating in UNICEF trick-or-treating to raise money. The chapter again held its Professors Tea and was involved in the campus Women’s Week to legitimize the reputation of the chapter as well as all of the members’ involvement in other campus activities.
Challenges faced by Eta Theta in 2010 were acquiring a space of its own on campus and learning to account for the diverse activities of all of its members. The House Board moved forward to find space and hoped to sign a contract for specific space. It was hoped that the efforts of the House Board would be rewarded and the chapter members were eager to discover how the space would positively influence the chapter. The second challenge related to the chapter’s growing pains as the chapter grew in size and so many of the members were involved in so many other activities. Members were encouraged to become involved in chapters committees and attend and participate in chapter and philanthropic activities.
It was hoped that, by addressing these challenges, Eta Theta would only become stronger and more unified.
Highlights of 2011-2019:
(Information from chapter history reports, scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
2011
The Leadership Consultant visited the chapter during Recruitment 2011 and gave the chapter suggestions to help it strengthen itself. During the first month of the year, the chapter was busy holding various events: a Fleur-de-Lis dinner, Valentines for Vets, a philanthropy study break and the Sapphire Ball winter formal. A brunch was held during Harvard’s Junior Parents’ Weekend which allowed all chapter juniors to bring their parents to get to know one another and show the great family which Eta Theta represents. Between many study breaks, including a Women’s Week self-defense event, a scrapbooking activity and a night out at the local Mexican restaurant Border Café, the new members became more integrated into the chapter. Initiation was held after spring break at the home of a Kappa alumna near Cambridge. The Kappa Garden Party, Professors Tea, Blue and Blue Dinner to honor the seniors and the final philanthropic activities Relay for Life and the Give Blood for Your Mother blood drive brought the semester to an end. The fall semester began with sisterhood events including Big-Little lunches, Kappa Kayaking on the Charles, a yoga session, apple picking and quilt making.
The chapter celebrated Founders Day at Northeastern University with wonderful Kappa alumnae and other undergraduate Kappas from the area.
Philanthropic activities included Tough Mudders, Queen for a Day and Be Bold Be Bald. Social events included Kappa Kosmic Bowling, a Krush Event and the fall formal Kappa Kappa Glamour.
The renowned Harvard vs. Yale football game was held at Yale in 2011. The Kappa chapter at Yale invited Eta Theta members to spend the night with them. This was a wonderful bonding experience for both of the chapters. Most of the year was spent securing a space for the chapter in Harvard Square. This was one of its greatest challenges to overcome. It was great to finally have a convenient place to gather that the chapter can call its home. Many sisterhood activities took place in this space which drew the members closer to each other and made them more passionate about being Kappas.
Kappa’s visibility on campus was raised by regular gear days when the members proudly wore their letters while doing activities such as eating together in the dining hall or working out together at the university gym.
The chapter’s greatest challenge continued to be getting Harvard to officially recognize sororities and fraternities on campus. Harvard revoked the official status of recognizing fraternities in 1984 because of “gender-discriminatory recruitment policies of the social organizations.” Since the other Harvard Greek organizations also struggle with this challenge, each organization hoped to legitimize the reputation of men’s and women’s fraternities on the campus. The chapter knew it must help Harvard to understand that being part of an organization surrounded by sisters or brothers one can depend on and trust is an integral part of self-development during the years of one’s undergraduate education and beyond.
Highlights of the 2020s:
(Information from chapter history reports, scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)
Note to Chapter Registrar:
Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.
Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!