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'''Zeta Eta founded April 3, 1982; Suspended June 2013'''
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==History of University of Irvine==
The University of California, Irvine was one of three new University of California campuses established in the 1960s under the California Master Plan for Higher Education along with the San Diego and Santa Cruz campuses. During the 1950s, the University of California saw the need for the new campuses to handle both the large number of college-bound World War II veterans (largely due to the G.I. Bill) and the expected increase in enrollment from the post-war baby boom. One of the new campuses was to be in the Los Angeles area. The location selected was Irvine Ranch, an area of agricultural land bisecting Orange County from north to south. This site was chosen to accommodate the county's growing population, complement the growth of nearby UCLA and UC Riverside, and allow for the construction of a master planned community in the surrounding area.
Unlike most other University of California campuses, UCI was not named for the city in which it was built. At the time of the university's founding, the current City of Irvine did not exist. The name “Irvine” is a reference to James Irvine, a landowner who administered the 94,000-acre Irvine Ranch. In 1960, The Irvine Company sold 1,000 acres of the Irvine Ranch to the University of California for one dollar, since a company policy prohibited the donation of property to a public entity. The university purchased an additional 510 acres in 1964 for housing and commercial developments. Not long after UC Irvine opened, the City of Irvine was incorporated in 1971.
==Colonization==
==Highlights of the 1980s:==
Many members joined as sophomores, juniors, or even seniors. They participated in a campuswide celebration called Wayzgoose. The philanthropic focus was on an eating orders awareness program. Anorexia nervosa seemed to have reached a peak in the late 70s and early 80s and has been described as “the disorder of the 80s.” College campuses instituted counseling or support systems for people suffering from eating disorders, and the chapter membersworked to raise awareness about this issue. At the end of the spring 1985 quarter, Zeta Eta had 37 members and ranked third on campus scholastically. Also during this time, Zeta Eta won the Philanthropy and Advisory Board awards at Kappa Province meeting and helped with the colonization of the chapter at UC San Diego. Zeta Eta returned to San Diego in the fall of 1985 to help with Eta Nu’s installation.
In 1985, the Founders Day Brunch was held with local alumnae, and the members of UC Riverside. The Irvine chapter members were excited to assist in the installation of Zeta Nu at UC San Diego. An annual Monmouth Duo event was held with the Pi Beta Phis. Chapter retreats were held in Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, and Palm Springs. Families were invited to an initiation banquet. A mother/daughter fashion show was held in 1989. An annual Kappa Dad’s Day was held at the UCI homecoming basketball game.
The chapter doubled in size in October 1985 when it pledged 42 new members! The chapter’s pledge class size ranged from the high 30s to low 40s for most of the decade. The 1985-86 newletter reports that the Greek System at UCI was growing and strenghening during this time, thanks in part to a new Greek adviser, who was a Kappa. During the late 80s, a lot of expansion was in the works at UCI, earning it the nickname Under Constrution IndefinatelyConstruction Indefinitely. An annual Kappa Kruise was held on the Catalina Flyer in Newport Beach. Members invited a date and up to two guests who were not Kappas to participate in this nautical themed harbor cruise dance. Yearly participation in Songfest, a competition which is where the chapter is partnered with a fraternity to put on a smaller version of a Broadway play. At the 1989 Kappa Province meeting, Zeta Eta received the House Board Award and the Excellence in Membership Award. According to alumna Corien Woudenberg, many members of Zeta Eta in its early years joined as sophomores, juniors or even seniors.
'''Philanthropy:'''
In the mid-1980s, the chapter’s philanthropic focus was an eating disorders awareness program. Anorexia nervosa had reached a peak in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and had been described as “the disorder of the ‘80s.” College campuses instituted counseling or support systems for people suffering from eating disorders, and Kappas were right in the midst of it, working to raise awareness about this issue. Chapter members participated in Operation Santa Claus by collecting toys for kids which were then donated to the Albert Sitton Home, the Orangewood Home and the children at the UC Irvine Medical Center. During the chapter’s annual Balloon Derby, held during the campus’ annual UC Irvine Wayzgoose Fairecelebration, Kappas let loose a rainbow of colorful they released balloons in an effort to raise money with tickets redeemable for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disordersvarious prizes. Cash prizes were sent to those Those who found and returned the balloons from won the farthest distance (Tampa, Florida) and more than $600 was raised for the philanthropy that yearprizes. The following year, $730 was raised for Women Haven, Inc., a center for battered women and children.Convention Awards: Besides the Balloon Derby, the chapter also participated in Operation Santa Claus for Orangewood (a home for abused children) throughout the mid- and late 1980s. ==Highlights of the 1990s==
By the end of 1991, construction was complete on the the new student center, the Irvine Barclay Theatre and the Breckman Institute for Microbiology on the UCI campus. However, construction on many new buildings began and carried on throughout the decade.
Many of the chapter’s activities from the late ‘80s continued into the ‘90s such as Wayzgoose, Songfest, the annual chapter retreat and Monmouth Duo. A new event for the chapter in 1990 was the first scholarship banquet, where Zeta Eta celebrated being third on campus, scholastically.
In 1991, Founders Day was held at the University Club on campus with the Orange County Alumnae and the Long Beach Alumnae Associations. The chapter participated yearly in Songfest, Wayzgoose, annual new member retreats and chapter retreats, exchanges, a pledge/active dance and a Monmouth Duo dance with Pi Beta Phi. The 1991 chapter newsletter, “Key Issues” featured quotes from chapter members about what Kappa meant to them.
In the mid- to late 1990s, the chapter membership began to decline due to smaller pledge classes than graduating classes. During this time, the chapter also struggled to adopt the Fraternity’s newly developed New Member Program and had other challenges related to being a smaller chapter. However, the 1998 chapter history report tells that the chapter was working hard to overcome these challenges and grow. The same history report mentions that recruitment quota on campus was only 14 that year, while also mentioning that the Greek system on campus was growing. At the end of the 1998-1999 school year, the chapter had 17 members.
In 1997, sixty-percent of chapter members attended the installation of the Eta Gamma Chapter at the University of San Diego. 1998 saw a new Diamonds and Sapphires event which was a combined Parent’s Day, Pledge Presents, and Scholarship awards banquet. This was also the beginning of the Sionara Seniors event which included a party, a senior will and ritual. In 1998, chapter members made a commitment to work hard to improve their chapter by making a “blue print” to guide them in rebuilding and strengthening the chapter. Throughout the 90s, the chapter held Founders Day with UC Riverside.
In 1999, the chapter adopted the Fraternity’s recommended structure for small chapters and condensed 16 offices into five. However, the chapter was still active and involved on campus, having one member on the Greek Week executive board and one member on the Songfest executive board. A Kappa also headed the Greek Marketing Task Force on campus.
'''Philanthropy:'''
Zeta Eta continued its Operation Santa Claus philanthropy event and its participation in the campus Wayzgoose event into the 1990s. They also participated in the philanthropy events of other groups, such as Kappa Alpha Theta’s Go Fly a Kite, Sigma Chi’s Derby Days and various pledge class philanthropy projects. New philanthropy events at the end of the decade included Habitat for Humanity and an AIDS walk.
Hosting a ring toss booth during Wayzgoose, the chapter raised $300 to donate to the American Cancer Society. Zeta Eta participated in philanthropies such as Habitat for Humanity and AIDS Walk. Members volunteered with Pi Beta Phi at the Orangewood Children’s Home and to clean an area of the beach for the Surf Rider Foundation, an organizatio dedicated to the cleaning and safekeeping of the coasts. New members held a pumpkins and pancakes philanthropy event, with proceeds benefiting battered and abused children. Zeta Etas supported the Orange County Rescue Shelter for Battered Women, AIDs research, and FISH (Friends In Service to Humanity.)
==Highlights of 2011-2019==
==2011==
The chapter was able to add new members in every quarter of 2011. Traditional events included a campus-wide Kappa Kantina with carne asada, the Diamonds and Sapphires luncheon to celebrate academic achievements and sisterhood with members’ parents, and Songfest. According to alumna Corien Woudenberg, Zeta Eta in its early years was very similar to the chapter in 2012.
The Reading is Key event in 2011 was themed around the book The Giving Tree.
