The Prestigious Phi Omicron Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. revealed seven new members at their probate on Saturday, November 4 at 5:20 p.m. This is the largest number of new members at one time since the chapter’s charter line in 1994.
The seven new members performed a rehearsed presentation where they shared information about the organization, recited poems, and paid tribute to members of the chapter, alumni, and their brother fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
According to Chapter President Deamoni Denson, most probates are structured similarly and include founders, founding dates, a Greek alphabet, and greetings.
The families of all members, as well as Longwood students and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) alumni, filled the audience on Brock Commons in front of Lankford. The crowd was much larger than Denson had anticipated.
Previously, Longwood University’s chapter only had two members. These were Denson and Ky’Leah Walls, who are both seniors. As the only members, they worked together to plan ahead by starting preparations for the ceremony last semester. They, as well as their adviser, Chelsie Townsend, help oversee the presentation’s planning.
The seven new members organized meetings for themselves to practice the presentation. They practiced almost every day for about a month. Seventh in line, also known as Tail, Chrissy White, said, “With that came some accidental bonding. Getting to know people when they get frustrated from not being able to memorize a line the right way or seeing those light bulb moments when my line sisters got so excited about getting something down.”
The new member process for NPHC sororities and fraternities is secretive, meaning no one outside of the organization knows how many or who will be revealed until the probate. For most of the presentation, the new members’ faces are covered with white sunglasses, and their heads are covered with white shawls. At the end of the ceremony, one at a time, they each remove both of these items and introduce themselves.
According to White, having seven new members is not only important for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., but also for the NPHC sororities and fraternities as a whole. Increasing reach on campus through these seven members will help spread awareness of NPHC’s prevalence on campus. White hopes that people do not shy away from looking into them, realizing these sororities and fraternities are integrated into Longwood culture.
With these seven new members, the sisters have more people to lean on within the chapter as well. Townsend said that Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. values quality over quantity of members. However, adding seven to the existing two members will help distribute the responsibility and workload.
“With more members, it’s easier to share that. When it’s on one or two people, they have to do absolutely everything,” Townsend said. “With seven more ladies, it just means that there is more Zeta to share.”
At the probate itself, Townsend said she did what she could to console the new members, knowing that the day is filled with a rush of emotions.
“The girls who were actually in the new member presentation have the hardest job. They have to do the show. They have to practice, and Deamoni and Ky’Leah have to assist them. They are the watchful eye,” Townsend said.
Townsend said it was heartwarming to see everyone that showed up, including family members and members of the Longwood community. People who were there told her they felt that the crowd was the largest turnout they have had.
Denson is hopeful that as NPHC continues to grow, people will have to learn, similar to how she feels about other Greek life at Longwood. “I think a lot of people chose to ignore things that we do, and I think a lot of people chose to be uneducated about who and what we are,” Denson said.
“I’ve given my seven gifts to the chapter and I look forward to coming back for whoever and whatever happens in Phi O in the next few years,” Denson said.
