Theta became much more real to the members. Saturday morning 72 women were initiated into Beta Eta Chapter. "I remember walking to the Fac­ ulty Club and passing sisters who Theta Tradition Returns had just experienced the ceremony, and they could do nothing but smile and admit that initiation was amazing," says Beta Eta member Beta Eta Alexandra Heyman. That evening at the charter serv­ When Beta Eta Chapter was re­ Nu Delta grow from its original 20 ice, the newly initiated members of installed at the University of Penn­ members to the final count of 72 Beta Eta signed the chapter's char­ sylvania in Philadelphia, the new before becoming a Theta chapter. members each had their own way ter. Then, they were off to the ban­ ''Fraternities had the bonding of expressing the "true worth and quet, where family and friends, as and spirit that wasn't available to merit of Kappa Alpha Theta.'' well as some very special Thetas women who didn't want to join a "When I look back on college, awaited their arrival. sorority. When I look back on Nu The chapter was very honored to the first thing that will come to my Delta, I get the feeling that we cre­ have enjoyed the presence of Grand mind is Theta because Theta repre­ ated something new for people who sents college to me,;' said one Beta President Sue Supple, Grand Vice were such individuals and who had President College Helen Wood­ Eta member. so much to add to a group. Nu Del­ ward, Grand Vice President Fi­ "I helped start the original ta was an outlet for their talents and nance Sue Blair-Sheets, College group, that is now Theta, and I'm individuality," says Emery. "I'm District President Ann Varey, really proud of it. Theta is very excited about Theta because it Alumnae District President Lyn close to my heart, and its memories meshed so well with Nu Delta's val­ Simensen, Music Director Joyce will be with me for a lifetime," ues and because we know there is a Ann Vitelli, Associate Executive Di­ commented one of the two women place for us always at Penn.'' rector Nancy Frick, Director of who pioneered a local organization Chapter Services Betsy Sierk and into the new Theta chapter. After Nu Delta accepted Theta's Chapter Consultants Kelley Gal­ bid to become a chapter, members Others commented: "It's a main breath and Amy Hayner. Special focus for me for a lot of reasons, in began pledging November 19 at thanks go to the Thetas from Epsi­ a lot of ways." Penn Towers, a hotel near campus. lon Xi Chapter at Villanova and Some of the fondest memories sis­ "It's a network of close friends." other chapters, and -especially to ters hold are of that evening when ''A place I turn if I need someone Amy Hayner, without whose help they were initially introduced to the to listen. " the chapter could not have made it. strength of Theta sisterhood. The women who voiced these "We established ourselves as a thoughts began learning about the After the three months of pledg­ very strong and positive force at significance of being a Theta when ing ended, the chapter was installed Penn," comments Heyman. "In a they pledged in November 1987. February 26. The weekend began school of 9,000 undergraduates, I But that wasn't the beginning of with the Loyalty Service, at which can honestly say that Theta is a very Beta Eta Chapter. the chapter received many special real entity to many, if not most, of The original Beta Eta Chapter gifts from alumnae, and the idea of the students." was founded in 1919 at Penn, but because of lagging membership, ended its stay in 1970. The chapter Grand Vice President Finance Sue Blair-Sheets (now GVP Development) welcomes Beta Eta got a fresh start 18 years later with charter members to Kappa Alpha Theta. A local group, Nu Delta, accepted Theta's invitation 61 charter members and 31 new to become the reestablished Beta Eta Chapter in November, 1987. pledges. The re-established Beta Eta Chapter's charter members were originally part of a group called Nu Delta, which was founded by Laura Carriker and Toria Emery during their freshman year at Penn. Nu Delta was founded as an alternative to sorority life; the group had no national aid and was considered more of a social club-an answer to men's fraternities. Carriker and Emery are now seniors. They were able to watch .