Upsilon Chapter celebrates 100 years By Patti Cords Levitte, Beta Phi, Director of Archives & Historical Education Sisters in the northwest came together Feb. 28 to celebrate Northern California Zeta Day and the 100th anniversary of Upsilon Chapter at University of California, Berkeley. Attendees, including many chapter alumnae, enjoyed a special lunch at the San Francisco University Club, and current chapter President Brittany Blankinship and General Advisor Elisabeth Smith Marriott (Delta Eta Chapter, West Texas A&M University) accepted a mantle clock from the Fraternity, the traditional gift for a centennial. Today, Upsilon Chapter is charting the course for its next century on the UC Berkeley campus, but an unusual history brought the chapter to where it is today. In our early years, much of ZTA’s extension came as a result of personal contacts and recommendations. The beginning of Upsilon Chapter was no exception as charter members learned of ZTA through a friend from Kappa Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin. Gladys Ayland Glade, the National Inspector (now known as a Traveling Leadership Consultant), went to initiate and install the chapter in May 1915. Gladys enjoyed a week in Berkeley, which included a visit with new members to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a world’s fair in San Francisco. She noted that inclement weather unfortunately interfered with the events of the week. “On account of the rain, we did not find an opportunity to take pictures during installation,” she wrote. Still, 22 women were initiated on May 13, and Upsilon Chapter was installed May 14, 1915. The new chapter had planned to keep its installation a secret until the next semester and even held a private banquet with no outside guests, but the news got out quickly. Thus, Upsilon Chapter made its debut as the newest NPC organization at Berkeley.
the changes in campus culture were overpowering. Upsilon Chapter went dormant at Berkeley in 1969, along with many other NPC groups. Mrs. Weck acknowledged the closure as one of the saddest moments in her life, but the story of Upsilon Chapter didn’t end there. Strong growth in the UC Berkeley Panhellenic community led to the campus opening for extension in 2011, and ZTA was selected to return. The reactivation on Feb. 3, 2013, was a rebirth for the 21st link in our Chain of Chapters. Chapter President Brittany noted that today, the chapter is recognized on campus for its strong sisterhood and philanthropic work. “Members pride themselves on our diversity and commitment to academics,” she said. “The love of ZTA that I see in the members of the chapter today is inspiring and will undeniably ensure a continued bright future for Upsilon Chapter.”
As the chapter grew, it remained at the top of ZTA lists recognizing scholarship and produced an impressive number of honor society members and student leaders. Many Upsilon Chapter members went on to hold National Officer roles as well. Lucile Woodard Weck, a 1928 initiate, was ZTA’s International President from 1966 to 1968, after serving on National Council for six years. By the mid-1960s, attitudes toward fraternities and sororities were changing, especially at Berkeley. While issues such as civil rights and the Free Speech Movement led to riots and campus shutdowns, protests over the Vietnam War and the rapid growth of the San Francisco counterculture made the university an unwelcome place for anything that resembled tradition or the status quo. Although the chapter attempted to continue operations, 34 · THEMIS · Fraternity News
Current chapter President Brittany Blankinship and General Advisor Elisabeth Smith Marriott accepted a mantle clock from the Fraternity on behalf of the chapter (top). Upsilon Chapter charter members at their 1917 graduation from UC Berkeley (bottom).