Half a century ago, the first three Panhellenic Sororities were established on campus at Texas A&M University – Zeta Tau Alpha, Chi Omega and Alpha Delta Pi. The establishment of these organizations marked a new era of opportunity for women on campus.

Women were first admitted to the university 12 years prior, so by the time the mid 70s rolled around, there was a real desire for a sense of belonging on campus for these women.

The Beginnings

Several local women who had been a part of sorority life at different institutions banded together to bring the first sorority chapters to College Station.

“I was the first one to sign up for Zeta,” Debbie Robertson ’76 said. “It was a little controversial back then. You were almost a little nervous to put any of your letters on your car.”

In the beginning, sorority chapters were organized solely by alumnae and collegiate members, met off campus and had little to no official ties to the university.  Chapters would rent out spaces in town to have meetings or hold them in member’s apartments.

Robertson has seen that controversy give way to acceptance over the years as she has remained involved as the organization’s sponsor. Today, Greek letter sororities are known for their philanthropic missions, dedication to sisterhood and exemplification of Texas A&M’s core values.

“We are here to build each other up, keep each other built up, and support each other,” Robertson said.

Recognition

Fifteen years after the first handful of chapters began organizing off campus, the young women who had continued the new tradition of sisterhood were still fighting to be officially recognized student organizations.

Although the first round of recognitions came in 1985, Chi Omega, which was one of the original chapters founded in 1975, didn’t achieve official recognition until 1990. Heather McBride ’91, House Corporation Board member and Aggie Chi Omega Alum, still has the letter dated November 12, 1990 that marked the approval of the chapter’s application to be a recognized student organization.

“I feel like the ladies that were only 10 years older than us laid the groundwork and made it easy for us to come in and enjoy the benefits of their hard work.”,” Amy Walker ’91 former Chi Omega President said.

Today

Fifty years after that first group of women came together to establish the first Greek letter sororities on campus, Greek life is a thriving part of student life at Texas A&M.

The women who partake in this tradition of sisterhood benefit from the connections they make for years to come.

“I think having the ability to interact with all the women who have lived life before you is helpful; knowing that you're not in it alone,” Aggie Alpha Delta Pi president Carlee Richardson ’25 said. " I can see these exact same core values reflected in generations of women who also want to be a resource for me.”