Black Lives Matter.
Update 06/18/2020:
Zeta Psi has made a commitment to play a role in the eradication of racism toward all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We encourage all members and friends of Zeta Psi to hold us accountable to this promise, and therefore want to provide an update on the work we have done over the past few weeks.
Starting this year, Zeta Psi International Headquarters will be closed on June 19, also known as Juneteenth, to recognize the significance of this date. June 19, 1865, was the day Texas finally learned of the end of the Civil War and slavery. This day occurred more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, granting freedom to slaves in Confederate-held territory. We encourage all current and future Zeta Psi staff to use this time to reflect upon systemic racism, learn something new about Black history, and/or take action in their own community.
Furthermore, Zeta Psi is exploring appropriate Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion education that will be available to all members in Fall 2020 and a requirement for all New Members who join Zeta Psi in the future. Zeta Psi IHQ staff members are reviewing a variety of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion materials to continue our education and evaluate it for dissemination to the membership. Staff has restructured our weekly meetings to include necessary discussions about Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion to ensure the conversation continues and evolves as needed.
We welcome feedback on our efforts and encourage anyone who wants to partner with us as we strive to continuously improve to share your thoughts in the form below.
Zeta Psi condemns the intolerable murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, and all those named and unnamed that have lost their lives due to racism.
Black Lives Matter.
Zeta Psi’s international brotherhood seeks to play a part in the eradication of racism and violence toward all Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). We can start by directing our shared outrage into tangible action – we call on every Zeta Psi member and chapter to be a part of the solutions in our communities.
At the international level, we are:
Reviewing and Acknowledging our History
Zeta Psi recognizes that our Fraternity and university systems across the world have roots in racial oppression. Our membership must be continuously taught to understand the realities dating back to our founding in 1847 and the issues that have pervaded collegiate life for hundreds of years. Starting this August at our annual convention, we will confront these facts in educational sessions designed to get to the root of implicit bias from both historical and current perspectives. Our new member process and documents will be updated to reflect these facts and include specific programming on the prevention of bias.
Educating Members
Zeta Psi will sponsor Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training during our August 2020 Convention for undergraduate and elder members. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will be formed to continue this work into the future and challenge the organization to continuously improve.
Seeking Partnerships
While our mission and values support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, this is not a core strength of our International organization today. We recognize that we need help to be better. Zeta Psi is actively seeking partnership with individuals and organizations that will help show us how to improve our service to all of mankind and particularly those that face discrimination.
Providing Meaningful Resources
Zeta Psi chapters across five nations are all unique, and we recognize and acknowledge the need to do more to ensure that all chapters are allies in the fight to end systemic racism. As we seek to be men of character and intellect, the following resources may help on that journey.
We strongly encourage our membership to engage in the following resources and share any additional information with us.
- Anti Racism Resources
- An Essential Reading Guide for Fighting Racism – Lists of articles, books, podcasts, videos, movies/tv shows, and more to engage with anti-racist rhetoric.
- Are your kids too young to talk about race?
- How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism – Resources for parents
- Campaign Zero – A research based organization focused on limiting police interventions, improving community interactions, and ensuring accountability.
Continuing Action
Centuries of systemic racism will not be undone today, but we must continue to strive in that direction. If you want to partner with Zeta Psi, want to engage in this work, or want to help in any other way, please complete the following form: