Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. () is an American fraternity that emphasizes Latino culture and the success of Latino males in higher education. It was founded on December 3, 1987 at California State University, Chico in Chico, California.
Following its founding principles, the fraternity encourages and creates programs that assist disadvantaged and low-income communities. Its goals are to promote scholarship for Latinos in higher education while instilling a sense of pride in Latino heritage.
History In 1987, fifteen men came together to found what would later become Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Expansion Since its founding, Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has expanded to include chapters at schools throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. strives to ensure the potential for growth for all of its chapters once they are established. By teaching prospective members organizational knowledge and valuable skill sets to run a successful chapter, Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. sets a foundation that promotes the success of its chapters within the university and surrounding communities.
NALFO Established in 1998, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) is an umbrella council for 21 Latino Greek letter organizations across the United States. The purpose of NALFO is to promote and foster positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.
Symbols The fraternity's colors are silver, black, and white. Its motto is "Cultivating Leaders, Strengthening Communities." Its pillars are academic excellence, community service, and brotherhood.
Membership Although Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is Latino by tradition, membership in the fraternity is open to all college males and includes members from various ethnicities including Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, White, European, and others. To begin the membership education process of Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc., every prospective member must fulfill the following requirements: be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at a four-year college or university. have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
Member misconduct allegations Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has faced allegations of misconduct, particularly concerning sexual misconduct and policy violations. In July 2020, the fraternity acknowledged recent allegations against its members and issued a public statement emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance on sexual misconduct.
In October 2020, the San Diego State University chapter of Gamma Zeta Alpha was implicated in organizing an in-person social gathering during the COVID-19 pandemic, violating university policies. University staff received reports of the planned gathering, leading chapter leadership to instruct members to cancel the event. However, fraternity members from different households convened at an off-campus apartment before proceeding to another location, contravening public health guidelines and university directives.
These incidents have prompted Gamma Zeta Alpha to try to implement structural changes within the organization. In response to misconduct allegations, certain members of the Board of Directors and Committee Members stepped down from their leadership roles at the request of the Executive Officers.
Chapters Following is a list of the chapters of Gamma Zeta Alpha. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
Chapter Charter date and range InstitutionLocationsStatus Alpha 1987 California State University, ChicoChico, CaliforniaActive Beta 1989 San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CaliforniaActive Gamma 1992 University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CaliforniaActive Delta 1993 California State University, NorthridgeLos Angeles, CaliforniaActive Epsilon 1997 California State University, FresnoFresno, CaliforniaInactive Zeta 1997 San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CaliforniaActive Eta 2000 University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaActive Theta 2000 University of California, DavisDavis, CaliforniaActive Iota 2000 Stanford UniversityStanford, CaliforniaActive Kappa 2000 University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CaliforniaActive Lambda 2002 California State University, Monterey BayMonterey County, CaliforniaActive Mu 2003 California State University, SacramentoSacramento, CaliforniaActive Nu 2004 University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, CaliforniaActive Xi 2005 California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CaliforniaActive Omicron 2005 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CaliforniaActive Pi 2008 Arizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaActive Rho 2010 University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaActive Sigma 2010 California State Polytechnic University, PomonaPomona, CaliforniaActive Tau 2011 California State University, East BayHayward, CaliforniaActive Upsilon 2011 California State University, Dominguez HillsCarson, CaliforniaActive Phi 2012 University of California, MercedMerced, CaliforniaInactive Chi 2016 California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CaliforniaActive Psi 2019 University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CaliforniaInactive Alpha Alpha 2020 Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, ColoradoActive Alpha Beta 2020 University of California, MercedMerced, CaliforniaActive Alpha Gamma 2022 University of Nevada, Las VegasParadise, NevadaActive Alpha Delta 2025 University of the PacificStockton, CaliforniaActive
See also List of social fraternities National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
References