F.A.Q.

 

I’ve heard that fraternity men build strong friendships that last for life… is that true?
Yes it is. You can always find brothers shooting hoops, enjoying a summer beach BBQ, or boating on Lake Washington. Alumni tell us their favorite life experiences were those in the fraternity whether it was 5 years ago or 50. Fraternity men often find themselves asking a brother to be their best man at their wedding. The friends that you make in the fraternity will be the ones that you stay close with for the rest of your life.

Why are Fraternity GPAs higher than the UW all-men's average GPA?
Our Fraternity has been above the men's campus average GPA for the past 8 quarters. By joining ZBT you will have a network of people who have already taken the college courses you will be taking, and from the same teachers. They will help you with the homework and tests needed to succeed in competitive majors. Half of the brothers in our house are business majors, and most of the other half are science (Engineering, Pre-med, etc.) Brothers rely on the connections that they have built with brothers and alumni in the fraternity to help find jobs after they graduate.

I hear that it is cheaper to live in a fraternity than it is to live in the dorms.. is that true?
It is true depending on what dorm room and meal plan you get. It costs $3035 per quarter to live in the dorms if you have a standard double, a level 5 (out of 6) meal plan, and laundry. The $2850 at ZBT pays for rent, 3 hot meals a day, parties, Intramural sports sign up, and all brotherhood events like camping. I’ve heard that Fraternities emphasize Leadership.

Can I get a chairmen position as a freshman?
New brothers, especially freshmen are encouraged to run for positions. You can be elected social, academic, or even rush chair as freshmen if you are driven. If you have done a phenomenal job as a freshman and your brothers believe in your leadership ability you can run for vice president or president of the fraternity as a sophomore.

I want to play some Intramural Sports, which sports does ZBT play?
We have football, basketball, softball, soccer, ultimate, and volleyball teams. We have tryouts at the start of each quarter for different teams. You can choose to try out for the competitive teams or if you just want to have fun you can try out for the more relaxed teams. I’ve heard that ZBT has a Non-Hazing Policy why is that? We feel that hazing made our brotherhood weaker. By hazing, we are not creating closer bonds with our brothers, we are hurting those bonds. College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life and hazing makes it less enjoyable.

I want to live in a clean house, what is it like to live in ZBT?
The entire house was remodeled two years ago and rivals the new dorms. Brothers have a lot of house pride and try to keep the house as clean as possible. There is no sleeping porch; we have singles, doubles, triples, or quads. We even have a Professional Chef that cooks 3 meals a day. Any brother that has lived in the house will tell you that it is an unbelievable experience.

I heard that ZBT used to be a Jewish Fraternity, how many Jewish guys to you have and do I have to be Jewish to join?
We have 7 Jewish guys and our house can hold a total of 45 brothers. You don’t have to be Jewish to join ZBT. We recognize and respect our Jewish founding, but we have been non-denominational since 1954. As long as you are good guy and friends with the brothers you can join.

I don’t have that much time, how much of a time commitment is a fraternity?
Being in a fraternity actually saves you a lot of time. For example, in the dorms or apartments, you either have to cook your own food or go somewhere to eat. By putting a great amount of effort into any organization, you will gain friendship, brotherhood, and fond memories. By participating in as many activities as you can you will meet many new people and make the most out of college.

How do I go about joining a Fraternity, and what is Rush?

Rush usually goes from the start of summer to September 1st. It is a time when incoming freshmen attend different events hosted by the fraternity such as BBQ’s and Mariner Games. It gives brothers a chance to get to know new potential members. After coming to 2-3 rush events all the brothers will have a good idea of who you are and if you would be a good fit for the fraternity. If they believe that you are a quality guy with a good balance between having fun and hard work they will offer you a bid to join the fraternity. If you are interested attending a rush event please call our rush Chairman Jeff Shoemaker. He can schedule a day for you to come out and meet some of the brothers.