Writing Project 1 First Draft

     With the first step into the courtyard you can tell that females have inhabited this space. Everywhere you look there is a splash of pink, or glitter. To the right are two eight-foot tall letters, Delta and Zeta. This is the most striking way to make a statement that this is no ordinary courtyard, but a sorority house. Everything is put together in a quaint and orderly way. Every detail is girly and delicate. Past the Greek letters lay the stairs covered with glitter, proof that crafting that had occurred earlier in the week. Next to the stairs, a large stone bench sculpted into a turtle. There is a clear view into the chapter room through the large glass windows. Inside the chapter room is a large, inviting, leather couch. The couch sits just behind a coffee table, with pink coasters. On the wall across from the couch lies a large flat screen TV, and just above the TV is an enormous pink banner. Upon the banner lie two words written in green cursive scripture, “Delta Zeta”. Looking past the sofa sits fabric and centerpieces, a work in progress for an event to come. To the left of the chapter room sits a gazebo with four tall white pillars wrapped in vines. A clean table set lies beneath the gazebo.

            As the sun rises, not a sound can be heard. Everything is empty, peaceful, and quiet. Come eight o’clock the sisters’ wake up to begin their day. Doors open, the smell of freshly brewed coffee trinkles out from the kitchen, from some of the rooms the faint sounds of music can be heard. Sorority girls begin to make their exit from the courtyard to attend class, slowly trinkeling out to start their day. The courtyard feels empty again, but not for long. Around twelve o’clock people begin shuffling in for lunch. There is a group of girls dining together under the gazebo, chowing down on chicken ceaser salads and turkey wraps. As the girls finish and make their exit, more shuffle into the courtyard and enter the chapter room. This group approaches the fabric and centerpieces and begins to make their creation. You can tell this group of women are experts at crafting. Come three o’clock another group enters the courtyard. A group of about ten sit down on the large couch and begin their executive meeting. They are diplomatic and serious,  yet friendly. You can tell they know each other well. As they wrap up their meeting they take chair from storage and begin to set them up in rows. As they finish, women dressed in business attire make their way in. There are about fifty of them who enter into the chapter room and find themselves a seat. The women are mingling and laughing with one other. Multiple of them throughout the crowd are intently texting or scrolling through their social networking newsfeed on various smart phones. One executive calls the meeting to order and the women are silent and attentive.  The women go through roll call, upcoming events, philanthropy, and deadlines. The meeting closes up and as the first group of women make their exit, a second makes their entrance. They too are well dressed in business attire. The second group is vastly similar, but a bit more timid. It is no surprise that this second group is the pledges. They do not seem to know each other as well, but mingle upon their similar interests. The meeting begins and precedes the same as the previous. When the meeting comes to a close most girls leave, some stay behind and mingle, while others stay and study. Everyone left in the complex are friendly. The groups begin to trinkle out and the courtyard is quiet again until sunrise.

            For the women in Delta Zeta, this is not just a place, but it has meaning. It is home to the sisters of this chapter at Arizona State. This is a place where these females meet, share stories, and create memories. It is a landmark and has social meaning to these women. Due to the fact that this place is so exclusive, there are not very many pluralities. All of the sister’s have similar memories and experiences in the Delta Zeta house. There is, though, a plurality between the active members and the new pledges. The pledges are in the middle of “place making”, as Frank Vanclay puts it in “Place Matters”. That is, making a “space” into a “place” by infusing it with memories and meaning. The actives do their best to help create a “place” out of this “space” for new members by hosting many events there. Although the girls in the chapter of Delta Zeta come from different backgrounds and places across the United States, this is one place where they all have something in common.  This place is both dynamic and static. It is dynamic as changes throughout the day. It is also dynamic each year with new sistesr making memories in the chapter. It is static though because for the most part there is a reoccurring routine each day of people entering and exiting,  and mingling and meeting. The Delta Zeta sorority house is a place that is safe and secure. With the lock on Adelphi and the individual house, there are no worries of intruders. This could be a reason for all of the sisters’ positive place attachment. Everyone in the chapter has place familiarity and place commitment. The women of Delta Zeta are willing to go that extra mile in order to make the space as inviting as possible, giving all of the sisters’ better place satisfaction. Another reason that the Delta Zeta women see this place so positively is that they feel like they belong there.  They have community connectedness. The most striking and detail of this place is without a doubt the community.

            The background a people of the place play a large role in its functioning. Everyone who enters the place is within the same age as one another. Due to this fact, it is easy for everyone to relate and feel at home. Everyone is a college student, so lifestyles are similar. The fact that it is oriented for females is another factor that brings the community closer, being that everyone can relate to challenges a young woman might face. Although the women in this chapter come from different parts of the country, they all have similar etiquette, behavior, and communications. Everyone greets each other similarly, has common courtesy, and is polite. Every member wears a similar style, and the women have similar tastes. As a community of women, everyone bands together to help one another to achieve similar goals. Each girl works to understand the history of this chapter and pass it on. Traditions are highly valued. The role of each woman in this community is similar. While in the Delta Zeta house it is important to follow the highest standards, act like a lady and constantly strive to better oneself.