It’s been a big year for fledgling sorority Zeta Phi Chi, Life Chiropractic College West’s only such group. Not only did the women move into their second year as the alpha chapter here on the Hayward campus, they opened a second beta chapter at Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Jennifer Habchi, president of the sorority, says Zeta Phi Chi wasn’t the first sorority at Life West. But when they opened a different chapter in 2017, the five founders decided to focus on chiropractic philosophy and business.
Members of Life West’s Zeta Phi Chi sorority join a women’s march this past spring.
“We think it’s important to know where you come from, what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it – and keeping that faith,” Habchi said.
Once you graduate from school, “it’s so easy to lose your vision because you have rent to pay, loans to pay,” she added. Keeping the focus on adjusting subluxations and what that means is important to the group.
Habchi says the sorority also works to build a business-oriented network of women who are like-minded and can call each other and provide help when it’s needed with preceptorships and associateships.
New chapter
Last September, Zeta Phi Chi’s beta chapter at Sherman opened. President Alexis Bell and four other women made a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, hoping to join an organization with values and principles that they also thought were important.
“We knew nothing about what we were getting ourselves into, but we knew that this was something bigger than ourselves that we needed to bring to the East Coast,” Bell said. “When we arrived to California, it was immediately clear to us that we made the right decision. The women that warmly welcomed us were intelligent, passionate–everything that we were expecting and more.”
Since returning from California, the new members of Life West’s beta chapter have organized several events to promote principled chiropractic, Bell said, including a cookie sale with chiropractically named cookies, selling stickers with chiropractic quotes, and many service projects in the community to spread the word about the organization as well as chiropractic.
“Our proudest accomplishment thus far was our Talent Show in May,” Bell added. “We allowed the students to show their talent while relating it to chiropractic. We also had many opportunities for donations including a prize give-away for students to be able to go to seminars and receive green books, speeder boards and other amazing prizes. Our students and faculty donated over $500 for the Foundation of Vertebral Subluxation, and the performers and audience members had so much fun.”
Bell said Zeta Phi Chi has given Sherman students a great opportunity “to better ourselves personally and professionally, and we are so thankful that we had the opportunity to bring this organization across the country.”
Habchi said the beta chapter has added new sisters, so the second chapter is growing and thriving.
In the community
Life West’s alpha chapter also plans events around the school and works to promote community.
For example, there’s a blood drive Friday, Aug. 23, which will run from 10 am to 4 pm in the Life West gym. The event needs at least 50 people registered and is still a few spots shy of the needed number. Those who sign up now will get a $5 Amazon gift card. To register, visit the American Red Cross site online or scan the QR code on the fliers around campus and on student bulletin boards or find a Zeta Phi Chi member. Walk-ins are also welcome, although there are some restrictions. Ask an American Red Cross representative at the clinic if you qualify to donate blood.
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Sign up for the sorority’s blood drive
Friday, Aug. 23, 10 am to 4 pm in the Life West gym.[/quote]
The women organize a volunteer event every quarter, Habchi said. “At Christmas we adopt a family through an organization that serves families in need.” The women pick the family they want to support and collect items for them, such as clothes or mattresses.
The beta chapter at Sherman poses for a group shot.
They also work to bring practitioners and students together so that graduates have either a position or place for a preceptorship, augmenting what Life West’s Career Services does for students. Director of Alumni Relations Palmer Peet, DC, brings in professional chiropractors who are looking for associates, and the sorority helps bring students who are interested and looking for those kinds of connections.
One of the sorority’s main objectives is to enable women to be strong leaders. “We’re trying to be a voice for students as well,” Habchi said. To them, that means helping each other, offering resources to younger students … and sometimes learning from them as well.
“We want to inspire women to have their own power, build their power, and be that inspiration for other women,” Habchi added.
An informational meeting about the sorority is planned on Thursday, Aug. 29. It will be announced on the group’s Facebook page and is open to anyone who might be interested in joining. It will be held in Room 110 during lunch.
