On March 5, the Baker University student senate voted against the National Pan Hellenic Council sorority Zeta Phi Beta having an automatic seat on the council. Student senate will vote again on this issue Tuesday due to concerns from members of the sorority.

“We’ve always had a delegate at student senate who’s been faithful,” JaNay Adgers, Zeta Phi Beta member, said. “We’ve always had our representation there, so for us to have been faithful since we were chartered on Baker’s campus in 2006 and not be guaranteed an automatic seat, for NPHC, not through Zeta, but for our governing body, that is an issue for us.”

The initial vote meant that Zeta Phi Beta would not be included for an automatic seat, but would have to run for office while other fraternity and sorority chapters were granted automatic representation through their councils.

According to an email from Katie Thurbon, student body president, the March 5 vote was invalid, as the vote did not pass with the required two-thirds affirmative vote, due to confusion of organization representatives. On Tuesday, only those appointed, along with class and executive officers, may vote.

The Zeta Phi Beta sorority members put together a petition, which received 200 signatures in 24 hours, in order to gain support from Baker University students, faculty and staff.

On Tuesday, Zeta Phi Beta members hope to gain an automatic seat on the senate after giving their argument in order to gain respect and equal representation for their council, NPHC.

“We really just want our voice to be heard through our council representation and I think people misunderstand that we don’t want it to be (Interfraternity Council), (Panhellenic) and then Zeta,” Adgers said. “We want it to be IFC, (NPC), NPHC and so that’s our biggest issue.”