Alabama ZBT sets centennial weekend, announces Hall of Fame inductees

The University of Alabama’s Psi Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau will hold a centennial reunion weekend from March 4 to 6, and over 250 are signed up.

As part of the weekend, a former president of the University of Alabama will be inducted as an honorary member of Zeta Beta Tau, and 11 prominent alumni will be the inaugural class to be inducted into the Alabama ZBT Hall of Fame. The honors will be conveyed during a Hall of Fame event the evening of March 5.

The weekend will celebrate “100 years of vibrant Jewish life on the University of Alabama campus,” including ZBT legacy organizations Kappa Nu and Phi Ep.

Robert Witt, now chancellor of the University of Alabama system, will be recognized for his efforts in making recruitment of Jewish students a priority for the Tuscaloosa campus while he was president of the university. It was also during his tenure that ZBT completely renovated its house, Alabama Hillel built a new facility and Tuscaloosa’s Temple Emanu-El moved back to campus, with a new building next door to Hillel.

According to the centennial steering committee, “Much of the recent success and growth of Psi Chapter, as well as the University of Alabama, can be attributed to Dr. Witt and his efforts.”

The inaugural Hall of Fame class includes Harold Blach, Fred Friedman, Karl Friedman, Jimmy Rotenstreich and Bruce Weinstein. Posthumous inductees are Mel Allen, Aaron Aronov, David Aresty, Morris Mayer, Fred Sington and Leonard Weil.

The Hall of Fame committee was co-chaired by Allen Halpern and Daniel Odrezin. The committee determined the criteria for the Hall, soliciting and reviewing nominations. Honorees were selected for having a meaningful impact on their fraternity, whether Kappa Nu, Phi Epsilon Pi or Zeta Beta Tau, their community and/or their profession.

The weekend will kick off with a reunion reception at the Paul W. Bryant Museum on March 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. On March 5 there will be a memorial service for ZBT, Kappa Nu and Phi Ep brothers, hosted by Hillel. There will be a breakfast at 9:30 a.m. with services at 10 a.m.

A Founders and Leadership luncheon will follow at ZBT, honoring those who founded the three fraternities, served as officers or were in the Student Government Association.

There will also be a “behind the scenes” presentation on the university’s master campus plan with University planner and designer Dan Wolfe at 1:30 p.m. At 3 p.m. there will be a viewing party of the Alabama basketball game against Georgia in Athens.

The presentation and reception for the Hall of Fame will be at the Hotel Capstone ballroom at 6 p.m. Dinners for particular decades and legacy organizations are being organized for the evening.

The weekend will conclude with brunch on March 6 at 10 a.m. at the ZBT house.

The block of rooms at the Hotel Capstone has already filled, with overflow going to the Holiday Inn Express.

Registration for the weekend is $75 for adults, $40 for current Psi Chapter members and students age 12 and above. The weekend is being underwritten by the board to enable as much participation as possible.

For more information or to register, visit here.