A national Jewish fraternity, noting the University of Iowa's inviting demographic, is making strides to re-colonize a local chapter at the school.

Details • Fraternities looking to colonize at UI: Zeta Beta Tau, Theta Xi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma. • For information about the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, go to www.zbt.org/.

UI now has 19 recognized fraternities.

"We're targeting a lot of state schools that might have our demographic that we're looking for," said Jonathan Yulish, executive director of the national Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, based in Indianapolis. "While everybody's welcome, ... we feel like there's a market there for another Jewish fraternity."

About 800 students - 600 of them undergraduates - identify themselves as Jewish, said Jerry Sorokin, director of the Hillel Foundation, UI's Jewish Student Center.

Four other fraternities are looking to colonize through 2006 as part of an expansion method adding fraternities to UI, said UI Greek adviser Jason Pierce. Those fraternities include Theta Xi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Beta Theta Pi and Kappa Sigma. Some of those fraternities might be new to campus or returning after having to leave because of problems, such as low membership, Pierce said.

UI will begin working with the national ZBT organization to start the fraternity's process toward colonization, Pierce said.

ZBT, which has 73 chapters at colleges and universities nationwide, was installed at UI in 1921 and later merged with a number of fraternities. It was once known as Phi Epsilon Pi, Yulish said.

Two other UI fraternities are recognized as having historically Jewish ties - Sigma Alpha Mu and Alpha Epsilon Pi, said Brian Fox, vice president of public relations for UI's Interfraternity Council.

Pierce, assistant to the director of the UI Office of Student Life, said national ZBT officials have sent a letter to the school noting their interest in colonizing, the first step in earning recognition.

The fraternity plans to advertise for recruits. It plans to colonize at UI if it can recruit a group of 15 members, Yulish said.

The fraternity stands for the same values as many others, Yulish said, including intellectual awareness and community service.