“Our best bet is to find one or two key guys to lead,” said Matt Tobe, director of expansion and recruitment. “These students at MSU have a unique chance to be founding fathers.”

Tobe said the previous leadership wasn’t the right group of guys for the time.

During recruitment, Tobe said they will be looking for men of quality — possibly business students who will be able to create and manage budgets and calendars.

The fraternity will begin advertising its recruitment through fliers, Facebook.com, its work with the Greek community and MSU Hillel.

As a nonsectarian Jewish fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau does not contain just Jewish men.

Founded in New York City in 1898, the fraternity formed because Jewish men were not allowed in organized fraternities. In 1954 it became nonsectarian.

“We’re proud of our Jewish roots, but we don’t discriminate,” Tobe said. “This gives Jewish men a place where they can feel accepted.”

Mike Epstein, a member of the Jewish Student Union and Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, said he loves the idea of another Jewish fraternity opening on campus, but he’s concerned about misrepresentation that could potentially happen when a Jewish fraternity is nonsectarian.

“When it comes down to it, there are certain things about a Jewish fraternity that are important to me,” Epstein said. “It’s important to me that it values not only Jewish members, but has respect for Jewish religion.”

As long as the religion and culture are truly represented, Epstein said he wishes them the best of luck.

Today, Zeta Beta Tau has 77 chapters throughout the nation and is looking to open up to 14 chapters this year throughout the U.S. and Canada, Tobe said.

In 1989, the fraternity abolished pledging entirely, so newly recruited members would be on the same level as the founding fathers, he said.

“When they join, they’re an equal member right away,” he said. “They have the same rights and respect right away.”

Although he hasn’t heard of Zeta Beta Tau, Ricky Kamil, co-president of MSU’s Jewish Student Union and a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, said he thinks it’s a good idea to have another Jewish organization on campus.

Kamil said he probably will encounter the fraternity in the future through his work with the Jewish Student Union.

“Usually when they first start out we’re helping and giving them space to set up meetings and stuff,” he said. “I’m happy we’re getting more, we do a lot of the same stuff.”