Zeta Alpha was founded as a literary society and has stayed true to this goal over its history. Each semester the society brings a variety of authors to campus to give talks, and often works with other on-campus organizations to co-sponsor events. In addition, every year Zeta Alpha sponsors a campus-wide short story contest and the Amanda Sternberg Poetry Contest .  Both contests are judged by a panel of faculty and students, and receptions and readings of the winning submissions are held at the house.  View recent winning submissions from the short story and poetry contests.

Often unseen, although just as important, are the literary traditions maintained within the membership. During each academic year the society continues two century-old traditions with the publication of True Blue, an in-house literary magazine compiled from member submissions, and the celebration of Book Night, where each member donates a book to the society’s 125-year-old library.