Building the Bridge

When one visits the Beta Administrative Office, they are greeted by the impressive and carefully crafted architecture of the grounds and building, such as the Campanile Walkway bridge. This small bridge is located in the middle of a brick walkway in the direction of the Campanile, also known as the Beta Bell Tower. At first sight, this bridge may seem insignificant to many, but for Beta brothers it symbolizes a principle of great importance to our heritage.

The Bridge Buider Poem

Initially, many of us tend to analyze the poem from the viewpoint of the old man. His nobility and selflessness shine through in his choice to build the bridge; although his life and health were fading away, he was dedicated to serving the youth that would follow his path. As remarked by Seth R. Brooks (St. Lawrence ’22), in The Beta Theta Pi magazine, April 1977, “The old man is the very symbol of the story of age unselfishly bestowing what it has earned upon youth on life’s threshold.”

However, in the same issue, Seth mentions the need to consider the other perspective - that of the young man. “Why don’t we think about the youth for whom the old man built the bridge? What did the youth do on the other side of the chasm, having escaped the pitfall? Was the youth thankful for the bridge? Did he appreciate a path made ready for him? Did he remember throughout his life what the old man did for him? Did he say, ‘Because I’ve known such kindness, I will be kind?’ Did he realize that in his heritage he was an object of affection, sacrifice? How did he decide to spend his life, having been the recipient of a safe passage over such danger as he might have faced?”

In reality, both viewpoints coexist in Beta. The roles of the alumni and the undergraduate members intertwine with each other in the operations of the Fraternity. Beta alumni continue to pave the path forward for newer members long after they graduate. Many alumni decide to volunteer to maintain close contact with the chapter and guide the undergraduate members as counselors, advisors, or housing corporation board members. Others choose to come back to the chapter to visit and pass on their knowledge to the younger brothers preparing for post-graduation life. Some choose to contribute financially through the General Fraternity or other fundraising activities. Regardless of how an alumnus chooses to give back, their contributions are appreciated and vital to both the well-being of the chapter and maintaining a continued commitment to lifelong brotherhood.

However, the bridge building process begins when one joins the Fraternity. As one progresses into membership as a brother of the Fraternity, they start their journey on a path that many have walked before them, and many more will walk after them. It is a never-ending story. As Peter J. Florani, Lehigh ’77 said, “The story is continued by each new Beta, who, having crossed the bridge, learns the builders’ secrets of beauty, integrity, and strength”. As an undergraduate member, one may come across several unprecedented situations they were not prepared to handle. One may stumble and struggle, one may misstep, but they will eventually learn valuable lessons from these roadblocks. It is the act of passing on institutional knowledge and personal wisdom that keeps Beta moving forward and helps younger generations avoid the mistakes of their forefathers.

Engineer Our Year 2020

Visit beta.crowdchange.co/14277 to donate

As announced in the previous newsletter issue, we are running the first ever Engineer Our Year fundraising campaign. Inspired by the Bridge Builder poem, we want to use this campaign as an opportunity for the alumni of the Eta Tau chapter to reconnect with the active members and stay involved with our operations. This campaign consists of both a financial aspect and some other actionable items that can allow alumni to engage with the chapter’s activities.

For this year, the goal for the fundraising is set at $2500. To date, we have received $561 from alumni, friends of Beta, and our members. Thanks to your generous contributions, we will be able to purchase some cleaning supplies and a TV for the house. However, we only have until the end of August before this year’s campaign ends. Every little bit counts in these growing days of our Fraternity, and we need your help to make this year a fantastic one! Your donations will help enable every incoming member of the Fraternity to experience the same wonderful memories and experience you hopefully had as an undergraduate brother.

If you are looking for other ways to get involved with the chapter, we have opportunities beyond this fundraising campaign! Career development is an essential tool for developing Men of Principle, and as such we are hoping to leverage the diverse array of professional opportunities and connections our alumni have to help the undergraduates. Throughout the year, we will organize some networking events, as well as career preparation workshops, in which we need support from and participation of the alumni. If you wish to share your advice, or if you have any career opportunity, please contact us at communications@betawpi.org. Additionally, we are still looking for some alumni to help in the role of advisors. Please contact and.iovanna@gmail.com to express your interest.

Let’s make this year the best one yet!