Respect The Hutt

THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING THE HUTT

by Steve Babb, Illinois ’87

It's cool seeing everyone go out of their way to keep it special. 'Respecting the Hutt' is such a crucial value to all of us.

When the Kansas chapter's alumni newsletter made its way to Oxford last fall, it struck a chord with Beta’s editorial staff. Third in a seven-part series focused on chapter values, the feature article went beyond predictable emphasis on brotherhood and GPA, critically important as they are.

With extreme reverence toward "The Hutt," few chapters appreciate and respect the house they call home more than the Alpha Nus of Beta Theta Pi.

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In this third installment of “Forever Alpha Nu Values,” we will reflect on the responsibility of each Alpha Nu member to “Respect the Hutt.”

As members of the house all come to learn, this value has a dual meaning; “Respecting the Hutt” refers to both preserving the mansion’s physical magnificence and maintaining the distinct status of the Fraternity that was forged by the “boys of long ago.”

“To me, it means upholding and remembering the values and tradition in order to represent Alpha Nu to the best of my abilities and to ensure it can be around for another 150 years,” Ben Whittaker, Kansas ’24, said on the importance of “Respecting the Hutt.”

As it relates to the Hutt’s physical magnificence, members are constantly reminded of how lucky they are to live in such an architectural masterpiece as Usher Mansion. Once the residence of Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of the interior, John Palmer Usher, the house is scattered with historical relics and brilliant design features that have stood the test of time. It looks less like your typical fra-

ternity house and more like a limestone fortress while towering over the constantly bustling crossroads of 14th and Tennessee. Not every college student has the opportunity to come home to a national landmark, and the members of Alpha Nu are reminded of this when witnessing guests walk the halls of the Hutt in awe of the mansion’s grandeur.

“Living in the Hutt gave us a perspective of being a part of living history; we took pride in the building and its place in Lawrence,” said Matt Vineyard ’96. “Returning to the Hutt, we have the same feeling as we did the first day on campus—inspiration to live up to something greater than ourselves.”

Living in such a spectacle comes with a great amount of responsibility, however. From the moment they spend their first night in the Roost, Alpha Nus carry the burden of keeping Usher Mansion’s beauty intact. Each member of the house must do his part to make sure the building continues to hold its authentic feel for generations to come. The Hutt is not what generally comes to mind when one thinks of a fraternity house, and it is up to the members of Alpha Nu to ensure that Usher Mansion continues to be viewed as more than that.

“We are incredibly lucky to live in a place with as much history as the Hutt,” shared Jack Lockton ’24. “It’s cool seeing everyone go out of their way to keep it special. That’s why ‘Respecting the Hutt’ is such a crucial value to all of us.”

Each Alpha Nu must also carry the responsibility of honoring the rich history of the Fraternity itself. It can be easy to get caught up in the everyday responsibilities and distractions of college life, especially with all the opportunities the Hutt provides. Nevertheless, it is the duty of members to remember the men who have helped build such an environment as the one experienced by an Alpha Nu. During pledgeship, a heavy

emphasis is placed on freshmen to learn of the Kansas Betas who came before them and develop the very values that they are asked to live by. Such an appreciation is gained for past generations that upperclassmen are constantly seen reading from the Alpha Nu Centennial Book (also known as White Book), discovering stories that help put their experience into perspective.

“I have come to learn that the deep respect we all developed for Usher Mansion does not diminish through the passage of time—it grows outwardly as well,” Don Johnston ’56 shared. “I was involved in the remodeling project of the Mansion in 1992 and saw clearly the importance the Kansas Historical Society placed on the structural accuracy and integrity we had to be mindful of as we brought about the significant and pleasing enhancements for the century to come.”

As older alumni of Alpha Nu make visits to the Hutt, there are naturally many different aspects of the Fraternity that have changed since their experience. However, one thing that will always remain the same is the reverence that members share for the generations of Alpha Nus that have carried the torch. It is up to the current and future members that the flame continues to shine bright. 

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Steve Babb, Illinois ’87, serves as executive director of Alpha Nu, a part-time paid position responsible for managing the house’s day-to-day operations and mentoring chapter members and officers. Focused on “keeping things between the rails,” he serves as the point of contact for parents, manages the house mother and facilitates interactions with the university. He is also a proud Beta dad to Tommy, Kansas ’19, and Adam ’21.

The KU Beta house is affectionately known as "The Hutt," a nod to Mr. Hutt, landlord of the chapter's first house at 1537 Tennessee Street (1894-1912). Despite moving to Usher Mansion in 1912, the Beta house in Lawrence has been commonly referred to as "The Hutt" ever since.