182ND BETA THETA PI GENERAL CONVENTION
THE WOOGLIN DAILY NEWS OXFORD, OHIO // FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021
WEREAFFIRM
STATE OF THE FRATERNITY Campuses across the continent were certainly hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. And, while Beta’s overall new membership did decline by more than 25% last year, the Fraternity did see some bright spots, as evidenced by its record-breaking 3.251 GPA. During last night’s State of the Fraternity presentation, Beta’s Chairman of the Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Bill Lowry, Kenyon ’56, also brought the Convention up to speed on the work Beta is doing to ensure its tradition of inclusivity becomes an even greater emphasis by Betas everywhere.
TOM LIPTON ATTENDS 51ST GENERAL CONVENTION With his attendance here at the 182nd, Tom Lipton, Western Reserve ’63, sets a record for all-time Convention attendance, now exceeding the likes of two Beta Greats: Dr. Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence 1922, and J. Harold Ryan, Yale 1908. Often traveling 4,300 miles from his home in Munich, Germany, this weekend marks Brother Lipton’s 51st Beta Convention.
INTERFRATERNALISM AWARD NAMED FOR MODERN DAY BETA GREAT JONATHAN BRANT, MIAMI ’75 In light of 45 years of interfraternal service and his recent retirement from the Foundation and Administrative Office staff, Jonathan Brant, Miami ’75, was honored with the permanent naming of Beta’s Interfraternalism Award. Fraternity President Tom Cassady, Cincinnati ’76, announced the decision of the Board of Trustees during Thursday night’s Convention Kickoff. “It’s through men like Jonathan ... that an ever-increasing number of students benefit from fraternal brotherhood, scholarship, leadership, service to others and fellowship,” Cassady said.
EMCEES AND SPECIAL GUESTS | FRIDAY General Treasurer Ben Swartz, Connecticut ’05, serves as master of ceremonies in today’s Recognition Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. in Armstrong Pavilion. Dozens of chapters will be honored for their success this past year.
Brother Brant certainly has a well-known reputation in the fraternity and sorority world. After a five-year run as Beta Theta Pi Administrative Secretary (1977-82), he became the first Beta to serve as executive vice president of the North American Interfraternity Conference. It was a position he held for 17 years (19821999). This year, Brant retires from the Beta Theta Pi Foundation after 22 years of service as its director. Not surprisingly, Brant was recognized in 2006 with the NIC’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, placing him in
General Fraternity Archivist and Historian Zac Haines, Miami ’05, will kickoff tonight’s Heritage Tours with support from Assistant Historian Ryan Westberry, Clemson ‘98. The Beta Spirit in Oxford, Ohio, is something to behold!
the annals of history alongside Ray Warnock, Illinois 1905, G. Herbert Smith, DePauw 1927, and Dr. Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence 1922. Created in 1999, and now known as the Jonathan J. Brant Interfraternalism Award, Beta’s outwardly focused honor recognizes outstanding contributions of a professional or volunteer to the fraternity and sorority community. Announced by Brant, this year’s recipient was well-known speaker and Friend of Beta, Lawrence Ross, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Keynote speaker Jordan Fischette, Alpha Tau Omega, will share his personal experience with hazing and how he recognized he could create lasting change within his chapter.
GUIDING YOUR WAY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 6 BREAKFAST SERVICE
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Marcum Center (Marcum Guests Only); Garden Commons Dining Hall
FOUNDATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
BOARD MEETINGS
8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Farmer School of Business, Taylor Auditorium
ADVISORY COUNCIL & JOINT BOARDS LUNCH 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Marcum 180
LUNCH
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Garden Commons Dining Hall
LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Clockwise: Thea Zunick, Friend of Beta, accepts Edward B. Taylor Advisor of the Year award; John Stanton, Centre ’89, accepts award for District Chief of the Year; Michael Lavina, Hanover ’11, named Rookie District Chief of the Year.
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITIONS TAKE SPOTLIGHT ON DAY ONE Beta Spirit flowed through Armstrong Pavilion last night during the official kickoff of the 182nd General Convention. In addition to the naming of the Jonathan J. Brant Interfraternalism Award and Charles W. Warner Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year, 14 individuals were recognized for their service to Beta Theta Pi.
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Farmer School of Business, Taylor Auditorium
REGIONAL CHIEF OF THE YEAR
BOARD MEETINGS
ROOKIE DISTRICT CHIEF OF THE YEAR
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
GENERAL FRATERNITY OFFICER PROGRAMMING 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Marcum 180
RECOGNITION CEREMONY 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Armstrong Pavilion
HERITAGE TOURS AND DINNER
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Various (See Convention Guide)
UPCOMING SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS
• Legislation: Voting on Trustees and 10 proposals to The Code • Advisor Education: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion • Marching Line and Celebration Banquet Social icon
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SHARE YOUR CONVENTION EXPERIENCE
#BETA182
Randy Master, Hanover ’82
Michael Lavina, Hanover ’11
DISTRICT CHIEF OF THE YEAR
Robert Alberts, General Fraternity ’20 Malcom Andrews, Virginia ’89 John Stanton, Centre ’89 Link Strickland, Oklahoma State ’17
DR. EDWARD B. TAYLOR ADVISOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Andy Iovanna, WPI ’15 (WPI) Jen Zamora, Friend of Beta (Texas) Thea Zunick, Friend of Beta (New Jersey)
REMINDERS
• Convention attire is resort-casual (i.e. collared shirts, shorts, jeans or khakis. Flip flops are allowed but T-shirts are not.) • Flat/comfortable footwear is highly recommended for Heritage Tours. • Visit the registration table to reserve a spot on Sunday’s airport shuttle.
HOUSE CORPORATION VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Al Simons, Kansas ’82 (Kansas)
HOUSE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Charlie Ruff, TCU ’15 (Indiana)
CHARLES W. WARNER FRATERNITY/SORORITY ADVISOR OF THE YEAR
Caitlin Roberts (Oregon) Abigail Wasserman (Pittsburgh)
JONATHAN J. BRANT INTERFRATERNALISM AWARD Lawrence Ross, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Name tags should be worn at all times during General Convention. • Breakfast service will begin tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. in the Garden Commons Dining Hall. • Convention staff are in red and blue polos, and they are eager to help with any questions you may have.