GO BETA GENTLEMEN | SCHOLARS | LEADERS
I willingly lend my talents and abilities to the service of my community.
I recognize and respect the worth of each person, refusing to take part in activities that undermine the dignity of others or myself.
I am a man of principle.
I respect leadership, lead when called upon to do so and help to prepare the leaders who will come after me.
PRINCIPLEOFMANAAMI
I speak honestly and listen actively. I seek the company of other men of principle, extending them the bonds of brotherhood.
I believe in the power of the mind, cultivating my own intellect and the minds of others.
I build bridges, not walls. I am a Beta.
I choose to act responsibly, weighing the consequences of my actions on those around me.
John H. Stebbins, Emory ’92 General Secretary
Dear Potential New Member of Beta Theta Pi, You are on the threshold of a decision to join Beta Theta Pi, which will change your life as an collegiate and provide a lifetime of loyal friends and career opportunities. As a long-time volunteer and witness to the success of Beta’s Men of Principle initiative, I know the value of cultivating an abundance of new leaders who are men of character and men with energy levels to succeed in business, public life, the clergy and the military — in other words, men who will create the future. Beta Theta Pi does not tolerate alcohol abuse, drug use or hazing. We do believe in finding outstanding men on each college campus who practice academic excellence, display reverence in telling the truth, exhibit leadership potential and possess the selfless qualities which bind men together in solid brotherhood of sharing joy and sorrow, together. I have championed the merit of a strong fraternity and sorority community because I believe it enhances the quality of undergraduate social and leadership building exercises. I have been proud of my membership in Beta Theta Pi because I was inspired during four great years at Emory University in Atlanta with Beta brothers who have meant so much to me the last 35 years. The ability to serve the Fraternity and continue to meet new brothers and network with fellow Beta alumni ever since my collegiate years has been equally rewarding. It will be for you, too. “Once a Beta, always a Beta, everywhere a Beta.” My friend, I hope you will consider, carefully, the unparalleled opportunity and the challenge this moment presents in your life. I look forward to supporting your highest aspirations now and in years to come.
“I got everything I could possibly ask for from this Fraternity. Of course, the only thing I have found experience-wise worth passing along is, as you go through life, do something bigger than yourself.”
— Ray Mabus, Mississippi ‘69, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Former Governor of Mississippi and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?
pg. 4
Social scientists argue we become who we surround ourselves with. Additionally, they argue that one’s college years are perhaps the most developmental of all. Right now, you have an opportunity to decide who to surround yourself with: men who, every day, strive to be of value to their community, develop their minds and forge lasting relationships that transcend the college experience.
VISION Every member will live Beta Theta Pi’s values.
PERSONALBROTHERHOODGROWTHHOME
CORE VALUES
Betas choose to act responsibly, weighing the consequences of their actions on themselves and those around them.
INTEGRITY
pg. 5
To build lasting bonds of friendship and brotherhood, Beta calls for:
Betas believe that men are mutually obligated to help others in the honorable labors and aspirations of life.
Betas are devoted to continually cultivating their minds, including high standards of academic achievement. TRUST Betas develop absolute faith and confidence in one another by being true to themselves and others.
INTELLECTUAL GROWTH
RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
MISSION To develop men of principle for a principled life.
Betas preserve their character by doing what is morally right and demanding the same from their brothers.
MUTUAL ASSISTANCE
A PLACE FOR LEADERS
“We’re all working together; that’s the secret.”
pg. 6
A great college experience goes beyond the classroom — it teaches real life. That’s why the Beta Theta Pi Foundation has completed two $20 million capital campaigns to support the development of leadership and life skills in its members. With award-winning leadership programs for its undergraduates to meet and learn from fellow Betas throughout North America, Betas gain real experience that pays off after graduation.
— Sam Walton, Missouri ’40 Founder, Walmart
Keystone LeadershipRegionalConference
John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle
InterfraternityUndergraduateInstitute (UIFI)
This North-American Interfraternity Conference program is a coeducational, principle-centered institute designed to create positive change for college campuses and Greek communities.
BETA’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
An intense five-day educational experience designed to lead groups of the most promising Beta leaders across North America through a program of core values, leading with integrity, enhancing chapter motivation, team building, effective confrontation and service learning.
Miller Nichols Chapter Presidents Leadership Academy
Three days of intense discussion, leadership training and goal setting, which is hosted at the Fraternity’s founding site with all chapter presidents in attendance.
pg. 7
A high quality three-day experience focusing on chapter officer development, principled leadership and volunteer training. Although Beta has other popular values-based leadership programs, this is the first that teaches operational concepts to chapter officers and advisors.
This annual experience provides leadership training and education for up-and-coming leaders of Beta chapters during the Fraternity’s General Convention.
Peter F. LeadershipGreinerCollege
A ROLL OF HONOR
— Dr. Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence ’22
The Beta tradition has produced some of North America’s most outstanding men. Guided by the values of the Fraternity and the brotherhood that pushes a Beta to achieve more than he could alone, the rolls of Beta Theta Pi include astronauts, statesmen, military heroes, artists, journalists, athletes, musicians, actors, educators, physicians, philanthropists and a multitude of Fortune 500 CEOs, just to name a few
“Older men can lead, direct, encourage, correct and inspire younger men. Likewise, young men can give older men strength, courage, faith and add ‘future to their minds.’ This is what happens when the hand of age grips the hand of youth.”
Beta Theta Pi General Fraternity President and General Secretary
pg. 8
POLITICAL LEADERS
TELEVISION PERSONALITIES
Dick Gephardt, Northwestern ’62, Congressman, Missouri Mark Hatfield, Willamette ’43, U.S. Senator, Oregon Doug Jones, Alabama ’76, U.S. Senator, Alabama Richard Lugar, Denison ’54, U.S. Senator, Indiana Jim Martin, Davidson ’54, North Carolina Governor Bill Nelson, Florida/Yale ’65, U.S. Senator, Florida; Astronaut Kevin Stitt Oklahoma State ’95, Oklahoma Governor John Turner, British Columbia ’49, Canadian Prime Minister John Warner, Washington and Lee ’50, U.S. Senator, Virginia
Joe Albaugh, Oklahoma State ’74, Director of FEMA
ASTRONAUTS Joe Allen, DePauw ’59 Ken Cameron, MIT ’71 Paul Wietz, Penn State ’54
Howard Fineman, Colgate ’70, Huffington Post, MSNBC Analyst
Neil Everett, Oregon ’84 (Broadcaster, ESPN’s “SportsCenter”)
George Peppard, Purdue ’52 (“A-Team”)
BUSINESS EXECUTIVES
Turner SondheimWooden Walton EverettNordstrom BowermanSchmidt Khan
John Rietz Jr., Northwestern ’54 (“Mr. Brady” Robert Reed)
Brian White, Dartmouth ’95, (“Moesha,” “CSI: Miami,” “Stomp the Yard,” and “Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse”)
John Backe, Miami ’54, CEO, CBS Dan Carney, Wichita State ’63, Co-founder, Pizza Hut Richard Heckert, Miami ’44, CEO, DuPont Hugh McColl, North Carolina ’57, CEO, Bank of America Bruce Nordstrom, Washington ’55, CEO, Nordstrom Frank Shrontz, Idaho ’53, CEO, Boeing Warren Staley, Kansas State ’65, CEO, Cargill Sam Walton, Missouri ’40, Founder and Chairman, Walmart John Warnock, Utah ’61, Co-founder, Adobe Systems, Inc.
DISTINGUISHED BETAS
Fineman
Richard Karn, Washington ’78 (“Al” on “Home Improvement”)
Mike Brown, Dartmouth ’57, Owner, NFL Cincinnati Bengals Jay Fiedler, Dartmouth ’94, NFL Quarterback Shahid Khan, Illinois ’70, Owner, NFL Jacksonville Jaguars Scott McCarron, UCLA ’89, PGA Golfer Jamey Rootes, Clemson ‘88, President, NFL Houston Texans Mike Schmidt, Ohio ’71, MLB Hall of Famer Stan Smith, Southern California ’69, Wimbledon Tennis Champion Steve Marino, Virginia ’02, PGA Golfer
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS
John Dolibois, Miami ’42, Ambassador to Luxembourg
WhiteYen
DISTINGUISHED BETAS
William Anderson, Whitman ’51 (“Batman” Adam West)
AMBASSADORS
Stephen Bechtel Jr., Purdue ’47, CEO, Bechtel Construction Bill Bowerman, Oregon ’33, Co-founder, Nike Barney Calame, Missouri ’61, Public Editor, The New York Times
David Mulford, Lawrence ’59, Ambassador to India
Ray Mabus, Miss. ’69, U.S. Navy Secretary; Amb. to Saudi Arabia
Ed Roski, Southern California ’62, CEO, Majestic Realty, Co-owner, L.A. Lakers, Kings and Staples Center
Glen Holden, Oregon ’51, Ambassador to Jamaica
John Wooden, Purdue ’32, UCLA Basketball Coaching Legend
Eric Javits, Columbia ’52, Ambassador to the OPCW (The Hague)
Stephen Sondheim, Williams ’50, Broadway Composer
Mike Bennet, Wesleyan ’87, U.S. Senator, Colorado
Jimmy Yen, Yale 1918, Worldwide Humanitarian and Educator
Medalists Three Nobel
Peabodys 12 Pulitzer
Honorees Four Astronauts 34 Olympic
Recipients Seven Presidential
Eight
Laureates 5
Vice
32 Ambassadors 52 Governors
Two Canadian Premiers Six Congressional
15
Known today as “The Leadership Fraternity,” Beta’s list of alumni who have gone on to achieve extraordinary professional and personal success is both inspiring and reinforcing to those who call Beta Theta Pi their own. President of the United States Minister of Canada 200 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives – more than any other fraternity –including two Speakers of the House U.S. Supreme Court Justices – more than any other fraternity of the Supreme Court of Canada to 30 States Medal of Honor Medal of Freedom Gold Prize Oscars, 9 Tonys, Grammys, Emmys and 2 Prize Winners Rhodes Scholars – more than any other fraternity
Prime
Nearly
Heralded as one of North America’s great old college fraternities, Beta Theta Pi is long in experience and certainly not short in its list of member achievements.
81
85
Justice
BETAS OF ACHIEVEMENT
INITIATION
First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum member GPA (1997)
IS
The initiation fee is a one-time charge assessed upon initiating into the Fraternity. This covers your membership shingle, Beta badge and lifetime subscription to The Beta
General Fraternity dues
every undergraduate member
ABOUT BETA THETA PI
operations of the General
WHAT IS THE HERITAGE
The Heritage Fund was established for the maintenance and care of the Administrative Office (Brennan Hall), Beta museum and archives, and grounds built in Oxford, Ohio, in 1994. The $3.1 million facility was paid entirely through the generosity of alumni contributions. WHAT IS THE INSURANCE FEE? Beta Theta Pi maintains a Fraternity-wide liability insurance policy with superior legal coverage and risk management support. The Fraternity’s annual insurance fee is one of the lowest in the fraternal world. FIRST TERM SUBSEQUENT TERMS New Member Fee $151 Total due upon joining: General Fraternity Dues $85.50 Initiation Fee $288 $221 (New Mbr. Fee + Insurance Fee) Heritage Fee $12.50 Insurance Fee ..................... $70 Total due upon initiation: Insurance Fee ........................................ $86.00 Local Dues TBD $288 (Initiation Fee) Local Dues TBD CONTACTS Director TaelorFraternityofGrowthMcCarthy Phi Mu taelor.mccarthy@beta.org513.535-7561 Lauren Stills Alpha Phi beta.orglauren.stills@480.406.5155 David Wong Central Michigan ’17 beta.orgdavid.wong@586.215.9952 Patrick Osner Wichita State ’18 beta.orgpatrick.osner@316.285.8778 Projects: Revitalizations Trevor Hatfield Truman State ’19 beta.orgtrevor.hatfield@513.839.3384 Projects: UNC IllinoisWilmingtonState Remy McClain Truman State ’19 beta.orgremy.mcclain@513.255.8414 Projects: Wash.Illinois in Saint Louis ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS OF FRATERNITY GROWTH ASSISTANT DIRECTORS OF FRATERNITY GROWTH BTP062022
assessed
First fraternity to have General Fraternity Officers (1872)
WHAT SUPPORT WILL FOUNDING FATHERS RECEIVE FROM THE GENERAL FRATERNITY?
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO BE INSTALLED AS A CHAPTER?
First and oldest continuously published college fraternity magazine (1872)
Why are you “Proud to be a Beta?”
I would recommend becoming a founding father if you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Being a founding father, let alone a Beta founding father, is a huge responsibility. I helped found the JMU Beta chapter, not because I wanted to be in Greek life, but because I wanted to change it. I wanted to show the men at my campus that there is a fraternity here for them who goes against the grain of modern joining and ‘frat life’ and instead emphasizes brotherhood through shared values and vulnerability. I didn’t like fraternities at JMU – so I helped make one. Find your purpose for being a Beta Founding Father and then let it fuel you for the next four years.
WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND BECOMING A FOUNDING FATHER?
First fraternity to create alumni chapters (1867)
Pi magazine. WHAT ARE GENERAL
and
It depends on your role in the Fraternity. If you are the president or an executive officer, you will have different responsibilities than a committee member. Either way, members can expect to invest at least five hours each week in Beta Theta Pi.
WHAT IS THE NEW MEMBER FEE?
BETA THETA PI’S PIONEERING SPIRIT
First fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains (August 8, 1839)
(digital) and song book, and risk management resources.
HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE CHALLENGING?
to fund education programs, administrative
First fraternity to host an interfraternity event and meeting (1848)
First fraternity to have a General Convention (1842)
First fraternity to publish an open constitution for public distribution (1879)
and the
First fraternity in 15 states — more than any other fraternity
The new member fee is a one-time charge assessed upon joining the Fraternity. This covers the cost of your new member manual (“Son of the Stars”), Beta songs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
First fraternity established on 35+ campuses — more than any other fraternity First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum chapter GPA (1984)
Questions Continued . . .
JOHN MAIORANA James Madison ’
I am proud to be a Beta because we exist with purpose. As Betas we add meaningful action to our values and vision. When I helped found Beta at James Madison, I wanted to change Greek life, but more importantly create a new space. Before fall 2018, there was no space at JMU for men to find brotherhood grounded in authenticity. A space where men are built up rather than broken down, where brothers find fraternity in vulnerability rather than hazing, where grades are held high and values held close. I’m proud to be a Beta because the brotherhood I helped create was the home many men at JMU finally found that they identified with.
The experience was very challenging, but infinitely rewarding. Building a fraternity is far from easy, whether it be creating your constitution and bylaws or long chapter discussions about your chapter’s identity. However, the biggest challenge you may face is actually one of our strengths: diversity of opinion. You need to recruit men who share your values, but also those who don’t always share your beliefs or ideas. It may sound counter intuitive, but from my experience the best decisions are forged FOUNDING FATHER TESTIMONIES
HOW MUCH TIME DO I NEED TO COMMIT?
First fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Mississippi River (1866)
Beta Theta Pi is the only fraternity to dedicate a full-time development consultant to each of its newly established chapters. For the first academic year, a trained Beta staff member will be on campus to oversee the recruitment, education and training of new members. Plus, each chapter has a local volunteer advisory team that has completed General Fraternity advisor training and will support the chapter as mentors and coaches. Regularly scheduled visits by a Beta staff member continue every year going forward.
Fulfill requirements as set by our Board of Trustees, including at least 40 men initiated, housing arrangements (if applicable), maintain financial stability, demonstrate academic excellence as a group and complete all requirements as set by the chartering committee of the General Convention. A charter petition must be prepared, voted and passed by the General Convention. If you have further questions, please visit gobeta.com
Questions Continued . . .
First fraternity to organize chapters into districts for administrative purposes (1873)
Founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Beta is older than half the states in the union and all 10 provinces in Canada. Labeled “The Pioneering Fraternity” in the 1800s thanks to the litany of “Beta Firsts,” today Beta is known as “The Leadership Fraternity” –a moniker in which all Betas take justifiable pride.
Maiorajd@dukes.jmu.edu804.888.370621
First fraternity to adopt a 2.8 minimum chapter GPA – or the campus All-Men’s Average – whichever is greater (2012)
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT BEING A FOUNDING FATHER? Rather than adapt to a culture that does not align with your beliefs, you have the freedom and responsibility to help shape the direction of a new chapter on campus. You have the ability to build your own positive experience and leave a legacy for those who will become members in the years after you graduate. Immediate leadership opportunities exist and are available for all members instead of having to wait two or three years. Becoming a founding father provides the chance to help bring positive change to the entire Greek community on your campus through living the values of Beta Theta Pi.
First fraternity to achieve 85 Rhodes Scholars — more than any other fraternity AugustFounded:8, 1839
Miami 7Advisors:3.34All-Beta71Avg.142Chapters:~10,000UndergraduateLivingInitiatedOxford,UniversityOhioBetas:Betas:Betas:(7Newin2022-23)ChapterSize:menGPA:perchapter FINANCES
First fraternity to adopt a 2.7 minimum chapter GPA (2006)
WHAT THE FEE? Theta FRATERNITY DUES? are to in the fall spring support day-to-day Fraternity. FUND FEE?
developing men of principle for a principled life Brennan Hall | 5134 Bonham Road | PO Box 6277 | Oxford, Ohio 45056 | 800.800.BETA gobeta.com | beta.org | facebook.com/betathetapi | @betathetapi
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
John Wooden, Purdue ’32 Nicknamed the “Wizard of Westwood,” he won 10 NCAA basketball championships in a 12-year period— seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games. He was named national coach of the year six times.