Get Rope is a Way of Life

CREATING A NEW FRATERNITY CHAPTER IS NO smallundertaking. It requires extraordinary e ort and commitment to a shared goal. It requires relationships on campus and in the community. It requires strong leadership, dedication, and precision. To bring a new chapter to campus requires men who will pull together and get to work.

The University of Tennessee-Martin had such men in 1959. They built the foundation for Alpha Upsilon Chapter to carry on their legacy of fostering excellence in development, recruitment, mentoring, and service to the Fraternity leadership and commitment to pull together.

“The importance of leadership and facing things headon was established from the founders of our chapter,” said Brother Russ Bragg, Adviser of Alpha Upsilon Chapter. “The expectations and the standards and the striving for excellence, and the overall goal building, and Making Better Men. It really started with them, and it is something that just got instilled, and thankfully it is just kind of been the lifeblood of the chapter.”

Rope Pull, also known as tug of war, is taken seriously at UT-Martin. During homecoming in the fall, there is a campus-wide Rope Pull tournament with teams of students from organizations across campus. These teams compete to, “Get Rope,” from their opponent. Alpha Gamma Rho has won it every year but once.

“Get Rope,” is the way of life for Alpha Upsilon Chapter and its members. The importance it has to the chapter can be seen in how it prepares for Rope Pull. Several days a week, the entire chapter meets behind the chapter house for Rope Pull practice. These practices are held throughout the year and attended by alumni. (See the techniques and history of Rope Pull on page 16.) That level of commitment to, “Get Rope,” extends beyond the tournament for the members of Alpha Upsilon Chapter. It is part of member development and fostering teamwork. Bragg and Brother Macon Barrow, the chapter's, Noble Ruler, said it holds all the brothers accountable not only for simple things like cleaning and taking care of the chapter house, but also in their actions.

“What we try to do is help our brothers work through their adversity, whether it is about di erences in opinion or anything else,” Brother Barrow said.

“Get Rope,” can be seen through the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and throughout the Martin, Tennessee community. Alpha Upsilon members are involved everywhere you look. It is part of their culture. A culture that expects success and the best of everyone. A culture of excellence.

Creating A Culture Of Excellence

To build a culture of excellence, you need to understand the current culture, identify the traits that exist, and which need to be kept or removed. In a culture of excellence, every member of the chapter feels safe, secure, and supported. Members feel safe because they trust one another. They feel like they belong and are responsible for their success.

1. CLEARLY DEFINE THE PLAN

A culture of excellence needs everyone to be united toward a clear and measurable goal. The goal cannot be vague and the priorities cannot be ambiguous. Everyone needs to know the plan and how they fit into that plan.

2. COMMIT TO THE EXPECTATIONS

The goals are set high in a culture of excellence. To achieve them takes genuine commitment from everyone involved. It creates an environment that feels authentic, not one just going through the motion. Shared expectations hold people accountable.

3. SUPPLY THE RESOURCES

Every chapter is unique. Each has different needs to be its best. To achieve excellence, every member needs the right resources to grow and contribute. When they do, they feel like they belong and are more willing to grow.

4. FOSTER OPEN FEEDBACK

Open feedback encourages collaboration and cultivates leaders; both are necessary for a culture of excellence. Dedicating time to open feedback and a willingness to have frank discussions about misunderstandings can resolve issues before they become problems.

5. FACING OPPORTUNITIES

Facing challenges, change and uncertainty develops adaptability and flexibility. Approaching adversity as an opportunity inspires the same in others and instills in them to take more initiative to accomplish their objective.

The chapter's commitment to address issues head-on is crucial to the development of members and to fostering a sense of teamwork. It was the founding brothers of Alpha Upsilon Chapter that used these leadership skills to help them establish the chapter.

History Of Alpha Upsilon Chapter

The idea of a fraternity for the men of the School of Agriculture was first introduced in the fall of 1959 by Ed Perryman. He recruited fellow agricultural students interested in the idea and in the winter, they met in the basement of the men’s dormitory to lay the groundwork for forming an agricultural fraternity, including the drafting of a constitution for review.

January 14, 1960 was the first formal meeting. Twenty men were present, and each officially declared interest in forming a fraternity. At this meeting, Ed Perryman, the first to propose

Creators of Alpha Upsilon Colony:

Ed Perryman, Frank Dodd, Jack Davidson, Larry Wade, Bubba Hord, Dewey Bunch, Charlie Grooms, Dr. Bob Duck**, Sammy McCoy, George Haynes, Pat Gray, Bill Towns, Jimmy Gibson, Wayne Ivey, Albert Pledge, Paul Blount, Gordon Crenshaw, Stanley Miller*, Darron McNatt*, William Carmack

* Brothers of the Century

** Brothers the Century and Hall of Fame the creation of the colony, was elected president of their group. Seven other officers were elected. These attendees are the, “Founding 20,” of Alpha Upsilon Chapter.

The men considered multiple fraternities and chose Alpha Gamma Rho because it had more to offer an agriculture student. They reached out to the National Fraternity and spoke with then National Extension Committee Chairman, Brother Maynard Coe. Their discussion inspired the men to pursue colony affiliation and attend officer training school hosted by Delta Chapter at Purdue University on April 23, 1960.

Less than a month later, Brother Coe traveled to Martin, Tennessee, for the first time. He met with the colony and with representatives of the university. He also gave his views on securing a home for the future colony.

The Alpha Gamma Rho Colony at UT-Martin was recognized by the National Fraternity at the beginning of the fall quarter of 1960 as, “AGR local fraternity.” Upon recognition, a new officer class was elected to serve, including its first Noble Ruler, Stanley S. Miller. The fall quarter marked the first pledge class, and initiation of two members. This accomplishment was only the first stepping stone of many as possibilities for a house were explored. Investigations were conducted into the availability of houses for sale. They revealed none were available, so the alternative of building a new house became the next priority of the chapter and an Alumni Building Corporation was formed, and a charter was filed.

It would not be until January 1962 the chapter obtained a house. A few months later, Alpha Gamma Rho Colony became the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho.

Alpha Upsilon’s founding is just one example of the chapter's profound leadership and dedication that is continued to this day. Their brothers take every opportunity they can to better their leadership. Over the last six years, 73 Alpha Upsilon brothers attended Leadership Seminars and 14 Alpha Upsilon brothers attended the 2023 Top Leaders Institute.

The chapter encourages others to do the same. For information on how your chapter can enroll brothers in leadership trainings hosted by the AGR Home Office, please reach out to agr@alphagammarho. org or 816-891-9200, and keep an eye out for schedule updates through the National Fraternity’s social media.