BETA T H E B E TA T H E TA P I M A G A Z I N E
SPRING 2015
PUSHING BACK How sweeping generalizations are shortchanging young fraternity men.
CONTENTS 2 THE BETA THETA PI
PUSHING BACK In this seven-page feature, Beta challenges what has become acceptable media stereotyping of young men who happen to belong to fraternities. Spotlighting the sentiments of three independent authors whose perspectives are inspiring yet rare, new air is given to the reality that, oftentimes, young fraternity men just aren’t given a fair shake when it comes to their true character.
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CONTENTS CONTENTS
FEATURES
3
I AM A FRATERNITY MAN
Beta launches it’s “I Am a Fraternity Man” campaign aiming to more fairly represent the truth of today’s young fraternity men.
40
SPORTS ROUNDUP
Scan Beta’s varsity athletes listing and best sports stories, along with an interfraternal tribute to ESPN’s Stuart Scott.
LIFE LESSONS
45
Learn about the life of one of the world’s oldest men, Dr. Charles White, Missouri ’26, as told by his neighbor.
DEPARTMENTS Editorial ....................................................... 4
Volunteer Spotlight............................. 20
The Inbox.................................................... 6
Campaign Update.................................34
Newsworthy............................................... 8
Campus Life.............................................36
Alumni News........................................... 10
Parent Spotlight.................................... 44
The Beta House.......................................16
Chapter Eternal..................................... 48
You Asked..................................................18
Bridge Builder..........................................51
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
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In the fraternity and sorority world, like clockwork each fall the headlines are filled with op eds calling for the end of Greek life on campuses across North America. Subscribing, however, to that old adage of “Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel,” fraternity and sorority leaders across the land keep their heads down and go about their business of developing a large swath of the continent’s youth. But this past fall had a particularly unusual feel to it, as a handful of campuses levied en mass disciplinary measures against hundreds upon thousands of students, even though most all of those young men and women were not a part of some specific code of conduct violation or campus investigation. EDITOR’S LETTER
Their crime? Belonging to a fraternity or sorority.
THE BETA THETA PI L. MARTIN COBB, EASTERN KENTUCKY ’96 MARTIN.COBB@BETA.ORG
EDITOR’S LETTER
4
Now, rightly or wrongly, Beta has often decided that playing the “woe is me”, “quit picking on us” victim card is more times than not a futile effort. With all of the pressing matters and established priorities before us, there are only so many hours in the day and so many human resources available that can be allocated to responding to every cynical critic. Yet, there are also times in life when it’s important to stand up for one’s self and, in this instance, proclaim, “Enough already. You couldn’t be more wrong, and your narrow-minded, often unresearched, personallybiased attacks on an entire population of young men given the faults of a tiny fraction of their organization’s members misses the mark - and smacks of righteous indignation. Fraternity men and women are no better than anyone else from a human value perspective, but they’re certainly no less, either.” Having had on our radar for a few years the topic of “Pushing Back” on the media’s steretopyical portrayal of Greek life, this quarter we broaden the dialogue beyond the shallow headlines and cheapshot punch lines of late night TV. Choosing to feature three powerful authors whose perspectives are unfortunately rare, we also introduce a new addition to Beta’s communication mediums underscoring the fact that, with confidence, the overwhelming majority of today’s fraternity members deserve to be respected for the aspiring young men they are — and seek to become. Sincerely and yours in ___kai___,
ARCHIVES
ARCHIVES 5
THE BETA THETA PI The oldest continuously-published college fraternity magazine, The Beta Theta Pi was founded on December 15, 1872, by Charles Duy Walker, VMI 1869.
EDITOR L. Martin Cobb, Eastern Kentucky ’96
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE Issue Deadline Winter 2015 October 15 Spring 2015 January 15 Summer 2015 April 15
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION Kyle A. Grand, Wabash ’11
Mail Date December 15 March 15 June 15
SEND PICTURES, STORY CONCEPTS AND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Beta Theta Pi Foundation & Administrative Office Brennan Hall 5134 Bonham Road PO Box 6277 Oxford, Ohio 45056 800.800.BETA or beta@beta.org
MANAGING EDITOR Michael J. Roupas, Iowa ’10
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sarah Shepherd GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sarah Dunaway CONTRIBUTORS Howard D. Fineman, Colgate ’70; Steve Roney, Sigma Chi, The Atlantic; David Von Drehle, TIME; Peg Tyre, Politico PHOTOGRAPHER Christopher K. Cone, Denison ’80 Greek Yearbook
WHO GETS THE MAGAZINE? Upon initiation, each Beta is guaranteed a lifetime subscription to The Beta Theta Pi. That commitment by the Fraternity remains, although for a variety of reasons some no longer wish to receive the hard-copy version. So, who automatically receives the Fraternity’s magazine? All undergraduates and parents, active Beta volunteers, donors to the Beta Foundation, and any alumnus who documents his preference to receive the hard copy with the Administrative Office in Oxford. One can easily do so at 800.800.BETA, beta@beta.org or my.beta.org. HOW DOES ONE GET PUBLISHED? Content submissions for the magazine are always encouraged and certainly welcomed. While space constraints naturally make it difficult for the editorial staff to include every idea presented, a fair evaluation process is exercised in order to publish the greatest variety of chapters, age generations, geographical regions, events, and unique member achievements and stories. Pictures should be submitted in high resolution at beta@beta.org.
The Beta Theta Pi, (USPS 052-000) official magazine of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, is owned by the Fraternity, edited and published under the direction and control of its Board of Trustees, published Winter, Spring and Summer for $30 one-time pre-paid subscription. Standard non-profit class postage paid at Oxford, Ohio, and additional points of entry. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 0397474. Copyright Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 2015. Produced in the USA. WANT INSTANT ACCESS TO A PAST BETA MAGAZINE? Every issue of The Beta Theta Pi since its founding on December 15, 1872, can be accessed in Beta’s online, keyword-searchable digital archive: magazine.beta.org.
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
In the shadow of Mount Rushmore, 16 men of the Gamma Omicron Chapter at British Columbia trekked across the continent in 1999 to participate in the 160th General Convention in Oxford. Traveling in an RV that became known as the “Knox Box” and “Woogie Wagon” caravan SUV, the chapter won its first John Reily Knox Award and General Secretary Cup. The chapter repeated travels and award-winning at the 2000 and 2001 conventions in Schaumburg, Ill., and Oxford, respectively.
THE INBOX
THE INBOX 6
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WINTER ISSUE . . .
THE BETA THETA PI
“GREAT redesign of the magazine. I was engaged page after page. Way to go!”
“Received my magazine today. Crisp, clean and informative. Great job on the redesign!”
“Great design, lots of photos, names and color. ‘Chapter Eternal’ is better. Fun to read!”
“Wonderful, fresh, upbeat look and feel to the magazine. Great job.”
— Brian “BB” Breittholz, Friend of Beta
— Dewayne Biddy, Eastern Kentucky ’87
— Jim Goddard, M.D., Ohio ’54
— Marty Haskell, M.D., Ohio Wesleyan ’68
“WAITING FOR THE VET” I just learned that one of my pledge brothers, H.R. Autz, Missouri ’64, passed away earlier this month in California. An interesting thing about H.R. is that he was the subject of [“Waiting for the Vet,”] a Norman Rockwell painting that was on the [March 29, 1952] cover of the Saturday Evening Post when he was nine years old. The painting is very famous and is hanging in the reception areas of countless vet clinics across the country. Just a short time ago, H.R. gave my daughter a framed copy which she now has hanging in her newly opened vet clinic in Denver. __kai__ Robert Healy, Missouri ’64
BETAS ABROAD
Scores of Beta undergraduates cultivated their intellect through international travel this winter, bringing the Beta Spirit with them to some exotic locations. Check out the photos below of the Beta flag and letters across the globe.
THE INBOX 7
Nate Holder, Cal Poly ’16, had some fun traveling during his winter break. The Epsilon Delta brother spent time in India.
Men from the Alpha Chi Chapter at Johns Hopkins traveled the globe, stopping in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
OVERHEARD FROM NEW BETA PARENTS “I have gone through the history of your fraternity and it’s really very exciting. I am proud of my son for choosing Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.”
“Beta is a fine organization and – if he couldn’t be a Sigma Pi, as I am and was my chapter’s rush chair and president – it is one that I am proud he is affiliated with.”
“Thanks for your warm email for my son joining Beta. It’s indeed our pleasure to see him growing as a young man with positive character and intellectual capacity.”
— Sanjeev Sharma, Father of Shivam Sharma, Purdue ’18
— Michael Lowman, Father of Alex Lowman, Virginia Tech ’18
— Philip Chang, Father of Samuel Chang, Washington in St. Louis ’18
betathetapi.org/linkedin
facebook.com/betathetapi
twitter.com/betathetapi
instagram.com/betathetapi
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
Daniel Moltz, Michigan State ’18, took his Beta flag with him when he visited Varanasi, India, over the winter.
NEWSWORTHY
BETA’S INSTAGRAM
NEWSWORTHY
Ensure that you get your weekly fill of Beta-related photography through your Instagram feed by following the Fraternity’s official handle: BetaThetaPi.
REFER HIM TO BETA Do you know any college men or high school seniors who are or will be attending a school with an active chapter of Beta Theta Pi? Make the chapter aware at beta.org/recommend.
JOIN THE CLUB
The Sons of the Dragon Club is Beta’s annual giving program for Beta undergraduates. To join, donate $18.39 by April 1 at beta.org/SOTDC and receive this year’s member incentives.
MONTHLY UPDATES
Are you in the loop each month with headlining Beta news, member and chapter stories, and local chapter events? Subscribe to Beta’s monthly e-newsletter at beta.org/about/newsletters.
8 THE BETA THETA PI
$94,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
This year the Beta Theta Pi Foundation will award a recordbreaking $94,000 in 78 tuition-based Merit Scholarships to initiated Beta undergraduates or graduate students, with awards ranging from $250 to $2,225. Additionally, two scholarships are available for sons or daughters of Betas. To learn more and to apply by April 15, visit beta.org/foundation/merit-scholarships.
SERVICES RENDERED: ROBERT UMSTADTER On November 26, Director of Digital Media & Brand Management Robert Umstadter, San Jose State ’05, concluded a nine-year term at the Administrative Office. Robert led Beta through its rebranding process, the development of BetaSpirit. com and sparked Beta’s videography and web design evolution. Thank Robert for sharing his talents at rumstadter@icloud.com!
INTERFRATERNALLY SPEAKING Lambda Chi Alpha chapters raised 2.4 million pounds of food last term for Feeding America-affiliated food banks, resulting in more than 2 million meals for families in need.
Sigma Chi brother John Huntsman, Pennsylvania ’59, pledged $5 million to fund four annual sessions for the next 10 years of Horizons, Sigma Chi’s sixday leadership program in Utah.
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity’s chapter at the University of Maryland became the first fraternity recognized as a “Safe Haven” for survivors of human trafficking.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BETASPIRIT.COM 2015 Graduation Stole $47.82
Cutter & Buck Brown iPad Notebook $90.72
White Heavyweight Twill Pro Style Hat $14.82
7 SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AREA ALUMNI MONTHLY LUNCHEON Birmingham, Mich. r.m.caras@gmail.com 11 CREIGHTON INSTALLATION Omaha, Neb. loganheinsen@creighton.edu 18 CENTRE INSTALLATION Danville, Ky. graywhitsett@gmail.com 18 PACIFIC INSTALLATION Stockton, Calif. j_carmona1@u.pacific.edu 18 ST. LOUIS CLUB HONORED GUEST BANQUET St. Louis, Mo dwalther@purkpc.com 24-25 SPRING BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING Philadelphia, Pa. ryan.king@beta.org 24-26 VIRGINIA TECH ALUMNI WEEKEND Blacksburg, Va. bradley.dewet@gmail.com 29 WASHINGTON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SPRING RECEPTION Washington, D.C. aaron.kozuki@gmail.com
MAY 02 CENTRAL MICHIGAN’S SEEBER/VARNER PIG ROAST Mt. Pleasant, Mich. jdsterba12@gmail.com 02 CHAPMAN INSTALLATION Orange, Calif. mendo163@mail.chapman.edu 16 PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER ALUMNI DINNER (CLASSES ’49 - ’60) Philadelphia, Pa. HuestaEasta@yahoo.com 21 PORTLAND AREA ALUMNI LUNCHEON Portland, Ore. portlandbeta@gmail.com
AUGUST
Royal Blue T Shirt $14.64
Classic Navy Blazer $118.22
APRIL
6-9 176TH GENERAL CONVENTION Orlando, Fla. dan.fogle@beta.org
Navy Mini Stripe Polo $33.19 44 Classic Beta Tunes FREE
TO GET YOUR NEW BETA GEAR VISIT BETASPIRIT.COM
SEPTEMBER 26 TRUMAN STATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Columbia, Mo. kwb8343@truman.edu
9 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
Impulse Royal Backpack $18.96
26 LOS ANGELES AREA ALUMNI HAPPY HOUR Los Angeles,Calif bryan.miranda@hotmail.com
NEWSWORTHY
Mens Stainless Steel Fashion Watch $94.30
MARCH
ALUMNI NEWS 10
LIKE SON, LIKE FATHER
ALUMNI NEWS
THE BETA THETA PI
In the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Fraternity lost five brothers, including Todd Weaver, Miami ’93. At Todd’s funeral, his fellow Alpha Chapter pledge brothers decided that they would get together every year to celebrate his life. The event is known as Weaverfest and Todd’s father, Dennis, has been a staple at all of them.
Nothing proves this more than when one year the group was posing for its annual photo to commemorate the trip and the photographer asked Dennis who his son was. He simply replied, “They all are.”
“Every year, the first thing I put on my calendar is the Weaverfest dates,” Weaver said. “Out of tragedy has come a wonderful weekend spent with a terrific group of guys who want to honor our son.”
At this year’s Weaverfest, held at Victory Ranch in Utah, Dennis became a brother of the Fraternity himself, as his son’s pledge brothers had appealed to the General Fraternity Board of Trustees to approve his honorary initiation. Quite surprised, he now wears the Beta badge just like his son, Todd.
“The experience of Weaverfest has created an inseparable bond between Dennis and our pledge class,” Tom Babel, Miami ’93, said.
“Tears came to my eyes as each and every brother participated,” Weaver said. “What an honor to become a fellow Beta.”
BIG TIME PROMOTION
FROM OXFORD TO THE MONASTERY Former Administrative Office Associate Editor Tim Herrmann, Dayton ’10, is now a novice of the monastic community at Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Ind. Tim begins a year of monastic formation and discernment, including study of the Rule of St. Benedict and monastic history. Engage with Tim at tsherrmann@gmail.com.
TO THE BENCH Congrats are in order for David Odekirk, Iowa ’89, as he was appointed judge of the 1B Judicial District by Governor Terry Branstad in December. Connect with David at dodekirk@ dandkpc.com. HEADED ABROAD Robert J. Haley III, Florida State ’14, received the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship in December to study abroad in China and pursue a Follow-On project that will promote the mission of international education upon his return to the United States. Congratulate Robert at rhaley2014@gmail.com.
11 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
Fraternity Oxford Cup honoree and Chairman Emeritus of Sizzler International Jim Collins, UCLA ’50, and his wife Carol donated $10 million to support UCLA’s football program. The gift will help fund the construction of the Wasserman Football Center on the Los Angeles campus. The state-of-the-art facility will house a locker room, athletic training area, strength and conditioning facilities, coaches’ offices, and team meeting, equipment and video rooms. The east plaza of Pauley Pavilion will now be known as the Collins Family Plaza. This gift is another example of the Collins’ generosity In 1999, they endowed the Fraternity’s John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle, which is named for the UCLA coach and his wife.
ALUMNI NEWS
BOOSTING BRUIN FOOTBALL
Bob Trogele, Wichita State ’79, has been named the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of American Vanguard Corporation’s principal operating subsidiary, AMVAC Chemical Corporation. In this role, he will oversee sales, marketing and business development on a global scale. Congratulate Bob at bobtro@comcast.net.
NEW FOUNDATION DIRECTOR John Hagerman, SMU ’63, became the Beta Foundation’s newest director in January. Graduating from SMU with a degree in business administration, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1966. Hagerman is a licensed Texas attorney and real estate broker. Welcome John at johndhagerman@hotmail.com
ALUMNI NEWS 12 THE BETA THETA PI
FLOWN IN BETA’S HONOR The war in Afghanistan is officially over, which makes it fitting that the Fraternity recognize SGT Andrew (Drew) Meslink, Rhode Island ’10, a Fire Team Leader in the Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. Drew helped protect the U.S. Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, where he “had this U.S. flag flown in our organization’s honor on October 14.” Gifted to the museum in Beta’s Administrative Office, he stated in his cover letter, “As a sophomore, I had the honor of being elect-
ed president of my chapter. I was also able to attend the Wooden Institute in the summer of 2007 in Oxford. The values I learned from our organization have proved invaluable to my personal and professional growth. I cherish my time in college working with fellow Betas learning, preparing future leaders, and striving to improve the world we live in. Keep up the good work gentlemen.” Suffice it to say, Beta is also proud of the “good work” of a dedicated and loyal soldier. Reach Drew at mmeslink@gmail.com.
THOM STOPS BY Famous sportscaster and Ohio University alumnus Thom Brennaman ’86 (left), paid a visit to his old chapter house while on campus. Brennaman serves as the TV broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds and has called college and NFL football for Fox Sports. Welcome back, brother!
THOUGHTFUL GESTURE Former Leadership Consultant Jordan See, Florida ’08, serves in the U.S. Army reserves and visited Arlington National Cemetery in December to pay tribute to those we’ve lost. “Laying wreaths, saying thank you, and wishing our heroes a Merry Christmas.” Ask Jordan about his experience at jordan.see@gmail.com.
STATE CHAMPS Congratulations to Scott Pingel, Westminster ’00, for coaching St. Louis’ Christian Brothers College High School to the Missouri Class 6 High School Football state championship. CBC defeated Rockhurst High School 31-24.
Don’t get into an argument with Veenu Goswami, Toronto ’14 (left), as he placed third in the World University Debating Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The competition lasted from December 26 to January 3. This year, the WUDC hosted 410 teams from around the world.
13 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
Goswami has had a prolific debate career. This year marked the third in a row he made it to the world championships. The current law student helped his team win the Oxford Invitational Tournament and tie for top honors at the Cambridge Invitational Tournament this year alone. Individually, he was named the best speaker at the Cambridge Invitational and is a previous Canadian national debate champion. Ask Brother Goswami about his experience and congratulate him on his accomplishments at veenu.goswami@hotmail.com.
ON THE RISE Nathan Litt, Lawrence ’08, was named one of the top 15 young professionals for the year as part of the Fox Cities Chamber’s Future 15 Young Professionals Award. Litt is a project coordinator for Willems Marketing & Events and serves as an advisor to the Gamma Pi Chapter. Congratulate Nathan at nathan.p.litt@gmail.com.
ALUMNI NEWS
DEBATE EXTRAORDINAIRE
GETTING THEIR DREAM HOME Baylor Advisor Tripp Purks ’13 , and his wife, Kelsey (right), were recently featured on HGTV’s Fixer Upper. With the help of hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines (left), the couple’s new house was renovated into their dream home. Ask Tripp what it was like at tripp_purks@baylor.edu.
IN THE NAVY You have to love a football-day selfie, especially when it features Beta Sailor Chris Goodale, Kentucky ’13, front and center. Congratulate him on Navy’s thirteenth straight victory over Army, and ask Chris about his experience at chris.goodale12@gmail.com.
RHODES SCHOLAR FINALIST
Last fall, Founding Father Nathanael Franks, Arkansas ’13, was named a finalist for the coveted Rhodes Scholarship. The oldest and most prestigious international scholarship offered to American students, winners are awarded two years of study at the University of Oxford in England. More than 1,500 students across the United States apply. Franks was a member of the Arkansas track and field team as a decathlete. Academically, he has earned Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and physics, a Master of Business Administration and is currently completing a Master of Accountancy. Franks ultimately wasn’t named a winner, but his character and prior achievements have certainly added credit to Beta Theta Pi. ALUMNI NEWS
“Being selected to interview for the Rhodes Scholarship is both an amazing opportunity and an incredible honor,” Franks said. “I appreciate the tremendous support from the faculty, staff and students in academics and athletics at the University of Arkansas.” Congratulate Nathanael at njfranks@email.uark.edu.
14 THE BETA THETA PI
PLAY BALL In early February, Ben Hemmen, Kansas State ’02, was named general manager of the High Desert Mavericks, a minor league affiliate of the Texas Rangers. He previously served as the assistant general manager for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Connect with Ben at benhemmen@yahoo.com.
SCIENCE GUY SELFIE It’s not every day you run into a television star, but Andrew Craft, Michigan ’14, was lucky enough to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy! Craft is an associate producer at Fox News in New York City, and Nye came to interview about a number of sciencerelated news topics. Learn more by contacting Andrew at arcrafty@umich.edu.
WEDDING PRO Filmmaker Drew Mason, Central Michigan ’11, was named a 2015 Wedding Wire Couples Choice Winner, ranking him in the top 5 percent of wedding professionals worldwide. Connect with Drew at drewmason@gmail.com.
PHILLY BETAS MEET The Delaware Valley Beta Club met in December for its annual holiday lunch. Brothers who graduated from Villanova to San Diego gathered to share some holiday cheer. Want to get connected with the group? Contact Mike Okenquist, Villanova ’94, at mokenquist@hotmail.com. POST-GRAD AWARD Congratulations to Ian McCue, Johns Hopkins ’10, for receiving the MRS Graduate Student Award. It “recognizes students of exceptional ability who show promise for future substantial achievement in materials research.” Send Ian kudos at ian.mccue@gmail.com. ALUMNI NEWS
POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE Mathew Thomas, Washington State ’96, was elected as the Washington State Republican Party State Committeeman representing King County. He will serve on the committee for a two-year term. Here, Thomas is pictured with Speaker of the House John Boehner. Congratulate Mathew at Mathew@pnwgroup.com.
15 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
ONE OF K-STATE’S FINEST
40 UNDER 40 General Counsel & Director of Govt. Affairs at Pacific Seafood Group Dan Occhipinti, Oregon ’05, was named to Portland Business Journal’s top 40 Under 40. Reach Dan at dan1787@gmail.com.
Matt King, Kansas State ’07, was named one of the University’s Distinguished Young Alumni for 2015. The award is given to K-State graduates who are younger than 35 and are “excelling in their professions and contributing to their communities.” King is a fund analyst for the World Bank Group, an international development institution that provides finance and technical assistance to developing countries. Congratulate Matt at mdk1719@gmail.com.
THE BETA HOUSE 16 THE BETA THETA PI
Photo Credit: Michael Raspuzzi ’16
THE
BETA HOUSE INSIDE CORNELL
by Kyle Grand, Wabash ’11
A UNIVERSITY MANDATE BLOSSOMED INTO A COMPLETE OVERHAUL FOR THE “CASTLE ON THE ROCK” In 2009, the Beta Delta Chapter at Cornell University was in the midst of tough times. The group was down to less than a dozen active members. To make matters worse, the University mandated all chapter houses have sprinkler systems by the end of 2013. With a small membership and zero funds, the outlook was bleak.
But, thanks to the hard work of alumni, undergraduates and the General Fraternity, the chapter and house would make a turnaround. The plan was this: use General Fraternity resources to get the chapter membership back on track while raising money to update the historic house beloved by every Beta Delta brother. A professional recruitment team was deployed to Ithaca, and as new member after new member joined, funds started to roll in as well.
MUCH MORE THAN SPRINKLERS In addition to the sprinkler system, all four bathrooms received attention, the kitchen was repainted, and a new refrigerator and electrical and heating upgrades were installed. The moldinfested laundry room walls were repaired, and a new driveway curb was installed to deter water seepage into the house’s foundation. The chapter room was refurbished. The basement was converted into a fitness room with new free weights (and cardio machines to come). Final additions included letters on the front facade and a sign on Ridgewood Road to signify to everyone who passes that Beta occupies the “Castle on the Rock.”
“It’s been a very effective, conscious effort of shared responsibility between the alumni and the undergraduates,” Frey said. “We had the financial means to support our alumni’s effort with our own funds, and in doing so chose to co-invest in our day-to-day living conditions, knowing our combined resources would have a greater impact than either entity independently,” said former undergraduate Alumni Relations Chairman Adam Kirsch ’15. In all, the young men gave $50,000 to the cause, and a total of $400,000 has been invested since 2012. The results are remarkable.
”
— Jeff Frey, Cornell ’89
“A lot of these things hadn’t been touched since the Castle on the Rock was built,” Frey said. “They should hold up for decades to come.”
17 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
ALUMNI AND UNDERGRADS UNITE Led by major contributions from David Duffield ’62, and John Lindseth ’56, the $160,000 needed for the sprinkler system was raised. But alumni, especially Jeff Frey ’89, thought “Why stop there?” Fundraising continued, and even the chapter’s undergraduates contributed.
“The renovations have had a tremendous impact on the house, and really represent the alumni and students coming together to address our greatest needs and modernize our nearly century-old house,” Kirsch said.
THE BETA HOUSE
“
It’s been a very effective, conscious effort of shared responsibility between the alumni and the undergrads.
FOCUSED ON THE LONG-TERM The past few years haven’t been easy, but the experience has been worth it. The membership is flourishing – now with 70 young men carrying a 3.54 GPA – the alumni are active and all Beta Deltas have a fantastic place to call home.
YOU ASKED 18 THE BETA THETA PI
YOU. ASKED. Beta undergraduates recently had a chance to ask General Secretary David Schmidt some hard-hitting questions. Here’s how David replied . . .
How come it seems like our only interaction with the General Fraternity is when something goes wrong?
Are there any plans to expand further in America’s neighbour to the north, Canada? If so, what are the specific plans?
— Grant Laverty, Iowa ’17
— Devon Willitts, British Columbia ’15
Many times it does seem that way, and for that I apologize. The Fraternity does applaud and grandstand so many of the great things our members and chapters accomplish through the Beta magazine, Facebook page, e-news and Twitter feed. At the end of the day, if our membership perceives the General Fraternity as the “bad news” messenger, then we still have a lot of work to do.
Canada remains top of mind for the General Fraternity leadership. However, our challenge centers around the limited local campus support provided. We want to establish chapters on campuses with the host institution and local volunteer support necessary to succeed. We will continue to advocate for Canadian expansion when and where the right local advocacy is available.
“
”
19 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
— David Schmidt, South Florida ’92
YOU ASKED
Beta Theta Pi has polished me by affording access to great men that help me grow, and spectacular experiences that help me in ways that normal interactions with mankind can’t provide.
Why don’t we adopt a General Fraternity philanthropy?
Is there a proven way to actively engage with our alumni base?
How do you encourage those to sing who don’t really want to?
— Mackenzie Nelson, Denver ’15
— Chris Chapek, Miami (Fla.) ’15
— James Spedick, Villlanova ’15
Individualization of our chapters makes Beta unique. Each chapter has different needs, environments and personalities allowing the chapter to choose the philanthropic partner that fits that group best.
Alumni want to feel included. Invite them to chapter meetings, brotherhood events and philanthropies. Don’t limit yourself to your own chapter alumni – in most cases there are hundreds of Betas in the area; find them and invite them.
We are the Singing Fraternity, and if that is not clear to the prospective member then this is where your attention should focus. Start today with your pledge class and recruitment techniques, so down the road singing is the norm for your chapter.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Q: When did Connie tell you to “focus on Beta”? A: It was after I became a district chief. When I started, there were so many problems at all three chapters that a couple of times I got a little bit discouraged. She told me that what you’re doing with the boys and the difference the boys will make in the future is too important.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 20
Q: Why do you continue to volunteer year after year? A: What keeps me going are the men themselves. I see, at least with the chapters I work with, an evolving dedication to self-improvement on the part of the men that matches the reason for Beta, Theta and Pi.
“
THE BETA THETA PI
I have to tell you that this [award] really belongs to my wife. I do a lot of things. I’m a minister. I’m a publisher. My wife says to me ‘Drop it all. Just take care of Beta. That’s where you are going to make a difference in the future of our country.’
”
PETER WAGNER, SOUTH DAKOTA ’62 Peter shared the above quote while accepting the Fraternity’s District Chief of the Year Award at the 175th Anniversary and General Convention. He’s been a Beta volunteer since 2002, serving as a chapter advisor, chapter counselor, house corporation member and district chief (District XXV: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa State, Minnesota). We asked the longtime volunteer to talk about his experience. Connect with him directly at pww@iowainformation.com.
Q: What have you learned from your experience? A: There are people whose lives are totally changed because of their Beta experience, and there some who can spend four years in the house and never get it. You have to accept that there will be ones that really, really care and become the stars of tomorrow. But, not everybody comes out of the experience equally. That’s unfortunate, but it’s just the way it is.
Q: What’s the one thing you’d tell someone who is considering volunteering for the Fraternity? A: I would say give it time. The amount that you get back from being a volunteer is not going to be phenomenal at first. Every year that you’re in it, you find it to be more of a blessing for you, and hopefully you are more of a blessing for the men you are working with.
PUSHING BACK How sweeping generalizations are shortchanging young fraternity men
R
PUSHING BACK
arely these days is it acceptable to make stereotypical assumptions about a large class of people – especially when those foregone conclusions translate into questionable treatment of the individuals who make up that population. Yet, listen to any number of fraternity reports and the sentiment is the same: Greek life is a joke, consisting of nothing but immature, reckless brats who hurt others and provide no real value to society.
21 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
In the pages that follow, Beta challenges the norm by featuring three distinct perspectives that, in their own way, reject what has become an accepted disregard for certain young men, virtually all who don’t deserve it. A best-selling author and expert on the education of boys; a young alumnus of a respected peer fraternity; and one of Beta’s own award-winning journalists – all three drill down into the notion that thousands of young fraternity men aren’t given a fair shake on their true character. Wide-sweeping treatment that in so many other aspects of society would be questionable – and most likely intolerable.
On the following six pages, this icon denotes information from the 2014 Gallup-Purdue index summary results of well-being.
Don’t Blame the Fraternities Page 22
I Loved Being In a Fraternity Page 24
A Step Toward Maturity Page 26
DON’T BLAME THE FRATERNITIES We’ve seen moral panics before. They don’t end well. BY PEG TYRE A Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author of “The Trouble with Boys,” Peg’s article from Politico is republished with permission.
THIS YEAR’S MONSTER: FRATERNITIES. As Gawker put it, “No fraternity, no gang rape.” As the Guardian said, “It’s time to talk about banning fraternities.” Bloomberg View decided: “On balance, most campuses would be better off without [them].”
T
o hear some tell it, fraternities are filled with gangs of leering, entitled deviants who have traded their individual morality for the opportunity to engage in a frenzy of wanton assault. They lie in wait, red plastic cups in hand, preying on defenseless young women. To read the commentary about sexual assault on campus, we’ve never encountered anything quite this bad. The victims are “everywoman”—young, bright-eyed ambitious female students. The evil-doers are made all the more insidious because they hide in plain sight—masquerading as sexually inexperienced 19 years olds. Actually, we have encountered this before. Just ask comic book writers—the victims of a crusade in the 1940s and 50s that blamed comic books for everything from juvenile delinquency to teen homosexuality. Spurred by Congressional hearings and comic book burnings, the panic upended an industry.
Just ask the operators of the McMartin pre-school in California, who, in the middle 1980s, were accused of performing satanic rituals with their young charges. Or revisit some of the fear mongering journalism about “wolf packs” circa late 1980s New York City. In a crime ridden city, groups of young African-American men were the object of great fear and intense law enforcement scrutiny. Now, you can now add fraternity members to the list. We’ve seen moral panics before. And we are seeing one again.
We are being told that the danger of sexual assault is so great that careful fact finding no longer matters. Activist writer Zerlina Maxwell in her now notorious missive published on the Washington Post website wrote this: “Ultimately, the costs of wrongly disbelieving a survivor far outweigh the costs of calling someone a rapist.” Which must be cold comfort to the scores of men who describe being drummed out of college in the face of sexual assault accusations. Concerns about due process and equal protection under the law, concepts enshrined in our justice system, are being dismissed as efforts to “silence victims.” The problem is so great, the commentators say, that the impact on the lives of the accused, even the wrongly accused, cannot be our concern. Julia Horowitz, a journalist at University of Virginia’s own school newspaper inadvertently summed up moral panic almost perfectly, writing that while the Rolling Stone story may be false, “from where I sit in Charlottesville, to let fact checking define the narrative would be a huge mistake.”
•
Community Service Hours (2014): 3.8 million hours
•
Philanthropic Dollars Raised (2014): $20.3 million
•
All-Fraternity GPA (2013): 2.912 versus All-Male GPA: 2.892
•
50% of the Top 10 Fortune 500 CEOs are fraternity men; 15% of Fortune 100 CEOs are Greek
•
44% of all US Presidents have been members of a social fraternity
gallup-purdue index summary results of well-being
23
LIFELONG IMPACT OF FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
29,560 U.S. COLLEGE STUDENTS
found that graduates who are members of fraternities or sororities are more likely to be thriving in all five elements of well-being during their post graduate years.
WELL-BEING
is the combination of all the things that are important to each individual — it’s how people think about and experience their lives (see page 25).
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
It’s playing out in bold strokes in front of our eyes. First there was the outcry about a generalized threat—in this case, “rape culture.” We are told that college women, far from being empowered by the experience of higher education, one that is likely to keep them from poverty, are living in a state of terror. For good reason, it seems. The White House announced that “one in five women is a victim of sexual assault”—a number that even some advocates presciently warned was so inflated it would detract from the seriousness of the issue. (That statistic has now been debunked.)
Then, we had fury over the plot line of a fictional television show that had the temerity to break out of the confines of a simple morality play.
NIC FRATERNITY STATS
PUSHING BACK
Moral panics all follow a similar trend: There are controversies that speak to an emerging social tension—in this case, the changing set of expectations around connection and relationships between affluent young men and women. The media operates as an agent of moral indignation. Politicians thunder. Good data about the problem is slippery or non-existent—and never mind that. Our fear becomes the reason why we should be even more afraid. And so we grow more afraid. We blindly demonize a particular group—literature on moral panics refers to them as “folk devils”— whose capacity for harming the innocent seems limitless. Sometimes, laws are enacted. Sometimes, jail sentences are meted out. Most always, in the moment, it feels so right. And then comes the slow reckoning.
Then came Rolling Stone’s wrenching piece on sexual assault at the University of Virginia. Under the hot glare of public scrutiny, many crucial facts turned out to be either wrong or unsubstantiated. A few days ago, we learned the fist-in-the-gut graphic purported to show the extent to which college-going young women are in danger of sex assault has been discredited.
IGreek LOVED BEING IN A FRATERNITY life can teach young men the value of diplomacy — and of friendship. BY STEVE RONEY A writer based in Washington D.C., Steve Roney is a brother of Sigma Chi whose article is republished with permission by The Atlantic.
I’M NOT HERE TO DEFEND FRATERNITIES. I’ve found that people have largely made up their minds about the Greek system by the time they’re 18 or 19. But I do think the anti-fraternity chorus has grown overloud, the outrage in the court of public opinion disproportionate. Fraternity men are movie villains, the “frat bro” a national stereotype/punch line on par with “annoying hipster.” I sometimes meet judging eyes when I say, “Yeah, I was in a fraternity.”I think it’s ridiculous.
I
’m not alone when I count my college years as the most formative of my life. Those years were dominated by my fraternity participation. Sigma Chi was the biggest and most overwhelmingly positive force in my life for those four years, and the lessons I took from it were every bit as valuable as anything I learned in a classroom. You go to class to study English or finance, but you go to college to study life, to continue becoming who you are. I joined my fraternity almost immediately, a few weeks into my first semester at William and Mary in 2006. I picked it because I thought it was the best one on campus. I think anyone who joined a fraternity would say the same, or at least I hope they would. No, I didn’t have aspirations of accessing an alumni network for career advancement—I can’t think of anyone who seriously used that as motivation. Sure, after graduation a friend might give you a heads up about a job posting or put in a good word for you, but that’s friendship. There’s no list of benevolent CEOs willing to pull you up
the ladder purely because of your Greek affiliation. If there is, someone please forward it to me. The experience was a crash course in diplomacy. Never before had I been around so many intelligently opinionated people, many of whom had fundamentally divergent philosophies. I had always viewed disagreement as messy and unpleasant, to be avoided if possible. Here, good friends routinely looked each other in the eye and said, “I could not disagree more. I think you’re so irresponsibly wrong.” Fraternity issues, like choosing a sorority to partner with during Homecoming or electing fraternity officers—so trivial in hindsight, but gravely important at the time—really did inspire hours of heated debate during chapter meetings. Sometimes you make your point and convince the crowd. Other times, you’re not able to, for whatever reason. Learning to come to terms with your defeat was just as important as figuring out how to get your way.
The 2007 controversy around our charity event, Derby Days, was another lesson, this time in activism. Many women on campus thought one contest in the weeklong event, the Lip Synch night of choreographed dances, was sexist, and were uncomfortable that events were held in the fraternity house, with winners determined by elder Sigma Chis. The dances I remember and participated in were choreographed by the sororities themselves, and high school pep rallyesque. If they were ever any more salacious than that, it’s because it was college, and some people like to push the envelope.
someone. You could count on honest advice, and in the very worst times, a dry shoulder.
Not everyone likes fraternities, but joining one was absolutely the right choice for me.
When I was deciding whether or not to write this piece, I surveyed a dozen or so friends from my fraternity, soliciting their thoughts. Their advice was almost universally discouraging—the PR battle was lost by fraternities years ago, they said, and there’s little to be gained. You’ll only throw gas on the fire.
Mostly, though, being in a fraternity was about friendship. Not brotherhood— brotherhood is an ideal, and ‘ideal’ is an adult word for ‘fairytale’. It’s a lie you tell to guys looking to join the fraternity during rush, and to yourself during college, when you’re wrapped up in how important and significant everything is. Not everyone in the fraternity was a friend, and there was no blind loyalty and solidarity; respect, though, was nearly universal.
To a man, though, the messages ended with some variation of this: “Whatever you decide to do, we support you. We know you’ll do us proud.” Nothing in this world can be all things to all people. Not everyone likes fraternities, but joining one was absolutely the right choice for me, as it is for thousands of young men each year.
So was support, in tough times. Some of my most heartening memories from college involve fraternity brothers, guys with whom I was friendly but not close friends, being there when I needed
Almost a decade later, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
25
gallup-purdue index summary results of well-being
Liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals. SOCIAL WELL-BEING:
Having strong and supportive relationships and love in your life. FINANCIAL WELL-BEING:
Effectively managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING:
The sense of engagement you have with the areas where you live. PHYSICAL WELL-BEING:
Having good health and enough energy to get things done on a daily basis.
Member of a Fraternity 59%
35% 6%
Not a Member 54%
38%
8%
38%
8%
Member of a Fraternity 54%
Not a Member 48%
42%
10%
Member of a Fraternity 46%
38%
16%
Not a Member 42%
38%
20%
Member of a Fraternity 52%
37%
11%
Not a Member 46%
41%
13%
Member of a Fraternity 37%
55%
8%
Not a Member 34%
Thriving
56%
Struggling
10%
Suffering
For more results and information from the 2014 Gallup-Purdue University index study of well-being, visit: nicindy.org/gallup-research.
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
the five elements of well-being PURPOSE WELL-BEING:
PUSHING BACK
Still, we quickly implemented the changes recommended by the sorority council after a campus-wide survey. We moved the events into public forums, placed faculty on the judging panels, and Derby Days became more popular than ever. I don’t think the loudest opponents
ever checked in to see their changes in action. Sometimes it seems reformers are really looking for eradication.
A STEP TOWARD MATURITY Offering young men a sense of home and the mutual responsibility that goes with it. BY HOWARD FINEMAN Howard Fineman, Colgate ’70, is the Global Editorial Director for Huffington Post Media Group and an NBC/MSNBC News Analyst.
I
loved the idea and the reality of the core curriculum in the liberal arts, a dedicated faculty that was like family, a small place in a beautiful rural setting, full of history and tradition.
A LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY, I was a 17-year-old freshman at a small college in a small town in Central New York State. Colgate had fewer than 2,000 students. (My high school had 3,000.) The college, like many others, was all male. Culturally, it seemed as far away as I could get. Which is why I went there. I wanted something different.
But I knew no one. Not a soul from my high school, so far as I knew, ever had ventured there. I was alone in a small place. We all know the risks and periodic disasters of fraternity life. They must be urgently addressed, and are. They are inexcusable. But there still is something to be said for the idea of friendship for its own sake, and for offering young men a sense of home and the mutual responsibility that goes with it. In packs, young men can be dangerous, and certainly self-destructive. And yet they also can learn how to fashion a useful and generous community. Fraternities can be a step – not the only one, to be sure – towards maturity.
Such small victories for responsible sociability garner no headlines, nor should they. It’s what fraternities make possible every day in thousands of places on hundreds of campuses. In my case, that place was the Beta Theta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi.
Quite simply, I liked them, and they saw to it that I was rushed.
Just before we were scheduled to leave school and travel home for Christmas break in my sophomore year, the house decided to hold a Secret Santa gift exchange. I have to confess that I don’t remember the gift I gave, or to whom. But I remember what I got, and from whom. It involved my love of music. My tastes ran to country rock at the time. My favorite group was called the Lovin’ Spoonful, whose leader, John Sebastian, had the odd distinction of being the only rock ‘n roll star of his time (or any time) to strum an Autoharp clutched to his chest as he sang.
I knew almost none of the other members my pledge class. Beta was thought of as
The Autoharp gave the Spoonful a unique sound, and framed their lilting, simple tunes. I was thrilled when they performed on campus. At the Santa ceremony Bob Bentley – an acerbic, antsy Texan who smoked a lot, talked about the South a lot, and seemed skeptical of everyone and everything, yet was fiercely idealistic – gave me a replica of an Autoharp. He had cobbled it together out of scrap wood, bakery string and nails. I was embarrassed, but thankful, and almost shocked by his thoughtfulness. Bob laughed (actually cackled in a suburban cowboy kind of way), and accepted my thanks. That was that. It was a small gesture. We weren’t close friends, before or after Christmas. I’m sad to say that we lost touch, though he is no doubt the reason why I’ve always liked Texas and Texans. As I began my trip back to Pittsburgh later that day, it occurred to me that something had changed. For the first time I had chosen a new version of home, and it was the Beta House.
Employee engagement People who are engaged at work are involved in and enthusiastic about their work. A majority of all fraternity and sorority members surveyed are employed full time for an employer.
prepared for life after college
37%
43%
of fraternity & sorority members surveyed are engaged in the workplace
38%
of non-fraternity & sorority members surveyed are engaged in the workplace
Fraternity and sorority members strongly agree that their institution prepared them for life after college.
27%
46% are not engaged and 11% are actively engaged
50% are not engaged and 12% are actively engaged
Non-fraternity and sorority members strongly agree that their institution prepared them for life after college.
For more results and information from the Gallup-Purdue University Index study of well-being, visit: nicindy.org/gallup-research.
27 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT gallup-purdue index summary results of well-being (according to Gallup research)
PUSHING BACK
It was a literature class that led me there. I was good in English, which allowed me to register for an upper-level course. I got to know two of the brightest juniors in the class. Pete Bowman and Mike Barclay were NOT “throat men” – blowhards in the Colgate parlance of the time. When they spoke, they had something interesting to say. They were cool. They knew music. They knew about the Village, about the blues, about the Beats. They cared less about grades (though they cared about those) than about getting to some deeper level of thinking and acting.
a “prep” house, and there were men from Deerfield, Loomis, Andover and so on. But Colgate was changing, and most were public high school products of a certain winsome kind: witty in a wry way, socially adept, smart but not show offs, serious but not dull, athletes but not intercollegiate jocks. I liked them. I was proud of them. I was proud to be among them.
I am [not what they say I am]. From yesterday’s headlines on “Total Frat Move” to Hollywood’s depiction in “Animal House,” fraternity men are commonly characterized as irresponsible meatheads whose extracurricular activities include disrespecting women, binge-drinking, hazing pledges and blowing their parents’ money. Unfortunately, these bad apples do exist in fraternities. Just as they do in any membership organization or team, as well as society at large. But society’s negative, wide-sweeping generalizations about fraternity members discredit the vast majority of young men whose fraternity experience is positive and nothing like the negative ones portrayed in the media. Simply put . . . They are not stereotypes. They are fraternity men. And they each have their own unique stories that more fairly represent the norm.
privileged?
Growing up in a single-parent home, others often told Kyle Mendoza ’16, he would never make it to college. Now a psychology student, Kyle earned a threequarter tuition scholarship to Chapman University.
I am not a stereotype. My name is
[Kyle].
And I’m a fraternity man.
chauvenist?
Doing his part to raise awareness and end sexual assault, Grant Laverty ’16, serves alongside the President of the University of Iowa on the Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Violence.
grant. [30] THE BETA THETA P I | S P R I NG 2 015
alcoholic?
Alex Gass ’16, is a humble and quiet student from High Point University who lives in an alcohol-free chapter house where he enjoys the camaraderie of his brothers.
alex. PHO T OGRAPHY BY CHRIS CON E
hazer?
irresponsible?
When Colin Wilson ’16, isn’t volunteering at elementary schools, he and his chapter brothers at the University of Dayton maintain a zerotolerance for hazing pledge program.
An involved campus leader at the University of South Dakota, Jacob Munger ’16, leads a student organization that teaches students about service learning.
colin.
jacob.
selfish?
entitled?
A student at Vanderbilt University, Theo RichardsonOmamo ’17, and his family have been relocated 13 times given his father’s role in the United Nations’ World Food Program.
Placed in foster care as a child, Kevin Shields ’15, earned a full scholarship to the University of Utah and maintains a 3.9 GPA.
theo.
kevin.
harmful?
An aspiring physician assistant studying at the University of Tennessee, Jared Long ’16, is passionate about people. He currently serves at Fort Sander’s Regional Medical Center as a transporter, ensuring the well-being of patients.
I am not a stereotype. My name is
[Jared]. And I’m a fraternity man.
[32] THE BETA THETA P I | S P R I NG 2 015
PHO T OGRAPHY BY CHRIS CON E
meathead?
self-centered?
Outside of his civil engineering studies at Florida State University, Logan Godby ’17, is involved in theater and circus arts, and has spoken on stage at TEDx about his experiences with ADD and dyslexia.
A true believer in supporting the community, Jordan Carmona ’16, has raised thousands of dollars at the University of the Pacific to benefit charities that aid victims of domestic abuse.
logan.
jordan.
Want the whole story? With the official launch of this “I Am a Fraternity Man” campaign, Beta takes aim at the negative portrayal of fraternity members at large through ongoing print and digital mediums which document true, positive stories of today’s young men. Visit beta.org/fraternityman to watch some behind the scenes, 90-second video interview clips with the first 10 men of the campaign series. Hear more about their unique personal stories and how they’re affected by society’s negative portrayal of fraternity men.
beta.org/fraternityman
CAMPAIGN UPDATE “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO THROW SOMETHING BACK.” – Maya Angelou THE PROMISES TO KEEP CAMPAIGN
GOAL $20,000,000 by August 2016
GIFTS & PLEDGES RECEIVED $12,013,625 (60.1% as of Feb. 1, 2015)
34 THE BETA THETA PI
With 18 months left to complete The Promises to Keep Campaign (by Aug. 2016), members of the Campaign Cabinet, Foundation Board and Board of Trustees are meeting with Betas across the continent to help guarantee that all future young Betas benefit from programs and services of the Men of Principle initiative.
CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES
“Represented symbolically by the diamond in the badge, Beta undergraduates need the cutting of education and the polishing of experience. These, too, are our promises to keep.”
PROMISE I
PROMISE II
PROMISE III
Expand and endow student participation in award-winning Men of Principle leadership programs.
Launch a new online training platform for all undergraduates, advisors and Beta volunteers.
Build a state-of-the-art learning laboratory and archive preservation center within the Administrative Office.
F U N D ING NE E D: $ 1 3.4 MILLIO N
FU NDING NE E D: $3.7 MILLIO N
FU NDI NG NEED: $2.9 MI LLI ON
DONOR SPOTLIGHT
ANN & WALLY SAMPSON Depauw ’58
SHARON & MIKE RITZ Oklahoma ’66
$120,000
$50,000
$48,040
$48,000
With years spent developing businesses and properties, as well as teaching in higher education, Jim’s passion for developing students is a top priority. Father of four (two Beta sons and Kappa Kappa Gamma daughter), Jim is benefiting the Foundation with a $120,000 estate gift.
Founder of Briggs Financial Group, Dave (center) has spent 41 years helping clients plan financially, including estate and philanthropic giving. He and Sweetheart Carol are leading by example as they establish the Briggs Family Leadership Fund with a $50,000 gift upon their passing.
Certainly no strangers to savvy investing, Ann and Wally traveled to Oxford for the 175th in order to present appreciated stock to benefit several named funds within the Beta Foundation. Nearly $50,000 of that gift immediately established a new endowed leadership fund to benefit The PTK Campaign.
Serving as Commissioner for Shelby County (Memphis, Tenn.), Michael knows what it means to put others first. Recognizing the Men of Principle initiative seeks to inspire principled leadership and service to others, he and Sharon are directing $48,000 of their estate to the Beta Foundation.
CHRISTINE & FRED PIERCE San Diego State ’84
JOHN MCDANIEL, JR. Georgia Tech ’42
DENA & PETER BRIX Washington ’58
BEN SZWEDA John Carroll ’12
$25,000
$14,584
$10,000
$4,000
President & CEO of Pierce Education Properties, one of the largest buyers of student apartments in the U.S., Fred sees first hand the challenges college students face. Wanting to do his part to advance the Fraternity’s goals, he and Christine are making a $25,000 cash gift to The PTK Campaign.
Lifelong donor to the BLF since its inception in 1971, John left the Foundation an estate gift that also included an ongoing royalty from shares of an oil field in Mississippi. Having passed in 2010, McDaniel’s Beta Spirit lives on in today’s young Betas who benefit from his generosity.
Catching the Beta Spirit back in 1955, Peter recalls driving cross-country to attend his first Beta convention. Sixty years later, that passion is alive and well as he is still active in the Portland Alumni Association. The Brix’s $10,000 cash gift will be used immediately to impact today’s undergrads.
Early member of the colony at John Carroll in Cleveland (now Eta Epsilon Chapter), Ben understands the importance of paying it forward. Despite the expenses of his MBA, he pledged $4,000 over five years to help sustain the high-quality leadership programs of the Men of Principle initiative.
LEARN MORE BY WATCHING THE PROMISES TO KEEP CAMPAIGN VIDEO:
BETA .OR G /P T K
35 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
CAROL & DAVE BRIGGS Ohio ’62
THE PROMISES TO KEEP CAMPAIGN
JIM ROUDEBUSH Indiana ’71
CAMPUS LIFE FITTING RECOGNITION
CAMPUS LIFE 36
A little more than a year ago, the Gamma Beta Chapter at the University of Utah was looking for a way to give back to the community. Steve Eror Jr., Utah ’03, connected the men with the Rape Recovery Center and a productive partnership was born. As a result of working together, sexual assault prevention forums were held on campus. They became so successful, the chapter started believing there was more it could do.
THE BETA THETA PI
Wanting to expand its efforts, Gamma Beta applied for the iAspire Grant, presented by When Georgia Smiled - The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation. Recipients would receive $3,200 to continue focusing on an issue. The chapter was one of two national winners. To top it all off, Robin McGraw’s husband is television personality Dr. Phil. In December, former Chapter President Mitchell Cox ’14, was flown to Los Angeles and interviewed on the show regarding the chapter’s efforts. Now, with grant in hand, the Utah Betas are already working on plans to take the endeavor to another level. The Fraternity couldn’t be prouder of the example they continue to set.
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE Chapter President Jesse Wilder, Tennessee ’18, represented the University at the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature. The Legislature is made up of the state’s best and brightest and gives attendees a chance to exchange ideas and learn how government works. Ask Jesse about his experience by connecting with him at jwilder9@vols.utk.edu.
BACK AT MICHIGAN STATE After gaining approval of its charter petition by delegates to the 175th General Convention last summer, the Gamma Psi Chapter at Michigan State was reinstalled as a chapter of Beta Theta Pi on January 10. Some 200 people enjoyed the affair in East Lansing, and Administrative Secretary Jud Horras, Iowa State ’97, presided over the Installation.
SUPER SERENADE
The men of the Gamma Eta Chapter at Georgia Tech in Atlanta hosted their mothers at the chapter house for their first-ever Mom's Luncheon. "It was a great time and the least we could do for these outstanding women," the group said on its Facebook page. Get more updates on what Gamma Eta is up to by visiting its Facebook page: facebook.com/ BetaThetaPiGeorgiaTech.
LEAVING THEIR MARK The Gamma Phi chapter house at the University of Oklahoma is in the midst of an extensive renovation and expansion. For a special feature of the new additon, one of the steel beams being incorporated into the structure was set out for display during every home football game day. Alumni, actives and pledges could sign the beam, and by the end of the season, it was covered with signatures. With the beam now permanently set into place, the names of hundreds of Oklahoma Betas will live on for generations to come. Follow the construction by going to the chapter’s Facebook page (search “Beta Theta Pi - University of Oklahoma”). Updates are also available on Twitter at twitter.com/OUBetaCorp.
37 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
The Gamma Chapter at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania won the annual Greek Light-Up Night last December. It took the men almost three hours to put up every single light and inflatable snow man. The epic display featured close to 3,000 lights, and everyone in the chapter helped as a brotherhood activity. There were nine other chapter houses in the competition.
HANGIN' WITH MOM
CAMPUS LIFE
Beta Theta Pi has long been known as the Singing Fraternity and the men at Eastern Washington University proved why. Check out this shot of the Epsilon Omega Chapter serenading the ladies of Gamma Phi Beta in January. To see more from the Epsilon Omega Chapter, check out its Facebook (facebook.com/ EWUBetaThetaPi) and Twitter pages (twitter.com/Beta_EWU).
AWARD WINNING DISPLAY
FUNDRAISING FACIAL HAIR
CAMPUS LIFE
Another Movember, another dynamite showing by the men of the Gamma Tau Chapter at the University of Southern California. This past November, the group once again grew mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health. Having raised $18,404 this year, in a two-year period Gamma Tau has generated $33,700 to help improve the lives of men affected by testicular cancer, prostate cancer and mental health issues. Connect with the group by visiting its Facebook page at facebook.com/uscbeta.
38 THE BETA THETA PI
MR. PRESIDENT X 4 Beta is excited to have at least four brothers serving as student body president. Congrats to Todd Montgomery, Kentucky ’16, Graeme Meyer, Pittsburgh ’16, Jairo Chavez, Creighton ’17, and Jay Gilliam, Westminster ’15! Give them a shout-out at Todd.montgomery9@gmail. com, GTM11@pitt.edu, jairochavez@ creighton.edu and JGilliam.15@ westminster-mo.edu.
WEARING GOLD At the Winter World University Games in Grenada, Spain, John Leonard, Oregon ’17 (center), won the gold medal in the Men’s Ski Halfpipe. His winning score was 86.40. Tricks he pulled off included the “Flair Nose Grab,” “720,” “Switch 720” and “900.” He was one of just two Americans to win gold at the Games. Congratulate John at jleonard@uoregon.edu.
SYMBOLIC TRIP Along with six initiated brothers, 24 new pledges of the Rho Chapter at Northwestern University chartered a bus from Evanston, Ill., and made the six-hour pilgrimage to Oxford. Best of all? They did it on February 7, the 117th anniversary of Founder John Reily Knox’s passing. What a lifelong memory that some of Beta’s best and brightest will never forget.
RECORD BREAKERS
The Zeta Tau Chapter at Saint Louis University held a Beta Toy Drive for the Bridge of Hope Church in North Saint Louis, and the results were fantastic. Hundreds of presents were donated and given to underprivileged children in the community during the holiday season. See more from the chapter on its Facebook page at facebook.com/ztbeta.
INTRODUCING TCU’S ETA ETA With its charter petition approved at the 175th General Convention last summer, 151 men at TCU officially became the Eta Eta Chapter during the Installation on December 5. General Secretary David Schmidt, South Florida ’92, presided over the event, and the chapter’s charter now hangs in the conference room of the new chapter house.
CAMPUS LIFE
Men of the historic Pi Chapter at Indiana University in Bloomington recently participated in the university’s annual dance marathon, performing for 36 hours straight to support Riley’s Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. The event raised $3.2 million, an all-time record. Connect with Pi Chapter by visiting facebook.com/ pages/Beta-Theta-Pi-Indiana-University.
FOR THE KIDS
39 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
FOR HUGO — “OF EVER HONORED MEMORY” A year ago, the Theta Zeta Chapter at the University of Toronto lost one of its own in Hugo Chan ’14. The group held a memorial for their fallen brother on the one-year anniversary, December 14. The chapter said on its Facebook page: “We would like to thank everyone that came out to our memorial for our beloved brother Hugo Sai Hin Chan. The evening was filled with memories and stories of the profound impact that Hugo had on the lives of the people that knew him. Hugo was remembered for all his acts of altruism, sacrifice and kindness. Though he may be gone, he will forever live on in the hearts and minds of all the brothers old and new within the Theta Zeta Chapter. Gone but not forgotten.”
SPORTS ROUNDUP Whether on the field, on the court, or in the water, undergraduate Beta varsity athletes strive to excel in both academics and athletics. By Kyle Grand, Wabash ’11, kyle.grand@beta.org
SPORTS ROUNDUP
(1965-2015)
ALPHA PHI ALPHA’S STUART SCOTT Sports journalism and Greek life lost a special person when ESPN broadcaster Stuart Scott passed away on January 4 after a long battle with cancer. Scott was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1987. He brought a unique and revolutionary voice to television and his impact lives on to this very day. Beta sends its condolences to the Scott family and the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha. Rest in peace, Stuart.
40 THE BETA THETA PI Photo Credit: Jessica Hill for the New York Times
CAUSING A RACQUET Anderson Good, St. Lawrence ’15, and Duncan Maxwell ’15 (right, in red) are co-captains and starters for the squash team. The pair helped pull an upset of then No.1 ranked Harvard University in December. St. Lawrence won 7-2, and it was the first victory over Harvard in school history. Because of the win, St. Lawrence became the top ranked team in the country for the first time ever. This season, the pair is a combined 21-4 in singles play. Good and Maxwell will lead the team into the College Squash Association Team National Championships, on a mission to bring a national championship back to Canton, N.Y.
SPEED OVER SIZE Ryan Jackson, Cornell ’17, is quite the sprint football player. Jackson was named to the College Sprint Football League’s First Team for defense and special teams for his efforts this season. The versatile Jackson was the only player in the CSFL given First Team recognition in two different categories.
— WIMBLEDON CHAMPION STAN SMITH, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ’69
WHAT IS SPRINT FOOTBALL? Sprint football is essentially the same as the football we all know, except for some minor rules changes. The sport emphasizes speed and agility. Players must maintain a weight of 172 lbs or less and a minimum of 5% body fat to be eligible to play. There are weigh-ins four and two days before every game.
41
THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS Wrestler Mike Polizzi, Stevens ’15 (left, top), had a terrific senior season. Wresting at 157 lbs., he won the Centennial Conference championship. He compiled an outstanding record of 28-2, winning his last 21 matches. With Polizzi’s contributions, the team won the conference title for the first time in school history.
This season, the Fraternity had a pair of fantastic placekickers in William & Mary’s John Carpenter ’15, and Washington University in St. Louis’ Alex Hallwachs ’16 (above). Carpenter was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s First Team kicker and Special Teams Player of the Year. He led the Tribe with 78 points, making 18-of-23 field goal attempts and 24-of-24 extra points. Hallwachs was a First-Team All-University Athletic Association selection and led the team and conference in scoring with 72 points on 15-of-21 field goals and 27-of-29 extra points. He tied the school’s single-season school record with 15 field goals. Hallwachs was selected to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Division III Football Team.
SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
Currently, only eight schools form the Collegiate Sprint Football League. Cornell has had a team since 1937.
TAKEDOWN ARTIST
SPORTS ROUNDUP
Jackson was fourth on the team in tackles with 27 and had a Big Redleading seven pass breakups. As far as punting, he averaged 36.8 yards per punt. He placed nine inside the 20-yard line and even had two punts over 50 yards.
“EXPERIENCE TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO; CONFIDENCE ALLOWS YOU TO DO IT.”
// THE LIST BETA’S VARSITY ATHLETES IN THE 2014-2015 ACADEMIC YEAR BASEBALL Kenyon Josh Jacobvitz ’15 Sam Gillespie ’16 Connor Bingham ’17 Thomas Morris ’17 Knox Michael Bohnhoff ’15 Stevens Nick Muglia ’18 Wabash Taylor Cantor ’18 Matt Scott ’17 Washington and Lee Andrew Lamb ’15
SPORTS ROUNDUP 42
Washington in St. Louis Julian Clarke ’16 BASKETBALL Wabash Kasey Oetting ’15 Daniel Purvlicis ’16 Jordan Johnson ’16 Zach Patton ’18 CROSS COUNTRY DePauw Jim Easterhouse ’15 Will Bond ’15 Brian Myers ’16 Brian Mincks ’16
THE BETA THETA PI
Kansas State Kevin Jantsch ’16 Lawrence Kyle Dockery ’15 Joseph Patrick Mangan ’15 Jonah Laursen ‘16 James Cameron Davies ’16 Andrew Geleske ’17 TCU Taylor Moult ’15 Greg May ’17 Wittenberg Courtland Johnson ’16 FENCING Johns Hopkins Nathaniel Green ’17 Lawrence Jacob Hodges ’16 FOOTBALL Auburn Jimmy Hutchinson ’17 Denison Emerson Thacker ’15 Indiana Erich Toth ’15 Anthony Corsaro ’16 Joshua Pericht ’17 Benjamin Bach ’18 Kenyon Jack McDonald ’15 Nick Gasbarro ’15 Brandon January ’15 Harry Rossman ’15
Garrison Anderson ’15 Alexander McQuiston ’16 Nick LaPoint ’16 Max Boyd ’16 Greg McIntosh ’16 Brian Hunca ’17 Jack Hanratty ’17 John O’Brien ’17 Mike Gibbons ’17 Jamal Perkins ’17 Ryan Angelo ’17 Justin Cruz ’17 Max Baughman ’17 Mike Cullen ’17 Pierre Dubois ’17 Jordan Pakula ’17 Jibri McLean ’17 Knox Andrew Paul ’15 Chazz Benton ’15 Nick Bock ’15 Carlos Garcia ’15 Ryan Schulz ’15 Chaz Benton ’15 Robbie Compton ’15 Nick Sienkiewicz ’15 Hamed Alizada ’16 Aaron Hoover ’16 Luke Oosterbaan ’16 Mitch Weissenhofer ’16 Ben Couri ’16 Andrew Linden ’16 Miami (Fla.) Adam Arnaout ’17 Pennsylvania Mitch King ’15 Jackson Madden ’16 Jack York ’16 Tyler Drake ’16 Andrew Pyle ’17 Riley Pelisek ’17 Robert Arancio ’18 Lukas Sontich ’18
3
1 2
4
GOLF
HEAVYWEIGHT CREW
Bethany Kyle Pytlak ’15
Pennsylvania Alexander Buck ’16
Ian Shephard ’16
Michael Dudum ’18 Henry Rogers ’18
Cam Mullins ’16 Chris Anklin ’15
Truman State Nick Franta ’15
Wabash
Wabash Adam Antalis ’16 Chase Francoeur ’17 George Vinihakis ’15 Marcus Hoekstra ’18 Caleb Neal ’18
Truman State Jase Willhite ’17 Jacob Hayes ’18 Dereck Leach ’16
DePauw Eric Tandy ’15
LACROSSE
James Kennedy ’16 Corey Hoffman ’16 Caleb Neal, 2018
Kenyon David Thoensen ’17
Chapman Pierce Guderski ’15
Washington & Jefferson Conor Crowe ’15
Wabash Eddie Cmehil ’16 Deryion Sturdivent ’17 Connor Rice ’17 Connor Lenahan ’17 Mac Norton ’17 Kyle Stucker ’17 Sammy Adams ’17
Lawrence Nigel Schuster ’17 Nathan Ley ’17
Kenyon Noah Gurzenski ’17 Cam Feenstra ’17 Liam Cardon ’16 Bobby Weiner ’16 Alec Foresta ’16 Cam Thomas ’17 Andrew Weinert ’17
ROWING
Washington in St. Louis Alex Hallwachs ’16 Jacob Haskins ’16 Nick Annin ’16 Nick Laduc ’18 William & Mary John Carpenter ’15
Missouri Wilson Sunvold ’15 Northwestern Matt Negri ’15 Wabash Nick Sommer ’15 Jacob Woodward ’18 AJ Hamilton ’18 William & Mary Alex Hicks ’15
5
MIT Luke Verdi ’16 St. Lawrence Kersey Reed ’16 Jeremy Vautour ’16 Patrick Sullivan ’16 Joseph Nickerson ’17 Will Burchenal ’15
St. Lawrence Alex Durkin ’17 SOCCER Bethany Cody McElhaney ’15 Nick Turner ’15 Ian Shephard ’16 Kyle Simmons ’17 Lawrence Dominic Pasquesi ’17 Joe Krivit ‘17 Pennsylvania James Rushton ’16 Samuel Engs ’16
Washington in St. Louis Cole Davis ’16 Kevin Goon ’17 Wittenberg David Barth ’16 Whitman Park Harmon ’15 Bridger Sellegren ’16 Clayton Over ’17 SPRINT FOOTBALL Cornell Bennett Winters ’15 Avery Hasenauer ‘15 Dan Anderson ‘15 Ryan Jackson ’17
// QUICK HITS
7
1) Daniel Purvlicis, Wabash ’16, has been a force on the court for the Little Giants this season. He leads the team in points (16.9) and rebounds (7.3) per game. 2) One of the University of Missouri’s top golfers is Wilson Sundvold ’15. With the spring season underway, be sure to watch Sundvold in action. 3) Kevin Jantsch, Kansas State ’16 (left), runs cross country and track for the Wildcats. Jantsch will try to carry the momentum from a successful indoor season into the spring. 4) Adam Arnaout, Miami (Fla.) ’17 (center, in orange) blocks the defense during a practice. Arnaout is a walk-on offensive lineman for the Hurricanes. 5) Stephen Raynes, Columbia ’14 (left), serves as team captain for Columbia Men’s Swimming/Diving.
9
Pennsylvania Hunter Heflin ’18
Knox Niko Kontos ’15
SQUASH
TCU Evan Folan ’15
St. Lawrence Duncan Maxwell ’15 Anderson Good ’15 SWIMMING & DIVING Bethany Dan Faix ’17 Cameron Dietch ’18 Colorado School of Mines Justin Dearden ’16 Columbia Steve Raynes ’15 DePauw Alex Alfonso ’15 Alex Grissom ’16 Casey Hooker ’15 Cameron Johnson ’15 Blake Lehmann ’16 Duncan McMillan ’16 Daniel McGuinness ’16 Stephen McMurtry ’16
8) Taking the mound for the Washington University in St. Louis Bears is Julian Clarke ’16. He appeared in seven games last season and finished with a 1-1 record and 2.77 ERA.
Washington & Jefferson Kevin Dunigan ’16 Ulysses Laman ’15 Mike Magdic ’15 Ben Mancini ’15 Ben McGrath ’16 Jake Meyers ’15 Anthony Picozzi ’15 Anthony Squeglia ’16 Collin Higgins ’16 Justin Clark ’16 Nicholas Willison ’17 Jonathan Spehar ’17 Wabash Leo Abdalla ’18 Washington in St. Louis Jacob Hale ’15 NIck Rafferty ’18 WPI Adam Trumbley ’15
9) Running back Brandon January, Kenyon ’15, rushed for more than 600 yards and four touchdowns this season. Against Allegheny College he had his best game of the season. He gained 152 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving).
TENNIS Case Western Bas van Lent ’15
Matthew Geleske ’16 Bjorn J. Gowdy-Jaehnig ’16 Jonah Laursen ‘16
DePauw Eric Bruynseels ’15
Maine Tyler Roy ’15
St. Lawrence John Megas ’15 Will Kauppila ’16
South Dakota Erik Hill ’15 Josh Peterson ’15
Truman State Jake Ohlhausen ’15 Griffin Smith ’15
TCU Greg May ’17 Taylor Moult ’15
Wabash Mark Troiano ’15
Wabash Alex Clauser ’15 Christian Rhodes ’17
TRACK & FIELD
Mike Magdic ’15 Ben Mancini ’15 Ben McGrath ’16 Anthony Squeglia ’16 Sam Taylor ’15 Turner Rintala ’16 Collin Higgins ’16 Nicholas Williams ’16 Nicholas Willison ’17 Jonathan Spehar ’17 Patrick Fredrick ’17 WRESTLING Knox Greg Ventris ’15
DePauw Will Bond ’15 Brian Myers ’16 Brian Mincks ’16
Westminster Austin Fiegel ’14
Truman State Ben Dudley ’16
WPI Nicholas Aleles ’15
Kansas State Kevin Jantsch ’16
WATER POLO
Stevens Daniel Moore ’17 Mike Polizzi ’15 Carl Caserta ’15 David Ott ’16 Tristan Hollenbaugh ’18
Knox Jacob Swider-Rogers ’15 Lawrence Cameron Davies ’16
Washington & Jefferson Conor Crowe ’15 Chris DeNunzio ’15 Kevin Dunigan ’16 Carl Krause ’15
43 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
6
7) DePauw’s Casey Hooker ’15, has been named an All-American numerous times throughout his illustrious career. He is consistently one of the best in the pool in all of Division III swimming.
SPORTS ROUNDUP
8
6) Kicking footballs in the fall for Auburn is new member Jimmy Hutchinson. He is a punter, and in limited action, had nine punts, averaging 36.6 yards per kick.
PARENT SPOTLIGHT BILL BUTTS, MISSOURI ’74
PARENT SPOTLIGHT 44
A 120-YEAR BETA LEGACY
THE BETA THETA PI
“There is a rich tradition of Beta Theta Pi in our family,” says Willard “Bill” Butts, Missouri ’74, “a legacy that runs deep over 120 years.” Bill became a proud Beta father in 2012, after his youngest son, Carson ’16, pledged Beta during his fall semester at Westminster College. Deep within that legacy includes two additional Betas named Willard L. Butts: Bill’s grandfather, an 1894 graduate of Hanover who later went on to own a law practice, and Bill’s father, a 1939 Mizzou Beta who completed his education at Pennsylvania before reporting to the Air Force in World War II. In 1983, Bill’s father passed away at the age of 63. Thirty years later, Bill’s mother presented him with a treasured gift. “Before she passed away, my then 92-yearold mother, Ruth, gave me a small box of jewelry,” said Bill. “It included some of my father’s military badges, and a Beta badge. Though I don’t recall ever seeing it before,
she told me it was my Grandfather Butts’ pin, confirmed by the safety chain with the jeweled letter ‘I’ signifying the Iota Chapter at Hanover College.” On Christmas morning in 2013, Bill presented his grandfather’s special Beta badge (right) to his son. “Carson now wears his great grandfather’s Beta badge proudly as the fourth generation Beta in our house,” says Bill. Now halfway through his junior year, Carson continues the 120-year legacy of Butts Betas, having served as intramural chairman, risk manager, and currently serving as chapter president. “Our family Beta connection is not limited to our immediate family,” Bill adds. Two of Bill’s first cousins were Missouri Betas: Giltner Stevens ’69, and Stephen Satterlee ’70. On his mother’s side, two additional first cousins were Oklahoma Betas: Clyde Chesnutt ’54, and Lon Chesnutt ’57. — Mike Roupas, Iowa ’10, mike.roupas@beta.org
“
Carson now wears his great grandfather’s Beta badge proudly as the fourth generation Beta in our house . . . a legacy that runs deep over 120 years.
”
— Bill Butts, Missouri ’74
LIFE LESSONS FROM ONE OF
THE WORLD’S OLDEST MEN BY DAVID VON DREHLE, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, TIME MAGAZINE PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE WHITE FAMILY
When Beta’s Charlie White,
Missouri 1926, died at the age of 109, David Von Drehle, editor-at-large for TIME, reminisced about the lessons learned from his wise neighbor of seven years.
O
ne sunny Sunday morning seven years ago, shortly after we moved into our new home in suburban Kansas City, I noticed that my neighbor across the street was busy in his driveway. Wearing only a pair of shorts, his barrel chest rippling, he was using a sponge and a garden hose to wash his girlfriend’s purple PT Cruiser. Did I feel a twinge of envy at all that this scene implied—the Saturday night romance; the love-interest perhaps dozing languorously inside as her man basked and flexed? No comment. With a glance at my own battered minivan, with its sticky cup
holders and booster seats smelling faintly of baby puke, I went inside. What made the scene especially memorable was that my neighbor was 102. When you meet a man who is 102, you don’t expect to know him very long. Yet my friendship with Dr. Charles White— Charlie—wound up lasting seven years. Charlie died on August 17, about an hour after he turned 109. That was long enough for him to leave a powerful mark on me.
“Even more amazing, though, was Charlie’s brain.
He salted his conversations with details
plucked effortlessly from yesterday’s newspaper and events of a century ago.”
Talking to Charlie was like falling into a history book. He was born in 1905, during the second Theodore Roosevelt administration. Buffalo Bill Cody and Chief Geronimo were still alive; John F. Kennedy and Laurence Olivier were not yet born. The Wright Brothers had made their first flight not 20 months earlier. Henry Ford had not yet started to mass-produce cars. Among the names the world did not yet know: Lenin, Mao, Hitler, Franklin Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Louis Armstrong, Shirley Temple, Peter Pan. As I mentioned, he was quite a physical specimen. In our first conversation, he bemoaned the fact that he had recently been compelled to give up golf, at 101. (It was several years before he surrendered his plans to resume the sport.) Even more amazing, though, was Charlie’s brain. He salted his conversations with details plucked effortlessly from yesterday’s newspaper and events of a century ago. I asked him once if he could recall the old Newman Theater, where young Walt Disney premiered his first Laugh-OGram animations in 1921 before moving to Hollywood. Charlie answered with a
vivid tour of every movie house in the city circa 1921—not just the Newman, but the place around the corner where his sister played the organ to accompany silent reels, and another place a few blocks from that, and the vacant lot where films were screened on hot summer nights before air conditioning. Then he painted a wordpicture of Electric Park out south of town, at the end of the streetcar line. That was the place where Disney watched in awe as the nightly tableaux of human actors rose from fountains on hydraulic lifts each evening. With its manicured landscaping, nightly fireworks, and miniature train puffing around the perimeter, the amusement park of Charlie’s youth fed the imagination that would eventually create Disneyland. The first doctor in Kansas City to specialize in anesthesiology, Charlie could discourse at length on the invention of modern medicine. He could tell you what it was like to be a general practitioner making house calls in the Depression, removing tonsils with picture wire. It was a hard life, making ends meet on late payments and barter—no health insurance back then. When science advanced beyond ether and brandy for surgery patients, he leapt at the chance to learn anesthesia at the Mayo Clinic. That was 1944. He later learned that his specialty had side benefits; Charlie confided to me that he rendered his kids unconscious for long drives across Kansas on their way to vacations in Colorado. Charlie had a lot of laughs over the decades. He loved to tell about the time that he and his boyhood friend—later the controversial journalist Edgar Snow, friend of Mao— set off cross-country on dirt roads in a rattletrap 1919 automobile. When the car and their money gave out in California, the lads picked fruit to buy food and hopped freight trains to get home. He worked his way through medical school blowing the saxophone in a dance band. He heard a promising young Kansas City jazzman named Charlie Parker in a local club.
Charlie, at age 103 in 2008, in front of his’67 Mustang convertible before going to swim laps.
46 SPRING 2015 | THE BETA THETA PI
Another local guy, Harry S. Truman, once sent Charlie to South America to assist in a surgery on the president of Peru. Diplomatic immunity suited Charlie. He smuggled a pet monkey on the return trip, which lived in his home for years. But his was a real life, which means that it wasn’t all laughs. Charlie knew grief from boyhood. His father, a minister of the Disciples of Christ, was killed in a freak elevator accident when Charlie was only eight. His mother took in boarders to pay the bills; some of them were doctors—that’s how Charlie found his future. Later, his first marriage was a trial of mental illness that ended in his wife’s suicide. As the decades passed, Charlie outlived his friends, his associates, even one of his children. What this rich life taught him was a kind of inner peace, an equanimity reflecting the robust wisdom known as Stoicism. Charlie was able to separate the things he could control from the things that he could not, and he didn’t fret about matters beyond his power. One of his daughters told us once that she was complaining about an insufferable certain someone we all knew when her father told her to stop. You can’t change people like that, Charlie schooled her. If I let such people irritate me, I would have been dead a long time ago. He taught me something even more useful in the last months of his life. By then, his superhuman body was finally wearing out. Charlie was nearly blind and mostly deaf, though his mind never faded. More and more of his charming and straightforward conversation has to do with his readiness
for death. He wasn’t depressed about the oncoming end. Even less was he angry or fearful. He didn’t pine for days past nor pick scabs of regret and resentment. Instead, it was as if Charlie had reached the end of a long day at the amusement park. The moments of delight and surprise, along with the moments of pain and fear, along with the moments of exhaustion and exhilaration, along with the moments of wonder and love—all culminated in the hazy afterglow of the closing fireworks and the dimming lights.
A cheerful 102-year-old, Charlie rarely had patience for dwelling on negativity and regrets.
It was time to leave. Charlie White lived the dream of countless men and women in my generation, the insufferable Baby Boomers. Hale and hearty well past 100, forever handsome with his rakish moustache and abundant hair, Charlie was prosperous, comfortable, ageless. And that dream led him to a graceful acceptance that … it ends. Don’t get me wrong: I am all in favor of long and healthy lives. But there is something unseemly in the modern notion that science should aim to cure us of death. Charlie came closer than anyone else I’ve known to that vision of endless life. Close enough to decide that it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. He saved me a good deal of fretting. Thanks, Charlie. When I heard that he was gone, I thought of Emily Dickinson, for some reason: “Because I could not stop for Death—He kindly stopped for me.” I smiled to know that Charlie was glad to see him.
On Veteran’s Day, Charlie would wear his WWII uniform, this time next to grandson Charles.
A 98-year-old Charlie poses with daughter Madelyn White Dalgleish.
LESSONS LEARNED
1
Recognize the things in your life that you can and can’t control.
2
For the things you can’t control, don’t spend precious time worrying about them.
3
Live life to the fullest and accept that it will end someday. Don’t fear that notion; be at peace with it.
BETA.ORG | 47
IN LOVING MEMORY
CHAPTER ETERNAL Flags indicate those who have served in the United States or Canadian armed forces.
CHAPTER ETERNAL 48
Honor your brothers with a memorial gift to the Beta Theta Pi Foundation, and consider asking loved ones to name the Beta Leadership Fund in your obituary: beta.org/gift. Asking loved ones to donate your Beta badge and important Beta artifacts to the Fraternity’s archives and museum in Oxford is always welcomed and appreciated.
THE BETA THETA PI
Amherst David H. Kinley ’44, May 28 ,2014 Arizona State John W. Heffron ’80, Jan. 18 Beloit William B. Corlis ’37, June 14, 2014 Bethany Thomas M. Fabek ’48, Dec. 6 Bowdoin Richard E. Morgan ’59, Nov. 13 C Douglas K. Simonton ’73, Dec. 12, 2014 Case Robert J. Koch ’50, Dec. 5, 2013 Jack E. Maxwell ’49, Oct. 24, 2014 Elmer Kitinoja ’53, Feb. 12, 2015 Centre Robert T. Knox ’06, Nov. 26, 2014 Cincinnati Raymond J. Lippert ’47, Dec. 16, 2014 C Richard F. Neff Jr. ’41, Jan. 5 C Colgate Judson S. Griffin ’43, June 14, 2014 Colorado John L. Landen ’43, Jan. 23 Neal E. McNeill Jr. ’50, Dec. 2, 2014 Charles T. Newton ’48, Jan. 17 Richard H. Reinert ’62, Jan. 1 Colorado College Harry E. Beatty ’56, Nov. 1 C Renwick G. Congdon, Jr. ’56, Dec. 28, 2014 C Colorado Mines Frederick C. Aldrich ’48, April 23, 2014 Columbia Anthony J. Forlano ’62, Dec. 13, 2014 C Alexander D. Kline ’46, Nov. 28, 2014 C Cornell Robert J. Talbert ’43, Jan. 5, 2014 Gustavo J. Vollmer ’42, Nov. 2, 2014
Dartmouth Neal Crampton ’51, Jan. 12 C Denison Steven C. Froberg ’71, Apr 10, 2014 John C. Thuma ’57, Jan. 5 C Denver David L. Butler ’57, Oct. 7, 2014 C DePauw Kermit B. Morrison ’51, Jan. 2, Robert T. Watson ’44, Oct. 19, 2014 Emory James C. Thomas ’57, Nov. 24, 2014 Florida John G. Knight ’49, Nov. 30, 2014 C Robert L. Rhodes ’49, Dec. 15, 2014 C Albert C. Van Dusen ’37, Dec. 18, 2014 C Ralph E. Wilson Jr. ’53, Jan. 28 C Georgia Tech Frank J. Bull ’48, Oct. 9, 2014 Jack Fentress ’99, Oct. 28, 2014 C G. B. Kidd ’51, Jan. 7 C Idaho Jack S. Erlandson ’50, April 29, 2014 Robert B. Sahlberg ’47, Dec. 12, 2014 Richard C. Smart ’66, March 28, 2014 Stanton D. Tate ’55, Nov. 3, 2014 Indiana Michael D. Barker ’60, Dec. 28 , 2014 C Richard J. Thornton ’43, Jan. 21 C Benjamin F. Wilson ’75, Jan. 22 Iowa David C. Duncan ’43, Dec. 15, 2013 Bruce A. McGregor ’41, Dec. 24, 2014 C G. G. Morrison ’41, Dec. 4, 2013 Charles A. Ruhl ’50, Dec. 8, 2014 C Ted E. Weirather ’69, Nov. 28, 2014 C Kansas Richard B. Altman ’52, Nov. 21, 2014 C
Kansas State William H. Luttgen ’44, Oct. 2, 2014 James M. Piper ’60, Dec. 20, 2014 C Kenyon Joseph F. Culp ’54, July 2, 2014 Lawrence Robert P. Sonkowsky ’54, Nov. 16, 2014 Maine Ripon W. Haskell ’48, Nov. 27, 2014 C John F. Langley ’66, Jan. 27 C Wallace F. Warren ’43, Aug. 31, 2014 Miami Daniel C. Brower ’52, Jan. 26 C Steven T. Collins ’74, Jan. 23 Robert S. Knight ’47, Jan. 12 Thomas B. Leech ’40, June 20, 2014 Delbert L. Mills Jr. ’59, Nov. 8, 2014 William M. Summers ’44, Oct. 14, 2014 Michigan Harvey K. Littleton ’43, Dec. 13, 2013 Minnesota Sherlock C. Merrill ’42, May 1 , 2014 Eugene D. Pelletier ’62, Jan. 26 Mississippi David C. Henry ’84, Jan. 24 Missouri Guyton M. Hamilton ’56, Jan. 2 Paul Hamilton Jr. ’50, Jan. 12 Charles N. Seidlitz Jr. ’43, Oct. 26, 2014 MIT Ernest G. Hurst ’60, Jan. 17 Richard Muther ’38, Oct. 15, 2014 C Richard A. Richards ’42, Nov. 2, 2014 Nebraska Paul E. Dinnis ’47, Aug 7, 2014 Michael L. Offner ’75, Dec. 27, 2014 North Carolina J. R. English ’62, Jan. 19 C William M. Miller ’39, Jan. 3 C Dan S. Williamson ’46, Jan. 28 C
REX L. BERNSTEIN Wesleyan ’15
Rex Bernstein died peacefully in his sleep on January 10 while visiting family on the West Coast. A government major with a minor in history, Bernstein was a former member of the swim team, competing in the backstroke and freestyle events.
Wabash Charles G. Gudbrandsen ’46, Jan. 24 Washington Kent E. Clark ’57, Jan. 4 Eugene Kirsten ’42, Jan. 16 C Robert G. MacLaughlin ’43 June 19, 2014 Richard S. Murchy ’52, Oct. 30, 2014 C Washington & Jefferson William J. Lynch ’71, Dec 5, 2014 Washington and Lee Richard H. Nash Jr. ’68, Nov. 2, 2014 Ralph S. Taggart ’43, Feb 4 J. A. Vlerebome ’55, Feb 11 Wesleyan Rex L. Bernstein ’15, Jan. 10 W. C. Gordon ’45, Dec. 18, 2014 West Virginia Arch A. Moore, Jr. ’51, Jan. 7 C Morris E. Mowery Jr. ’63, Dec. 31, 2014 Kwang H. Park ’06, Jan. 15 Harry V. Spangler ’47, Dec. 1, 2014 Thomas W. Turner ’50, Jan. 17 Western Ontario Sean T. Rossiter ’69, Jan. 5 Western Reserve Robert G. Fulenwider ’50, Nov. 13, 2014 Russell A. Metzger ’58, Dec. 30, 2014 C Donald Williams ’49, Dec. 8, 2014 C Whitman George F. Christensen Jr. ’43, April 25, 2014 Wichita State Roy D. Hale ’63, Sept. 25 Howard D. Kessinger ’63, Feb. 22 Gerald D. Riedl ’63, Jan. 2 Willamette Robert A. Yunker ’60, Jan. 30 Williams Leonard K. Eaton ’43, April 1, 2014
ARCH A. MOORE JR. C West Virginia ’51
A former three-term Governor of West Virginia, General Fraternity Vice President and Oxford Cup Honoree, Arch Moore died on January 7 at the age of 91. A World War II veteran, Moore earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star while serving in the Army.
The brothers listed were reported to the Administrative Office between November 9 and February 12, 2015. For assistance locating an obituary or to report a brother’s passing, contact Phyllis Bowie at 800.800.BETA or phyllis.bowie@beta.org.
49 SPRING 2015 | BETA.ORG
South Dakota Robert C. Disharoon ’59, April 15, 2014 Bruce E. Griffin ’62, Jan. 22 Southern California Michael C. Ross ’78, Nov. 18, 2014 St. Lawrence Lester A. Dority ’42, Nov. 7, 2014 John H. Williams ’48, Nov. 6, 2014 Stanford Jerome L. Bechter ’50, Nov. 1 , 2014 Howard W. Dougherty ’38, Dec. 28, 2014 John M. Read ’67, April 24, 2014 Tulane Fallon W. Bentz ’53, Nov. 21, 2014 C William P. Conery III ’50Nov. 15, 2014 C William G. Gaudet ’56, Nov. 18, 2014 C UC Berkeley Douglas C. Hansen ’52, Nov. 9, 2014 C UCLA Scott K. Alberts ’87, Nov. 15, 2014 Charles K. Johnson ’47, Dec. 20, 2014 Teboho D. Nteso ’94, Jan. 19 Union Paul W. Myers ’44, Nov. 25 , 2013 Robert A. Seefried ’68, Sept. 13 , 2014 Utah John P. Creer ’56, Jan. 30 John B. Goddard ’42, Jan. 8 C Michael S. Hansen ’68, Jan. 9 Robert D. Strout ’72, Jan. 23 Richard A. Sweet ’49, Jan. 1 C Vanderbilt James R. Kellam III ’60, Dec. 1, 2014 Bryon B. Kerr Jr. ’43, Aug. 22, 2006 Andrew D. Welsh ’52, Dec. 23, , 2014 C Virginia Walter L. Hooker ’66, Dec. 8, 2014 C
CHAPTER ETERNAL
Northwestern Alan G. Ingraham ’49, Feb. 5 Raymond W. Rensis ’49, Jan. 6 C Ohio John P. Campbell ’71, Feb. 4 C Charles L. Fulks ’67, Feb. 2 C John P. Warden ’62, May 18, 2014 Paul M. Weaver ’66, Oct. 21, 2014 Ohio State John L. Boggs ’49, Oct. 31, 2014 Keven C. Gray ’89, Dec. 15, 2014 Philip S. Krieger ’50, Dec. 8, 2014 James J. Manos ’73, Nov. 12, 2014 Ohio Wesleyan Robert S. Mauck ’48, Dec. 13, 2014 C Oklahoma Mark H. Lindsey ’83, Nov. 22, 2014 Oklahoma State Philip G. Evans Jr. ’53, Jan. 1, 2014 Samuel M. Jones ’50, Jan. 10 C Eddie L. Markwell Jr. ’53, Jan. 22 Oregon Richard E. Sheahan ’45, June 22, 2014 Oregon State Edmund G. Fearey Jr. ’43, Sept. 30, 2014 Penn State Paul L. Rowland Jr. ’48, Nov. 10, 2014 C Lester R. Thurston Jr. ’48, Dec. 25, 2014 C Pennsylvania Howard B. Hosmer Jr. ’43, Oct. 29, 2014 John Watt, Jr. ’43, Dec. 24 Purdue Robert D. Juve ’39, Nov. 12, 2014 Philip S. Kerber ’54, Jan. 20 Howard R. Meeker Jr. ’48, Jan. 16 C Rutgers Thomas A. Fallon ’63, Dec. 3, 2014C George S. Huber ’50, Dec. 21, 2014C
RENAISSANCE ORLANDO AT SEAWORLD | ORLANDO, FLORIDA
SeaWorld SAVE THE DATES AUGUST 6-9, 2015
Mark your calendars for August 6-9, 2015, and plan on attending Beta’s 176th General Convention in the Sunshine State. Hundreds of alumni, undergraduates, spouses and guests will gather in beautiful Orlando to celebrate
THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A
BETA CONVENTION
our Great and Good Fraternity. More information is available at beta.org. Registration opened March 4, 2015.
BRIDGE BUILDER SOCIETY
ethan braden, Willamette ’02
One of my favorite Beta memories stems from the 161st General Convention, when I watched as my hero, my father, was initiated into the Fraternity in front of 700 brothers in attendance. He was not Greek as an undergraduate and was initially wary of my choice to join a fraternity. However, just two years later, I watched as the first to welcome him into our brotherhood was none other than Beta hero, Honorable John J. Rhodes, Kansas State ’38. He offered my father the grip, a big hug, and a cheerful, “Welcome, Brother!” Beta further fortified the bond my father and I shared. I joined Beta at Willamette because I wanted to make friends separate from my 100+ football teammates. Little did
I know in 1999 that I would one day credit Beta with so much: meeting my wife and my closest friends, my job at Eli Lilly & Company, and the love and support Betas provided me and my family when my father passed away. I owe the Fraternity dearly for what it has given me. My wife and I included the Fraternity in our estate plan, so young men can benefit from the mentoring, development and lifelong friendships that I have enjoyed. Our Fraternity is full of heroes and young men today deserve to experience the courageous example those same men have so willingly provided.
Ethan serves as the Humatrope Brand Leader for Eli Lilly & Company. He has served Beta as a district chief, regional chief and Foundation director. Ethan and his wife, Betsy, met at a Beta wedding in 2008 and married in 2011. They live in Indianapolis with their English bulldog, Rocky.
“I owe the Fraternity dearly for what it has given me.”
beta.org/bbs.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
Beta Theta Pi Foundation & Administrative Office
PAID
Permit No. 1534 Oxford, Ohio
Brennan Hall PO Box 6277 5134 Bonham Road Oxford, Ohio 45056 www.beta.org
“We can spark some larger societal change.”
BETA.ORG/GIFT “It’s incredibly important that men on college campuses are actively involved with the prevention of sexual assault. Men have to be the ones to step up and stop it.” — Mitchell A. Cox, Utah ’14, Chapter President (See page 40 to learn more.)
BETA LEADERSHIP FUND