However, many of the undergraduate men were unable and/or unwilling to take responsibility for their actions and commit as a unified group to re-align the chapter’s culture with what would be deemed reasonable by any objective audience. That reality breaks the heart of every alumnus, parent and Friend of Beta who has tried over the years to build an experience at Miami worthy of Beta, Theta and Pi. It is heart-breaking for so many young men in the chapter, too. Thankfully, Beta’s long-standing relationship with Miami University is strong and collaborative. And while together both institutions — and the men and women who comprise them — grieve what is a very sincere and real loss, we know in our hearts that our Alpha Chapter will thrive once again. After all, the chapter’s motto isn’t figurative. “Lasting for an age” means something. Going forward, our Alpha Chapter alumni (and Beta chapters everywhere, for that matter) are faced with some important and very relevant questions:
• How can a chapter be successful for so long and its members embrace Beta’s values so passionately only to have those same values rejected by some students generations later? • How can a chapter’s culture allow good young men with outstanding character to be silenced and marginalized by peers who feel entitled to do as they will? • How can a chapter that has won the NIC Award of Distinction, a litany of Miami University Greek and academic honors, and so many Knox and Sisson Awards quickly devolve into a culture void of responsible leadership, structure and respect for peer authority? • How can a chapter thrive over the long-term in a Greek community that faces significant cultural challenges? • How can a chapter that is located just yards from the Fraternity’s original founding site foster a brotherhood that tolerates ongoing bad behavior and incorporates pledge education practices that so clearly violate everything Beta stands for?
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THE BETA THETA PI SUMMER 2014
While the university’s administration, Alpha house company and General Fraternity continue to work through considerable details to implement the chapter’s closure, Beta remains thankful and appreciative of Miami University’s support and patience throughout this process. Under a timeline that will allow for recolonization beginning in the 2016-17 academic year, every Beta — young and old — must know that Alpha’s Beta Spirit does not waver even in times of challenge.
We will mourn. We will learn. And we will be compassionate toward our young brothers who are experiencing this significant challenge during their undergraduate years. Most importantly, we will remain steadfast in pursuit of friendship and fidelity and all that is good and true in the principles of Beta Theta Pi. Sincerely and yours in ___kai___, David E. Schmidt, South Florida ’92 General Secretary
CLOSURE COMMENTARY “Very unfortunate. It’s sad to “Another reason why the “I hope to have the think a few knuckleheads Men of Principle initiative support of Alpha and brought down the whole is a huge failure.” all Beta alumni through chapter and closure was — Andrew Kaplan, this process. Now, at apparently the only option.” Southern Illinois ’14 Convention, and next year. — David Wood, Georgia ’95 You are doing yourself and my brothers a disservice “Safe to say the Alpha “This guy fully supports if you just brush us chapter was the AO’s the Administrative under the rug. Beta has Office. Thank you for completely changed crown jewel, so I trust possibly saving a life!” my life. Between that for it to have been — Casey Pavich, experiences in my closed there must have Wisconsin-Oshkosh ’99 chapter, at Wooden, and just meeting the been an extremely “We all need to thousands of Betas that remember that we are compelling reason stroll through Oxford ‘Men of Principle’ not and that all possible every semester. I have ‘Boys.’ No matter how been blessed and am you feel about hazing alternate courses of very thankful. You can action were exhausted.” and other sophomoric take my house, but behavior, Beta has its — Brendan Power, Iowa ’15 that’s just about all I governing principles we will give you.” — Mark share as brothers as “The AO was a Cialone, Miami ’16 well as those that we have constant source of stress to live by that are part of the “It’s certainly unfortunate. to the chapter during my legal system.’” — Christian I’d be more inclined to be time there though, and Eppers, Wright State ’86 sympathetic if it’s just a select officials from the AO few bad apples. The Alpha treated Beta and the Men I think it shows strength Chapter has to lead by of Principle initiative like and character that our example. They have to act a religion more than a fraternity is willing to close in a manner that represents social fraternity created even the Alpha chapter and the Fraternity. All eyes are for the purpose of building stand up for the principles on them.” — Bruce Rayner, brotherhood.” — Mitch of our fraternity. — Conrad Miami ’78 Haus, Miami ’12 Hametner, Texas A&M ’92
“Surely other punishments could have been considered. AO needs to find alternative ways of changing chapter behavior.” — Justin Burch, Mississippi ’10