TFM recently started a series called "Why Your Fraternity Sucks," depicting all the negative aspects of certain fraternities. After reading the series, I decided to take a different spin on it and talk about all the great things about Greek life. Each week I will be alphabetically highlighting a different fraternity at UTA.
Fraternity: Beta Theta Pi, often referred to as "Beta." It is the mission of Beta Theta Pi to develop men of principle for a principled life through the core values of mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, responsible conduct, and integrity.
At UTA: The Delta Rho Chapter.
Founded: On August 8, 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The eight founders in the order in which their names appear in the minutes were: John Reily Knox, 1839; Samuel Taylor Marshall, 1840; David Linton, 1839; James George Smith, 1840; Charles Henry Hardin, 1841; John Holt Duncan, 1840; Michael Clarkson Ryan, 1839; Thomas Boston Gordon, 1840.
At UTA: The Delta Rho Chapter was colonized in 1970 and received their charter on November 20, 1971.
Size: 113 active chapters and over 21 colonies. Beta has more than 200,242 lifetime members, over 130,024 living alumni, and continues a legacy of excellence through the establishment of new alcohol-free recruitment and hazing-free chapters.
At UTA: The Delta Rho Chapter has 26 active members.
via Beta Theta Pi
Colors and Symbols: The colors of Beta are delicate shades of pink and blue, and the official flower is the Pink Prairie Rose. A dragon with three stars adorns the crest.
Badge: "The first Constitution of Beta Theta Pi, adopted in 1839, specifically designated a badge to be worn by members of the society. Article four provided:
“The visible badge of this association shall be a breast-pin bearing on front the following characters: first, three stars; second, a crescent; third, the initial letters of the motto; fourth, the date of the formation of this association; on the back, a heart with a spear passed through it . . . with the name of the member.”
The first badge, designed by Samuel Taylor Marshall, was eight-sided, of gold, the device and border raised in relief against a stippled background. The design followed the specifications of the Constitution: straight sides top and bottom. At the four corners were concave quarter circles, and bearing three stars, a crescent, the Greek capital letters B, Q, P, and small Greek letters a, w, l, q. On the reverse of the original badge was engraved the owner’s name and a heart pierced by an arrow.
The badge was changed in 1841 at the suggestion of Alexander Paddack, Miami 1841. The surface of the Paddack badge was black enamel; replacing the crescent was a wreath and diamond. On the reverse of this badge was engraved the clasped hands, originally considered for the face of the 1839 badge in place of the crescent. The early Paddack badges also bore the owner’s name and the founding date of his chapter. After the convention of 1842, the owner’s chapter Greek letter and the individual’s date of initiation was added to the back of the badge
Philanthropy: Beta does not have a national philanthropy; this allows each chapter to focus on the issues that are affecting their local communities.
At UTA: The Delta Rho Chapter heads the philanthropy "Heroes For Hope." "Heroes" began their initiative in 1989. The Brothers of the Delta Rho Chapter collects toys through donation drives and delivers them to children's hospitals in the D/FW area while dressed up as beloved heroes.
via Beta Theta Pi
Accomplishments:
- Highest Fraternity wide GPA of 3.204
- Titled "The Pioneering Fraternity", "The Leadership Fraternity", and "The Singing Fraternity"
- Has the most Rhodes Scholars out of any fraternity (84)
- Beta's first African-American member joined in 1954, prior to the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case overturning school segregation. Beta never had to strip exclusionary membership language from its founding constitution
- Launched the successful "I Am a Fraternity Man" movement to breakdown stereotypes about fraternities and promote positive fraternal experiences
At UTA: The Delta Rho Chapter
- Most Improved Chapter Award (176th General Convention)
- Leadership Development Award (176th General Convention)
- 2014 Most Improved GPA received at General Convention
- 2014 FSL Most Philanthropic Chapter of the Year
Famous Brothers:
- George H. Whipple, Yale 1905 — Nobel Prize Winner in 1934, Physiology or Medicine
- David Dewhurst, Arizona 1967 — 41st and Current Lieutenant Governor of Texas
- Pat Green, Texas Tech 1985 — Country Music Artist
- Ken Kesey, Oregon 1957 — Author of the novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
- JeffreyJones, Lawrence 1968 — Actor in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Devil's Advocate," and "Beetlejuice"
- DeLoss Dodds, Kansas State 1959 — Athletic Director of The University of Texas at Austin
- Bill Bowerman, Oregon 1993 — Founder of Nike, Inc.
- Hugh McColl, North Carolina 1957 — CEO of Bank of America
- Sam Walton, Missouri 1940 — Founder of Wal-Mart
- John D. Zeglis, University of Illinois 1969 — Former Chairman and CEO of AT&T Wireless
- John Wooden, Purdue 1932 — UCLA Men's Basketball Coach with a record of winning 10 NCAA National Championships in a 12-year period, and is attributed with starting the successful careers of NBA players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton.
At UTA:
- 2014-2015 Fraternity Man of the Year Ross House
- Marco Salinas — President of Association of American Mexican Students
- Tyler Burch — President of Order of Omega
- Dalton Frausto — President of Wrestling Club
- 2014-2015 IFC Vice President of Standards Austin Sullivan
- Two-Time World Irish Dance Champion Jason Hays
via Instagram
Brother Testimonies:
"It gave me the chance to branch out and make a bigger impact than I would by myself or with any other organization. These skills and bonds I have molded me into the person I want to be for life." — Connor McGee, Pledge Educator
"Being from Nigeria we have this misconception about what Greek life is, but honestly I'm so glad to be part of an organization that strives for the development of men of principle. I love all my brothers and how they push me to be a better person everyday. I can't imagine not being a beta." — Chigozie Izuogu, Public Relations Chair and Orientation Leader
"Last year I attended Beta's general convention and they said something that clearly defines how I feel about Beta: Beta is the first love of your life. It has helped me in ways that I won't understand until years down the road, but one change I notice today is when I look in the mirror, I'm happy with what I see. Beta has helped transform me into the man that I always dreamed of becoming."- Tyler Burch, President
