Beta back at USC and Miami (FL)
 

Check out this great news!
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USC Breaks Record with 83 Men
Beta Theta Pi’s record-breaking return to the University of Southern California is drawing significant attention. Beta Theta Pi’s record-breaking return to the University of Southern California is drawing significant attention. An October issue of the campus newspaper The Daily Trojan ran a story of the re-colonization on the front page. (Directly below the fold was an announcement of the largest gift in university history of $175 million by George Lucas.) With 83 founding fathers, the Gamma Tau Colony is certainly headline worthy as an overwhelming success and a record-breaking expansion for USC and the Fraternity.

The founding father class consists of 22 freshmen, 27 sophomores, 25 juniors and nine seniors. They have an average cumulative GPA (excluding freshmen) in excess of 3.25 and are very involved on campus. Leadership Consultant Josh Fairchild, Oklahoma State ’05 remarked, "They are brand new to the fraternity but not brand new to being leaders."

The re-colonization was led by a four-man recruitment team consisting of Fairchild; Directors of Operations and Education Dustin Anderson, Minnesota ’05 and Michael Wolford, Miami ’04, and Leadership Consultant David Schmidt, Connecticut ’06. The team was on campus recruiting for more than three weeks from October 1st to October 26th.

The planning for the recolonization, however, began long before the team set foot on campus. An eight person advisory team, led by Chapter Counselor Vincent Mikolay, Bethany ’00, was recruited and trained to support the new colony and other alumni offered support to the project with time and resources. “Great alumni support, collaboration with the staff and a well executed plan helped Beta’s message reverberate on campus,” said Fairchild. “Recruits benefited from knowing they had a strong heritage of alumni before them.”

Gamma Tau, installed in 1947, boasts a prestigious roll of more than 1,600 alumni including co-owner of the LA Kings, Lakers and Staples Center Ed Roski ’62, Wimbledon Champion Stan Smith ’69 and many Olympic medal winners and business leaders. USC President Steven Sample, Illinois ’62, is also a Beta.

Following three years of inactivity, the Colony will initiate a new class of Betas on November 30th. Learn more about the re-colonization and Gamma Tau at http://www.gammataualumni.com/ and http://www.dailytrojan.com/.

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Beta Takes University of Miami by Storm
In April, the University of Miami Interfraternity Council invited Beta Theta Pi to expand to campus this fall. The results of that invitation have proved overwhelmingly successful with a poignant energy permeating campus and the third largest expansion in Fraternity history. Even University President Donna E. Shalala caught the fever of excitement wearing a “Go Beta” button.

The new colony boasts 63 founding fathers assembled from the top gentlemen, scholars and leaders on campus. The class makeup is four seniors, 11 juniors, 24 sophomores and 26 freshmen. The collective GPA of the members is an astounding 3.61 (4.107 with freshmen) with seven valedictorians, seven eagle scouts, two NCAA athletes, six resident assistants and more. Further, the men represent six nationalities and many campus interests. “Beyond the numbers, what matters the most is these men are true Betas,” said Leadership Consultant Joe Kokojan, Oklahoma ’06. “Their character, values, and determination, while difficult to express in words, is incredible.”

Kokojan, along with Director of Expansion and Recruitment J.B. Scherpelz, Miami ’05; Leadership Consultant Phil Fernandez, Miami ’05, and Leadership Consultant Russell Katigan, Oklahoma State ’06 led the 24-day recruitment period ending October 18th with the founding father class induction. The team was also supported by a nine-person advisory team and superb University and campus support. “Without the support of the institution and the Office of Student Life, this success would not have been possible,” reported Kokojan.

Scherpelz explained the selection of the University of Miami as a site for expansion, “We look at alumni strength in the area, the caliber of student, strength of the Greek community and support from the University. . . Miami had all those characteristics and more. The University of Miami was a perfect campus for Beta Theta Pi.” The excitement and interest was evident with more than 200 attendees as the campus wide informational meeting and 185 men expressing interest. The project was even featured in the student NewsVision show on October 12th.

The University of Miami expansion was planned by the university as well. After reviewing 17 national organization expansion packets, four groups were invited to present to the Interfraternity Council. Beta Theta Pi was invited this fall, with Pi Kappa Phi in the fall of 2008. Associate Dean of Students Greg Singleton said, “Beta Theta Pi communicated well its mission and how it would enhance the community.”

Founding father Marlow B. Hernández explained his emotions in joining the Fraternity, “I will bring an idea, a dream which I believe resonates in those who live with an open mind and have a sincere desire to be better. We all have a purpose — an internal and external mandate to change ourselves and serve those around us. The men at Beta Theta Pi understand what it means to have principle. To be in the company of such individuals gives me hope and gives me strength.”

Kokojan will guide the founding father class through an education period concluding with initiation in February.

I am always amazed or curious as to how someone in a pledge class of 30+ could possibly know their brothers well enough to call them "brothers". I had a hard enough time getting to know my 6 pledge brothers... and I can't imagine how they even have chapter meetings for a group that size. Sometimes I'm thankful that my school is only 7% Greek.

Different stuff man, different stuff. I look at it like this, the individual classes (by year) are all fewer than 30, and if the dynamic is set up so that the bonds are started by year, they'll develop the closeness.

And it's really not that big of deal about chapter. We regularly, at least early on the year, had 50-60 guys at chapter when I was in school. Parli-Pro becomes a chapter's best friend, and there must be constant reminding not to repeat things that have already been said. Sometimes, for big discussions, we had chapter last 3, 4 or 5 hours, but for the most part, there will be a select number of guys who distinguish themselves as voices in the chapter and a few guys will never speak in chapter. The rest will speak if they have reason to and everything works.

83 men! Wow, what a number. This is already larger than most chapters out there. Eventhough the number is large, they will still face the same challenges all new expansions encounter. But, I remember talking about USC two years ago back when San Diego was being colonized. When we heard LMU had 64, we were already astonished. So does this count as the fourth successful expansion in Southern California over the past four years?

Sure sounds like it. I saw both those blurbs on General's website and was extremely impressed. The expansions last year weren't even within shouting distance of these numbers, so I have to give all the credit in the world to this year's LC's. They have clearly done a phenominal job. It's giving me a ton of hope as well, because both my chapter (Furman, Zeta Lambda) and the chapter where I'm doing grad school (Virginia, Omicron) will be recolonized within the next couple of years, or so we've been told. These sorts of numbers give new chapters their best opportunity to become successful, and I look forward to more high quality expansions.

Well, they definitely are not going to have it easy. All 83 and 63 men joined with a purpose, and some of those purposes are going to clash. They have to build a foundation and with that many people, there are going to be many perspectives of how to do it. I was part of a 39 men founding father class, and it was really hard. 10 dropped out mainly because of personal conflict. The general perspective of members who come in as founding father is that they get to be a leader and help build it, which is so true, but they all try to jump in the kitchen, and then you just have too many chefs. So, with a group that size, its going to be really hard, and really frustrating for most of them.

GF knows how to recruit
 

Seems like everytime GF starts a new colony they get a ton of guys, I think its because they have the money and the resources to do a sucessfull recruitment. 83 guys is amazing, but I would question it also. I mean there is only one opionon of what kind of guy your letting in. Without a chapter to help select the men it seems like it defeats the purpose. I trust any betas opinion, but Its not about quantity its about quality. USC is a great school with alot of talented your men..No doubt that there are some true leaders in that pledge class.

Well, the bad ones will weed out, the workers will stay... i gaurentee that they will not have 83 by the end of the school year. The key move is to put the right people in the right offices, which the GF does, not the founding fathers. So hopefully, the bad ones will get frustrated and leave, which is how I think it ussually works!!!

Things will work themselves out over time.

My advice is to concentrate on brotherhood and figuring out what direction you want your chapter to go. Once you figure out what you want...those that can't agree leave and the those that stay work to a common goal.

My question is how is nationals dealing with you now that you are an establish colony. Have they sort of ditched you or are they still giving you a lot of attention?

So let me get this straight. The house is dry, it's a large and diverse chapter and you have a full and active advisor staff? What's wrong with that?

You won't get along with everyone, ever. If your chapter was 10 men, you'd likely not get along with at least 1 person, with 80+ guys, you can expect to dislike many men. Do you have to hang out with them? No. Do you have to get along with them? No. Do you have to deal with them, sure. But, in life, that is expected. Take that as advice for your future career, family reunions and meeting your in-laws.

Being an MOP chapter, dry house, and large and diverse - these are things you knew going in. If you didn't like it then, you shouldn't have joined. If you thought the rules were 'gray', well, thats your own fault. If you don't like the rules now, its not too late to quit.

Point being, you're never going to like everyone, the chapter is there to provide you a tool to succeed in life, not to 'drink in the house'. If that were the case, TKE is right down the street.

Whoa there ZZ...settle down some.

There obviously is some problems. Dry house...well, again like I've said I don't understand this crusade against alcohol. Large chapter yes...but there has been no continuity. Many chapters have the option to pick and choose who they want in their brotherhood. That alone cuts back on 90% of the problems. Active advisers are great...unless they are intimidating the undergrads. It's an undergrad chapter, alumni had their chance! Let the undergrads run it how they want, but alumni are there to give advice.

Once again MOP is causing far more problems than it's solving.

as far meeting goals go, we're doing well at USC, however, like Rastaone said, there's too much diversity in our house, and it's not a good thing. Diversity is good, but when you have 70+ members, with the house split into 5 or 6 different directions, it's really hard to get much agreement or collaboration as to what direction the house is going in.

and yes, I believe MOP is causing more problems than its rectified.

Hi,

As a founding father myself, I know what you are talking about. We had a 39 FF class, which made us the largest chapter on campus at that time, and even though we were less then half of what you got, we had the exact same problems. First of all, You are right, Beta goes for quantity over quality when starting a chapter. They get the quality by trying to find people from all over campus. Our colony was prided on our races diversity and how we had theatre majors, econ majors, pre-med and english majors all mixed together. We had ALOT of fighting. ALOT of discussion. Five hour chapters about one topic. Alcohol was a huge issue. We wanted to have a party, but others thought it wasnt the image we wanted... while others joined for the social aspect. It was a battle sometimes between Values VS Brotherhood as if they cant go together some how.

But you know what, that comes with the territory. You need these discussions! You need to duke it out (civilized of course). The AO set you up, and the best way to make the best chapter is just get it out all on the table. Eventually we worked it all out, and yeah it was tough. The people that were less committed quit, which was for the best, and the guys who really wanted to work on making AH the best chapter in Beta are still around. Now we are EXTREMELY succesful and we this was only 2 years ago.

So yeah, the AO dicked you over, I agree. They do that. They think they know whats best but the AO is made up of people from the "special" chapters, and they keep it that way. As far as your advisors go, they are volunteers, so really they want what is best. Keep that in mind, but remember, your chapter can tell the advisors 'no' sometimes, and the advisor/chapter relationship is better for it!

But mainly, just suck it up, and stick it out. Remember, part of the undergraduate experience is growing and making yourself a better man, but being a founding father is building and establishing a strong chapter. Both tasks are hard to do at once. My advice: think what is truly valuable for yourself, stick with that, listen to what people have to say and take time to think about it, and THEN choose to reject it or not. Voice your opinion, but allow others to voice theres as well. Try to make positive change, but remember you cant do it all over night, and you know what, you arnt going to win every battle, which is for the best, because its a collective experience.

OK, I SO LECTURED, which i bitched at someone else for doing... but you pushed the right button here

Lecture away man- you are saying some good things.

The advantage I see in these massive new pledge classes is that it jump starts a chapter with cash flow and makes it easier to get into a house right away or very quickly if a chapter house is an option.

But it takes time for a chapter to really find its place and character on campus- and that does create a lot of inner conflict at first.

The trade-off there is hard to to side with either way, but the good news is that the large size is good for the long term, while finding a certain direction is short term.

I am sorry to hear you have advisors at every meeting and checking up on you like crazy. I am an advisor myself, and I only come to chapter meetings when I have business to present (usually housing stuff since I am involved with that as well) or I just want to check things out and get feedback from the chapter on the support they need, if any.

There is nothing worse an advisor can do than take away the spirit of trust and self-governance that makes being a Beta so worthwhile.

Are people really telling you that you can't drink at a party? The law tells you that you can't drink til you're 21, but even I didn't follow that rule. I doubt that the MOP Initiative is telling you that you can't drink. Your peers may be telling you that, but the AO and the MOP Initiative isn't. There are dry houses all over the place, some are dry at their own will, some are forced dry (FIJI and Phi Delt) and some are dry as a requirement of the new chapter (IE, Nebraska and SoCal). That's not MOP doing that, that's the delegates at Conventions. Placing all chapters faults on the MOP Initiative is an easy way out. And who cares what other Beta's think about MOP and your chapter? It's your chapter, make it what you want. Change it and mold it to the way you want. If you don't like how it is today, and there is a group of people that agree, change it. And the comment above about having disagreements with advisors - that is awesome. Advisers are there to advise, NOT run the chapter. If you're letting them run the chapter, then stop it. If they give you advice and you choose to take it, great, if not, great. They can only offer advice. But don't forget, they're there to help you, not run you down.

ETA: As for the discussion being 'too diverse', I can understand that completely. Now you have to act on that, recruitment going forward should focus on the guys that YOU want, not what the AO wants. After a few classes, your chapter will be more what you want than the standard canned colony the AO recruits. All things take time, don't let frustration get the best of you.


-kai-

Rastaone I sucks that you guys are dealing with this, but time will work things out.

My advice is to make sure that guys that do want to be social, have fun, meet girls, etc get put into key positions. Chiefly Recruitment Chair, Pledge Master, and Social Chair.

Those positions will allow you to pick the men you want, teach them how they should conduct themselves, and have good times that will create experiences you will remember forever.

It's unfortunate that some people think that alcohol and social conduct don't work...I don't know what the hell those kids are going to do in the real world. Every job I've had (since I was 16) threw parties and had massive amounts of alcohol. Now I'm in the military and in Germany...let's just say that if I didn't not learn how to conduct myself around alcohol I'd be extremely embarrassed by now. Those kids are really hurting themselves in the long run.

That is ridiculous. This is a social fraternity, not a monastery. This is part of growing up and a place to make life friends- not a place to be told what to do and managed to such a degree as you report.

MPI (MOP as you call it) says nothing about not drinking, nor does it put brothers or advisors in the position to make moral judgments about other members over choices of lifestyle and personal conduct within what society deems acceptable.

As ZZ kai said, there are dry Beta houses- but that is not a requirement of MPI and it is a completely separate issue. That kind of decision comes from a chapter and or the alumni who buy/manage the house- it does not come from MPI or General Fraternity. Some houses are even substance free which means no tobacco use either. But again, this is not an MPI issue.

I really hope you guys can find a way to have some honest discussions with your advisors- but they need to take the first step to even let you feel comfortable talking openly. Otherwise you have no incentive to work with them and then they become useless- like another set of parents you don't need.

An excellent point- and there is ample scientific research on the different attitudes about exposing the young to alcohol at the dinner table in the US vs. Europe which supports what you are saying.

Dry House sucks. MOP sucks. Having overbearing advisers and the AO looking over your shoulder perpetually, sucks. Yeah, you need to do what you can to start these guys off in the right direction, but in the end, you've got to let them choose their own course. There's nowhere near enough trust in the undergrads these days.

True...also look at the men they have as consultants.

They are not bad guys...but I wouldn't consider them leaders by any stretch of the imagination. When I was active, they were often my age (maybe even younger?) and....intimidated by the brothers of my chapter.

If you just listened to them it was ok, but when you started asking questions they quickly became nervous, flushed, stuttering, etc.

I think that Beta needs to reach out to older alumni to be consultants etc. Men that have some experience under their belt instead of a just graduated young person. Although it is much easier to brainwash young people...

Agreed with ZZ.

MOP isn't the cause of the problems - at least not directly. My chapter (Nebraska) has a dry house, but we still party with the best of them (at least in comparison to the other chapters on our campus - maybe not in comparison to some chapters at other schools). We just didn't do it in our house. It made for a cleaner place, and kinda segregated work and play. When I finally moved out of the house a senior, there were a lot of days I wasted because the night before I'd get back from the bars or a party and start drinking more. I didn't have that problem while living in...(I just got fat b/c there was poptarts and cereal to eat whenever that I didn't have to buy).

I think where MOP has gotten colonies into trouble is just like what's been described at USC - there's a certain contingent that gets drawn to Beta because they interepret dry house to mean no alcohol at all. That's a misinterpretation on their part and one that the AO doesn't put any effort into explicitly stating one way or the other, leaving everyone unsure. Perhaps that's part of the plan - to allow the chapter to decide what it means. But of course that requires a lot of discussion/debate, and probably some bruised egos. We had one pledge who quit because he had been under the impression that no one in our house drank (despite our advertising of a BADD program), needless to say he got a rude awakening his first night in the house, and even managed to hang on for about a month before he finally had enough.

I also agree with what's been said that once a chapter is established, many of the problems and infighting goes away. Sure there are always disagreement about the exact direction a decision should go, and there are often times groups of people who end up at each other's throats constantly during chapter (in my chapter it used to fall down pledge class lines - odd years vs. even years in a lot of cases). But once chapter was over, a lot of those issues got left there, and that's one thing I'd really encourage - don't make things personal and don't carry them to outside venues.

I do think it's incredibly lame that people, pledge brothers, judge you b/c you drink. That's ridiculous and completely inappropriate. If they didn't want to associate with people that drank, they shouldn't have joined a fraternity or plan on getting any sort of job other than some religious post (although I have a great-uncle who's a priest who drinks like a fish...).

When I was a starting founding father we had a lot of problems with the brotherhood aspect because of diversity and differences in opinions on alcohol, MOP translation, and etc... It was so bad, Mike Wolfard TOLD us to get drink together, lol.

The fact that they use "Responsible Social Conduct" as a means to say no alcohol is funny. Almost all social conduct in college is alcohol related, so if they meant no drinking, they should of put "No Social Conduct," lol.

Drinking is fine, as long as it it responsible, even under age. I dont think you drinking a couple beers is going to hurt betas image. However, getting shit faced drunk and running through the campus butt naked will hurt betas image (i learned the hard way!!!). So keep that in mind. Of course, the code of Beta HAS to say that it does not encourage underage drinking, and that makes total sense, cause, well its the law.

On the issue of campus image, this is a tricky thing that only time will heal. First thing, never complain about Beta to ANYONE outside of beta. Not even your closes friends, because if a conversation comes up about beta or fraternities, they may not say what you said, but their attitude in the discussion will reflect what you said. I found that was the key thing on our campus, b/c we had the same reputation at first. Talk positive about all the greeks outside your beta circle, and encourage your other bros to do so as well. Secondly, for those you think are social akward, take them on as your little project. This was the same case for our chapter two. Go with those guys to parties, encourage them to liven up (of course dont get them trashed). However, get them talking, as your friends to talk to them. Even if you dont want to be seen in public with them, inviting them over to your room for like a game of beer pong or kings helps (yes, those are drinking games, which also arnt condoned, but are good social lubricants for the socially akward)

The good thing about frats is that reputations can change quickly.

Sororities aren't so lucky, once they have a negative reputation it's damn near impossible to shake-on the flip side those with a good reputation attract the girls that will keep that reputation good.

Frats can change their rep almost over night. All it takes is one or two outstanding pledge classes and you are in the game.

Man...all I'll say is that it will work itself out.

Even if it's only a few of you that like to party and have fun, you will be the ones that run the chapter because you will be more well known in sororities and other frats. The new guys will look up to you b/c you will be the guys that introduces them to girls, go out with them to parties, and generally have a good time.

Pledging will get harder over the course of a few semesters, once some of this MOP brainwashing has had a chance to leak away.

It will all be good. Just make sure that you have a hand in recruitment!

This is the part I don't understand.

I drank like crazy at times in college- especially when I lived in the house. And we tore things up and stole stuff from other fraternities and ripped buses to shreds on road trips etc.

But I also spent many hours working on philanthropy events, finished a pretty tough undergrad degree and went right through to the MBA program with no work experience, played designated driver in the house a lot, held office every semester (Pledge Class President and then various chapter offices after) and today I enjoy an active role in an advisory capacity which has been more fun and rewarding than I could ever imagine.

So under MPI as it is envisioned by some, does all of that go away because I liked to party balls a time or two a week when I was an active?

This is what concerns me and makes me wary of how MPI has been implemented. The concept itself is very sound and a smart idea both internally and externally, but it certainly has taken some ugly turns.

Why do they think it is bad? Because they have true convictions about it or because they have social hangups? I suspect the latter based on what you are saying.

Man, you might want to take this to an Eye. I hate beating around the bush- serves no purpose- and my suggestion would be you bring this up and just let the chapter have it out and let everyone make their views clear, and why they feel that way.

Best part is that anyone who does not have a legitimate viewpoint they can defend will be pushed into a more passive state if you approach them head-on. And that will mean you have less trouble in future in your efforts to help build the chapter.

One more thing, when I was an active there was at least 1 or 2 non-drinkers in every pledge class and it never created any kind of issues. You don't have to drink to enjoy being in a fraternity- but you do have to avoid pushing your personal lifestyle choices on others.

Ok, you had me until now.

First off, can you please refrain from the word "frat." We are fraternity. "Frat" has animal house implecations, which is not what Beta is about. We are about having a good time, but you said it your self

You are a man after my own heart in this respect. I used to be told the EXACT same thing in the eye (too honest and too much drinking). However, we are not a "frat," because we have a fraternal purpose and a 3,7 value system. We dont just through toga parties and pass out on the Chapter House porch.

If someone is against drinking, you should support them in that. Yeah, its annoying, but your views are probably just as annoying to them. It is what they value, and that is what you value. This doesn't mean you have to bow down to him, just respect him for it. He is telling you his values and being open and honest with how it bugs you. You should be the same. I don't know your age, but I am going to assume its under 21, which means they probably value the law, and if you get caught you not only have your ass on the line, but the name of Beta. Also, alcohol screw with the way you act and think, and people have issues with abusing your senses like that. So, I can see where they are coming from and if those are imortant to them, well man, it is just the way its got to be

Where is gets an issue, is where they try to actually stop you, threaten to kick you out or send you to kai just for consuming alcohol. Then you got to fight it. If you fight before this happens, well they are just going to get upset with you and you don't have a justified reason for it. They are entitled their anti-alcohol opinion as much as you are entitled your pro-alcohol opinion.

On the issue of you complaining about your brothers having no "lady skills," well, I am revealing some of the ritual here: I don't think that being a mac daddy is a requirement to join beta! Do people still say mac daddy? However, being rude def. falls under "unbeta-like" behavior. Call him out in chapter. Let him know that he is rude. Remind him when he is in private, so he sees it and starts to realize what he is doing. Most likely he doesnt.

Secondly, and you might gasp at this one, but some of the guys might not have social skills because, well, they are gay. Keep an open mind here, but as a founding father myself, and a frequent visit of leadership institutes and convention, I speak with many F.F. all the time, and it seems that having multiple gay members is more relevant in the F.F. process due to the type of selection, and how different style of recruitment. It is easier to go to non-undergrads sitting at a table in the student hall, then going to a chapter house of peers during rush. Since they don't know you that long, I mean, you've only been in Beta since fall, they may not feel comfortable around it. Especially, around those who reflect a more "frat" type image, like you and I, who like to drink and party.

I am not saying all those guys are gay, or even most. What I am saying is you need to be careful when you try to "pimpify" them with the ladies, because you might push a sensitive button for a couple of them. I sound totally lame here, but I'm serious.

The best thing you can do is just hang out with these guys. If you hang out with them one on one, and then a couple of people, and then a party, they will graduately get used to you, and the people around you, and ultimately your lady friends. That is how it worked for me. I was a sore thumb in that chapter, and today my eyes consist of "Dude, I am sorry I misjudged you in the begining, your cool and fun to hang out with, and now that I know you I appreciate your honesty."

Did I make any sense in my essay here? I dont know, let me know!

Well, as a FF, you were thrown onto these guys. So, it takes time, really does. It took us about a year and a half to start getting comfortable... some of the older guys just need to graduate off, etc...

I am positive that as big as USC is, that there are more gay in fraternities then you know about!!!

Any chapter is going to have groups of people who spend more time with one another. Our chapter has 20 guys and there are still cliques. My only advice to them has been for them to spend time with whomever they choose, but to also make a concerted effort to spend quality time with other guys also. You never who you might connect with while having a quick drink or meal.