[DeltAlum]

Dear Beta person,

I'm curious as to where that story comes from.

Sounds like the stuff of legends to me. And legends tend to change with time.

However, I have looked at both web pages and niether the history of Beta Theta Pi or of Delt mention anything about this.

I do know, however, that at one time the Alpha Chapter of Delta Tau Delta was at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware. (before the Central Office and Arch Chapter were formed, the chapter that headquartered the fraternity was designated Alpha -- so we've had several of them) The original Alpha Chapter was at Bethany College in Virginia -- now West Virginia. I believe, although I'm not sure, that Delt was the first fraternity on the Bethany campus.

At one point, the Delts at Ohio Wesleyan became disillusioned and left Delta Tau Delta. To quote from Delt history:

"What really happened at Ohio Wesleyan to our Alpha Chapter was pretty well reconstructed afterward by those involved (now Betas, you'll recall). The plot was hatched by eight members of the chapter. They led the others, about four or five in number, into believing that disbanding the chapter was a great sacrifice for the benefit of the campus as a whole. After the last meeting of the chapter, the eight members took the furniture and fixtures to Columbus and sold them, appropriating the money for their own use. The chapter's treasury, which was in effect the national treasury of the Fraternity, disappeared also. Then the eight plotters returned to Delware and were initiated into Beta Theta Pi, which had been a rather week chapter. It is unclear just what was gained by the action, although the Beta Chapter was greatly strengthened by our former members. The Delaware chapter was founded in 1866 as Omicron, became the Alpha in 1869, defected in 1874, and was reestablished as Mu in 1879. Mu chapter prospered almost from the start, and the defection did not hurt it noticeably. The Beta Theta Pi chapter, on the other hand, went into a decline after the defectors graduated, returning to its former status."

My suspicion is that your information is an unintended distortion of that event. Even the numbers you quote seem to match.

By the way, I've computed the interest on the money your fraternity stole from us and am looking forward to receiving your check for $9,875.321.56. Compound interest is a wonderful thing. You may round it off and make your check for $9,875,000.

Just kidding. You can keep the money. We don't need it.

You may now go visit your Delt friends and allow them to help you remove your foot from your mouth.

Have a nice day.