[UMD Beta Alum]

MartytheMoose (and Kevin)

Interesting points! Seems you have some inside info, Were you an active Beta member? Some of the comments you make are new to me. Alumni heard a different story to some points.

Yes, sounds like the University and Greek Life hung you out to dry in regards to housing. Telling you in June or July and having less then 2 months, is hard.

There have been other postings on this website that seem to imply the Beta General Fraternity (HQ) does seem to want older chapters to adopt their new policies. So maybe HQ didn't have your back.

But the pledge driving back drunk supposedly happened in Fall 2005 (chapter closed in Summer 2006). What about the fights?

Yeah, it does seem as though Beta was the top dog, and jealousy turned other fraternities to turn in, or complain about Beta to the Greek Life whenever they could.Additionally, the Beta chapter begun to develop a less then stellar reputation in regards to their socials, hazing, and risk management..

So, yes maybe there was alot of gossip, jealous groups complaining, and no criminal charges.... But there is an old saying "Where's there's smoke, there fire".

Beta may not have been total outright criminals, but I doubt they were choirboys either... Not saying fraternity guys should be.

But it does seem as though the University had enough complaints and decided to use Beta as an example to everyone else. Unfortunately, there is no "due process" or the same legal rights as a some may think. Especially, when the house is owned by the University.

Unforetunately, in this time of lawsuits, groups have to be extra careful. Times have changed and Universities don't take crap anymore. They drop the axe fairly quickly these days, and don't wait for someone to pass out and die from alcohol poisoning.

As for alumni, well this past weekend - October 19-21, 2007, Beta celebrated what would have been its 25th Anniversary at Maryland. Over 200 alumni came back for a "formal" event Friday night, with an awesome tailgate before the 8pm game.

Martythemoose wrote:
"Members of the now defunct Beta Theta Pi feel that their strong brotherhood amongst each other and with the alumni of the chapter (who still came to every football tailgate, brotherhood event, and graduation dinner) has been ignored and feel that its a travesty that this bond will not continue on for the younger generations. There are graduates from the mid-1980s who would still come to hang out and talk Beta with the current brothers."

Not one of the guys who were active members in 2006 when the chapter closed were present. So, the statement that the alumni from the `80's are involved is not true. Alumni have no interaction with any members from the defunct chapter.

The University and Beta General are going to wait for those guys to graduate and start a new group most likely.