Beta Theta Pi - University of Kansas

A L P H A N U C H A P T E R O F B E TA T H E TA P I AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F K A N S A S • FA L L 2 0 2 1 Alpha Nu's Letter A t the time of writing this, it is early fall of 2021, and the Hutt is back in full swing. Eighty-seven young men, including 17 seniors, are living in and eight seniors are living out. This year, the main senior house is literally across Tennessee street from the Hutt, which makes it feel more like an "east wing" than a remote senior house. The new pledge class has settled in and, as always, it is fun to watch yet another impressive group of brothers begin their incredible journey of becoming part of our culture of excellence that began over 140 years ago. This article is part one of a seven-part series to review and check in on the cornerstone values that define the Alpha Nu experience and to ensure that excellence is passed down from generation to generation. THE SEVEN VALUES ARE: Cultivation of the Intellect Creating a Strong Pledge Class Bond Becoming Gentlemen Time Management Skills Respect for the Hutt Accountability Soundness of Body and Mind VALUE #1: CULTIVATION OF THE INTELLECT This is an excellent place to start this series because the ultimate purpose of attending a university is to obtain a great education. Alpha Nu takes great pride in creating lasting academic success and an overall work ethic. Intellect is a vital building block in creating excellence. The academic mentoring program and rigorous study are the backbone of our pledge program, which set up a lifetime of good habits and discipline. This is emphasized in a report by The University Daily Kansan, which quoted Scholarship Chairman William Muehlebach '23: "During recruitment, grades are a huge thing that we showcase to our prospective new members. However, we also stress that it is not about having the highest GPA on campus; it's about setting people up for success post- graduation." More than just great academics go into cultivating the intellect. A great example of this is our revolving door of distinguished speakers who engage with the chapter at dinner talks throughout the year. We kicked off this fall semester with Fred Quartlebaum, KU basketball's director of operations, who shared some invaluable life lessons and perspectives. Another example, which is new this year, is our "BUTTs Abroad" Scholarship Program, which is designed to encourage and financially support brothers who want to broaden their horizons and cultural experiences by studying in another country for a semester or the full year. There is much more that goes into "Cultivation of the Intellect" at Alpha Nu, but as the old saying goes, "The proof is in the pudding." Let's look at some recent data that reflects the impact of this cornerstone value: GPA PERFORMANCE (2020-21) Fall 2020 Spring 2021 Alpha Nu (total) 3.59 3.52 Alpha Nu (fall pledge class) 3.89 * All fraternities 3.20 3.30 All KU undergraduate men 3.17 3.30 *Included in Alpha Nu total data for spring semester KU RETENTION RATES (percent of undergrads returning to KU to complete their education) 2019-20 2020-21 Alpha Nu members 100% 100% All Greek males 84% * All non-Greek males 83% * *Data not available at time of publication These are impressive numbers and clear evidence that "Cultivation of the Intellect" remains a core value at Alpha Nu. The lasting proof is evident in the never-ending stories of Alpha Nu alumni successes and accomplishments. In fact, the UDK reports that since 1970, Beta has been awarded top fraternity GPA in 94 of 100 semesters. It's fun to hear about brothers who have gone on to accomplish and experience amazing things. We like to highlight alumni success stories in this newsletter, and there is never a shortage of content. As William stated to the UDK, "We, as a house, take a lot of pride in our grades; as a house filled with history, we owe so much to our alumni and future generations. It honestly creates a large amount of accountability and support for each other." Stay tuned for the next issue, where I will profile value #2: "Creating a Strong Pledge Class Bond." Yours in _kai_, Steve Babb, Illinois '87 Alpha Nu Executive Director (303) 674-2950 | steve.babb@outlook.com P.S. If you are interested in staying up to date with the latest Alpha Nu leadership and a calendar of events, check out our parent and alumni portal at www.alphanubeta.com; visit us on Instagram at @beta_kansas; or check out our Twitter at @kubetathetapi. FOREVER ALPHA NU VALUES - PART ONE The Start of the School Year and Cultivation of the Intellect 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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