Beta Theta Pi - University of Minnesota

T he Beta Pi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi has continued to cultivate a strong brotherhood, highlighted by high academic achievement, campus involvement, and brotherhood events. The chapter stands strong with 46 active members and four spring pledges who will be initiated the third week of April. Academically, Beta Pi recorded a 3.49 GPA, ranking third in IFC this past fall. Many Betas have continued to cultivate their intellect outside of the classroom through internships, co-ops, and other experiential learning at many notable companies. In our senior spotlight, we highlight Nate Cozine '22 (Mt. Prospect, Ill.), who will be continuing to work at Medtronic after graduation. Light the Row, Beta Pi's annual fall philanthropy, raised a total of $2,941 for the Aurora Center. Beta Theta Pies, our spring philanthropy, is tentatively scheduled for April 21. We also volunteered for a joint Feed My Starving Children packing session with Phi Mu, and we packed 250 sandwiches for Love One Another. Additionally, our brothers have enjoyed volunteering for trash cleanup days organized by 365Green, a sustainability focused student group founded by Vice President of Brotherhood Jacob Bechtold '23 (Bloomington, Minn.). Our brotherhood has remained strong through a multitude of organized events. The second annual brotherhood broomball game was successful and competitive! Other events include movie nights, board games (the current favorite is Settlers of Catan), Spikeball on the mall, and gym games at the fieldhouse, including dodgeball and matball. Brotherhood Weekend is quickly approaching, and a new addition to the tradition is a weeklong competition leading up to it. Brothers will compete in four teams in many events, such as running a 5K, completing the ACT, participating in a hot-dog eating competition, and completing the Beta Pi Lore exam. This will be capped off by football, Spikeball, and foosball tournaments over Brotherhood Weekend. Beta Pi has also had a strong intramural showing with active volleyball, basketball, cornhole, soccer, and badminton teams. Recruitment remains strong despite challenges with COVID-19; Beta Pi initiated 18 brothers last fall, including the spring 2021 pledge class. The chapter has struggled to gain live-ins, which has dropped this semester to six members. With this strong recruitment and many seniors living in, we expect approximately 30 members to live in next fall. A couple of notable bylaw amendments include a requirement that newly initiated freshman and sophomore members must opt out of living in the house. Additionally, a sustainability chairman was created to organize organic recycling to reduce food waste, work with the vice president of programming to make events more sustainable, and educate the chapter on local sustainability efforts. Beta Pi has maintained a strong brotherhood through the challenges that have come with COVID- 19, spearheaded by a strong and experienced executive team and leaders in the chapter. Yours in __kai__, Wes Lideen '23 Chapter President lidee004@umn.edu PAge 3 betA thetA Pi Ben Elsner '23 (Verona, Wis.) and Chevy Post '25 (Rogers, Minn.) selling cookies during Beta Pi's annual Light the Row philanthropy. Betas after a hard-fought (and very fun) broomball game under the Van Cleve lights in February. Betas showing up to support Chris Tadros '22 (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Ames Olson '22 (Minneapolis, Minn.) in their Ballroom Dance Competition at the Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn., in March 2021. Top row: Nate Cozine '22 (Mt. Prospect, Ill.), Sean Farrel '23 (Kohler, Wis.), Chris Tadros '22, Ames Olson '22 (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Wes Lideen '23 (Northfield, Minn.). Bottom row: Simon Horning '24 (Shakopee, Minn.), Griffin Renner '22 (Alpharetta, Ga.), Peter Gontarski '22 (Cedarburg, Wis.), Will Gustafson '23 (Sacramento, Calif.), and Ryker Rofshus '24 (Albert Lea, Minn.). Beta Pi members in the Greiner Room at the chapter house Maintaining a strong BrotHerHood Active Members Develop as Men of Principle Through Chapter Events

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