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 • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 Alpha Nu's Letter I n our fall newsletter, we introduced our plan to execute a seven-part series reviewing and checking in on the cornerstone values that define the Alpha Nu experience. In this second installment of "Forever Alpha Nu Values," we will cover possibly the most tangible value instilled during a member's four years at the Hutt: the building of the pledge class bond. is bond is almost indescribable to an outsider, as freshmen quickly experience upon arriving home to their families and friends for the first time aer initiation. Almost 150 years of refinement have helped further accomplish the pledgeship program's #1 priority: to develop a brotherhood that Alpha Nu members struggle to put into words. Upon arriving at the Hutt, a new pledge class makes their introductions and shares their nervous anticipation for the next several months. When the semester kicks off and pledgeship begins, the initial coyness quickly fades, as the freshmen move into the Locker Room and dive headfirst into their new—and seemingly meaningless—responsibilities. As any Alpha Nu member will attest, the cherished times hanging out in the Locker Room sow the seeds of an indelible pledge class bond. e Alpha Nu pledgeship program is designed to compel young men to dig deep within themselves and discover qualities that they didn't know they had prior to their arrival on campus. In taking this journey with their fellow pledge brothers, they learn to connect profoundly with one another in ways that are almost impossible to imitate outside the walls of the Usher Mansion. Pledges learn that an essential part of this growth process is caring for one another so the group can succeed as a unit, as your own achievements mean little if they can't be shared by the rest of the group. "e house changed everything," says Charlie Goree '25. "I had never been able to count on people the way I can now. at's my biggest takeaway from this special place: gaining 23 brothers that I would do anything for, and them doing anything for me. It's a family." What began as a group of strangers blends into an unstoppable force, and the highs and lows of one individual are experienced by the group as if they were their own. e timing in which this transformation takes place is almost incomprehensible. Put into words by Joey Wood '25, "e craziest thing to me is that I didn't know any of these guys less than a year ago, and now I can look at them and call them my best friends." e enlightenment that comes from the pledgeship experience is something that many young men may experience at some point in their college careers, but the Hutt has proven that there are advantages to accelerating this growth. Much of our success as a chapter can be traced back to the lessons learned during freshman year, including our academic accomplishments and involvement on campus. But you would be strained to find an Alpha Nu who wouldn't agree that their biggest takeaway from pledgeship is the making of friendships that defy explanation. "Pushing past the daily struggles life throws with my pledge brothers showed me what it means to have someone truly be there for you," says Luke Stanford '24. "I know that, no matter what comes up in the future, nothing will stop us from being there for one another." When pledgeship ends and the freshman locker room is cleared out, the invisible line of the Hutt hierarchy seems to evaporate along with the physical proximity. e process of building profound connections starts over with 75 new guys, from freshmen to seniors, yet each pledge class still carries with them the unique lessons that molded them as a collective during their freshman year. e greatest gi every Alpha Nu will take away from their time at the Hutt will be the cherished relationships they developed throughout the course of pledgeship. Every pledge class eventually must leave the doors of Usher Mansion, and they will carry many different experiences with them from their college years. As time goes on, they may forget the late nights studying for exams or cold morning walks to class, but what matters most is what lasts the longest, and there is no better example of this than the unwavering pledge class bond that is forged year aer year at Alpha Nu. Yours in _kai_, Steve Babb, Illinois '87 Alpha Nu Executive Director stevebabbmail@gmail.com | (303) 674-2950 Forever Alpha Nu Values – Part Two Creating a Strong Pledge Class Bond OUR SEVEN VALUES: Cultivation of the Intellect 1. 3. 2. Creating a Strong Pledge Class Bond Becoming Gentlemen 7. 5. 6. Respect for the Hutt Accountability Soundness of Body and Mind 4. Time Management Skills

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