Beta Theta Pi - Westminster College

Dragon Speak Page 4 Working to Secure Beta's Future at Westminster A History of the New Chapter House and How It Was Built F ounded in 1868, the Alpha Delta Chapter at Westminster College prides itself on being the oldest chapter of any college social fraternity in continuous existence west of the Mississippi River. In 2008, Alpha Delta took an important step in extending its heritage by opening a new chapter house that would stand out on any small college campus in America. "The house we loved was old and tired," said Kirk Carpenter '65, Alpha Delta's longime house corporation president and current vice t president who served as general chairman of the capital campaign for the new facility. "By 2001, there was a growing consensus that we needed a safe, modern facility worthy of a college that was adapting to a new era and a general fraternity that was reinventing itself according to the Men of Principle philosophy." " " By 2001, there was a growing consensus that we needed a safe, modern facility worthy of a college that was adapting to a new era and a general fraternity that was reinventing itself according to the Men of Principle philosophy. The former Alpha Delta chapter house, completed in 1928, was a classic Tudor that was both elegant and comfortable. It had been the primary college home for well over 1,000 Betas during some 75 years of service. But several architectural and engineering studies confirmed that updating the old facility to meet contemporary safety, maintenance, and communications standards would be more costly than building a new house. Under Kirk's leadership, the Alpha Delta House Corporation worked with Cunningham + Associates Inc., an architectural firm specializing in Greek housing, on plans for a contemporary interpretation of the 1928 building. The new house might not have all the charm of the old one. For instance, there would be no sprawling four-man rooms and distinctive two-man accommodations, like the Tornado Room. Alpha Delta's new house has many features designed for today's college students. Twenty living suites—virtually all for two men—have beds in elevated lofts, creating flexible space for studying and socializing. These rooms are outfitted for contemporary information technologies. The new house's first floor includes a modern kitchen and dining room, as well as a formal library and a study hall encouraging academic discipline. The grand front porch and a substantial first-floor lounge promote Alpha Delta fellowship. The Beta house at Westminster is two and a half stories with a full basement dominated by the chapter room. It was built with fire-resistant materials and has state-of-the-art smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. With its reinforced steel construction and large rooms, the new facility generally looks like its predecessor, but has a significantly larger foot print than the former house on the comer lot on Westminster Avenue that's familiar to generations of Alpha Delta Betas. With consistently strong support from Westminster's fundraising staff, the Alpha Delta House Corporation implemented the capital campaign on December 24, 2003. The campaign was dedicated to the memory of the late Gupton Vogt '31, a St. Louis businessman and a passionate Beta who served as president of the national fraternity from 1990 until 1993. Large early donations came from several alumni from the 1960s, including Peter Brown '66, Howard Cherry '65, James King '66, Ted Planje '68, and Robert Price Jr. '65 and his sons, Robert Price III '89 and Ryan Price '93. Another crucial early commitment came from the Williams family: Keith '50, Keith Jr. '80, Ned '82, and Jon '90. The pivotal gift of the campaign was made by Marshall, Missouri, businessman Gordon Buckner, a dedicated supporter of Westminster, despite the fact he transferred from the college and graduated from Northwestern University. "Although many people who care about Alpha Delta stepped forward with donations, it was Gordon Buckner who made sure that the new Westminster Beta house would become a reality," said Carpenter. In all, some 250 Betas and friends contributed to the new house. Alpha Delta's $3.3 million capital campaign approached its culmination in early 2007. That spring, the Westminster Board of Trustees, chaired by Bob Monroe '68, approved a new campus plan for fraternities. Under this plan, the college would provide certain financial support for the construction of the residential portion of the new Beta house. Going forward, Westminster would own the house, collect undergraduate fees, and take responsibility for the maintenance. The ground-breaking for the new Beta house took place in August 2007. The construction, executed by S.M. Wilson & Co., proceeded throughout the subsequent school year. The contractor's team salvaged many Alpha Delta mementos from the old house and integrated them into the new structure. After spending a year in temporary quarters, the active chapter moved into their new college home at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. The Alpha Delta chapter house of the 21st century was dedicated with a celebration of 200 alumni, undergraduates, and friends during Westminster's annual Alumni Weekend in April 2009. Although the new facility will be a great Alpha Delta asset for years to come, the double transition from the old house to interim quarters to the new edifice was challenging. "Spending a year in sub-standard facilities that were the only alternative at a small college in a small community was a hardship for the chapter," Kirk recalled.

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