Pi Kappa Alpha - Purdue University

Page 3 Pi Kappa Alpha T hrough my affiliation with Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, I've had the opportunity to meet and get to know many outstanding individuals. These men have a strong moral and ethical presence; they focus on family and community and not themselves. These men are my mentors, friends, and cohorts. It started early in my life. My folks had "college friends" who were part of our extended family. Only after I joined Pike at Purdue did I realize there was a deeper connection. Dad joined Beta Phi in 1922 and was in one of the earliest classes (pin number 61). Some of these "college friends" were charter members of Beta Phi. They had developed a bond that lasted the rest of their lives. These men were all outstanding individuals. At Purdue, I developed close friendships with men living in the house at that time. Everyone can relate to the special friends you have as a brother. Many of these individuals have had successful careers and are leaders in their various fields of endeavor. Others have focused on developing young people and making major contributions to their communities. All are outstanding individuals. As an officer, I had the privilege of working with alumni through the Home Association. We were building the house on University Street at the time and these men spent a lot of time making that happen. These men had successful careers with busy schedules, yet took time to work with the Chapter. All were outstanding individuals. Over the years, I've worked with various alumni groups in different capacities. Our most recent project was the remodeling of the house. Alumni from the mentoring group, Home Association, and Beta Phi Foundation were involved in this effort over a four-year period. Ages ranged from 1950s graduates to current officers—a 60-year span. The group had varied professions and came from many locations. While there were differences in opinions and heated discussions on various subjects, this diverse group worked together to get this significant project done on time and on budget. Each showed a commitment to give back to an organization that helped them be the men they are today. In spite of all these differences, there was a common culture we all shared—this thing we call brotherhood. Our success as a fraternity is dependent on us maintaining that culture. That is the role of alumni: to train, mentor, coach, council, and advise undergraduates so that the Beta Phi culture continues to produce outstanding men. On occasion we hear an alumnus comment, "The fraternity isn't like it was when I was in school." That's right; Beta Phi isn't the same as it was decades ago. We have seen dynamic changes since being chartered at Purdue. The fraternity has accepted racial diversity and eliminated hazing. Cell phones and social media have resulted in increased risk and liability. Classes are at all hours of the day and evening, making a sit-down dinner with everyone present impossible. The University trying to curb irresponsible behavior of student organizations continues to tighten behavioral rules. University life will continue to change and Beta Phi will have to adapt if we want to survive. Maintaining our culture of trust and brotherhood amid this change requires constant attention and monitoring by alumni. So, when you have that feeling that Beta Phi isn't like it used to be, ask yourself what you are doing to help keep that culture of trust and brotherhood alive and healthy. Have you offered to participate? We need alumni to mentor and provide advice to the current Chapter. Have you contributed financially? We need money to maintain alumni support records, publish the Candlelight to keep alumni informed, to pay for Chapter officer training, and to assist with scholastic tutoring and scholarships. If you haven't offered to help, give it some thought. You will get a chance to meet and become friends with some truly outstanding men of all ages. Last December, I had a special opportunity and privilege of putting my father's fraternity pin on my grandson at his initiation. I look forward to getting to know this next generation of Pikes. From what I've seen so far, they are an outstanding group of individuals. In the bonds of ffka, Charlie Hetrick '63 Charlie Hetrick '63 Urges Alumni to Get Involved with Beta Phi "University life will continue to change and Beta Phi will have to adapt if we want to survive. Maintaining our culture of trust and brotherhood amid this change requires constant attention and monitoring by alumni." Welcome, New Initiates Jordan Bryan '19 / Rumson, N.J. Connor Chambers '19 / West Lafayette, Ind. Josh Dailey '19 / Louisville, Ky. Jacob Dicke '19 / Los Gatos, Calif. Alex Durre '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Justin Foster '19 / Naperville, Ill. Sebastian Gonzalez '19 / Monterrey, Mexico Michael Greenfield '19* / Clive, Iowa (Father Jerry Greenfield, Delta Omicron '81; Brother Patrick Greenfield, Beta Mu '15) Josh Hartzog '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Zach Hetrick '19* / Lemont, Ill. (Grandfather Charlie Hetrick '63) Austin Hoffmann '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Joey Insko '19 / Philpot, Ky. Charlie Meisel '19 / Livingston, N.J. Cameron Miller '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Jess Partin '19 / Indianapolis, Ind. Caelan Priddy '19* / Indianapolis, Ind. (Brother Connor Priddy '16) Mitchell Reeser '19 / Decatur, Ill. Kobe Richardson '19 / Somerset Sandys, Bermuda Isaiah Rose-LeBeau '19 / Indianapolis, Ind. Austin Rush '18 / Jasonville, Ind. Elijah Scherrer '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Avery Szatny '19 / Houston, Texas Bailey Weber '19 / Fort Wayne, Ind. Charles Whitaker '19* / Delphi, Ind. (Brother Cole Whitaker '17) Patrick Williams '19 / Manchester, N.J. *Legacy; relative in parentheses

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