Beta Theta Pi - University of Texas

Fall 2016 INSIDE: Thank You, Texas Beta Brothers • Page 2 Alumnus Spotlight • Page 3 Beta Omicron Gains Solid Reputation • Page 3 BETA CHRONICLE Beta Omicron Chapter of Beta Theta Pi at the University of Texas BETA THETA PI ALUMNI RECOMMIT TO THE FRATERNITY We Need You! BETA OMICRON'S PAST We all left Beta Theta Pi with friends for a lifetime and leadership skills. The Fraternity facilitated that growth and honed our socialization skills. However, times have changed, and as a Fraternity, we must change as well in order to remain relevant. Fourteen years ago, Beta Omicron's leadership saw the unsustainability of the old business model. They decided to develop a culture around "cultivation of the intellect" and lasting friendship. HOW IS BETA OMICRON DOING? There was a hole in our hearts five years ago when Beta Omicron was closed. But since then, Beta Omicron has been focused on returning to the University of Texas, and in fall 2015, we did just that. The undergraduates have a GPA of 3.399 (second among fraternities), their membership is 85 including 25 new recruits, and they have one Silver Spur among them. A Fraternity like Beta is needed now more than ever! A Fraternity dedicated to its high moral principles, cultivation of the intellect, and development of socialization skills. We have no doubt that we will be changing young men's lives through Beta Theta Pi. BETA OMICRON'S NEED Nationally, Beta is admired and copied as the way of the future. No one can match Beta's commitment to leadership training. Many of us have given to the University, but the ripples are small compared to the direct effect it can have on the young men at Beta. We cannot continue to attract the best without a Chapter House and our competition is moving forward—Fiji just completed a major renovation and the Phi Psis are building a new facility. We are asking brothers to make a five-year commitment toward our campaign goal of $2.5 million. Those who give $25,000 or more over five years will qualify for a 50% tax deduction after the first year. We hope that you will want to join your fellow brothers and bring back UT Betas stronger than ever. Help us train tomorrow's leaders. We are proud to be Betas. Yours in _kai_, Campaign Chairmen Louis Baldwin '68 and Mac Churchill '68 Bringing Beta Back to UT I believe that bringing Beta Theta Pi back to UT is important to alumni and to the UT community, but most of all, to future brothers whose lives will be improved by the Men of Principle experience. Being a Beta had an important effect on my life. I met my wife because her brother was a Beta. My closest lifelong friends were brothers. Many of the social skills that furthered my business career were gained while a Beta. Oh, and I had a great time during my years as a Beta. Even with the positives of being a Beta during the late 1960s, there were negatives. I can see now that hazing, alcohol abuse, and lack of academic focus detracted from my Beta experience and I'm committed to seeing new brothers enjoy the positives that I did without the negatives. In the 50 years since I was a student, profound changes have taken place in our society. The impact that our actions have on others has been multiplied and, very often, spotlighted. Social media broadcasts our actions, and behavior not complying with increasingly strict guidelines is not tolerated. The old "Animal House" model cannot be sustained in today's environment. Drug and alcohol abuse, hazing, and disrespectful treatment of others cannot be supported by fraternities. Fortunately, Beta is leading the way with a new model. Over the last 15 years, Beta has successfully introduced its Men of Principle initiative to more than 50 campuses across the country. Beta's new model focuses first on individual responsibility—brotherhood, leadership, academics, and community involvement—then on social activities. I'm proud to be a part of Beta's latest success, the re-founding of Beta Omicron at UT. Our new colony, with the support of alumni, Beta nationally and UT's administration, is up and running with 85 members and 25 fall recruits. Their GPA is one of the highest on campus at 3.399 and they already have an active community involvement and social schedule. Beta Omicron is uniquely positioned to lead UT fraternities into a new era of which actives, alumni, and the community can be proud. A $2.5 million alumni fundraising campaign to house and provide scholarships for the new Chapter is well underway. The goal is to provide a house by fall of 2018. Yours in _kai_, Louis Baldwin '68 EST. 1886 | BUILDING THE FUTURE OF TEXAS BETA

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