Beta Theta Pi - Oklahoma State University

NEWS Big Red Island Beta Theta Pi at Oklahoma State University / Fall 2019 Think Back. Think Big. Think Beta. Campaign Surpasses $3.6 Million Raised I n 2013, I sat before a small but dedicated group of our brothers who donated their time to serve on the board of directors of the Beta Theta Pi Building Corporation. I placed in front of me a nameplate of sorts with a small picture of a new and prestigious fraternity house with words to the side stating, "It Is Time." I confidently said to this group, this band of brothers that spans many pledge classes, that "It Is Time." It is time for us to embark on a capital campaign to build a New Beta House. It is time. Today I write to you not to tell you it is time to build, but it is now time to welcome a New Beta House to Oklahoma State University. In 2013, no one knew whether it was possible to raise enough money to build a New Beta House as over the prior decade other campaigns had been started with varying degrees of success. But in 2013, things seemed different or was it more dire? The Beta House at 1207 was nearing the end of its useful life. As a Building Corporation, we were spending more and more to maintain the basic infrastructure of the Beta facilities and other fraternities were building new houses. We knew that if we were not successful in building a new house, Beta at Oklahoma State would eventually fail to be competitive in rush as young men would choose better living conditions than we could offer. We knew that an appropriate structure would bring a price tag of over $5 million. Did our Beta alumni believe it was time as well and would they financially support a capital campaign? Brad Black '77, my Beta brother from another decade who has served on the Building Corporation with me for over 25 years held the same opinion as I; we looked forward to a capital campaign with reserved optimism. Apparently, others also believed it was time and the capital campaign found the support it needed. Over the next five years many volunteers and 313 donors came together to achieve what was so desperately needed. We built a house with 28,809 square feet, 28 four-man bedrooms, seven two-man bedrooms, a Chapter Room, a heritage room, a formal living room, a TV room, a dining hall to seat 110, mom's quarters, a full-service kitchen, and a multi-use room/storm shelter. On top of all of that, we can park 103 cars and still have room for a collegiate-size basketball court. While capacity was originally intended to be a little over 100 men, the excitement is so high that the chapter is moving in 125 members and pledges to the New Beta House at 1207. Thanks to our donors and volunteers, the New Beta House at 1207 is the largest and most impressive fraternity or sorority house on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Thanks to the overwhelming support, others will stand in awe of what we have all done. We would like to present to you the New Beta House at 1207. We know that not all of you will be able to walk the halls of the New Beta House, so, on the pages that follow you will see pictures of the Beta House that will take the Gamma Lambda Chapter into the future. A walking tour will show that as you approach the New Beta House at 1207 you cannot help but IT IS TIME (Continued on page 4) Chapter House Continues Excellence, See Page 4, Editor's Note: The GPA listed is not a typo.

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