BETA THETA PI
Alpha Pi Alliance
1254 Scenic Ridge Dr.
Verona, WI 53593
Address Service Requested
ALPHA PILOT
THE
Beta Theta Pi – University of Wisconsin
betawisconsin.org beta_wisconsin linkedin.com/groups/1207295
Registration
for Our 150th
Event Is Open!
RSVP TODAY!
Make your plans for our 150th
anniversary event by visiting
tinyurl.com/AlphaPi150.
You can read all about this
momentous occasion on page 2.
Scan the QR code
to register!
"There's a bully gang of boys at old Wisconsin"
In this sense, bully means jolly, worthy, or
admirable. Theodore Roosevelt's favorite word
was bully, which he used to mean terrific. As
president from 1901-09, he referred to the job
as a bully pulpit.
"Always ready for a jolly or a guy"
A jolly back then was a good time. A guy was
typically a male friend.
"Like the lucky, plucky boys of Alpha Pi"
Plucky is defined as showing determined
courage in the face of difficulties.
"To the happy, scrappy boys of Alpha Pi"
Scrappy, as used here, means determined, or
pugnacious.
"Where-so-ever there is war upon the tapis"
Tapis derives from tapestry, or a scene woven
into a piece of cloth, but in this sense, it means
under consideration.
"Tackle hard, or send the pigskin sailing high"
Footballs were originally made from inflated
pig bladders, hence their shape. Cowhide,
however, has been used for most of the sport's
history. The first college game was won by
Rutgers over Princeton in 1869. Rutgers hasn't
won a game since.
"Speak a speech, or steer a boat, or take a
fall from Minnesota"
In wrestling, taking an opponent to the ground
is known as a fall.
"The stuff and sand that money cannot buy"
Sand means courage, stamina, and perseverance.
"When the days of milk and honey are no
more boys"
This comes from the Bible. It means a time of
abundance when life is easy.
"And our trembling fingers balancing
the bumper"
A bumper was defined as a glass filled to the
brim with beer or alcohol.
"To the harum scarum boys of Alpha Pi"
Harum scarum means reckless and impetuous.
Hey, if the shoe fits ... right?
"A cup of health to every Beta here"
A common toast before a meal back then was to
your health.
"Oh, true as the blue of the true sky!"
To be true blue is to be unwaveringly loyal or
faithful.
"Here's how to the boys of Alpha Pi"
Hau was a traditional greeting of the Lakota
tribe from men, to men
Let's enjoy our chapter song with fresh
perspective, hopefully to sing on for another 150
years with a fuller knowledge of its meaning.
Damn glad!
Roderick Taylor, #1448, UW 1972
Translating "The Boys of Alpha Pi"
I
n 1892, Brother J.F.A. Pyre wrote "The Boys of Alpha Pi," our chapter song. Our chapter was just nineteen years old then! Over the past 131 years,
a lot of the words have gotten lost in translation, so in recognition of our upcoming sesquicentennial, we thought we would translate some of the keys
stanzas into current English.
