Beta Theta Pi - University of Kansas

9 A s part of the fourth rendition of our "Forever Alpha Nu Series," we will cover a characteristic of Kansas Betas that reveals how members can fit a seemingly impossible number of tasks and accomplishments into their days in college and beyond: the ability to manage time effectively. Time management is one of the first skills taught at the Hutt, and its benefits are so tangible that members realize that taking the time to plan out your day becomes less of a burden and more of a freedom. Without such a heavy emphasis placed on this value, it is likely that Alpha Nu Chapter wouldn't carry much of the legacy and tradition of excellence that it does today. Time management is a talent that some individuals may think they possess prior to their arrival at the Hutt, but Alpha Nu's shared obsession with intelligently planning out every day is unlike anything most college students (and dare I say, many adults) have ever seen. It starts on day one of becoming an Alpha Nu. Freshmen in the Beta house have a lot on their plate given the combination of pledgeship and college academics. Initially, it is common for freshmen to believe that they must sacrifice their success in one area at the expense of the other. However, it soon becomes evident that thriving in both spaces is not only possible, but also addicting, as new members are able to tap into a level of productivity that they never knew they had in them. The seemingly monotonous exercise of running through your day with the sophomores every night allows the freshmen to acknowledge that they accomplished more in a day than they ever could have imagined. It's a daily and rewarding realization that fuels continued growth and achievement. As the pledges become actives and their days begin to open up, they realize that they have essentially gone through a semester-long masterclass on time management. They now understand how the upperclassmen still plan out their days as if they were under the demands of pledgeship, and they continue to thrive on the feeling of accomplishment and success they have at the end of a productive day. The practice of time management continues to be relevant through their years at the Hutt, as members now have a world of opportunity in front of them. Whether they choose to invest a lot of time in leading the Hutt's consistently fruitful recruiting of future members or directing Rock Chalk Revue, they have become well-versed in how to make time for it all. As all members come to learn, time management is as much art as it is science, and it is one of the tangible skills and values learned while living at the Hutt that pays a lifetime of dividends. The fruits of honing this skill are self-evident. While at university, this enables our brothers to simultaneously experience a robust social life as well as the joy of investing in the community via their many philanthropic efforts, athletics, and campus leadership—all the while achieving the best grades of any organized group of men or women on campus. And that is just the beginning. A quick scan of the Alpha Nu alumni landscape clearly demonstrates that our members are able to quickly adapt to life after college and the new demands of the working world. For instance, Henry Killen '19 shared, "Effectively managing my time may be the most useful skill I learned during my years at Alpha Nu. The practice of planning out each and every day allows me to successfully balance a demanding law school schedule with my social, philanthropic, and athletic interests."In many of my conversations with alumni of Alpha Nu across generations, I am always hearing new stories of members attributing a fair chunk of their success and accomplishments to the training in time management that they received during their time at the Hutt. It is inspiring to current members and an important value of Alpha Nu that continues to be passed down from class to class. Yours in _kai_, Steve Babb, Illinois '87 Alpha Nu Executive Director stevebabbmail@gmail.com | (303) 674-2950 THE FOURTH INSTALLMENT OF FOREVER ALPHA NU VALUES The Talent of Time Management The Babb Family: Christa, Tom '19, Steve, Illinois '87, and Adam '21. Betas and guests enjoying the dance floor. Tom Medlock '89 asks, "Where's the party?" Nick Eilts '24 and Chris Stillman '24

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