Beta Theta Pi - University of Kansas

W hen Chris Richmond learned that son Owen '27 was interested in joining Beta Theta Pi, he and his wife, Leslie, thought it was a good idea for a few reasons: Owen living in the house as a freshman was a big adjustment for the family. "The 'Roost' is like nothing we had seen before in terms of size and setup, so that was a big change." There were concerns over whether Owen would miss the freshmen dorm experience and whether the house would be a good experience. Everything was new for Owen during those first few weeks away from home, and as parents, Chris and Leslie were concerned about whether he would fit in with the other pledges and brothers in the house. Additionally, there are high expectations of all chapter members living in the house. The bar is high academically, and pledging Beta requires learning new skills to learn how to make good choices and be productive with your time. "Whether they want to admit it or not, every freshman goes through a very stressful first several weeks at college. On top of everything being new, you also need to learn how to connect with every brother at an individual level while taking on more responsibility as a pledge class. The pressure and commitment can seem daunting at times, but Chris would encourage all pledge parents to know that this pledge program has a solid structure and a proven track record of success. "I had heard from several friends that their kids, who were in other houses at other schools, did poorly academically and were not living productive lives. At Beta, there is a clear focus on school and personal development." Chris appreciates that while the pledge period can seem long, the pledges develop bonds that will last a lifetime. "This process of learning to respond to the challenges of college life while performing at a peak level is not meant to be easy. Ultimately, the growth opportunities Beta provides its members, from basic life skills like how to sew a button or iron a shirt to singing in a group for the first time or volunteering outside the house, are invaluable. You can connect with Chris at sendtocjr@gmail.com. We live in Minnesota and didn't know a lot of kids at KU, so we believed that joining a fraternity would be a great way to connect with others and hopefully grow as a person. My wife and I were in the Greek system at the University of Minnesota and benefited from that experience. Beta has a strong reputation, and we had heard from a connection we had at KU that it was a top fraternity, especially academically, so that was an important factor for us. 10 Chris and Owen during move-in day last year. Parent Chris Richmond Discusses His View of the Fraternity Choosing Beta Chris's Advice to Beta Parents "Beta has high expectations, and learning to perform at your peak level is not always easy, but the results speak for themselves."

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