Beta Theta Pi - Oklahoma State University

NEWS Big Red Island Beta Theta Pi at Oklahoma State University / Fall 2015 MARCHING ALONG Gamma Lambda Excels in Awards, Leadership, and Alumni Involvement T he infamous lyrics "marching along in Beta Theta Pi" couldn't be more fitting for our Gamma Lambda house. You'll see many outstanding accomplishments in the commentary by Josh Deibert '16, the chapter president. If you are an alumnus, you know we were good in our day. Now the bars for excellence are higher. Take a look at the actives' achievements—pretty impressive. Outstanding performance doesn't just happen. Chapter governance is the umbrella that provides the structure for establishing an environment to achieve and always push forward. Governance is the "tone at the top" and encompasses proactive leadership, leadership clinics, an environment like Men of Principle, strong advisors and oversight, solid committees like our executive committee, an accountability/kai committee, and more. Read the excerpt by Jody Vivion '09, chapter counselor, about our chapter governance today and see the framework for excellence. In this issue, we received a number of comments from our past presidents throughout the decades. Take a few minutes to read the reflections of their experiences as a Beta, the impact the chapter had on their lives, and very specifically their thoughts about our future on pages 3-4. Some of their emotional comments may parallel your own feelings of what Beta has meant to you. As noted in the last Big Red Island newsletter, competition is on the rise at OSU. Within the past few years, Stillwater has seen a dramatic increase in luxury student housing, both on campus and off campus. Within the Greek system, numerous houses have been either totally rebuilt or completed with major renovations. Students and parents have high expectations on housing accommodations today. Some of you know we are stepping back to evaluate how Gamma Lambda will meet these changes head on. We need to address these issues or soon our fraternity will face an uphill battle as recruiting will get tougher and tougher. In the meantime, our undergraduates maintain their tradition of excellence on campus regardless of where they live, ensuring that others know we are Men of Principle. We'd love to hear from you—your experiences, your thoughts, and pictures and composites from years gone by. There is contact information on the back page and any comments will be circulated to undergraduates or selected alumni as appropriate. Read, reflect, and enjoy! In_kai_, Beta Theta Pi Building Corporation W o W! W h at a M ega 50- Ye a r B e ta C el eB ration in 1 973. Welcome, 2015 new members.

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