Beta Theta Pi - University of Texas

the Path tO recOLOnizatiOn Early 1990s Fundraising to pay needed renovations is initiated – although supported by some alumni not enough was raised to pay for the project. Loan is taken out for foundation repairs to Beta Omicron house. 1987 An additional call goes out to alumni for fundraising help following the needed renovations and foundation repairs. Unfortunately, not enough funds were raised. Mid-1990s Late 1990s The house is sold to pay back the debt to the bank. The remaining $80,000 is used to seek new housing on west campus. 2000 Phi Kappa Sigma approaches the members of Beta to consider a merger. The two groups come together with an agreement to combine into one fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and move into the chapter house owned by Phi Kappa Sigma. The newly merged fraternity pledges its first all-Beta pledge class with 16 members. Spring 2001 Fall 2001 Rush goes well with 13 men recruited. Conflicts with newer Betas and former members of Phi Kappa Sigma arise, though. A division between the chapter and a deteriorating relationship with the non-Beta alumni landlord (former Phi Kappa Sigma and owner of the Sigma Housing Corporation) and the active chapter exists. Chapter begins to develop an unbalanced attitude of focus on social activities and loses the importance of balancing priorities, including school, leadership, and brotherhood. Fall 2002 The decision is made to rush for numbers instead of quality in order to service debts. It has a very negative effect on the chapter. Spring 2003 A Difficult Decision - Focused on the Future At the end of the spring 2010 semester, the Beta Omicron Chapter made the decision to close its doors on the University of Texas campus. After several years of dwindling membership, decreasing academic performance, and an unstable financial standing, the active members knew the Chapter's eventual closing was unavoidable. By voluntarily shutting down and paying back any financial obligations, the Chapter was able to retain its charter and remain in good standing with the university. A lack of alumni support, poor communication between the Chapter and the General Fraternity, a non-traditional housing structure, and unstable financial standing were the central themes that led to the Chapter needing to shut its doors. These issues ultimately led to a decline in membership standards and overall lower performance as a Chapter. Understanding what led to the Chapter's decline is essential in planning a strong and robust future for the new Beta Omicron. A successful vision must focus on the lessons we learned in the past and a proven solution to combat these in the future —that vision is the Men of Principle initiative. Focused on recruiting Men of Principle at Texas, alumni partnered with the General Fraternity starting in fall of 2015 to hire a full-time Colony Development Coordinator who lived in Austin, recruited the re-founding father class, and guided them through everything from pledgeship to serenading sororities all the way to initiation in February of 2016.

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