Beta Theta Pi - Definition and Overview

Beta Founders Paragraph

"At nine o' clock on the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society, an upper room in the old college building known as 'Old Main'."

The eight founders in the order in which their names appear in the minutes were:

Beta Firsts

Beta Theta Pi was the first college fraternity to accomplish the following:

• First college fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains (August 8, 1839)
• First and oldest continuously published college fraternity magazine (1872)
• First college fraternity to publish an open constitution for public distribution (1879)
• First fraternity in 13 states — more than any other fraternity.
• First fraternity established on more than 35 campuses — more than any other fraternity
• First fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Mississippi River (1866)
• First fraternity to adopt an expansion view
• First to break into districts for administrative purposes (1873)
• First fraternity to have general officers (1872)
• First fraternity to create alumni chapters (1867)
• First fraternity to have a General Convention and one of few to have annual Conventions
• First to host an interfraternity event and meeting
• First to require chapters to keep informed about each other
• First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for a chapter (1984)
• First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for each member (1997)

Other Facts

• Last year there were more than 2,000 collegiate Betas involved in the Beta Foundation’s experiential learning programs
• Beta ranks No.2 in annual investment in undergraduate leadership and educational programming (of the 68 international fraternities)
• Some 550 parents financially supported Beta Theta Pi’s leadership opportunities
• The Men of Principle initiative has been internationally recognized for exemplary fraternity educational programming
• A leader among college fraternities with members listed in Who’s Who in America and Canadian Who’s Who — more than any other fraternity
• More than 80 Rhodes Scholars — more than any other fraternity
• More than 197 have been members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives — more than any other fraternity
• Twenty-three states have had a Beta as Governor
• Six Betas have won the Medal of Honor
• 100 alumni associations in cities throughout the United States and Canada

Famous Betas

• William Anderson (Aka. Adam West) Whitman 1951
• Eddie Collins Columbia 1907
• Richard Gephardt Northwestern 1962
• Kenneth Lay Missouri 1964
• Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1962
• Blake Nordstrom Washington 1982
• Bruce Nordstrom Washington 1955
• Mike Schmidt Ohio 1971
• Bill Veeck Kenyon 1936
• Samuel Walton Missouri 1940
• Wendell Willkie Indiana 1916
• John Wooden Purdue 1932

Famous deactivated Betas

• Andre Harvey Wittenberg 2007

References

"Beta Theta Pi (http://www.betathetapi.org)." Beta Theta Pi Quick Facts Sheet. Accessed on Febuary 7, 2005.

"Beta Theta Pi Founders (http://www.alphaofbetathetapi.com/alumni/founders.shtml)." Beta Theta Pi Founders & Founders Paragraph. Accessed on Febuary 7, 2005.