Beta Theta Pi
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Beta Theta Pi (ΒΘΠ) is an international college social fraternity founded on August 8, 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA. Beta, as it is nicknamed, has over 120 chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada, and is known in the fraternity world for continued dedication to the ideals of respect for tradition, lifelong friendship, devotion to academic excellence, dedication to responsible leadership, commitment to communities and high standards of moral conduct. More than 165,000 have been initiated world-wide. Today Beta Theta Pi has 6,500 undergraduate members, and 118,000 living initiates. Beta's international headquarters is located in Oxford, Ohio. In 1997, Beta Theta Pi broke ground in establishing the "Men of Principle" initiative,a commitment to the vision of our founders. A chapter that chooses to partner is making a public statement to pursue the Mission, Vision and Goals of the Initiative. Further, these chapters have committed to a positive pledge education, alcohol-free recruitment and the promotion of the principles and obligations contained in the Ritual of Beta Theta Pi.
Famous Betas
- William Anderson (Aka. Adam West) Whitman 1951
- Eddie Collins Columbia 1907
- Mark Felt Idaho 1935
- Richard Gephardt Northwestern 1962
- Michael Harcourt British Columbia 1964
- Mark Hatfield Willamette 1943
- Brereton Jones Virginia 1961
- Kenneth Lay Missouri 1964
- Dick Lugar Denison 1954
- Jerry Lucas Ohio State 1962
- Ray Mabus Mississippi 1969
- James G. Martin Davidson 1957
- Arch A. Moore, Jr. West Virginia 1951
- Bill Nelson Yale 1965
- Don Nickles Oklahoma State 1971
- Blake Nordstrom Washington 1982
- Bruce Nordstrom Washington 1955
- William Perry Stanford 1949
- David Peterson Western Ontario 1964
- Charlie Rose Davidson 1961
- Matthew Stanley Quay Washington & Jefferson 1850
- Mike Schmidt Ohio 1971
- John Spratt Davidson 1964
- John Turner British Columbia 1949
- Bill Veeck Kenyon 1936
- Sam Walton Missouri 1940
- John Warner Washington & Lee 1950
- Jamie L. Whitten Mississippi 1933
- Wendell Willkie Indiana 1916
- Charles Erwin Wilson Carnegie 1909
- Willard A. Wirtz Beloit 1933
- John Wooden Purdue 1932
Founders Paragraph
The Founders' Paragraph: At nine o'clock in 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:
- John Reily Knox 1839
- Samuel Taylor Marshall 1840
- David Linton 1839
- James George Smith 1840
- Charles Henry Hardin 1841
- John Holt Duncan 1840
- Michael Clarkson Ryan 1839
- Thomas Boston Gordon 1840
"of ever honored memory"
External links
- Beta Theta Pi homepage (http://www.betathetapi.org/)
- Founders information (http://www.alphaofbetathetapi.com/alumni/founders.shtml)
- Fraternity info (http://www3.telus.net/greek/nic.html)