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A Tribute to Beta Theta Pi’s “Brother Wooden”

John Wooden was a Beta. And his life embodied the goodness of his beloved Fraternity for one singular reason:  he was a man of principle. One for the ages.

This tribute to Brother Wooden attempts to recognize his professional accomplishments, for sure. But more importantly, it seeks to honor the man and his beliefs . . . The values and virtues that he lived, spoke and taught for nearly 100 years . . . . The character traits that have stood the test of time when most fads and trends faded in the wind.

If ever there was a man of principle who graced life’s halls as spouse, father, teacher and friend with gentleness and love, it was John Wooden.

And John Wooden was a Beta. Yes, John Wooden was a Beta.

Wooden Tribute from Beta Theta Pi on Vimeo.

“He always considered himself a teacher, and a teacher he was. When I played for him, he taught me the game of basketball. Later I came to realize, he really taught me the valuable aspects of life. As competitive as he was, both as a player and a coach, he was incorruptible. He lived and taught with a simple philosophy that building a winning team or a successful life can be accomplished without breaking the rules or sacrificing personal values.”

— Gail C. Goodrich, UCLA ’65, 1964 and 1965 Championship UCLA Team, 1972 NBA Championship Lakers Team

Magazine Article - "Father Knows Best" (Spring 2010): When I joined Delta Gamma, started working at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and first served as a volunteer for Beta Theta Pi, the constant conversations about living a life of principle were not new concepts to me. Growing up with a mother who is a Delta Gamma and a proud Beta Theta Pi father (Bruce W. Levering, Oregon State ’76), I have realized fraternal values were instilled in me at a very young age. It is not an exaggeration to say that The Beta Stars was on the Levering lullaby song list. It was recognized 25 years later when I was standing in the middle of 85 men at The Wooden Institute this past summer, as I was one of a few women being serenaded.

 
I recently spent a long weekend at the birthplace of Beta Theta Pi, serving as a facilitator for The Miller Nichols Chapter Presidents Leadership Academy. The experience gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on my life and ensure that I remain principled and purposeful. My mother and father always said, “Do what you love and it will be like you never really have to work.” I have a wonderful job as a fraternity and sorority life professional that challenges and rewards me every day, and I serve as a volunteer for two outstanding organizations: Delta Gamma and Beta Theta Pi. I am able to help students aspire to lead a principled life on a daily basis.

That weekend in Oxford reminded me of why I decided to go into the field of Student Affairs, how students inspire me every day and why I love to be challenged by undergraduate men and women. Some students are as lucky as I am to have been raised with strong principles and values illustrated everyday in their home. However, I know I am the minority, and many others are relying on Beta Theta Pi to build them into men of principle. 

It is up to us to make sure undergraduates everywhere know what it means to be principled. For me it means to make sure my actions match my values. That my choices reflect integrity and my life has a positive impact on others. What does it mean to you? 

 
Undergraduate Betas, are you recruiting and building men of principle?

Beta alumni, are you supporting and guiding men of principle? 

Beta fathers, are you inspiring and raising children of principle?

Remember to never underestimate the power of a role model, a parent, a mentor, an advisor, an advocate, a friend or even a simple lullaby, for we can be taught principles when we least expect them.

Jennifer Levering is a 2004 graduate of Loyola Marymount University who serves as the assistant dean of students for fraternity & sorority life at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Magazine Article - "Chapter Installations" (Spring 2010): Installation. It is a word that colonies throughout the Fraternity set as their end goal, as one of their mightiest conquest whilst an undergraduate. The word literally means to be installed or set in position, like an outpost of Beta Theta Pi. However, it is so much more than an event, but a milestone in a chapter’s history. The beauty behind an installation is that it truly takes the entire chapter to accomplish. No one man or group of seniors can carry the group into the installation phase, it has to be the entire colony to achieve the status that is known as Chapter. Some are awarded this date sooner rather than later. Others have their hopes or dreams dashed for whatever reason, and must wait till next year to challenge the right to become a Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Either way, a colony’s installation will be one of the most special and rewarding nights of a young man’s life.

Kettering B

The second year was “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” The colony renewed its commitment to recruitment and pledge education. Improvements were made in increasing involvement in the recruitment process, and the pledge education content shifted from a solely lecture based experience to a more interactive one. In fall 2008, the colony recruited a second seven man pledge class and subsequently initiated them in spring 2009.
While the primary chapter focus was on sustainability for the first two years, this did not prevent us from excelling in other arenas. Since colonization we maintained the highest GPA out of all fraternities and sororities at Kettering. The colony also averaged more than 12 hours of community service per man per semester. 

As a Chapter, we are involved in more than 40 organizations at Kettering and hold leadership roles in 26.  That is more than any other fraternity on campus. Furthermore, we have sent 85 percent of active brothers to Beta leadership opportunities over the past two years. 

The Chapter’s petition to charter was approved by the 170th General Convention in Phoenix on July 31, 2009. On November 7, 2009 the B-Section re-installation celebration and 45th Anniversary of the Delta Eta Chapter took place. ­­­– Ryan Gee ’10, Delta Eta chapter president

Florida international

Finally in summer of 2009, the 170th General Convention of Beta Theta Pi granted the colony its charter as the new Eta Gamma Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. The Chapter had its installation dinner on January 23rd, 2010 in Coral Gables, FL at the Westin-Colonnade Hotel where it was installed as an official chapter by our General Fraternity President, Dr. Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63. The Chapter is planning to apply for the Sisson and Knox awards, the highest awards given by the General Fraternity, this year. – Javier Nahmias ’11, Eta Gamma chapter president

Dayton

President Andrew Fist, Dayton ’09, served as Dayton’s delegate to the 170th General Convention in Phoenix, AZ, where the colony petitioned for its charter based upon meeting the requirements of the General Fraternity. The charter petition was approved and the Chapter celebrated its installation with a banquet and ritual on November 21, 2009, at the Patterson Homestead located adjacent to the University’s campus. A member of the Patterson family who owned this property is a Beta, John H. Patterson, Miami 1867, co-founder of National Cash Register Company. 

Some might say it was providence that the Eta Delta Chapter should have been installed on the former property of a Beta from the Alpha Chapter. The Installation Ritual and Officer Transition Ritual were performed by General Fraternity President, Dr. Tom Purinton, Kansas State ’63. The banquet was attended by current undergraduate brothers, Eta Delta alumni and advisors, Beta alumni who live in the Dayton area, as well as other General Fraternity officers and the Greek advisor of the University of Dayton. Along with the charter, the Eta Delta Chapter was honored to receive a gift of a sculpted dragon from Dayton area resident Jack Longstreth, Purdue ’51, which will be used to give recognition to outstanding contributions to the Eta Delta Chapter by brothers and alumni.

The Eta Delta Chapter is enthusiastic about implementing the philosophy of the General Fraternity’s Sons of the Dragon Club undergraduate giving program into its own leadership development strategy. Brothers at UD are expressing their commitment to mutual aid and assistance very tangibly through volunteering to co-sponsor the registration fees of other brothers to leadership development opportunities such as the Wooden Institute and UIFI. The Chapter hopes to send at least eight brothers to leadership development programs this summer.  – Phillip Erford ’11, Eta Delta chapter president

Magazine Article - "The Darkening of the Hall" (Spring 2010): “We have some chapters which pay slight attention to the underlying principles upon which Beta Theta Pi is founded,” Francis W. Shepardson, Denison 1882/Brown 1883 asserted to a crowd of eager Betas at the 1927 General Convention. “When a chapter becomes merely a name…it is a natural question whether it has the slightest value to Beta Theta Pi.” This timeless question, prompted by a handful of rogue chapters at the time, continues to drive the Fraternity’s leadership today. What must be done with chapters that demonstrate a consistent inability or unwillingness to foster a true Beta experience?

The answer has always been a simple choice for collegiate members: adhere to the standards, expectations and ritual of Beta Theta Pi or close the chapter hall doors indefinitely. Unfortunately, members have too often, by their misconduct and disregard for their commitments, selected the latter route. In the past decade alone, the Fraternity has been forced to close several dozen chapters and order their members to disband.

It should be clear to any Beta that this tragic and frustrating outcome is never the end goal. The Fraternity does not gain stature or success by retreating from campuses where men of principle and character once followed the light of the three stars. There is no honor in breaking a line of Betas that spans decades or generations. However, as Shepardson would challenge, there is also no honor in casting aside Beta’s principles and violating that sacred
trust granted from one group of Betas to the next.

Sadly, two chapters have taken this disappointing path and closed their doors during the 2009-10 academic year. The Sigma Rho Chapter at the University of Illinois was disbanded on December 4th and the Epsilon Chi Chapter at the University of Rhode Island was disbanded on December 15th. Both instances shared common behaviors that must be understood
and addressed to avoid the same fate in the future.

The Sigma Rho Chapter, founded in 1902, was once a leading fraternity at Illinois. Yet, a 2006 issue of the alumni newsletter posed a troubling question of, “has the chapter strayed irreconcilably beyond the values that have guided Sigma Rho since 1902?” In the three years following this frank inquiry, and a subsequent influx of support to help restore the Chapter to prominence, not much changed. During this period members were cited by authorities for drinking games, providing alcohol to guests, selling drugs, multiple injuries on chapter property and providing false identification to prospective members. While several men pushed for change and fought to restore Sigma Rho, the culture never reformed.

The Epsilon Chi Chapter, founded in 1993, was also once a strong haven where principled leaders at Rhode Island enjoyed the bonds of brotherhood. Over time, chapter operations declined so significantly that the collegiate members found themselves in a crumbling position. With grades below the Fraternity’s standard of 2.7 for six semesters, $17,000 of overdue debt, and a history of alcohol and drug violations, the members only made matters worse. After a new member ended up in the hospital from being forced to consume alcohol at a Big Brother Night, the chapter officers lied to the University, alumni and General Fraternity.

In each case, the chapter was a shadow of its former self and a bane for loyal alumni hoping to see a tradition continue. Individually, many collegiate members served Beta faithfully and fought to protect their chapter’s future. Collectively, however, they failed to exercise sufficient self governance to ensure their chapters were not merely Beta Theta Pi in name only. Cultures of substance abuse, poor performance, irresponsibility, lack of integrity and violations of law have no place in this Fraternity and they must be confronted with vigilance and zeal by all Betas — collegiate and alumni alike.

“After long reflection and with a good deal of regret,” Shepardson concluded his speech to that 88th General Convention. “I have reached the conclusion that…Beta Theta Pi will be better and stronger with the inharmonious, the indifferent and the hopelessly struggling chapters eliminated, or at least brought up standing to realize that they must get to work as Beta chapters or go.”

See to it that your chapter is a tribute to Beta Theta Pi and not a name only. Demand that your chapter only recruits men dedicated to building up the Fraternity, living its founding values and challenging those who don’t. Only then will we answer Shepardson’s challenge and prevent a similar troublesome fate.

Magazine Article - "NIC" (Spring 2010): In April 2009, within view of the Pentagon, the Joint Services Color Guard of the Military District of Washington opened the centennial meeting of the North-American Interfraternity Conference House of Delegates. To acknowledge the growth of the fraternal movement, and to recognize that the 73 NIC member fraternities represent both national and international organizations, the executive directors and guests present sang both the Canadian and American national anthems. With the House of Delegates session launched, so was a year-long centennial celebration that highlights interfraternalism, brotherhood and collaboration.

The National Interfraternity Conference was founded at the University Club of NYC on November 17, 1909 by delegates of 26 fraternities. At the NIC’s 75th anniversary, one dinner speaker noted that in 1909, “the climate was such that the country, the fraternities and the people were ready for change.”  And in the 100 years since fraternities agreed there was value in collaboration; the fraternal movement has indeed changed – the country, the fraternity system, and the
people involved with both.

Today there are 127 inter/national fraternities and sororities, and 73 fraternities hold membership in the NIC. In the 100 years since the NIC’s founding, two additional important trade organizations have developed, reflecting how the fraternity world and the country have developed. The National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. represents nine fraternities and sororities with predominantly African-American membership; and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations has a membership base of 23 fraternities and sororities.

The industry continues to evolve with the development and growth of the National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA) and the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC). Combined, the 12,000 fraternity and sorority chapters on more than 800 campuses in the U.S. and Canada have membership of more than nine million, with 750,000 of those being today’s undergraduate members and the world’s future leaders.

The roots of the NIC go back to 1883, to a meeting of fraternity editors in Philadelphia. Beta’s Willis O. Robb, Ohio Wesleyan 1879, was at the center of galvanizing such interest. Ten years later, the “College Fraternities Congress” washeld at the Chicago’s World Fair; and in 1895, more than 300 fraternity men met in Atlanta to form The American Panhellenic Society. The idea for a permanent society was formalized November 17, 1909 with the help of Beta’s Francis W. Shepardson, Denison 1882/Brown 1883, the NIC’s founding secretary. In the 100 years since the association has grown nearly threefold. Today, through advocacy, collaboration, and education the NIC works to ensure that fraternities can operate in an environment conducive to their success. That is the NIC mission.

The NIC provides extensive programming for IFCs and campus leaders to learn through the IFC Academy and the INTERCHANGE Resource Network. It also provides extensive programming for IFCs and campus leaders to develop their leadership through undergraduate programming that includes the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), the IMPACT Institute, the Alumni Academy, and the Jon Williamson Futures Quest. In 2010, the NIC will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of UIFI, a program launched under the leadership of long-time executive vice president (17 years) and Beta, Jonathan J. Brant, Miami ’75, from which over 10,000 fraternity and sorority leaders have graduated since 1990.

To kick off the 100th year, leaders of all major interfraternal associations joined the crowd in Washington at the Centennial Banquet to recognize the successes of the fraternity world and to discuss what that work will look like over the next 100 years. The banquet room was filled with a memorabilia exhibit recounting 100 years of the NIC; and reminiscent of a Harry Potter movie, the flag of every member fraternity was hung from the ceiling.

The celebration will continue throughout this year. A Centennial Charter was created and displayed at the annual meeting in Washington, and all 73 members will receive a framed edition. To return to the roots of the NIC, the winter 2010 meeting of the board was held in New York City to coincide with a reception in the University Club where the group replaced the 75th anniversary plaque with one commemorating the centennial.

Magazine Article - "Tom Hansen: A Winning Percentage" (Winter 2009): Children have lofty goals of becoming the next great basketball player or football superstar, playing in a packed arena or sold-out stadium. They envision what it would feel like to hit the wall first and win a gold medal for their country in swimming. Many will fall short of these astronomical expectations and put their dreams away for another day. But for some, these wild imaginations will turn into possibilities. And for a few, they will turn into realities.

In June 2009, Thomas Hansen, Washington ’59, will retire as the PAC 10 commissioner. Hansen has played a unique role in each of the situations listed above as the commissioner of one of the most dominant conferences in collegiate sports. After 26 years of service, he will be remembered as one of the most successful commissioners in history. In the 1996-97 season, he led the Conference to a historic 14 NCAA championships, a feat that has yet to be rivaled. Although he has experienced much success, Hansen has continued to adopt a sense of humility and gratitude for all his endeavors.

If looking for a commissioner who only travels by private jets, engages in dirty politics to get his teams ahead and bends the rules for his coaches and presidents, Hansen’s not your guy. Instead he actively defends his athletes and what he knows is right. Hansen served on two major NCAA groups, the Gender Equity Task Force and the Division I Task Force on Restructuring, two of the most prominent in the NCAA.

The commissioner states that Beta Theta Pi aided in his development as a young man and its values and mission have continued to serve him while working within the Conference. "I felt I had really achieved something when I became a Beta. It gave me the feeling that I could achieve something significant in my career." Hansen said that many of the values and beliefs that Beta Theta Pi represents are apparent within the PAC-10 Conference. He prides himself on the universities giving their student-athletes the proper education, practices and tools they need to succeed in life beyond the competition fields, a quality that is mirrored in Beta Theta Pi.

Bowl Championship Series

One of his greatest accomplishments was his role in establishing the Bowl Championship Series, otherwise known as the BCS. Since almost every game played during the college football season will have a dramatic impact on end results, there is so much attention given to particular games. There is much at stake and much attention given to each of the teams participating in a bowl. A total of 68 NCAA Division I teams are allowed to participate in the bowl games at the end of each season.

"The BCS has been an excellent promotional element that is now part of the college football season," Hansen said. Although the BCS has had a dramatic impact on the football seasons, there is no other collegiate sport that has the same excitement due to an outside contributing factor, such as the BCS. Hansen defends his stance and is proud that the system has created even more enthusiasm and camaraderie for the sport, even amidst recent BCS controversies.

More importantly though, Hansen understands the value of not only the students athletes, but what the game can do for them. He equates Beta Theta Pi to many sports teams, each brother representing a player with all of them working toward a common goal. That goal is to be the best team or fraternity, and to be an example.

The commissioner appreciates healthy rivalries, but he tries to remember that these are young people representing institutions of higher learning. He insists that fans maintain a sense of humility and hold themselves to a higher standard, values that are shared with the Fraternity.

Economic Woes

Although the economy has yet to have a direct impact on the Pacific 10 Conference, Hansen believes that the PAC-10 will begin to feel the crunch of today’s financial losses. "Inevitably, sponsorships will be harder to come by and giving the donations will be harder to achieve. I don’t think we have really seen that yet," Hansen said. A fact is that many of the schools in the conference are state schools, which means they are funded by the governments of those states. The majority of funding comes from private and public sponsors, which is why outside vendors and sponsors are so important to the PAC-10.

Hansen refers to the economy’s troubles as a ripple effect. Will people continue to buy season tickets to the sporting events? If not, the schools lose out on parking fees, concession stand dollars and fan paraphernalia, all of which contribute to the athletic programs and the institutions as a whole.

The commissioner continues to shed light on success and how it is measured. Whether it be by a winning percentage or a graduation rate of his student athletes. Regardless of what or whom people are compared to, Hansen acknowledges that each brother must do his part to incorporate Beta Theta Pi’s values into their everyday lives. "We must continue to learn . . . and I think Beta embraces that value. I am impressed when I read the magazine to learn how many people are, late in life, doing important things," Hansen said.

So regardless if brothers get the chance to compete for a major NCAA conference in athletics or they deem ourselves worthy of that gold medal, Commissioner Hansen makes it clear that when joining Beta Theta Pi, not only will they get to compete with the best and the brightest, but they will win big. No matter what the outcome. — Alex Hammel, Florida '08

Magazine Article - "How to Stay in Shape" (Winter 2009): Each new year, people everywhere vow to make changes or improvements to their daily lives by setting resolutions for themselves. One of the most popular resolutions made is to get in shape for the new year. These goals can consist of losing 30 pounds, being able to swim one mile or eating healthier foods to help stay in shape. But why is it that each year people fail to uphold their New Year’s resolution to get in shape? What is it that keeps them from succeeding or falling short of this goal? More importantly, how can they actually achieve the goal?

The idea of exercise has been prevalent since the B.C. era. Hippocrates noted that "if we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, we would have found the safest way to health." The problem is that too few people understand the actual reasoning of why exercise is important.

For many, getting or staying in shape is close to impossible because they are not educated on the facts. In today’s world, people are far too "busy" to take the time to learn what nutritional facts actually mean or what they are pertaining to. The fact that you exercises six times a week will ultimately be cancelled out if you are not eating correctly. Now this is not a ground-breaking discovery, however, people often are consuming foods they believe to be healthy when in reality they might be more detrimental than they think.

One example of consumer sabotage is what people see when they shop for groceries. When you are trying to eat healthy and purchase foods that will compliment your exercise workouts, you might buy products that are associated with positive words. People equate "fat-free" with "healthy" so they automatically purchase the product, but they fail to realize the amount of sugars or sodium in it. The consumer becomes distracted by the words "fat-free" and fails to read the rest of the ingredients. Pictures also tend to trick consumers. When people see the image of a red heart or a ribbon or vegetables they automatically associate that product as being healthy. Is it?

There are also certain ailments that can be directly attributed to poor diet and lack of exercise. According to the American Medical Association: Family Medical Guide, diabetes, back pain, Gallstones, heart disease, high blood pressure and Osteoarthritis are just a few diseases and conditions that can develop due to poor health habits. Dr. Hugh E. Stephenson Jr., Missouri ’43, says that more severe conditions could have been prevented in his patients if their diets were different.

So, how can you commit to exercising and getting in shape this new year? It is simple and can be broken down into three separate categories.

Hidden Calories

People also need to be wary of hidden calories that can be found in what looks to be a healthy food. Similar to the consumer sabotage, you need to fully understand what you are really ordering when trying to make the best decision for your diet. When people dine out for dinner, they will opt to take the side salad instead of fries, or a fruit smoothie instead of the ice cream shake. But is this really the healthiest decision? It can be, but only if you are looking out for the hidden calories.

A salad will often include cheeses and salted nuts on top along with a very fatty dressing that can contain more than 1,000 calories alone. The same holds true for smoothies. Depending on what is selected, some smoothies can contain many more calories and sugars than people think. According to the American Medical Association: Family Medical Guide, one 12 ounce smoothie can contain up to 300 calories due to sugars and other ingredients. To put this into perspective, a small fry at McDonalds has only 250 calories. One way to make sure you know what you are getting is by going online and doing some quick research. Most chain restaurants will have the nutritional information on their websites and fast food establishments will have them posted. There are also websites that will help you track your caloric intake, such as the USDA’s MyPyramid Tracker and My CalStep.

How to Fight Sudden Snack Attacks

Spontaneous snacking is a huge contributor to overeating whether you are in the office or walking on campus. When working on deadlines, projects or studying for an upcoming class, people tend to snack on whatever happens to be around them at the time. Mindless eating or eating when bored will certainly steer you into calorie trouble. One way to combat this is to purchase individual snack packs or 100 calorie packs. This automatically will set a limit to the amount of food the individual is consuming and keep you from overeating.

Another area where people tend to get into trouble is late night snacks. Everyone has been there before when they have an "uncontrollable" urge for a slice of chocolate cake. When you eat late at night, you are normally eating less nutritious options and are severely increasing your caloric intake. Sometimes the portions can be similar to that of an entire meal, which defeats the purpose of the snack. One way to get around this is to make smart decisions. Instead of taking that slice of pizza or ice cream, go for the piece of fruit or even a glass of water.

Exercise is the key

Most people do not realize it, but there are easy exercise opportunities everywhere. For instance, instead of riding the elevator, climb the stairs. It may sound insignificant, but those few extra flights not only help burn calories, but will also begin to tone the legs and help build endurance. This strengthens the heart and builds lung capacity. Set some time aside each day, at least 20 minutes, to commit to some type of physical activity. Joining a gym or health and fitness center is a great way to be held accountable and staying on top of the commitment to getting in shape.

Proper diet and good exercise can change your entire outlook on life. Even though eating right and exercising can be difficult and require more persistence and energy than you may like, proper nutrition will not only give more energy, but will also aid in a more healthy and balanced lifestyle. And those are two goals well worth pursuing this year! — Alex Hammel, Florida '08

Magazine Article - "Chapter Visit: Stevens" (Winter 2009): If one were to walk to the east end of campus at Stevens Institute of Technology they would face the Manhattan skyline. The skyline is said to be one of the most historical and storied in the world. Manhattan consists of man-made mountains that define the city by the rest of civilization.

The Sigma Chapter at Stevens also has great history. William Raimond Baird, Stevens 1878/Columbia 1881, attended the College and took on several roles within the Chapter. The mayor of Hoboken, N.J., resided in the Chapter house, and experienced an untimely death there. Although the Chapter’s current members appreciate the history of past influences, the past does not define the Chapter in the same way the skyscrapers do Manhattan. The brothers take pride in how the Chapter has evolved, and live by the ritual of Beta Theta Pi.

Approximately 80 percent of the Chapter is enrolled in an engineering program. The brothers go into detail about how they incorporate the idea of cultivation of the intellect into the entire chapter. "Many brothers are forced to adopt this value because they have to constantly study the material from classes. But, it goes further than that when brothers read material that is not assigned for class . . . they read and study because they want to," senior Matt Reihl, Stevens ’09 said.

Consisting of 32 men, they understand that they do not need to have 100-plus members to drive results and be successful not only within the General Fraternity but, more importantly, within their community. "If we are known for one thing on campus, it is community service. We try to participate in service many times a semester, which is not always easy when you are taking 24 credits of engineering classes," James Roarty, Stevens ’09, offered. Participating in different events is a great way for the brothers to stay connected and relax after intense weeks of studying for classes.

The projects range from simple tasks such as making sandwiches for the local homeless shelter to participating in Relay For Life, a 24-hour event that helps raise cancer awareness. Some brothers participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade by assisting the production crew in inflating the balloons and escorting them to Herald Square. This past year, the entire Chapter helped support the 2008 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Central Park.

The brothers are currently working on securing donations for house renovations. The structure was built in the mid-1800s, and major repairs are desperately needed. Since the house is not in its grandest state, each brother is assigned a daily task that he must complete. Tasks consist of cleaning the mirrors, vacuuming and cleaning up the common area. "We take pride in our house and we do everything within our capabilities to spruce it up and make it presentable for visitors," Reihl added.

On the surface, the Stevens Chapter is an ideal one. Its members make a conscious effort to live by the ritual everyday and remain focused on living a principled life. They do not falter as a result of some of the more common stereotypes that creep into fraternities.

"I would like to say that we are a perfect chapter and can do no wrong, but everyone makes mistakes. Every organization has a hiccup once in a while," Roarty suggested. The members discuss an offense they just experienced. As a result of not having a sustainable roof on the house, squirrels began to burrow into the attic. Frustrated, a brother climbed onto the roof to shoot the squirrels with a BB gun. A woman nearby phoned the police saying that she saw a man on the roof with a rifle.

No charges were filed against the member or the Chapter. However, the members thought they should address the issue. Taking immediate action, the Chapter’s executive board developed a list of sanctions and punishments that the members would be implementing. The list included items such as the house becoming alcohol free, social probation, every member attending gun and safety seminars and every brother being involved in at least one school event per week. The Chapter has never taken things lightly.

Outside of the New York Public Library stand two lion statues, one named Patience, the other Fortitude. "Patience and fortitude is what we need now. Although not as extreme, these were the ideals that the country needed most during The Great Depression, and what we need now," Reihl noted.

Patience and fortitude. These words now define the Chapter. The brothers must continue to set the standard. Although it may have been a minor incident, each brother takes responsibility for the Chapter’s actions, no matter the final result. — Alex Hammel, Florida '08

Magazine Article - "Stay Away from Mirrors" (Winter 2009):

Reflection

People are given opportunities every day to make a difference, whether it is in their own lives or the lives of those around them. The right person has the ability to make a positive impact and make a noticeable change in the community where they reside. Dr. William L. Fox, St. Lawrence ’75, has been making a difference since his undergraduate years and was recently appointed as the 18th president of St. Lawrence University, where he hopes, once again, to make a difference.

Fox has always possessed a sense of humility that has kept him grounded everyday. He says that being balanced and fair-minded are some of the greatest benchmarks a leader can aspire to live by. He strongly grasps that leadership is more than just a position; it is taking action to rival results and achieve success. "An ability to communicate, not just speak, effectively is critical. Also, except for shaving, stay away from mirrors. They’re more dangerous than the adulation of crowds," Fox stated. He offers that humility will best serve young people in all of their future endeavors.

Fox’s path to the presidency of his alma mater began indirectly with Beta Theta Pi. Not through membership in the Fraternity, but through his church, where former General Fraternity President Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence ’22, was his minister. Brooks was the Fox family minister in Washington, DC, which is where the two kindled a beautiful friendship that ultimately led Fox to his college chioce and placement at the University. Although there was a large difference in their ages, the wisdom of the elder Brooks influenced the values of the young Fox. It was at his church where Fox learned to discover the good in every encounter, especially with "the least of these."

Through his church, and with the encouragement of Brooks, Fox pursued a career in the ministry. "There was no better preparation for my life’s work than spending the early years of my career in the ministry," Fox said. The ministry, which was the first of three vocations he occupied, was the most formative. And yet, he also traces his success there to his college years in Beta Theta Pi.

As a result of being active in the Chapter, Fox learned to live in a diverse, intelligent and fast-paced environment, which created an opportunity for lifelong friendships. He says that a week never passes without hearing from a St. Lawrence Beta. Fox took on leadership positions in the Chapter, giving him invaluable hands-on experience toward becoming an effective listener and persuader. "It also taught me the importance of following through as a leader, which is the only coin that buys respect, and also to learn the importance of standing up and speaking up when your shaky knees preferred a less than brave response," Fox offered. Beta Theta Pi instilled and reinforced lasting principles in Fox that allowed him to make a difference not only in his chapter, but the community as well.

Restoration

Before being appointed president at St. Lawrence, Fox was president at Culver-Stockton College, where he demonstrated leadership in successfully bringing his campus out of a major crisis. Within the first days of his presidency, a destructive tornado struck the campus, and turned the College community upside down. However, Fox made a difference in the community by showing people how their own strength and courage was enough to repair the damage and to restore the community’s sense of hope. He achieved these impressive feats by focusing on the values of respect and mutual assistance. Fox does an impeccable job of not only understanding the values of the Fraternity, but implementing them into his daily life. He lives the ritual daily and takes great pride in doing so.

When asked what initial goals Fox would set for himself, he responds that developing friendships and establishing chemistry with people is how he will begin. "The goal of getting to know people in the community, what they do at the University and what their lives are like, is the peg upon which all the institutional weights and measures will hang," Fox said. This is Fox’s platform for success and making a difference. He will just to do his best to understand the faculty and students he works with everyday. "I’ll be a student myself, learning all over again who the St. Lawrence students and professors are in this new century," Fox added.

On July 1, Bill Fox will become the president of St. Lawrence University. He will begin his work with the simplest of assumptions and just be himself. He will be starting with many challenges, but with one advantage. He knows himself. Not only as a minister, professor or college president, but as a calm and humble Bill Fox . . . a life-long student always trying to make a difference. — Alex Hammel, Florida '08