Brotherhood

History

General Fraternity

In 1879, Beta Theta Pi was the first college fraternity to publish its constitution. Today, while we continue to guard certain secrets reserved for our members, we invite the widest knowledge of our objects and aspirations.

Article 1 Name and Objects: Section 2: It shall be constituted as hereinafter provided and shall have for its objects the promotion of the moral and social culture of its members, the establishment of confidence and friendly relations among the universities and colleges of the United States and Canada, in securing unity of action and sympathy in matters of common interest among them, and the building up of a fraternity that recognizes mutual assistance in the honorable labors and aspirations of life, devotion to the cultivation of the intellect, unsullied friendship and unfaltering fidelity, as objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort.

In 1997, the fraternity's leaders decided to realign the organization with her founding ideals and objects. The result was the Men of Principle initiative, an attempt to redefine Beta's values in contemporary terms.

Men of Principle Statement

Beta Theta Pi is dedicated to building men of principle for a principled life. Our brotherhood aids the individual, builds the Fraternity and strengthens the host academic institution through lifelong devotion to intellectual excellence, high standards of moral conduct and responsible citizenship.

  • LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP: Bonded by oath and ritual, Betas form lifelong bonds of trust and friendship which are the foundation of the Fraternity's mission.
  • CULTIVATION OF THE INTELLECT: Beta membership encourages individual and chapter support of the academic mission and provides opportunities for co-curricular learning and personal growth.
  • RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP: Betas participate in a system of self-governance, bound by trust and responsibility, which nurtures the development of social and leadership skills.
  • RESPONSIBLE SOCIAL CONDUCT: Beta Theta Pi is committed to standards of social conduct which are guided by principles of urbane, civil, courteous and responsible deportment.
  • COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY: The experience of being a Beta encourages men to serve their university, fraternal and local communities.

Code of Governance

The Code of Beta Theta Pi is the authority for governing Beta Theta Pi. Two documents comprise The Code--The Constitution and The Laws.

In 1839, the founders adopted a simple constitution that has since grown into the fraternity's governing guidelines. These documents are grounded in the ritual of the fraternity and detail the organizational structure and operating guidelines for Beta Theta Pi.

The History of Beta Theta Pi

In 1839, when Beta Theta Pi was founded at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, the college fraternity world consisted of only 19 chapters of five secret Greek-letter fraternities, located on 10 college campuses in five states. In addition, the Mystic Seven Society had been organized in 1837 at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and Delta Upsilon had been founded at Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., as a protest against secret societies.

Alpha Delta Phi on the Miami campus was the only fraternity represented in "the west" (of the 1830s), thus Beta Theta Pi became the sixth fraternity in order of founding and the first to originate west of the Allegheny Mountains. There is more significance to this fact than may appear.

Beta Theta Pi, originating on the frontier, was in every sense a pioneer fraternity, with the enthusiasm, courage, hope, foresight and determination so characteristic of this untouched region. As the history of the Greek movement developed, Beta Theta Pi was the first fraternity to adopt a truly national point of view with a determination to be adequately represented in all sections of the U.S. and ultimately, now, throughout Canada as well.

This pioneer spirit has been one of Beta Theta Pi's greatest sources of strength. From the outset, the founders thought in terms of a national fraternities. Article 8 of the original Constitution provided that "other branches of this association may be established at such places as may be thought suitable and prudent," and one of the stated purposes of the organization was to promote friendly relations among members in different institutions. As a pioneer, too, Beta Theta Pi was the first to recognize the strength to come from chapters at state-supported institutions as compared with denominational and/or privately owned ones. The Beta chapters at Miami, Ohio and Indiana Universities and the University of Michigan were the first fraternities on the campuses of state institutions. The first chapter of the earlier fraternities to appear at a state university was Sigma Phi at University of Vermont in 1845.

In 34 instances, Beta Theta Pi has entered an institution with the first chapter of any fraternity. While Beta Theta Pi currently has some-140 chapters and colonies, it is projected that the number will increase to 175 by 2010.

A Brief History of Gamma Xi

Gamma Xi is the name of our chapter at the University of Florida. We celebrated our 75th anniversary in 2006. On February 9, 1924, 10 men--W. Clyde Atkinson, G.R. Clegg, Wayne A. Cooper, R. Cunn, J.B. Dickey, Donald C. Flower, L.J. Hall, James C. Hayden, L.L. Shear, and Alton M. Towles--signed the charter for the Delta Tau local fraternity at the University of Florida.

Delta Tau existed at UF until December 12, 1930, when the fraternity was chartered as the Gamma Xi chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Gamma Xi was first housed on Masonic Street, at the current site of the Courtyards apartment complex, 1231 SW Third Ave. In 1955, construction was completed on our current house, among the first on Fraternity Row.