Zeta Tau Chapter of Beta Theta Pi
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The Zeta Tau Chapter of Beta Theta Pi is a fraternal organization affiliated with the Beta Theta Pi International Fraternity and based out of Saint Louis University (SLU) in St. Louis, Missouri. It was colonized in 1999 and became an official Beta chapter in 2002.
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[edit] History
[edit] Delta Beta Pi
On October 17, 1983, three students at Parks College - the engineering school of SLU - met in Mercury Hall Dorm Room 223 to form a local fraternity, naming it Delta Beta Pi. "Delta" was eventually founded by a total of 19 students whose goal was to create a fraternity that was built on brotherhood and that stood in stark contrast to Parks' "frat life." For example, Delta outlawed the term "pledge" and designated all prospective members as "associate members of Delta Beta Pi."[1]
[edit] Traditions
Initiated members of Delta were given a baseball jersey with the newly initiated brother's nickname and number printed on the back. The number and nickname were often chosen in reference to a special time in each member's associate period.
Later Deltas created the Delta Chair, a wooden chair adorned with the Delta Beta Pi letters and painted in the fraternity's colors. The Delta Chair was to be present at every official meeting and left empty to symbolize members present only in spirit, whether away from the University or deceased. The Delta Chair tradition is still periodically used by today's Zeta Tau Chapter. However, though the chapter traces its origins back to the Deltas, uninitiated former members of Delta Beta Pi are not considered Beta Theta Pi alumni, and still today, the Deltas have their own alumni events.[2]
[edit] Reformation in 1999
When Parks College moved from its campus in Cahokia, Illinois to the University's Frost Campus in 1997, University officials asked Delta Beta Pi to disband or associate themselves with a national organization. After a long vetting process during which the brothers also considered joining the Fiji and Phi Delta Theta fraternities, the Deltas decided to become a colony of Beta Theta Pi.[3]
On May 8, 1999, the colony's first members were initiated by the Alpha Iota chapter (Washingon in St. Louis) at the Hall of Chapters in Oxford, Ohio, and the remaining portion of the founding fathers were initiated on November 20, 1999 at the same location.
The members of Zeta Tau also assisted in the first pledge ceremony of the University of Central Florida colony (later the Zeta Psi chapter) in Orlando, Florida. While still a colony, Zeta Tau conducted the first initiation ceremonies for the Zeta Upsilon chapter (The College of William and Mary) at the Hall of Chapters and the Beta Beta chapter (University of Mississippi) in Oxford, Mississippi. In addition, Zeta Tau members later traveled again to Ole Miss to assist in recruiting new members in the recolonization efforts there.[4]
[edit] Zeta Tau: 2002-Present
[edit] Installation
The chapter officially received its charter in the summer of 2002[5] at Beta's 163rd General Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Beta alumnus Ferd Del Pizzo Washingon in St. Louis '58 helped guide the chapter through the process and has since stayed with the group as one of its advisors.
Zeta Tau's formal installation ceremony and banquet was held March 1, 2003[6] at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown St. Louis. General Fraternity President Robert W. McKinley Missouri '53 gave the keynote address. The ceremony was presided over by chapter president Vito Brandle '04. In an address to the 220 collegians, alumni, and guests, Associate Foundation Director L. Martin Cobb Eastern Kentucky '96 called Zeta Tau "one of the strongest chapters in North America."[7]
[edit] Traditions
- Camp Kai - A brotherhood retreat held after rush week and before initiation.
- Pledge Class Brick - Each pledge class is presented a decorated brick by the previous pledge class. This brick is hidden on SLU's campus, and the pledge class is responsible for finding the brick before initiation.
- Zeta Tau traditionally conducts fall pledge class initiation at the Hall of Chapters in Oxford, Ohio. The Hall of Chapters is a temple constucted solely for Beta Theta Pi initiations in accordance with the ritual of Beta Theta Pi. Only initiated members are allowed to enter the Hall.
[edit] Heraldry
Zeta Tau's heraldry is identical to that of the general fraternity, with the exception that the upper left quadrant of the chapter crest contains the Delta Beta Pi lion over a fleur-de-lis. This symbol was chosen in reference to the chapter's history with Delta Beta Pi and the French heritage associated with SLU and the city of St. Louis. The lion's 19 claws represent the 19 original founders of Delta Beta Pi.
Refer to the Beta Theta Pi heraldry section for details on the chapter's other heraldry norms.
[edit] Awards
[edit] Chapter Awards
- The Annual Order of Omega[8] Awards
- Most Distinguished Chapter Award (SLU): 2004, 2005
- Order of Omega Merit Award (Most Improved Fraternity Chapter): 2001, 2002
- Award for Chapter Programming: 2004
- Award for Scholastic Programming: 2005
- Award for Educational Programming: 2004, 2005
- Award for Interfraternity Involvement: 2005
- Award for Alcohol Free Programming: 2005
- Award for New Member Education: 2004, 2005
- Award for Alumni Relations: 2004
- Award for Philanthropy: 2004
- The Annual Beta Theta Pi General Fraternity Awards[9]
- Sisson Award for Chapter Excellence: 2003, 2004, 2005
- John Riley Knox Award: 2003, 2004
- Beta Theta Pi Outstanding Pledge Education Award: 2002
- North Dakota for Excellence in Chapter Publications: 2002
- Wichita State Song Competition: 2002
- Excellence in Risk Management Award: 2002
- Saint Louis University Homecoming Golf Cart Parade: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005
- Intramural Athletics Champion: 2003
[edit] Individual Awards
[edit] Order of Omega
- Award for Outstanding Chapter President: 2004 (Brian Strassburger '06)
- Award for Outstanding IFC Involvement: 2005 (Brian Strassburger '06)
[edit] Chapter Luminaries
[edit] Other Notable Awards
- Saint Louis University Homecoming King: 2005 (Thiago Takahashi '06)[10]
- University Award for Leadership in Greek Life: 2006 (Brian Strassburger '06)
[edit] Notes
- ^ The history section is partially adapted from the chapter's official history page
- ^ A 2004 alumni gathering, as depicted on the Delta Beta Pi alumni webpage.
- ^ The University supported this decision based in part on the growing reputation of Beta's Men of Principle Initiative, a massive campaign started in 1997 to support ethical, moral and fraternal conduct among and by the fraternity's chapters and members.
- ^ MPI Informational Report, 2004-2005
- ^ The Beta Theta Pi (Convention 2002), p40 and p76
- ^ Beta Theta Pi General Fraternity records
- ^ The Beta Theta Pi Spring 2003, p20
- ^ The OOO does not always publish its results for whatever the reason. However, it did do so in 2005. Also, the OOO award years represent the year for which the award was given, not the year in which it was given (usually in Februrary or March in the year following the denoted year).
- ^ Records for 2002-2003 can be found here.
- ^ The Beta Theta Pi Winter 2006, p 37
[edit] External links
- The Official Delta Beta Pi Alumni Website
- The Official Zeta Tau Website
- Beta Theta Pi's Official Website
| The Chapters of Beta Theta Pi
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