The Beta Spirit Grows Even Stronger
Beta Delta is improving—and not just physically. The barroom floor and the longhall bath are both in their final stages of refurbishment, and the undergraduates are sincerely grateful. I want to take this opportunity to explain what this means for our chapter.
The Undergraduate Strategic Plan
This past semester, the undergraduates and alumni corporation have furthered the Beta spirit that grew during the years of the Castle Campaign. The largest, most visible sign of this was the drafting of the undergraduate Strategic Plan. The goal of this living document was to establish a renewed set of standards that govern the duties that we see as essential to the operations of the chapter.
Chapter House Affairs
- • Pledging processes
- • Rush activities
- • House operations
- • Facility management
Individual Development
- • Scholarship standards
- • Personal responsibility
- • Leadership skills
- • Character building
Marks of Achievement
- • Friendship bonds
- • Chapter pride
- • Core values
- • Legacy building
National Recognition
The general fraternity has recently been recognizing Beta Delta as one of its outstanding chapters. Not long ago, we were featured in the Beta Theta Pi Magazine. Following that accolade, Mike Cohen '98 was chosen to be the undergraduate speaker at convention.
Chapter Composite
"It is no great surprise that Cornell has earned it."
— General Secretary Jerry Blesch, awarding Beta Delta its ninth Sisson Award
Leadership in Action
These distinctions are a tribute to all of the hard work that has gone into our chapter, from the undergraduate side and especially the alumni. However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Instead, we must look to what will be distinguishing our chapter next year, two years from now, five years from now...
Strategic Plan Implementation
Two individual brothers have been instrumental in the initial implementation of this document. Chapter Adviser Eric Sophir '98 and past Alumni Secretary Jon Miller '99 spent countless hours working with me this summer to put this plan into action.
Smooth Transitions
Helping newly initiated brothers integrate
Clear Responsibilities
Delineating officers' duties and expectations
Maximum Experience
Providing opportunities for growth
Heightened Responsibility
In light of recent fraternity events on the national scale, such as incidents at MIT, LSU, and even our chapter at Rutgers, the fraternity system has taken some solid blows to the head. This presents an immediate need for a heightened level of awareness and sense of responsibility from each member of the chapter.
While Beta Delta does not participate in the illegal activities that brought about that trouble, many of our functions are open to the outside world, for which we are equally responsible. Taking preemptive measures should ensure that our chapter distinguishes itself in a positive light.
The Binding Force
And finally, it is the Beta Delta experience—more specifically, the Beta spirit—that binds us all together, and it is this that all actions come back to. It is this that is alive and well at the Castle on the Rock, and it is also the reason you should join us for our Homecoming celebration in the fall.
Yours in ___kai___,
Jeremy Graff '98
President