Beta Theta Pi Eta Xi becomes an official chapter
Nine brothers attended the Beta Theta Pi General Convention to receive their charter. Photo submitted.
By Veronica Fulton// Organizations Editor
Greek Life at High Point University is relatively small, with only six sororities and six fraternities. One of the fraternities, Beta Theta Pi, received news at the General Convention this summer that they had received their national charter. A charter is the documentation that recognizes a chapter that operates according to the standards of the national organization. With the charter, Beta Theta Pi received their national chapter Greek letters – Eta Xi. Nationally, Beta Theta Pi is very strict and upholds their members to very high standards. When Beta joined Greek Life on High Point’s campus in late 2012, they began working towards achieving the standards to receive their charter.
“It is not only an incredible relief but an honor to finally get our charter,” Carter Hering, junior, said. “I pledged Beta in the spring of my freshman year because I knew a few brothers and they were extremely welcoming. In the fall of my sophomore year, I got involved with the recruitment committee. I am continuously searching for brothers who uphold the values of Beta Theta Pi.”
The founding pledge class graduated in May of 2016 and the chapter received their charter in August of 2016. Nine brothers traveled to Oklahoma to attend the General Convention for Beta Theta Pi. A presentation was made to Beta Theta Pi chapter presidents and advisors from all over the country to prove to them that the colony had operated according to their standards.
“Our presentation took 30 minutes and then there were 30 minutes of questions. I spent about 5 hours preparing for the presentation, but I know there were some brothers who spent easily over 25 hours in preparation,” Dan Hurley, vice president of recruitment, said.
Each fraternity and sorority has a different set of standards, beliefs and ideas, but Beta Theta Pi is devoted to being Men of Principle. They believe in a cultivation of intellect, so that all of the members have a high GPA. They pride themselves on recruiting pledge classes that are equal to or greater than the size of classes that came before them. They must maintain an average three year initiation rate of 90 percent or more. Beta Theta Pi puts an emphasis on leadership development and financial health. They must remain in good standing and follow all of the requirements to become an official chapter.
“The standards the brothers hold themselves accountable to include values like responsible conduct, mutual assistance, integrity and trust,” Hering said. When Beta came to High Point’s campus in 2012, they did not know how long it would take to achieve this dream. Luckily, there was a live stream of the chapter receiving their charter, so the founding members were able to see what they spent four years building. “All of the brothers are extremely proud and can’t wait to accept the first pledge class for the official Eta Xi chapter of Beta Theta Pi,” Hering said.