Bet Theta Pi’s president talks charity, charters & going greek
By Courtney Wallen
With Fall Recruitment right around the corner, it’s time to learn about some of our awesome Greek Life on-campus! In the spotlight is fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. The High Point University chapter of Beta was founded in 2012 and was officially chartered just last year. Chapter president, senior Drew McInturff, spoke about what the Men of Principle are up to this semester.
What does Beta have planned for this upcoming school year?
We have a lot planned for the next year. Last year we collectively won Chapter of the Year, The Greek Service Award, Greek Person of the Year, Outstanding Freshman from SGA, as well as winning Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man on Campus. We also had the highest GPA of any fraternity for the Spring semester and hope to keep that momentum moving to the Fall. This year we want to continue to develop our philanthropy events that support the Make-a-Wish Foundation while also having each member do a minimum of 10 hours of community service each semester. In the Spring semester we were able to have a mixer with all six PanHellenic Sororities and our goal is to continue to build unique relationships with every sorority and be beneficial partners to their projects over the school year. We are also very excited to be Greek Week partners with Phi Mu and show the world just how manly it can be to choreograph the lip-sync dance.
How do you work with your philanthropy?
We work with the Make-a-Wish foundation directly, going through their office in North Carolina. We’ve been able to volunteer at multiple fundraising events and hope to put on some of our own in the future. My personal favorite event that we do every year is the cornhole tournament. I like it because cornhole is a very casual game that anyone can play and we are able to get a lot of student involvement to help make a child’s wish come true while having fun at the same time.
Congratulations on the recent charter! How does that process work?
Thank you so much! The process of becoming a chartered chapter of Beta Theta Pi is very intense. There are certain goals and milestones you have to achieve before you can be considered for chartering at the General Convention that takes place once every year. Beta Theta Pi at High Point started in 2012 and it took us some time before we were able to have a firm foundation in place. Some of the goals we had to reach include; a GPA higher than the all-fraternity, all-men’s, and all-campus average, have an active advisory team of at least 5 members, maintain membership greater than the average fraternity size on campus, maintain a three-year initiation rate of new members of 90% or higher, send at least 10 members to leadership conferences, as well as remain in good standing throughout your time as a colony. Another part of the chartering process is working on the Men of Principle Scholarship. This is a scholarship we help fund with the help of our general fraternity and we get to decide as a chapter who we give it to. This person does not need to be a member of our organization, or any organization, to be awarded the scholarship, and it is always a good experience to help a deserving student finish school.
How many brothers are currently in HPU’s chapter?
We currently have 55 members in our chapter, which is the highest we have ever had before Fall Rush.
What do you love most about Beta Theta Pi?
What I love most about Beta Theta Pi is that I am celebrated for being myself. Growing up I had a lot of trouble being comfortable with who I was and feeling that because I wasn’t “manly” by society’s definition, that I was not a real man. When I first came to High Point University I did not have many friends because it felt like I did not have much in common with other guys. However, when I rushed my Sophomore year and walked into the Beta house, everything changed. I was accepted as I was and felt like my values finally matched up with another group. It is a very special place and has continued to develop as a place that builds young men up to become their best selves, and does so in a positive and safe manner to make every brother feels welcome.
Fun Fact about Beta?
Beta Theta Pi was founded in 1839 and was the first college fraternity in 13 states, as well as being the first fraternity established on 35 campuses, more than any other fraternity. Beta was also the first fraternity to publish an annual magazine and has continued to do so since 1872.
When is recruitment?
Recruitment is Sept. 11–17. A great tool for students considering rushing is checking out IFC information page on the High Point website. They have all the important and mandatory dates as well as a couple other important dates to be aware of including the Recruitment BBQ and information regarding open houses. While recruitment itself is only one week there are a lot of events happening in the weeks leading up to recruitment that can be very beneficial.
