July 7, 2020
Martin Cobb, Director of Communication
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
martin.cobb@archive.beta.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Closes Chapter at University of Arizona

OXFORD, OHIO, July 7, 2020 – Following repeated violations to the Fraternity’s Risk Management Policy, specifically in the areas of hazing and unsafe social practices, Beta Theta Pi today is announcing the closure and disbandment of its Delta Beta Chapter at the University of Arizona.

The activities that led to this result spanned several years, defying multiple interventions from the university, alumni and General Fraternity – including two membership reviews. At the conclusion of the chapter’s most recent reorganization, Delta Beta was left with 20 members to guide the chapter forward. Unfortunately, those men chose to resign their memberships soon thereafter.

“Delta Beta’s ongoing struggles to uphold the Fraternity’s Risk Management and Substance-Free Housing Policies created a sustained pattern of high-risk behaviors in its new member program and during social events,” said Fraternity General Secretary S. Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. “Our primary mission as an organization is to positively develop young men and build strong Beta chapters across North America. As it stands now, our chapter in Tucson was not willing to provide the robust Beta experience the Fraternity, its members and the Arizona community deserve.”

Originally founded in 1959, Delta Beta was home to 87 undergraduate Betas and new members at the time of closure. The chapter’s charter will remain suspended and in care of the Board of Trustees throughout this period of disbandment.

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Beta Theta Pi is a college fraternity committed to developing men of principle for a principled life. Founded in 1839, today Beta serves more than 10,000 undergraduate members on 139 campuses across North America, 137,000 living-alumni members and 1,800 volunteers. The Fraternity’s Administrative Office is located near its founding site at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

 

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