December 16, 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 Houston

OXFORD, OHIO, December 16, 2020 – Today Beta Theta Pi is announcing the closure and disbandment of its chapter at the University of Houston.

This difficult decision comes as a result of persistent disruptions to recruitment efforts and operations presented by multiple hurricanes, tropical storms and, most recently, COVID-19, which have compromised the brotherhood so critical to a colony’s cohesiveness. Despite best efforts by undergraduates, local alumni, the university and the General Fraternity to overcome these obstacles, Delta Upsilon has continued to experience dwindling membership and fall behind in a number of areas critical to creating a positive, viable Beta experience for its brothers.

“Although they share our collective disappointment in this outcome, the four remaining colony members also view these challenges as insurmountable and believe disbanding is currently the right decision for Beta at the university,” said Fraternity General Secretary S. Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. “As chief volunteer on the Fraternity’s Board of Trustees, I want to assure you that it is extraordinarily and emotionally difficult any time a chapter or colony must be closed.”

Founded in 1977 in Houston, Texas, Delta Upsilon is home to some 200 living alumni. 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 138 campuses across North America, 138,000 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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Position:              Director of Media Relations & Senior Writer
Email:                  justin.warren@archive.beta.org