March 24, 2022
Martin Cobb, Chief Communication Officer
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
martin.cobb@archive.beta.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Closes Chapter at the University of New Mexico

OXFORD, OHIO, March 24, 2022 – Today Beta Theta Pi is announcing the closure and disbandment of its chapter at the University of New Mexico.

This difficult decision largely stems from the chapter’s inability to consistently recruit and retain members since its reestablishment in 2018. Of the 12 men initially inducted as founding fathers, only 9 continued through to initiation. The chapter has continued to struggle with recruitment in the years since, leaving membership to dwindle to only five active members today.

“This number, while certainly exacerbated by the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, indicates to me any remaining members and advisors would be facing an insurmountable climb going forward,” said Beta Theta Pi General Secretary S. Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. “Our primary mission as an organization is to develop young men and build strong Beta chapters across North America. As it stands now, our chapter in Albuquerque is not providing the robust Beta experience the Fraternity, its members and the university community deserve.”

All initiated undergraduates have been placed on “alumni” status and no longer retain the rights or privileges of an active member of the Fraternity. Members will be entitled to the full rights and privileges of all Beta Theta Pi alumni upon graduation, so long as their behavior continues to align with the expectations of Beta alumni and the university.

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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 9,000 undergraduate members on 136 campuses across North America, nearly 140,000 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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