Pledge Education Workbook
For the Rho chapter of Beta Theta Pi The Nu Pledge Class Winter 2004
Northwestern University
An old man going a lone highway Came in the evening cold and gray To a chasm vast, both deep and wide The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The swollen stream was naught to him; But he stopped when safe on the farther side And built a bridge to span the tide. “Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near, “You are wasting your strength in labor here; Your journey will end with the closing day, You never again will pass this way You’ve crossed the chasm both deep and wide, Why build this bridge at eventide?” The laborer lifted his old gray head, “Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said, “There followeth, after me today A youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm which has been naught to me To that young man may a pitfall be, He, too, must cross in the twilight dim Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.” Congratulations on joining us in Beta Theta Pi. Just as the old man in The Bridge Builder provides a bridge for the youth, this pledge program aims to have you make the transition from pledge to brother. You are about to begin one of your most memorable experiences. We have planned many activities for you to help you learn about our chapter and appreciate the principles and history of Beta Theta Pi. We hold each of you to a high standard, but remember that it is the same standard to which we hold ourselves. Welcome to Beta Theta Pi. Yours in __kai__, Scott Duncan, 2006 Pledge Educator
The Bridge Builder
The purpose of this pledge education program is to ensure that all initiates understand and respect the objects and principles of Beta Theta Pi. We, as Pledge Educators, will strive to: 1. Teach you the Objects, History and Organization of Beta Theta Pi. 2. Teach you the History and Structure of the Rho Chapter, and help you meet all the brothers and influential alumni. 3. Teach you the Organization of Greek Life on our campus, including an overview of the Greek Affairs Office and the Inter-fraternity Council. 4. Provide an environment for you to improve yourselves personally and academically. 5. Be the ultimate role models in everything we ask of you. In return, we expect that you, as a Pledge: 1. Exhibit the fullest extent of brotherhood with other members of the pledge class, as well as with the active brothers. 2. Maintain the level of personal conduct and character that befits a man bearing the name of Beta Theta Pi. 3. Learn and appreciate the history and traditions of Beta Theta Pi. 4. Attend (on time) all pledge meetings, dinners and other chapter events required by the Pledge Educator. 5. Remain in good financial standing with our chapter. 6. Maintain a commitment to scholarship. 7. Be involved on the Northwestern University campus and in the community. 8. Aid in the perpetuation of our chapter by accepting an active role in the recruitment of new members. To help you meet these expectations, we, as brothers, have developed this Pledge Program.
The Objects of Beta Theta Pi: The purpose of our fraternity, defined for the public Objects: It shall be constituted as hereinafter provided and shall have for its objects the promotion of the moral and social culture of its members, the establishment of confidence and friendly relations among the universities and colleges of the United States and Canada, in securing unity of action and sympathy in matters of common interest among them, and the building up of a fraternity that recognizes mutual assistance in the honorable labors and aspirations of life, devotion to the cultivation of the intellect, unsullied friendship, and unfaltering fidelity as objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of the associated effort.
Pledge Education Contact Information
Pledge Educator Scott Duncan, Northwestern 2006 Willard Residential College (Room 337) 1865 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 sduncan@northwestern.edu Room: (847) 332-4469 Cell: (201) 320-3655 AIM: thedunc78 Assistant Pledge Educator Chris Griffin, Northwestern 2005 2349 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 c-griffin@northwestern.edu Room: (847) 332-4457 Cell: (612) 910-2180 AIM: GriffinNU Assistant Pledge Educator Scott Moffat, Northwestern 2006 Mcculloch Hall (Room 413) 2305 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 c-moffat@northwestern.edu Room: (847) 332-5450 Cell: (847) 571-3494 AIM: wow963 Pledge Education Consultant Brent Soller, Miami 2003 812 W. Lill Ave. Chicago, IL 60614 brentsoller@yahoo.com Apartment: (773) 857-5653
“The boy who is being rushed should be made to feel that he is being considered for membership in one of the most honorable and historic College Fraternities. He can never grasp in advance the full meaning of what this experience can mean to him, but he can be told of those men who attained the highest positions in life, but always held their membership in Beta Theta Pi as one of the rarest and highest honors which had ever come to them” -Seth R. Brooks, St. Lawrence 1922
Expectations of the Pledge Program
Chapter Meetings Pledges are expected to be at chapter meetings. Chapter meetings regularly begin at 6:00 on Monday evenings, and proper dress is required. Pledge Meetings The pledge class will meet with the Pledge Educators every Sunday. The permanent time will be determined at our first meeting. These meetings will last approximately two hours. The purpose of this is for brothers and alumni to uphold our obligation to present the history and structure of our chapter and the fraternity system. Attendance is absolutely mandatory, and should an exception arise, please contact me as soon as you know you have a conflict. I will let you know whether you are excused. House Cleanup Like brothers, all pledges will be expected to respect our property and do what is necessary to keep the house clean. You will also be expected to be at the house for weekly House Cleanup, usually Sunday afternoons at 3:30. During this time, the House Manager will assign each pledge and scheduled brother a job that needs to be done to maintain the common areas inside and outside the house. Song Practice There will be a weekly song practice for pledges, to be scheduled by the Chapter Choristers and the pledge class. We will let you know which songs you will need to be familiar with before each song practice. Other Meetings and Events Pledges are expected to attend all social, alumni, recruitment and other official Rho functions, including nightly dinners in the chapter dining room. With all required events, absences must be excused by me. Dress Code For each pledge meeting, you must wear a dress shirt, tie, khakis/dress pants, dress shoes and your pledge pin. For other events, we will let you know ahead of time what you will need to wear. This dress code is very important and will be strictly enforced. Pin and Letter Wearing The pledge class must agree on one weekday a week when every pledge wears his pledge pin for the entire day. You can wear the Greek letters of Beta Theta Pi after your induction as a pledge as often as you would like. Remember that this comes with a responsibility, and every action will reflect on our chapter. Take this responsibility seriously.
GPA Requirement Like every active, you will be expected to maintain a 2.65 grade point average during the quarter you are a pledge. Our chapter routinely earns a 3.35-3.40 average each quarter and we strive to have the highest fraternity GPA. Therefore we stress academic achievement to maintain our standing. If you do not earn a 2.65 GPA this quarter, you will not initiate with the rest of your pledge class. Big Brothers Each pledge will be paired with a brother in the chapter. Your Big Brother will serve as a mentor for you and will take an active role in helping you through the pledge period. Your Big Brother will evaluate your progress toward meeting your expectations and will report this to the Pledge Educators and the entire chapter. You should actively utilize your Big Brother as a resource during your pledge period. Knowing the Brothers It is our desire as brothers to get to know each of you while you are pledges. For that reason, we ask you to help us meet each of you. Our house is for pledges, as well as brothers, and we encourage you to spend time here, whether you are studying, socializing or eating. Interviews (Pledge Paddles) To ensure that you meet each of the brothers, you are required to interview all the active brothers of the chapter. Each of you will be given a pledge paddle, which the brother will sign when the interview is complete. Interviews are informal, with the purpose of helping you meet the brothers on a personal level. You will have numerous opportunities, and therefore it is your responsibility to get all of the signatures. Pledge Class Officers The pledge class will nominate and elect the following officers early in the pledge period: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Scholarship Chair, Alumni Relations Chair, Social Chair and Community Service Chair. The purpose of this is to give you a hands-on experience in performing some of the duties our chapter officers perform. We will discuss the responsibilities of each office before nominations. Community Service and Philanthropy The pledge class will complete one service project, the annual Peanut Butter and Jelly Project. We will discuss the guidelines and the timeline for completion at a later date. The Community Service Chair will be in charge of this, working with Dan Hess, the chapter’s Community Service and Philanthropy Chair. Additionally, you will have to complete 10 hours of community service, which is the required amount for brothers as well. I recommend that you try to complete the 10 hours as a class, it makes it more fun and rewarding if you do it together.
Rho Project In addition to the service project, the pledge class will complete a project that will in some way improve the Chapter House or grounds. We recommend that you take suggestions from the House Manager. I must approve the project once you decide what you will do. Some of the past projects were placing lights on the letters outside of the house or repainting the chapter kitchen and dining room. Study Hours The pledge class will set up a weekly time when the class will get together and study. The Scholarship Chair of the pledge class will be in charge of this. The time can be on any weeknight and should be for two hours. As a suggestion, I recommend doing this in the Deering Library, but this is ultimately up to you. The Rock The pledge class will be expected to paint the rock outside Harris Hall once during the pledge period. The pledge class will guard the rock before and after painting it. The pledge class President will be in charge of the organization for the painting of the Rock. Alumni Dinner The pledge who serves as Alumni Relations Chair will work with Dan Sheyner, the chapter’s Alumni Relations Chair to plan a dinner to honor our alumni. All pledges should have input, since all of you will attend. Pledge Outings At least once during the pledge period, the pledge Vice President will set up a pledgeonly event. It can be as simple as going out to dinner as a pledge class. Although only one outing is required, I recommend that you spend time with other pledges and do more than just one event as a pledge class. Pledge Social Events As a pledge class, you can decide to have an IFC-registered dance party at the chapter house once during the pledge period. The pledge social chair will work with Zach Lisabeth, the chapter’s Social Chair, to organize this. Additionally, Zach will work with you all to schedule formal dinners or other events with sorority pledge classes. Kitchen Help/Cleanup During the quarter, each pledge will spend one afternoon helping our cook, Ann, as she prepares dinner. Also, along with brothers, each pledge will have to do kitchen clean up after dinner once a week. At the second pledge meeting, I will have you sign up for both the kitchen help and cleanup.
Retreat The pledge class will take a trip to the Administrative Office of Beta Theta Pi in Oxford, Ohio. It is about a 5-hour drive from Northwestern. Several brothers will accompany the pledges as chaperones and supervise the trip. We will tour the A/O and see important points of interest on the Miami University campus. Since the tour and hotel accommodations must be reserved several weeks in advance, we must set a date for this as soon as possible. Traditionally, we have left early Saturday morning and returned Sunday afternoon. Initiation Week The first week of the Spring Quarter, we will have a week filled with activities for you before you initiate. I will give you more information as the time draws near. Pledge Review During the third and fifth week of the pledge period, the brothers will take time in the chapter meeting (after the pledges leave) to discuss the progress of each pledge. We will review your performance on the pledge tests, your attendance at events, your attitude and your general progress toward fulfilling your expectations. Remember, the pledge period is a trial period for both you and us. You are deciding whether our chapter is indeed a good fit for you, and we are evaluating your progress as you seek to become a worth member of our chapter. Roll Number and Pledge Points Upon initiation, you will be entered into the official roll of our chapter. Based on your commitment during the pledge period, I will determine the order of initiation. This is not designed to create competition among pledges, but instead to offer an incentive to go above and beyond what is merely required of you and to perform at a level representing our principles and upholding our reputation. I have created an informal point system to determine your roll number. I will consider your pledge test scores, your academic achievement, your involvement in chapter activities and your attitude. In calculating your pledge points, I will try to be as objective as possible. One final word… This may seem like a lengthy list of tasks that we require pledges to complete, but each activity has a purpose in helping you learn about our chapter and to help you appreciate the principles and history of our fraternity. These activities are designed to be fun, as well. Your attitude ultimately determines whether or not you will enjoy this, and we hope you enjoy this program as much as we will.
“The first mark of a Beta will be his Beta Spirit.” -Willis O. Robb, Ohio Wesleyan 1979
Tentative Schedule of Events
Sunday, January 11 First Pledge Meeting 6:15 p.m. at the Chapter House Monday, January 12 Pledge Induction Ceremony 6:30 p.m. at the Chapter House Friday, January 16 Fun Activity 4:30 p.m. at the Chapter House Saturday, January 17 Mid-Year Retreat TBA at the Norris Center Thursday, January 22 Gone Greek Night, Day 1 6:30 p.m. at the Chapter House Friday, January 23 Gone Greek Night, Day 2 5:00 p.m. at the Chapter House Saturday-Sunday, TBA Trip to Oxford, Ohio Tuesday-Saturday, March 30-April 4 Initiation Week Saturday, April 11 Beta 101: Post-Pledge Education TBA at the Chapter House Other Events (Dates to be determined at a later time) Alumni Dinner Peanut Butter and Jelly Community Service Event Painting of the Rock Pledge Outing Rho Project Weekly Events Pledge Meetings (Sunday) House Cleanup (Sunday) Chapter Meetings (Monday) Study Hours (TBA) Song Practice (TBA)
Weekly Meeting Agendas
Pledge Meeting #1 – January 11
(Introduction by David Caves) 1. Receive and discuss the Pledge Workbook 2. Discuss the expectations of the chapter and the pledges during the pledge period. 3. Go over the schedule for the quarter. 4. Set up the time for future Pledge Meetings, Song Practice and Study Hours 5. Sign board contracts 6. Fill out Pledge Information Cards 7. Presentation by Ray Bourdeau, chapter President
Pledge Meeting #2 – January 18
1. Lore Test: - Chapter History (Founding and Re-Founding) - Greek Alphabet - Names and hometowns of everyone in the Pledge Class 2. Nominations for pledge class officers 3. Pick possible dates for the Retreat to Oxford and other unscheduled events 4. Sign up for Kitchen help and cleanup 5. Discuss the Founding of Beta Theta Pi 6. Presentation from Zach Lisabeth about Gone Greek Night 7. Presentation from Pierce Groover, chapter Risk Manager
Pledge Meeting #3 – January 25
1. Lore Test: - Name and hometown of every brother - Chapter officers and advisors - Founder’s Paragraph 2. Election of Pledge Class Officers 3. Discuss the Founders 4. Presentation by Micah Schwalb, Chapter Counselor
Pledge Meeting #4 – February 1
1. Lore Test: - Early Fraternity History - Founding of Beta Theta Pi - The Founders - Chapters 2 and 3 in Son of the Stars 2. Pledge Officer reports 3. Discuss the early history of Beta Theta Pi 4. Take suggestions for the Rho Project 5. Presentation by Doug Oldham
Pledge Meeting #5 – February 8
1. Lore Test: - History after the Founding - Chapters 4, 5 and 6 in Son of the Stars 2. Pledge Officer Reports 3. Discuss the symbols of Beta Theta Pi 4. Presentation by Keith Musial
Pledge Meeting #6 – February 15
1. Lore Test: - Heraldry, Symbols and Badges - Beta Greats - Chapters 7 and 8 in Son of the Stars 2. Pledge Officer Reports 3. Discuss the organization of both our chapter the General Fraternity 4. Presentation by Chris Bruss about Greek Affairs and the IFC
Pledge Meeting #7 – February 22
1. Lore Test: - Structure and Organization of Beta Theta Pi - Beta Greats - Chapters 7 and 9 in Son of the Stars 2. Pledge Officer Reports 3. Discuss the Men of Principle Initiative 4. Discuss the Beta Greats
Pledge Meeting #8 –February 29
1. Lore Test: - Men of Principle Initiative - The Beta Theta Pi Foundation - Beta Greats - Chapters 7, 12 and 17 in Son of the Stars 2. Pledge Officer Reports 3. Discuss Initiation Week 4. Special presentation by Samir Mayekar
Initiation Week – March 30 – April 4
Note…
These dates and agendas may change. The Retreat to Oxford and other activities may force us to have to adjust the schedule, but I will follow this as strictly as possible.
Founders’ Paragraph At nine o’clock on the evening of the eighth day of the eighth month of the year 1839, eight earnest young men, all students at Miami University, held the first meeting of Beta Theta Pi in the Hall of the Union Literary Society, an upper room in the old college building known as “Old Main.” The eight founders in the order in which their name appear in the minutes were: John Reily Knox, 1839 Samuel Taylor Marshall, 1840 David Linton, 1839 James George Smith, 1840 Charles Henry Hardin, 1841 John Holt Duncan, 1840 Michael Clarkson Ryan, 1839 Thomas Boston Gordon, 1840 “of ever honored memory”
The Early History of the Rho Chapter
Northwestern University The Rho chapter resulted from the great General Convention of Beta Theta Pi, which met in Richmond, Virginia in 1872. This convention was great not because of the number of chapters represented or the large number of delegates in attendance, but because of what it accomplished. The Civil War had severely damaged the southern chapters, and although the northern chapters were sound, they also had lost many members. The fraternity as a whole could not put forth its strength due to her lack of organization. This was the situation when the Convention met in 1872. It was, however, a harmonious convention that produced farreaching results. The office of General Secretary was established to have general supervision over the affairs of the fraternity, and was the sole executive office until the President was established in 1897. The convention also established the General Treasurer. It was at this convention that the Rho chapter had its beginning. Among the delegates to the convention was Olin Robert Brouse, Asbury 1866, a delegate of the Chicago Alumni Chapter. He carried in his pocket the Rho petition and according to the convention minutes, “had a large mass of information in regards to Northwestern University.” The record states further that the petition from Northwestern was referred to the different chapters for action. The vote was favorable, and the chapter was established on July 3, 1873. The charter members were Henry Sherman Boutell, Irving Queal, Darwin Hall Cheney and Olin Robert Brouse. The new chapter was designated the Alpha Rho chapter. It was the fourth national fraternity to be established on the Northwestern campus. The first meetings were held on the third floor of the building at the corner of Davis St. and Chicago Ave. in downtown Evanston. In 1880, Rho took her present name from the Washington and Lee chapter, which disbanded at that time.
Current Officers of Beta Theta Pi President Robert W. McKinley, Missouri 1966 General Secretary David W. Wright, Ohio State 1967 Administrative Secretary Stephen B. Becker, Florida 1969 General Treasurer John H. Stebbins, Emory 1992 Archivist H. H. Stephenson, Miami 1939 Historian B. Hume Morris, Centre 1968 Editor Thomas C. Olver, Central Michigan 1998 Director, Beta Theta Pi Foundation Jonathan J. Brant, Miami 1975 Associate Director, Beta Theta Pi Foundation L. Martin Cobb, Eastern Kentucky 1996 Co-Directors, Men of Principle Initiative Vincent Mikolay, Bethany 2000 David Rae, British Columbia 2000 District Chief (for our district) Robert K. Hall II, Purdue 1972 Education Consultant (for our region) Casey A. Gomes, Maryland 2002
Chapter Advisors
Chapter Counselor Micah Schwalb Risk Advisor Steve Dealph Recruitment Advisor Doug Oldham Pledge Education Advisor Brent Soller Alumni Relations Advisor Ben Spatz Financial Advisor Bill Whitney Parent Advisor Eric Margolis
Rho Chapter Officers: 2004
Executive Officers President Ray Bourdeau, 2005 Vice President Charles Osterberg, 2005 Secretary Jason Cassidy, 2006 Treasurer Ryan Givens, 2006 Recruitment Chairman Chris Bruss, 2005 Alumni Relations Chairman Dan Sheyner, 2005 Pledge Educator Scott Duncan, 2006 Scholarship Chairman P.J. Grealish, 2006 Social Chairman Zach Lisabeth, 2006 Community Service and Philanthropy Chairman Dan Hess, 2006 Risk Manager Pierce Groover, 2005
Non-Executive Officers House Manager Ben Coughlan, 2005 Wil Winkelmann, 2006 Kitchen Steward Ryan Buterbaugh, 2006 Social Events Chairman Jim Schuchart, 2005 Recruitment Events Chairman Pat Gresens, 2005 Public Relations Chairman Mike Baltus, 2006 Chorister Jason Park, 2005 Wil Winkelmann, 2006 Archivist Dan Hess, 2006 Intramural Sports Chairman Kent Berkley, 2005 Fundraising Chairman Dan Gotera, 2006 Technology Chairman Ryan Buterbaugh, 2006 Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Sterling, 2006 Assistant Pledge Educators Chris Griffin, 2005 Scott Moffat, 2006
Appendices
Appendix 1: A note about this Pledge Program Appendix 2: How much does it cost to be in Beta? Appendix 3: The Nine Clans of the Rho Chapter Appendix 4: The Roster of Brothers since the Refounding Appendix 5: General Contact Information Appendix 6: Risk Management Alcohol Events Plan
A Note About This Pledge Program…
This pledge program was originally written by Pledge Educator Justin M. Rutherford, Northwestern 2000, with the help of the refounding class of the Rho of Beta Theta Pi in recognition of the 125th Anniversary of Rho’s founding. This Pledge Program was passed in the chapter meeting on November 23, 1998, as an official document of the Rho chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Later revisions of this document occurred on January 7, 2001, by Pledge Educator Robert Ruzkowski, Northwestern 2004; in December 2002 by Pledge Educator David Caves, Northwestern 2004; and in December 2003 by Pledge Educatorelect Scott Duncan, Northwestern 2006.
How much does it cost to be in Beta?
Board (per quarter) Beta $855 University $1,107 (13 meals per week) Room (per quarter) Single Beta $1,700 University $1,996
Double $1,350 $1,743
Board We have a cook that serves lunches and dinners Monday-Friday, and brunch on Sunday. Sunday dinners are brought in from local restaurants. In addition, we always have 24-hour food in our kitchen that guys can eat any time. Room Most rooms in our house are suites: two bedrooms connected by a common room. Generally two or three guys live in each suite. All juniors are required to live in the house, and sophomores are sometimes required to do so, although the policy for sophomores changes each year. Seniors have the option of living in the house or living off campus if they have fulfilled their live-in requirement. Dues Brothers pay $300 each quarter in chapter dues. This money goes to our budget, which finances our social activities, insurance and day-to-day costs of running the chapter. Pledges pay $275 during the quarter they are a pledge. This covers the cost of pledge education and initiation fees, and does not go to the fraternity budget. Our $300 social dues are believed to be the lowest at Northwestern among active fraternities. Cost Comparison For almost everyone, it costs less to live in Beta and eat your meals here than to live in University housing and pay for a standard University meal plan. Our alumni have generously subsidized some of our costs for this to be the case. It is possible that some of these costs will change over the next several years, but probably not a significant change.
General Contact Information
General Fraternity Administrative Office 5134 Bonham Road P.O. Box 6277 Oxford, OH 45056 (800) 800-BETA aoffice@wooglin.com Chapter House Beta Theta Pi 2349 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 491-7157 (House) (847) 332-6088 (Kitchen) Chapter President Ray Bourdeau 2349 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 332-4413 (Room) r-bourdeau@northwestern.edu Chapter Vice President Charles Osterberg 2349 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 332-6863 (Room) costerberg@northwestern.edu Chapter Risk Manager Pierce Groover 2349 Sheridan Road Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 609-4584 (Cell) p-groover@northwestern.edu
Risk Management Alcohol Events Plan
1. Enumeration of the Official Rho Colony Alcohol Policy 2. Procedure for punishment for persons found in violation of the Rho Colony Alcohol Policy 3. Definition and terms of the position of Risk Manager 4. Prevention/Education Plan for Active Members 5. Prevention/Education Plan for Pledges 6. Terms of Voluntary Probation of the Rho Colony 1. Enumeration of the Official Rho Colony Alcohol Policy The chapter house of the Rho Colony is a dry house. This means that there is no alcohol allowed on the premises of the Rho Chapter House at any time and under any circumstance. This rule is in accordance with Rho Colony’s lease agreement with Northwestern University, as well as the policy of the Rho Housing Corporation. Any person in possession of alcohol in the chapter house or on the property surrounding the chapter house is in violation of this policy. During Colonysponsored events in which members and guests who are of legal age may drink alcohol, the following rules shall be enforced: 1. All Colony-sponsored events must have at least one Risk Monitor for every thirty party members. 2. Persons who are not brothers of the Rho Colony are not to be left unattended by brothers at any time when alcohol is present or being consumed by said person(s). 3. A third party vendor who is licensed and insured must supply all alcohol at any Colony-sponsored event. 4. Collective sources of alcohol such as barrels are strictly prohibited unless under complete control of a Third Party vendor. 5. Underage drinking at a Colony-sponsored event shall not be tolerated under any circumstances 6. If an active brother present at a Colony-sponsored event witness a Risk Management infraction, he must immediately report said infraction to a Risk Monitor, the Risk Manager and/or a member of the Kai Committee so the infraction can be deal with as soon as possible. 7. In the event of a personal injury or suspected personal injury, the immediate interests of the injured person are to supercede the interests of the Rho Colony, as in the end the two are one and the same.
2. Procedure for punishment of persons found in violation of the Rho Colony Alcohol Policy Brothers found in violation of the Rho Colony Alcohol Policy shall be judged before the Kai Committee. If the infraction occurred at a Colony-sponsored event, the Risk
Monitors for that evening shall be called to present their perspective on the event so as to establish a picture of the exact course of events leading to the infraction. It should be noted that if it can be shown that through the inaction of the Risk Monitors the perpetrator was enabled to commit the infraction, those Risk Monitors can and should suffer the same punishment as the perpetrator. 3. Definition and terms of the position of Risk Monitor Risk monitors shall be present at all Colony-sponsored events. In essence, the duty of the Risk Monitor is to ensure the protection of all brothers and guests, hereafter referred to as the “party,” present at the Colony-sponsored event. While all brothers are responsible for each other’s well being, the Risk Monitors are elected to keep a constant eye on the Brothers and their guests, allowing the rest of the party to concentrate on the evening’s events. The official duties of the Risk Monitor include: 1. The Risk Monitor must remain completely sober for the course of the event. At no time before or during the event shall the elected Risk Monitor consume alcohol. 2. At no event shall the ratio of Risk Monitors to party members exceed on Risk Monitor for each thirty party members. 3. At no time during the event shall the Risk Monitors separate themselves from the rest of the party. 4. Only an active member of the Rho Colony may serve as Risk Monitor. 5. Whenever an Underclassman serves as a Risk Monitor, there also must be an Upperclassman serving as an additional Risk Monitor. 6. The Risk Monitor must watch the party at all times to ensure the safety of all members of the party. 7. If the Risk Monitor witnesses an occurrence that places any member of the party in danger, the Risk Monitor must take steps to defuse the situation and ensure for the safety of all persons involved, with the interests of the involved party superceding the legal interests of the Colony. 8. It is the Risk Monitor’s duty to report all Risk Management violations to the Risk Manager and the Kai Committee.
4. Prevention/Education Plan for Active Members At the start of each school year, during New Student Week, a mandatory meeting is to be held to discuss the Risk Management policy of the Rho Colony. At this meeting, the above rules and guidelines are to be addressed. The setting is to be an open forum in which members may voice their concerns or ask questions about the nature of the Risk Management plan. No one at this meeting may leave until a unanimous vote is cast in favor of the above rules and guidelines. If the chapter wishes to change any of the rules or guidelines listed above, then the change must again be consented to unanimously by the entire chapter. This is to ensure that all
members of the chapter are in full recognizance of the above rules, and that full consent and support of said rules is offered. 5. Prevention/Education Plan for Pledges Before the first Colony-sponsored event at which the pledges are present, the above rules and guidelines are to be presented by the Risk Manager to all pledges during a pledge meeting. This meeting is intended to provide the pledges with a familiarity with the concept of Risk Management, and to provide the pledges with concrete examples of what is expected of them as persons bearing the name of Beta Theta Pi. All pledges must unanimously agree to the above rules and guidelines before the meeting may adjourn. 6. Terms of Voluntary Probation of the Rho Colony The above Risk Management Plan has been designed in reaction to the events that transpired through the course of a Colony-sponsored Date Party that took place May 11, 2000. It is hoped and intended that the above Risk Management Plan will serve as means of prevention of future Risk Management violations. The Rho Colony, under full recognizance of the importance of a sound Risk Management Plan, hereby places itself on voluntary and self-initiated Probation until such a time as the above plan can be implemented to the satisfaction of the General Fraternity of Beta Theta Pi. It is intended that the General Fraternity be kept informed of the Colony’s progress through this plan by President Doug Oldham and Risk Manager Chris Anderson. It is hoped that when the Colony has ratified the above Risk Management Plan, has held a meeting among active members to discuss Risk Management Policy, has implemented Risk Management into the Pledge Program and has made all members aware of the duties of the Risk Monitor, assent will be given by the General Fraternity and the Colony Executive Board to remove the Colony from voluntary Probation. Until this time the following terms of Probation must be adhered to: 1. The Colony must meet with University Greek Administration Officials regularly to discuss and/or modify the Risk Management Plan to ensure its ultimate success. 2. The Colony must hold and Alcohol/Risk Management related fireside each quarter in which the colony is on probation, and once a year once the Colony is removed from probation. 3. The General fraternity must be kept informed of any and all Risk Management violations, regardless of their severity or supposed relevance to the Risk Management Plan. 4. The General Fraternity must be provided with assurance by the Rho Colony Advisor Board that the Colony has implemented the Risk Management Plan not only in letter but in spirit.