May 2, 2017
Martin Cobb, Director of Communication
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
martin.cobb@beta.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Closes Chapter at College of Charleston


OXFORD, OHIO, May 2, 2017
– Beta Theta Pi is disappointed to announce the closure of the Fraternity’s Eta Lambda Chapter at College of Charleston, effective immediately.

The decision to suspend the Eta Lambda charter comes after a hearing with the College of Charleston Honor Board resulted in chapter leadership admitting to 13 violations of the college’s code of conduct. Transgressions included drug and alcohol abuse, disrespect for authority, and acts that signaled a complacency toward wrongful behavior that permeates the chapter’s culture. Such offenses are in clear and direct contradiction of the values that we promise to uphold as brothers of Beta Theta Pi.

“It is extraordinarily and emotionally difficult any time a chapter or colony of the Fraternity must be closed, especially one so early in its Beta journey,” 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, many of our young men in Charleston fell short in sustaining a robust Beta experience that the Fraternity and College of Charleston Greek community deserve.”

The young Eta Lambda Chapter at College of Charleston was founded in 2015, and was home to 43 undergraduate members and pledges. At the time of closure, the Fraternity and college agreed that exploring the opportunity for Beta Theta Pi to return to campus would begin in fall 2021. Until that time, the chapter’s charter will remain suspended and in the care of the Board of Trustees.

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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 10,000 undergraduate members on 133 campuses across North America, 130,000 living-alumni members and 1,800 volunteers. The Fraternity’s Administrative Office is located near their founding site at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.


Press Contact:
Justin Warren, Director of Media Relations & Senior Writer
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
justin.warren@beta.org