March 6, 2017
Martin Cobb, Director of Communication
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
martin.cobb@beta.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Beta Theta Pi Fraternity Closes Chapter at UC Berkeley

OXFORD, OHIO, March 6, 2017 – After significant discussion with local and regional volunteers, alumni and university administrators, today Beta Theta Pi is announcing the closure of its historic Omega Colony at UC Berkeley, effective immediately.

This decision comes after a series of missteps by the group, beginning with the colony’s leadership orchestrating a number of social events knowingly in violation of the local housing agreement and the Beta Theta Pi Risk Management Policy. One month since agreeing to strict guidelines designed to guard against such mistakes going forward, the colony has displayed a lack of self-governance, leadership and enthusiasm necessary to meet these mutually agreed-upon directives.

Founded in 1879, the Omega Colony at UC Berkeley was recolonized in 2016 following a previous disbandment and is home to more than 1,000 living alumni.

“Local volunteers, alumni and Beta staff have devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy in recent years on the colony’s behalf, and for that I will always be grateful” said Fraternity General Secretary S. Wayne Kay, Virginia Tech ’73. “However, I am confident that this decision creates a better long-term outlook for Beta in the Bay Area, and secures an opportunity for Omega to reclaim its position as a fraternal leader on Berkeley’s campus in the future.”

Current undergraduate members may no longer continue to operate as a chapter of Beta Theta Pi for any purpose. The Fraternity is working with alumni and university officials to secure a timeline and agreed-upon conditions for a future return to Berkeley’s campus.

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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 135 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, Senior Writer
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
justin.warren@beta.org