Ohio University’s Beta Theta Pi fraternity was reinstated after serving a one-year suspension for alcohol violations.
OU’s oldest fraternity will resume residence at its 23 S. Congress house with a new batch of students once renovations to the house are completed sometime before fall 2013, said Jason Ganger, Beta’s colony development coordinator.
The fraternity’s national board stopped recognizing the chapter in February 2011 after fraternity members held a 100-person party in the house’s common room.
Soon after, OU suspended the fraternity for a year. During that time, Beta Theta Pi was not allowed to display fraternity letters on its house or hold formal recruitment, according to a previous article in The Post.
The university sanctions were instated after Beta chapter leaders chose not to contest the charges in the midst of a probation period, according to a previous Post report.
Not all previous members will be reinstated automatically.
“They won’t be entirely reinstated,” Ganger said. “The group that was suspended are still brothers and are what we call early alumni. They have the opportunity to become active members once they go through the process with the national corporation.”
But the fraternity’s return is good news, university officials said.
“When a student organization comes back to campus, I think it’s a wonderful thing,” said Jenny Hall-Jones, interim dean of students.
With its new start, Beta Theta Pi has made changes to the recruitment process that are fundamental for the chapter’s success, said Chris Blackburn, associate director of Greek Life and Leadership.
“In terms of recruitment, it will be more formalized as opposed to an open recruitment process where we invited all interested students in the past,” Blackburn said. “We are also looking at an eight-person advisory board that will be crucial to the structural support for the chapter to move forward.”
Beta will also offer $1,000 scholarships for non-Greek males to be used toward tuition and other financial costs, according to a letter from the fraternity.
Despite the past suspension, the fraternity has received positive support from the university and its students about the return of the chapter, Blackburn said.
“The university as a whole is very excited,” Blackburn said. “Key alumni who were part of the chapter are excited for its return, and students have already expressed interest in joining the fraternity.”
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