In a recent Southpaw article, Lucy Biederman accused the University Greek system of not recruiting black students. As far as Beta Theta Pi is concerned, I speak for the entire Chapter when I say, “guilty as charged.” I repeat, Beta Theta Pi does not recruit black students. Beta does not recruit Asians, Indians, whites, or Latinos either. The truth is Beta Theta Pi does not recruit potential brothers on the basis of color, ethnicity, geographical location, or any of the factors Lucy Biederman might consider a diversity factor.
So how does Beta recruit? Lucy asked me this question, but unfortunately, she couldn’t take my statement out of context and use it to her advantage, so it didn’t make her story. There are two factors as to how we recruit as a fraternity. The primary factor in our decision to recruit a potential brother is whether he exhibits a certain quality of character. Since 1839, Betas have been known as leaders, scholars, and gentlemen. It is our goal to recruit men who will maintain that reputation and Beta’s good name. Here at Washington University, our Chapter values leadership, pioneering spirit, and we consider ourselves men of principle.
There are many young black men who match the quality of character for which we are searching, and we are well aware of that fact. So why don’t we recruit those quality black men? For the same reason we don’t recruit many of the quality white, brown, or yellow men on this campus, that is, they aren’t interested in Beta. Our second criterion for recruitment is whether an individual is legitimately interested in becoming a brother of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. We have neither the funds nor the manpower to recruit every man on campus. If it is clear that a man is not interested in us, we will not spend our efforts recruiting him.
The second issue I’d like to address is Lucy Biederman’s deliberate misrepresentation of our Chapter. During our interview, I gave Lucy the specific numbers concerning the racial makeup of my chapter. Although I directly informed Miss Biederman that approximately 20% of our active brothers were racially diverse, she intentionally referred to Betas as “62 white men” in order to bolster her own predetermined and biased opinion. That being said, the brothers of Beta Theta Pi are very unappreciative of the misrepresentation of our chapter afforded by Miss Biederman in her recent article. We are not a homogeneous group of “62 white men,” and it is absolutely ridiculous to assume that by not having or actively recruiting a black member, that we are perpetuating racism on any level.
I am not denying that the topic of race in the Greek system needs to be discussed, but Lucy Biederman’s unprofessional reporting leads me to question the validity of her entire article. If she misrepresented me, and my chapter, how am I to believe that other presidents and chapters are truthfully represented? For that matter, how am I to believe that any of Lucy Biederman’s research is accurately portrayed? I am urging that readers think critically about what Lucy has written, and to question her conclusions based on the factual inaccuracies, gross generalizations, and double standards her writings suggest.
Lucy was correct about one thing: Beta Theta Pi does not actively recruit black men. We recruit leaders, gentlemen, and men of principle. We will continue to recruit men who exhibit these qualities, regardless of race, and we welcome wholeheartedly those men who are interested in Beta Theta Pi – a fraternity that celebrates quality of character above all else.