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Beta Theta
BΘ
Founded	August 25, 1914 (1914-08-25) (109 years ago)
College	University of Oklahoma
Location	Norman, OK
Homepage	Beta Theta Homepage
Media related to Beta Theta Chapter

University of Oklahoma, established 1890

Chapter founded in 1914

3,892 initiates (as of June 2014)

Some of Beta Theta’s Outstanding Alumnae: (If you have chapter alumna who have received recognition in any of these three categories, please list them with the date(s) of recognition.)

Fraternity Council Members: Helen Smart Brenholts, Director of Chapters 1943-1944, Field Secretary 1941-1944; Helen Cornish Hutchinson, Fraternity Vice President 1950-1952, Director of Alumnae 1952-1956; Jane Young Barrett, Director of Chapters 1998-2000, Director of Standards 1994-1998; Heloise Smartt (Brenholts), Field Secretary 1941-1944; Ruth Tyler, Field Secretary 1953-1956; Virginia Merritt (Autry), Field Secretary 1960-1962; Deidra Ballard, Field Secretary 1973-1975; Linda Dickey (Hilsabeck), 1974-1976; Field Secretary; Patti Gilliard (Smith), Field Secretary 1975-1977; Linda Schmidt, Field Secretary 1978-1979 Allyson Coffey, Traveling Consultant 1984-1985; Crystal Marcum (Bacon), Leadership Consultant 2006-2007

Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:

Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients: Helen Robson Walton, 1990, Philanthropist, volunteer, served on a governor’s commission on literacy among other areas; Becky Powell Casey, 2000, CEO for Harold’s Stores, Inc. (men’s and ladies apparel)

Additional Outstanding Beta Theta Alumnae: Martha Rowsey (Anthis), Graduate Counselor 1950-1052; Lynette Mehl (Hilliard), Graduate Counselor 1965-1966; Caren Cook, Graduate Counselor 1976-1978; Patti Gilliard (Smith), Graduate Counselor 1976-1978; Lisa Schmidt, Graduate Counselor 1979-1980; Crystal Marcum (Bacon), Graduate Counselor 2006-2007

The Early Years (From The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma 1870–1976)

In 1912 six girls at the University of Oklahoma formed a local organization, Sigma Tau Omega, with the idea of petitioning Kappa Kappa Gamma. Other campus groups had petitioned unsuccessfully, but these girls had a quiet determination, and by the spring of 1913 were ready to reveal their plans. With the help of three faculty wives who had resigned as patronesses of other sororities, five leather-bound petitions were compiled; a Kappa national officer, Mary Rodes Leaphart, inspected the chapter; and at the 1914 Convention in Estes Park, Colorado, Beta Theta was installed. Beta Mu was the installing chapter.

The new chapter, having first rented the home of a professor on leave of absence, moved into a larger house in 1915. During the World War 1 years members of the chapter did Red Cross hospital work; worked at the Food Administration whose headquarters were at the university; and sent gifts and money to the Kappa project in France.

In 1918, the chapter won the Panhellenic Scholarship Cup for the third consecutive year. Shortly after that the Kappa furnace blew up and other Greek groups invited the Kappas to meals until the house was restored. A few years later, after a four-year rental of the old Sigma Nu house, a new Kappa house was built at 519 Boulevard. From 1923 to 1939 that was Beta Theta’s address.

In the fall of 1926 the chapter was cited for a rush violation, but the penalties imposed by the campus Panhellenic were declared unjust by the national Panhellenic, and reduced to a single restriction – that the Kappas should not be permitted to attend any Fraternity affairs for one year.

There was much controversy about cigarette smoking in 1928 and Beta Theta went into action with the first university approved smoking room. Other houses followed quickly.

The Hoover-Smith presidential race brought excitement to the Kappa Kitchen and Herbert Hoover, who had been a KKB, was officially invited by the Kappa Kitchen Boys to become an honorary Beta Theta KKB.The chapter was host to a smashingly successful state convention in the spring of 1929, its purpose to arouse alumnae support. A large pledge class of 37 in the fall of 1929 meant remodeling the third floor of the house, lovingly called thereafter “Seventh Heaven.”

Many girls could not return to school during the Depression, but Beta Theta continued to pledge in the high 20s. Some traditions begun in the 1920s have lasted. Faculty tea became faculty dessert in 1970. Kappas won campus stunt night time and again. The first two Engineer Queens were Kappas and there have been many winners since. Homecomings, Moms Day and Dads Day began in the 1920s.

In 1932 a new kind of rush, the party system, was adopted and the Kappa Monte Carlo Party was the best of all. In 1932 the dean ordered no more walkouts. (In the early 1970s the Greeks were having their own walkouts with Panhellenic approval and guidelines.) Walkouts are similar to class sneaks…a bus is rented and a cabin in the country or at a lake is the destination for a weekend of fraternity lore, group closeness, and song composition, both serious and foolish.

The social life of 1934 had the added attraction of an evening with the university president, his wife, and his mother, and two evenings with the dean of women. For the first year the chapter dance was held outside the chapter house.

The chapter newsletter, A Peek in Beta Theta’s Keyhole, was started in 1935, and was first a fortnightly, now an annual publication. Blind Dates for pledges were started in 1935, a custom which has varied from actual dates nightly for several consecutive nights to several 30-minute mixers in an evening. Blind Dates live on! The excitement of 1936 was placing third in a radio sorority singing contest. Another highlight of the year was planning a new chapter house. Kappa architect Margaret Read, Colorado, helped local architects, and in 1939 the Kappas moved into a new house. Although there would be an addition and occasional redecorating, this was to remain the chapter house for years to come.

The talk of the entire campus in the spring of 1939 was the fact that singer Jeannette McDonald had stayed in the Kappa house when she came to Norman for a concert.

With the 1940s came World War II. There was a naval base in Norman and Kappa philanthropic activities were centered there. It was a time of entertainment at the Naval hospital, of blind dates with cadets, open houses, and present-filled Christmas stockings. Knitting for the Red Cross was part of the war effort.

Frontier Week highlighted the 1945-1946 school year. Everyone wore blue jeans to class. Second semester started with a bang…a dance…and the boys were back on campus!

Beta Theta was proud in 1947 when it helped install Delta Sigma Chapter at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University). The scholarship point system was inaugurated and members without a certain number of points could not vote. A scholarship fund was started and each girl donated $1 for a student in financial need. Beta Theta won the Panhellenic Scholarship Cup seven times between 1947 and 1953.

A change in chapter organization took place in 1948, when the standards chairman became the vice-president. This was also a big football year at the university. A listening party, that is a party held in an especially decorated basement of “rec” room to listen to an out-of-town game, was a happy event. In 1948 the Oklahoma Sooners smashed North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl as many Kappa listeners cheered the Big Red team.

By 1950 the university carnival had become the Sooner Scandals. Competing acts satirized university life, and Kappa Doll House took first place. Being first was not news…there is a long-standing tradition of leadership in the chapter. In 1951 one girl stands out: Nadine Nortan (Holloway) was elected president of the Senior Class – an honor for her and for Kappa.

In 1952 Beta Theta received the Standards Cup at Convention and in 1955 the silver service of the highest average at Kappa’s State Day. Kappas won second place at the Sooner Scandals in 1956, and seven intramural trophies in 1958-1959. That year several bedrooms, an enlarged dining room, and a remodeled kitchen helped care for a growing number of Beta Thetas.

In the 1960s Homecoming was full of excitement. Not only were there queens, there were extravagant house decorations. One was a huge, revolving, musical birthday cake. When a Daily Oklahoman photographer asked to have the cake’s motor turned off so he could snap a picture, he was surprised to see it stop on its own, a move inspired by the 20 Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledges and 10 Kappa actives inside the cake!

Three annual dances of the 1960s were the Barbeque, the Christmas Formal, and the Monmouth Duo with the Pi Beta Phis. This started in 1960 as the annual spring party. The annual philanthropy became a Christmas party for mission children which was given with Delta Upsilon. There was much social activity among the Greeks: the Chi Omega pizza party (which became an annual Owl-o-ween celebration) and dinner exchanges. Greek Week was exciting, with exchanges, Greek Games, and awards banquet.

In 1963 lending a hand to neighbors became a social affair. Early that fall the ΣΑΕ house next door burned nearly to the ground and the Kappas did the neighborly thing and invited the guys-next-door to lunch. Kappas made lovely houseboys!

The campus turned in the 1960s to philanthropic involvement through Campus Chest. The chapter was cited several times for the best booth, and in 1964 the pledges’ marriage cave within a mountain took the honors. Having fun while helping others is one matter; there was also fun for fun’s sake. Fraternities developed contests for the afternoons of big spring parties and all sororities took part. Egg hunts (raw eggs); tricycle relays, pie-eating, tugs of war, pillow fights over mud pits, and later, beer-drinking contests were just a few. Nearly all involved slime and grime for the contestants. Kappas often won a muddy prize. It was all in fun!

Cars on the campus were growing in number and there was a parking problem, so in 1962 a parking lot was finished behind the house. After a “lot warming” members of Beta Theta Pi decided to share this wonderful facility. Finally the problem was remedied with a fence, a guard, and a few towed-away cars. The Kappa lot was called the meanest and most exclusive on campus!

In 1960 a record-breaking class of 53 was pledged. These were days of Panhellenic concern over scholarship and girls were required to stay in their rooms studying, with no talking, no music, no television, for nearly every hour they were not in class. Such campusing lasted for one week before finals.

A landmark year was 1964-1965, Beta Theta’s 50th Anniversary. There was a splendid banquet with all the remaining founders as guests of honor. The program telling of the chapter’s founding stirred pride in everyone there.

It was quite a year. One dark, stormy night there was a two-hour power failure and word came by special messenger that the chapter had won the Kappa Sigma trophy for “Sorority of the Year.” Everyone gathered for a spirit session with songs and cheering despite the storm.

A young Kappa made history in 1965 for the University of Oklahoma, as well as for her chapter. Vicki Gotcher was elected the second woman Student Senate president in the country. She was the first woman president at Oklahoma.

And so, the 1960s rolled along, the chapter continued in campus leadership; social events crowded study time; scholarship awards were won, with more Kappas in Mortar Board and honoraries than any other group. One year the presidents of three major honoraries were all Beta Thetas.

The Centennial Year of the Fraternity was entered into with pride as Beta Theta alumnae, old and young, joined actives for a banquet and heritage program. Those new to Kappa were awakened to the knowledge that they stood on the threshold of a second century with the challenge of making the second one hundred years as outstanding as the first.

The previous information was excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity, 1870-1976. The information that follows has been gleaned from available resources including Chapter History Reports, chapter meeting minutes, letters and comments from chapter members and alumnae, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Archives, and The Key. Each chapter is expected to update its history record annually. Contact Fraternity Headquarters at kkghq@kkg.org with questions.

Highlights of the 1970s

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)

Housing:

Philanthropy:

Chapter Convention Awards:

Highlights of the 1980s:

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:)

Housing:

Philanthropy:

Chapter Convention Awards:

Highlights of the 1990s:

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:

Housing:

Philanthropy:

Chapter Convention Awards:

Highlights of 2000-2010

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:

Housing: Beta Theta has an average of 274 members and an average in the high 60s of new members. The highest number of new members was 80 in the fall of 2004. The house slept 94-96 so filling the house seemed to be no problem.

Philanthropy: The chapter raised more tha $135,000 in the 2000s. Each year they had a golf tournament, Kappa Klassic, and a spaghetti dinner at the chapter house. They donated the funds raised to the JD McCarty Center in Norman and to the Rose McGill Fund.

Convention Awards: Through the 2000s the chapter has received honorable mention in the following: Technology, Standards, Risk Management; Recruitment, Panhellenic, Public Relations, New Member Program, Excellence in Chapter Management, Gracious Living, House Board, Chapter/ AB, Most Outstanding Chapter

Highlights of 2011-2019:

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.):

Highlights of 2012

Scholarship Spring 2012 GPA - 3.372 - Rank - 4th Place Fall 2012 Member GPA - 3.4 - Rank - 1st Place Fall 2012 New Member GPA - 3.313 - Rank - 3rd Place

Kappa Tutors The Beta Theta chapter provides members with a Kappa-to-Kappa tutoring system in which members who tutor other members are paid per hour by Kappa. This tutoring system has shown to be a successful way for Kappa’s to grow academically and build relationships with fellow Kappas within their academic field.

Adopt-a-Prof In spring of 2012, Kappa was happy to be matched with Juanita Vargas, prominent leader and professor from the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education. Many of our members have enjoyed meeting with her and welcoming her and her family into our home.

In the fall of 2012, we spent time with our Adopt-A-Prof, Amy Davenport. Amy oversees and directs our campus wide workout facility. Our chapter has enjoyed getting to know her and her family. As a chapter, we send care packages, flowers, have dinners with her to form a special bond.

Smart Cookie Every week at chapter, our Vice President of Academic Excellence announces a “Smart Cookie” award to be given out to a Kappa who has received an “A” on a test or paper that week. Members can enter the drawing by placing their name or work in a folder. The member who is drawn receives a homemade baked treat. This unique way of positive reinforcement encourages members to succeed academically.

Period of Support This is a new program that Kappa established to support members after the member has earned a semester of concerning grades. These members are paired with a academically strong member on the academic excellence committee. This mentor encourages the member to use campus and Kappa learning resources. These members on Period of Support also meet regularly with the Vice President of Academic Excellence for encouragement and advice.

Owl Groups Our Vice President of Academic Excellence took up a chapter wide survey, identifying everyone’s major and minors. She then compiled them in a master list and passed them out to the chapter members. This gave the younger women in the house the opportunity to ask older members questions about their majors and use them as mentors and for study assistance.

Group Honors/Awards - University of Oklahoma Homecoming Queen 2012 - Maggie Cannon Campus Activities Council Sooner Scandals - 1st Place Campus Activities Council University Sing - 2nd Place Best Supporting Actress Campus Activities Council Homecoming - 3rd Place Overall Banner Competition - 1st Place Float Competition - 2nd Place Panhellenic Standards of Excellence Awards Academic Achievement Commitment to Founding Values • Leadership and Membership Development • Risk Management and Social Responsibilities • Recruitment and Education of New Member • Develop & Foster Relationships with Stakeholders • PanHellenic Outstanding Alumni Award - Jane Barrett • PanHellenic House of the Year for International Greek Exchange 2012

2012 Kappa Convention Awards New Member Program Award Winner Honorable Mentions:Advisory Board Award; House Board Award; Chapter/Advisory Board Relations Award; Technology Award; Philanthropy Award; Philanthropy Signature Event Award; PanHellenic Award; Recruitment Award; Public Relations Award; Excellence in Chapter Management Award Traditions Senior Red Room The seniors have the opportunity to go through Red Room ritual as a second time in their last semester as an active Kappa.

Senior Bump Line The last chapter meeting of the year, all active members, except seniors, recreate the recruitment ‘Bump Line’ in Kappa Hall. The seniors then enter and we ‘bump’ them in for their last chapter.

Special Events • Soonerthon Miracle Child - Lucy Each year, Kappa gets paired with a Miracle Child from OU Children’s Hospital. This year we were gladly paired with an eight year old girl, Lucy. We threw her a birthday party with presents, cakes and ended the night with a sleepover.

Owl-O-Ween For Halloween this year, we invited alumnae and their children to join us in trick-or-treating throughout the house. We also provided crafts, food and drinks.

Dad’s Day For Dad’s Day, Kappa held a lunch the afternoon before a home football game complete with pictures and a raffle.

Mom’s Day For Mom’s Day, Kappa hosted a brunch at our Kappa Hall and put on an incredible fashion show.

Relay for Life One of the members of Beta Theta’s mom passed away from cancer in early 2012. In honor of her mom, Kappa put a team together honoring her name and participated in Relay for Life at The University of Oklahoma.

Soonerthon Soonerthon is OU’s Dance Marathon which raises money for OU Children’s Hospital. Kappa put together a very large team and participated in the 12 hour event.

Big Event Big Event is a campus wide community day of service where groups are designated to areas of service around the Norman/OKC metro. Kappa formed two teams that went to two different locations.

University Sing Beta Theta was paired with Sigma Phi Epsilon to the theme “Picture Perfect” for U-Sing 2012. The chapter had to choose a picture from an old year book and build a performance around it.

Sooner Scandals To the theme, “Be Careful What You Wish For,” Kappa put together an incredible show alongside Delta Tau Delta about a boy who wished to be apart of the circus and later finds out, it was not what he expected. Kappa took first place in Scandals 2012!

Homecoming “Let the Games Begin” was the Homecoming theme for 2012. Each group chose a board game of their choice to build and create homecoming around. Beta Theta was paired with Sigma Alpha Epsilon to the theme ‘Jumanji’.

Kite and Key Paired with Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa had a formal evening with a live band at the Farmers Market in downtown Oklahoma City.

Glo Kappa Kappa’s dance the night away in all neon gear at Norman’s Red Room

Monmonth Kappa’s and Pi Phi’s enjoyed a formal evening at Oklahoma City’s Remington Park.

KKG Where Will You Be Kappa’s dressed as who they wanted to be in ten years. Everyone made their costumes unique and all their own.

Philanthropic Involvement RIF Book Drop Beta Theta hosts an annual book drive in the fall semester. Our members generously donate books for every grade level and both genders to give to several Title I schools in the Norman Public School District. In years past, we were able to give to a book to every child. This year in particular,we collected over 2,500 from both chapter members and other organizations on campus to give to several different elementary schools. One elementary school was a low income rural school just outside of the Norman. This school had been hit by a tornado so our books help rebuild their school library.

Kappa Kupcakes "Kappa Kupcakes," a public philanthropy event that takes place every spring semester in April. At this event, local businesses collectively donate thousands of cupcakes for attendees, a local DJ plays music on the front lawn, the chapter house is decorated, chapter members dress up (some actually dress up as cupcakes) or wear our Kappa Kupcakes t-shirt, and PanHellenic chapters participate in a cupcake cook off. Funds raised go to Center for Children and Families Inc.

Goodwill At the end of each semester, we take up donations to give to Goodwill. It is something so simple that our house loves to participate in.

Local Fire Department When Beta Theta has excess unopened food from a catered special event, we donate it to our local fire department for the men on duty.

Chapter Goals For the year 2012, our chapter goals were to: Increase academic accountability To achieve this goal, we put a huge emphasis on academics on a weekly basis. At the beginning of the fall semester, we had each member and new member write down their GPA goal. We combined them all and came up with a chapter goal. Throughout the semester, we had encouragement to help us reach our goals.

Increase campus involvement and leadership Beta Theta successfully had continuous involvement in over 70 different student organizations on campus. Campus Actives Council (CAC) hosts the campuses main events throughout the year such as Homecoming, Dance Marathon and ten other campus wide activates. Kappa has representation in all twelve executive committees.

Educate members of general etiquette To better inform our members on general etiquette, we invited Kate Stanton, Executive Director of Student Affairs, to speak about the importance of maintaining social etiquette. She was engaging, funny and members learned a lot from her presentation.

Invite honored Beta Theta alumnae to speak at chapter Chapters advisors came to introduce themselves at weekly chapter meetings. We hope to expand beyond advisers this year to alumnae that are prominent leaders in the state.

Increase attendance on campus events As a chapter, we provided more incentives to get involved. The New Member Educator also invited organization liaisons to the new member meetings to better inform them on organizations on campus. We also added calendars on the back of chapter announcements.

Improve visibility on PanHellenic leadership This past year, Beta Theta strived to have at least two people apply for every open PanHellenic position. We also had several members as Rho Gamma’s during formal recruitment.

Host a multicultural event Beta Theta hosted three different multicultural events including a pumpkin carving night with a multicultural group on campus.

Publicize philanthropic causes Beta Theta has gone to great lengths to insure quality PR. We updated our website, set up a twitter and instagram account and utilized social media. We also continue to make t-shirts for events as well as banners to hang outside our house. This past year we have also personally gone to other chapters on campus to share events.

Increase Chapter knowledge and understanding of ritual After convention, we knew we needed to come back and improve our rituals. We held ritual reviews weekly for members to make sure everything was in place for initiation. When the time rolled around, Beta Theta was fully prepared to do everything by the book. Our chapter is extremely proud of the accomplishments and changes we have made this past year with our rituals.

Give a detailed budget presentation each semester Nicole Upshaw, our chapter treasurer for 2012, put together a PowerPoint slideshow both semesters to better explain where each dollar of our dues was going and why.

Increase chapter unity through fun activities As a chapter, we attended a Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball game. We also had a movie night on the front lawn of the Kappa house where we rented a giant TV screen and laid out lounged on blankets and had popcorn.

Foster an environment of accountability and increase morale in Standards Standards Committee did a great job of making sure all situations were dealt with equally and fair to all members. The Vice President of Standards made presentations throughout both semesters to make sure all members understood the standards guidelines.To increase morale, the Standards committee has several fun activities for the chapter including ‘mocktinis’ the chapter before spring break along with a standards presentation.

Challenges and How They Were Overcome

PanHellenic ‘No Frills’ policy The University of Oklahoma’s PanHellenic system has recently decided to adopt a ‘No Frills’ policy in accordance with National PanHellenic guidelines. In the Spring of 2012 this policy was put up to a vote of the chapters on campus. Kappa fully supported PanHellenic throughout this process but the policy did not pass by one vote. Although the policy did not pass, Beta Theta still decided to change recruitment by having a day focused on community service. Out of the PanHellenic system, Kappa was the only chapter to start moving in this direction. The policy was passed in the fall 2012 after recruitment.

PanHellenic Community Service Hours PanHellenic has recently changed the minimum community service hours per member to 10 hours a semester. Kappa has adapted and encouraged our members to abide by the changes.

Emergency Plan Over the summer of 2012, a member of another sorority on campus died tragically while attending summer classes. Campus policies were strengthened and alcohol consumption was taken more seriously. The sorority involved was not aware of the rules and policies following an emergency situation. In reflection of this incident, Kappa informed its members of what to do should a crisis affect our chapter.

World/Local Events OKies for Africa A member of Kappa, planned and organized a concert in Kappa Hall,where we raised money and sold shirts to assist an orphanage in Africa.

Opportunity Boxes Beta Theta paired with Delta Tau Delta to organize and put together opportunity boxes for children in Haiti. Kappa ending up sending over 100 boxes full of children’s toys.

Presidential Campaigns Several members of our chapter were campaign callers during the presidential election. They were prepared to answer questions about the campaign as well as take donations.

Watch Party The University of Oklahoma Student Government Association hosted watch parties for each presidential debate, at which Kappa’s were in attendance.

Natural Disasters Fires swept through areas of Oklahoma, taking homes, businesses and caused countless other damages. Beta Theta took supplies such as food and water to rescue workers.

Highlights of 2020s:

(From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.)

Housing:

Philanthropy:

Convention Awards:

Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance. Your efforts will ensure a complete and accurate history of your chapter for future generations to enjoy!