Four years ago Bob Dudolski, director of Greek Life, began work on adding a new leadership fraternity to Eastern.

That fraternity was Beta Theta Pi.

According to Joe Kokojan, director of expansion for Beta Theta Pi, the fraternity started in 1839 and was founded on high academic standards, mutual assistance, and service to others.

Dudolski said he knew the Betas had been interested in coming to Eastern and, knowing their reputation, he was eager to bring them to campus.

The process of bringing the Betas to Eastern began a year and a half ago, but it was not finalized until last December.

“We just knew that Beta’s mission, along with a vibrant campus community here and a very strong Greek culture, was a recipe for success,” said Kokojan.

Kokojan said the Betas are excited to finally be on campus after working on the project for quite some time. He is glad to see the students respond so positively and believe in what they are doing.

Now the fraternity’s main goal is recruiting.

“The big thing is we’re trying to find the best men possible and a lot of times they’re in this group and that group, so we’re getting around and trying to speak with as many people as we can about our mission,” said Kokojan.

Their mission includes a lifelong friendship, cultivation of the intellect, responsible leadership, responsible social conduct and commitment to community.

Kokojan said the Betas are currently working from a tracking list of about 40 men that have showed interest in a values-based fraternity.

Beta Theta Pi, which is a part of the Interfraternity Council, currently does not have housing but Kokojan said it will come in two to three years.

“We’re recruiting on just joining it (the fraternity) because you believe; not joining it because you want to live in the house,” he said.

Kokojan said membership in the leadership fraternity lasts longer than the three or four years a student is at school.

“If you’re looking for leadership, and if you’re about leadership, Beta Theta Pi’s the mechanism to take you to the next level,” said Kokojan.

He said Beta is going to have a big impact on the university for a long time. Dudolski has the same expectations.

“They’re a very strong national program that we’re proud of,” Dudolski said. “So we think that they’re going to have a great contribution to some of the men on our campus to provide them with a strong fraternity experience.”

Beta will be hosting a presentation for those interested at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Charleston-Mattoon Room on the third floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

“We want to stand in front of as many organizations, as many people from campus that will listen and say. ‘This is Beta Theta Pi; this is who we will be’,” said Kokojan.

Russell Catigan, Beta Theta Pi Leadership Consultant, talks with Arturo Plaza, a sophomore pre law major, about becoming a founding father, Wednesday in the South Quad.

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