News

Betas Dominate Student Government Association Elections

Jay Devineni - President

Christopher Lang - Comptroller

Danny Riffel - Administrative Vice President

During this years Student Government Association (SGA) elections, three exemplifying leaders ran for positions on this years Executive Board. The leadership qualities that these three men posses helped them in winning their current positions. Jay, Chris, and Danny all share the common initiative to create positive changes for the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Jay Devineni, an active member of many different organizations on campus, won the position of President. As President, Jay will have various duties including: To act as an official representative on behalf of the student body.To act as the executive officer of the SGA, enforcing Student Senate legislation, this Constitution and SGA by-laws.To prepare and submit SGA legislation to the Student Senate.To prepare and make available annually all operating budget recommendations to the Student Senate.To appoint senators from the Student Senate to faculty, administrative, student and SGA committees when requested and as needed.To conduct meetings of the Executive Council.To appoint SGA interns as needed.To approve or veto Student Senate legislation.To serve as a member of the Intercampus Student Council.

Christopher Lang, our current Pledge Educator, joins the SGA Executive Board as this years Comptroller. Chris's duties include: To represent the Executive Council at Student Senate meetings. To chair the Appropriations Committee. To prepare and present at an annual minimum all allocation budget recommendations made by the Appropriations Committee to the Student Senate.

Danny Riffel will hold the position of Administrative Vice President for the 2001-2012 school year. As this years Administrative Vice President, Danny's responsibilities include: To represent the Executive Council at Student Senate meetings.To notify all senators of regular Senate and any special meetings at least one week in advance.To keep permanent records of all Student Senate Proceedings.To compile and distribute the attendance records of all senators as stated in Article IV, Section J.To serve as custodian of Student Senate records and minutes.To chair the Personnel Committee when called.To preserve all divisional council and student organization charters or constitutions on file for public records.

Congratulations to the New Initiates of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Theta Pi!

We held our initiation this January for our new members. We had a great pledge class and we feel that all of our new members will be great brothers in our fraternity for years to come. Here is a few words from one of our new initiates about his experience with Initiation.

"Becoming an active member of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Theta Pi was a monumental and exhilarating time in my life. I was so proud, along with my brothers that were initiated with me as well. Every one of us was thrilled to be part of this highly esteemed fraternity, and the ceremony that was held the Saturday we were officially inducted complimented what we had all achieved. This was expected of course, as the ceremony was a very formal and serious event that represented the importance of the fraternity and our obligation to hold ourselves to the highest standards of society and Beta Theta Pi. It was a classy ceremony that revealed more information to us about the fraternity that brought all of us brothers even closer to each other, older actives and newly initiated pledges included. It was a moment of achievement for all twenty-five new actives as we had officially moved from being great people, to being great men and brothers that were all tied under one name to serve and help each other, as well as the community. It brought me happiness to finally be a part of this great fraternity, but it brought me greater joy to know I will have brothers bonded to each other with similar beliefs, that will always be there for me through good and bad."

Betas Participate In Annual Dragon Boat Race

The Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Beta Theta Pi participated in the 2011 annual dragon boat festival which included events that showcased the culture of China. Nine teams used Dragon Boats to race down Brush Creek from the dock west to the dam and back, each colorful rowing crew kept steady by a drummer up front and straight by a rear rudder person. The money raised by the Dragon Boat Festival is used to support three schools outside the Xi’an China school district. Beta made it to the championship round and finished second overall. Beta has all intentions to participate again next year. More information can be found here.

Six Epsilon Lambda Betas Travel To Ohio

Hunter Rolf, Nathan Lynch, Travis Jackson, Josh Krueger, Zach Wallace, and Rico Leyva-Okazaki all had the opportunity to experience the John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle. Every year Oxford, Ohio becomes populated with Betas from all around America as well as Canada. The award-winning John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle is an incredible opportunity for initiated Betas that focuses on the ritual of Beta Theta Pi and becoming a better leader. The Wooden Institute allows Betas to interact with brothers and Friends of Beta from across North America. Participants share ideas, dissect Fraternity ritual, partake in challenging activities that focus on leadership skills, learn more about the history of Beta Theta Pi and reflect on the Fraternity’s heritage. These six men are excited to take their experience and share it with the rest of the chapter at UMKC.

Greek Week and IFC Olympic Champions!

This year's 2011 Greek Week was divided amongst 2 separate competitions, Greek week and IFC olympics. Men in the different fraternities competed in IFC Olympics, consisting of the typical sporting competitions, as well as Greek Week, which included more activities geared towards uniting the various fraternities and sororities. The Epsilon Lambda Chapter won the IFC Olympics (previously known as Greek Week) for the past 5 years along with winning first place in every event the new Greek Week amongst all fraternities and sororities! Well done guys!