Beta Sigma Tau Explained

Beta Sigma Tau
Letters:Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΣΤ
Crest:File:The_crest_of_Beta_Sigma_Tau.jpg
Birthplace:Roosevelt University
Affiliation:Independent
Status:Merged
Successor:Pi Lambda Phi
Type:Social
Scope:National
Emphasis:non-sectarian, inter-racial
Chapters:18
Country:United States

Beta Sigma Tau (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ΒΣΤ) was a social fraternity founded at Roosevelt University in . In, most of its active chapters were absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.

Beta Sigma Tau was known for being a fraternity "open to all Races and Religions".[1]

History

In, twelve Intercultural fraternities, with a total of sixteen chapters from New York to California, met in a convention at Roosevelt University and drew up the constitution and structure of a new national, intercultural fraternity, Beta Sigma Tau.[2] [3] In, the groups met again and completed the organization of Beta Sigma Tau.[1] [4]

The founder of Beta Sigma Tau was Stanley Tolliver, of Baldwin Wallace College.[5]

Beta Sigma Tau merged into Pi Lambda Phi on . Two chapters reverted to local status, and later joined other national fraternities.

Characteristics

According to its Constitutional Preamble, Beta Sigma Tau was founded "...to level, not raise barriers among people", and to have a foundation based "upon a brotherhood and democracy which transcends racial, national, and religious differences".[6]

Chapters

Beta Sigma Tau chapters included the following chapters. It appears Beta Sigma Tau chapters did not use Greek letter designations. Those active at the time of the merger are noted in bold, inactive chapters noted in italics.

Some sources indicate that there may have been a Beta Sigma Tau colony or chapter at Stanford University.[7]

An unrelated local group, Beta Sigma Tau (local) at the University of Toledo, was formed in, influenced by the ideals of the original fraternity. But this organization had no legal connection to Beta Sigma Tau national, nor to Pi Lambda Phi. By the Toledo group "swayed from its multicultural mission and folded as its founders and core leaders graduated."[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://plpobt.org/about-beta/history/ Pi Lambda Phi Ohio Beta Tau History
  2. Book: Lincoln University Bulletin . Spring 1963 . Lincoln University . 24 . 15 July 2022 . ...Beta Sigma Tau, founded at Roosevelt College in 1948..
  3. Book: Mills . Laura . Weiner . Lynn Y. . Roosevelt University . 2014 . Arcadia Publishing . Charleston, South Carolina . 978-1-4671-1247-5 . 9 . 15 July 2022 . In 1948, Roosevelt was the site for the initiation of the nation's first "inter-racial and inter-creedal" fraternity, Beta Sigma Tau..
  4. Web site: William Raimond Baird . Carroll Lurding . Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), document showing Beta Sigma Tau chapters . Student Life and Culture Archives . University of Illinois Archives . 15 May 2021 . University of Illinois . English. The Baird's Manual is also available online: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. Noted on Pi Lambda Phi's Omega Beta chapter website, History page, accessed 15 Jul 2022.
  6. Book: William Raimond Baird. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities. 1991. Baird's Manual Foundation, Incorporated. VIII-5–6.
  7. Book: Schwartz . Eugene G. . American Students Organize: Founding the National Student Association after World War II : an anthology and sourcebook. 2006 . American Council on Education (ACE/Praeger) . 0-275-99100-8 . 753 . 15 July 2022 . November saw the launching of chapters at Stanford, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles - all within the month [{{dts|1948|11}}]..
  8. Book: Torbenson . Craig LaRon . Parks . Gregory S. . Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities . 2009 . Farleigh Dickinson University Press . Madison, New Jersey . 978-0-8386-4194-1 . 158 . 15 July 2022.