New members rush Christian fraternity

By Stephanie Clark

Published Feb. 1, 2008

Members and potential members of the Christian fraternity Beta Upsilon Chi came together this week for the rush process.

Rush week began Sunday with an informational meeting for prospective members regarding the pledge process. The week continued with a meeting at The Heidelberg on Monday night.

Tuesday evening, potential as well as active members met at chapter President Allan Thompson’s home for a casual get-together, and they went bowling Wednesday. Today, pledges will participate in an interview process that helps the officers determine whether the potential pledges are committed to joining the fraternity.

“Pledge week is a great week for us to get to know the pledges and for the pledges to get to know us,” Thompson said. “It’s a time where we open up and teach them more about the fraternity.”

Beta Upsilon Chi was founded in 1985 at the University of Texas by a group of college students who wanted to encourage the idea of brotherhood through Christ. Andrew Guthrie founded the MU chapter in 2005. What began with a group of 10 students has grown into 22 active members, and about 10 potential pledges who work to promote brotherhood and unity and to grow stronger with Christ, Thompson said.

“Everything we do is centered around Christ, and that’s something that sets us apart,” Thompson said. “I hope it’s a place where they (the students) can feel welcome and appreciated. Our idea as an organization is to serve our members and serve as a model of leadership.”

The pledge process lasts through the semester. After rush week, if the prospective members decide they want to join Beta Upsilon Chi, they will attend a retreat from Feb. 8 to 10. The retreat gives active members a chance to learn more about the prospective members and for the pledges to further their knowledge and interest in the fraternity. Potential pledges will be officially inducted into the fraternity at the end of the semester.

“It’s a great feeling to be among other Christian guys and to be with guys who go through the same things as me and live the same life as me,” Beta Upsilon Chi member Josh Carlson said.

The fraternity will sponsor a skate party with Sigma Phi Lambda, a Christian sorority, in Jefferson City on Feb. 16 and will attend a National Summit Conference from Feb. 29 to March 2 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill, Texas. On May 3, Beta Upsilon Chi will participate in the annual Island Party on campus, an event all fraternity chapters sponsor. This event is a way for the fraternity to reach out to the campus and Columbia community by providing encouraging messages, as well as entertainment and live bands, Thompson said.

The pledges will complete their pledging process on May 4 with initiation.

“We want the idea of a fraternity without some of the stereotypes,” fraternity member Mike LaCoste said. “We all have a common interest to come together to praise God to the best of our ability.”