By Sydney Pulliam
Those who are a part of one of Samford’s sororities have had the pleasure of being serenaded by the brothers of Beta Theta Pi. For the past couple of weeks, the fraternity visited chapter meetings for each of the six Panhellenic sororities on campus and sang to the women of these chapters for no reason other than to foster friendly goodwill.
“It’s the perfect icebreaker,” said Beta President Tanner Brown. “It’s really helped us get out there and meet other people. We definitely have been recognized because of it – we walk around campus and girls will say, ‘Hey, you came and sang to us!’”
Before this, Beta was simply known as “the new frat on campus,” but now if you mention the name “Beta,” any sorority girl will gladly light up and tell you all about their performance at her chapter.
“A lot of people had heard about us, but not seen us,” said Beta Executive Vice President Calin Cox.
Along with singing, Beta handed out roses to a select group of women in each sorority they visited. A few of the recipients were girlfriends of Beta members, but plenty of those who received a coveted rose were simply “Friends of Beta,” as Brown put it.
When asked how exactly a girl would be able to receive a rose from a Beta brother, Brown said, “Whenever we see a lady treat someone else with kindness or go out of their way to do something they don’t have to, we recognize that and we remember that.”
Despite how formal the entire process sounds on paper, members actually described the energy at the serenades as nothing short of a Harry Styles concert.
“Chi Omega was electric,” said Cox. “Incredibly loud. Incredibly happy… It was everything that [we] hoped it would be.”
Beta made quite the impact on Chi O specifically, as the brothers were asked back for an encore after serenading Zeta Tau Alpha the Sunday before Thanksgiving break.
Not only have these performances helped establish Beta’s reputation externally, but they’ve also served as a creative outlet for the brothers to bond internally, as well.
“It definitely brought us all closer together because we were all uncomfortable,” said Brown.
Cox agreed that the experience has helped to strengthen the bond between the members of the fraternity.
“I’ll be walking down the hallway with one of the guys and I’ll start humming [Beta songs], and they’ll start humming back,” Cox said.
Even chapter advisor Ryan Eilts spoke of the brotherhood factor of the serenades, claiming that, “Chapters that sing together, stay together.” This motto works especially well, as the fraternity has become known as the “Singing Fraternity.”
Brown also shared that the serenades brought out hidden strengths of Beta’s men that never would have thrived otherwise.
“It provides another way for guys to lead. And we see guys really step into roles because of it,” Brown said.
Unfortunately, the brothers of Beta Theta Pi will not be participating in this year’s Step Sing at Samford, but a few members are “rocking with Dudes-A-Plenty this year,” according to Calin Cox.
“So check out that Dudes-A- Plenty show,” he encouraged. “There is some Beta blood in there.”
Last year, Beta’s chapter consult Ryan Eilts performed these same serenades as a one-man show.
“He said that Beta would be back,” said Cox, “and made a promise that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep.”
Now, thanks to the men of Samford’s Beta Theta Pi chapter, they have delivered tenfold on this promise, and plan on continuing this tradition every semester from here on out.
“We sing,” said Cox. “It’s what we do.”
