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Beta Sigma Rho

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Beta Sigma Rho
ΒΣΡ
FoundedOctober 12, 1910; 114 years ago (1910-10-12)
Cornell University
TypeSocial
Former affiliationNIC
StatusMerged
Merge dateDecember 12, 1972
SuccessorPi Lambda Phi
EmphasisJewish, originally
ScopeNational
Member badge
Colors  Blue and   Gold
PublicationThe Beta Sigma Rho New Letter
Chapters15
Members5,380 lifetime
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
United States
See More

Beta Sigma Rho (ΒΣΡ) was an American social fraternity founded at Cornell University in 1910. Most of its active chapters were absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi fraternity in 1972.

History

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Beta Sigma Rho was formed on October 12, 1910, at Cornell University. It was originally named Beta Samach (Βס), "the Greek Beta and the Hebrew Samach suggesting the application of the Greek society idea to the social and cultural life of the Jewish undergraduate".[1] Its founders were Nathaniel E. Koenig, Lester D. Krohn, M. H. Milman, and M. M. Milman.[2]

Beta Samach was notable for a lack of initiation fees and dues and was slow to establish a constitution, ritual or the other surface attributes standard to other fraternal organizations.[1] No formal expansion program existed for its first decade even while a Beta chapter emerged at Penn State, and Gamma chapter at Columbia. By the end of its first decade, growing pressure on the fraternity's trustees by its members resulted in the establishment of a structure of dues and fees, along with a constitution and new operational program.

On April 21, 1920, pragmatic adjustments resulted in a recasting of Beta Samach with a new name, Beta Sigma Rho, around the time of the establishment of its Delta chapter at Buffalo.[3]

During the fraternity's approximately 62-year history, it eventually chartered chapters at fifteen colleges, including two in Canada.[1] The fraternity gradually removed religious requirements from its governing documents, reflecting this change in its ritual in 1950.

Merger

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Beta Sigma Rho merged with Pi Lambda Phi on December 12, 1972, whose records indicate the latter fraternity gained five active chapters and merged two chapters.[4][a] At Cornell, the original Beta Sigma Rho house survived the merger, with the Pi Lambda Phi house folding, and the Beta Sig house was renamed Pi Lambda Phi starting the next school year. That Pi Lam chapter folded several years later.

The chapter at Pennsylvania State University's main campus would not agree to a merger with the existing Pi Lambda Phi chapter on the campus, therefore the Beta chapter of Beta Sigma Rho became the local fraternity Beta Sigma Beta.[5]

At the time of the merger, Beta Sigma Rho's total membership was 5,380.[1] Its headquarters were in New York City.[2]

Symbols

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The badge was a shepherd's staff crossed with a sword behind a shield. A plumed helmet was atop the shield, with 13 pearls placed on the circumference, and the letters ΒΣΡ placed vertically. The badge was gold, highlighted with black.

Colors of the society were blue and gold.[1] Its publication was The Beta Sigma Rho New Letter.[2]

Chapters

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These were the chapters of Beta Sigma Rho.[6]

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Reference
Alpha October 12, 1910 – 1972 Cornell University Ithaca, New York Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6]
Beta 1913–1972 Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Withdrew [6][b]
Gamma 1919–1965 Columbia University New York City, New York Inactive [6]
Delta 1920–196x ? University at Buffalo Buffalo, New York Inactive [6]
Epsilon 1922–1972 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6]
Zeta 1922–1972 Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6][c]
Eta 1930–19xx ? University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada Inactive [6]
Theta 1935–1972 Rutgers University–Newark Newark, New Jersey Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6][d]
Iota 1945–1972 University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6]
Kappa 1949–1952 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Inactive [6]
Lambda 1950–1972 Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6]
Mu 1958–1963 University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida Inactive [6]
Nu 1962–1965 New York University New York City, New York Inactive [6]
Xi 1964–1972 City College of New York New York City, New York Withdrew [6][e]
Omicron 1969–1972 St. John's University New York City, New York Merged (ΠΛΦ) [6]
  1. ^ Note that Pi Lambda Phi participated in two mergers during this period, adding similarly named fraternities Beta Sigma Tau and Beta Sigma Rho to its rolls. An earlier merger had occurred in 1941 with the absorption of Phi Beta Delta.
  2. ^ Withdrew and became Beta Sigma Beta (local). It remains active as of August 2021.
  3. ^ This chapter had originated as Alpha Pi (local) in 1919.
  4. ^ This chapter had originated as "Theta House" (local) in 1933.
  5. ^ Chapter withdrew at the time of the national merger and became a location fraternity. Baird's Manual does not list the successor name; appears to have soon dissipated.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VIII–5. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  2. ^ a b c Robson, John, ed. (1963). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 239.
  3. ^ "Beta Samach Changed to Beta Sigma Rho". The Cornell Daily Sun.
  4. ^ "Pi Lambda Phi History". Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  5. ^ Beta Sigma Beta website, accessed 17 Mar 2020. The local chapter's History section notes a rejection of the Pi Lam merger.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 18 Aug 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
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