Beta Sigma Beta
Encyclopedia
Beta Sigma Beta (also known as Beta Sig, Beta Samach or Beta Sigma Rho) is a Greek-Letter college fraternity.
Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University
when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society. This fraternity was based on the principles of scholarship, mutual aid and companionship. The four founding members were M.H. Millman, M.W. Millman, L. Krohn and M. Koenig. They were soon joined by eight others: S. Blickman, Daniel Grady, A. Pollack, A. Fox, M. Wyckoff, I.J. Elkind, F. Kleinman, H.Z. Harris and J. Cohen. These twelve men are known as the founding fathers.
The original name of the fraternity was Beta Samach. The Greek letter "Beta" was chosen to signify the ideals of the Greek society, while the Hebrew letter "Samach" was chosen to signify the social and cultural aspirations of the Jewish society. The early fraternity had no formal rules. Meetings were held in a small attic room. Over time, a constitution, a ceremonial ritual, a pin and a variety of other traditions developed. Beta Samach attracted new members and progressed from the attic to a boarding house and finally to a house of their own. This became known as the Alpha chapter.
In 1913 a second chapter was established at Penn State. The Cornell group was designated Alpha chapter, and the Penn State group became Beta chapter. Its charter members included George Belchic, Abraham Sherman and Louis Hendler. Beta chapter was the thirteenth fraternity to be chartered by Penn State. In its early years, the men of Beta Samach, Beta Chapter, resided in a boarding house on Allen Street. However, the house grew inadequate for the needs of the members, so in 1930 the present house was constructed.
In 1920, Beta Samach was formally organized as a national fraternity and the name was changed to Beta Sigma Rho. Other chapters were established at Columbia
, University at Buffalo
, University of Pennsylvania
, Carnegie-Mellon, University of Toronto
, Rutgers, University of Western Ontario
, University of Kentucky
, Syracuse
, University of Miami
and New York University
. In 1950, the ritual was modified to reflect a non-sectarian viewpoint.
The national fraternity continued to prosper until the late 1960s. At that time, anti-fraternity sentiment spread across many campuses, and memberships in fraternities dwindled. Many fraternities closed or merged with others. Several Beta Sigma Rho chapters were particularly hard hit, and some closed their doors. Others faced an uncertain future with dwindling interest and falling memberships. The Beta chapter at Penn State, which had always enjoyed strong alumni and undergraduate support, continued to prosper.
In 1972, the national officers of Beta Sigma Rho decided to merge with Pi Lambda Phi
Fraternity in hopes of saving the remaining chapters. In exchange for financial assistance, all Beta Sigma Rho chapters would be absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi
. Cornell was an exception, in that the Pi Lambda Phi house there was disbanded and the Beta Sigma Rho house and its members became Pi Lambda Phi. The original Beta Sigma Rho Alpha chapter, after being renamed as Pi Lambda Phi, folded several years later. However, some Beta Sigma Rho chapters declined the merger offer, preferring to retain their traditional character. Beta chapter at Penn State decided to become an unaffiliated, independent fraternity. In Spring 1975, Beta chapter was chartered by Pennsylvania State University
as Beta Sigma Beta fraternity.
Beta Sigma Beta Official Website
Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society. This fraternity was based on the principles of scholarship, mutual aid and companionship. The four founding members were M.H. Millman, M.W. Millman, L. Krohn and M. Koenig. They were soon joined by eight others: S. Blickman, Daniel Grady, A. Pollack, A. Fox, M. Wyckoff, I.J. Elkind, F. Kleinman, H.Z. Harris and J. Cohen. These twelve men are known as the founding fathers.
The original name of the fraternity was Beta Samach. The Greek letter "Beta" was chosen to signify the ideals of the Greek society, while the Hebrew letter "Samach" was chosen to signify the social and cultural aspirations of the Jewish society. The early fraternity had no formal rules. Meetings were held in a small attic room. Over time, a constitution, a ceremonial ritual, a pin and a variety of other traditions developed. Beta Samach attracted new members and progressed from the attic to a boarding house and finally to a house of their own. This became known as the Alpha chapter.
In 1913 a second chapter was established at Penn State. The Cornell group was designated Alpha chapter, and the Penn State group became Beta chapter. Its charter members included George Belchic, Abraham Sherman and Louis Hendler. Beta chapter was the thirteenth fraternity to be chartered by Penn State. In its early years, the men of Beta Samach, Beta Chapter, resided in a boarding house on Allen Street. However, the house grew inadequate for the needs of the members, so in 1930 the present house was constructed.
In 1920, Beta Samach was formally organized as a national fraternity and the name was changed to Beta Sigma Rho. Other chapters were established at Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Carnegie-Mellon, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Rutgers, University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. In 1950, the ritual was modified to reflect a non-sectarian viewpoint.
The national fraternity continued to prosper until the late 1960s. At that time, anti-fraternity sentiment spread across many campuses, and memberships in fraternities dwindled. Many fraternities closed or merged with others. Several Beta Sigma Rho chapters were particularly hard hit, and some closed their doors. Others faced an uncertain future with dwindling interest and falling memberships. The Beta chapter at Penn State, which had always enjoyed strong alumni and undergraduate support, continued to prosper.
In 1972, the national officers of Beta Sigma Rho decided to merge with Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
Fraternity in hopes of saving the remaining chapters. In exchange for financial assistance, all Beta Sigma Rho chapters would be absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
. Cornell was an exception, in that the Pi Lambda Phi house there was disbanded and the Beta Sigma Rho house and its members became Pi Lambda Phi. The original Beta Sigma Rho Alpha chapter, after being renamed as Pi Lambda Phi, folded several years later. However, some Beta Sigma Rho chapters declined the merger offer, preferring to retain their traditional character. Beta chapter at Penn State decided to become an unaffiliated, independent fraternity. In Spring 1975, Beta chapter was chartered by Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
as Beta Sigma Beta fraternity.
Beta Sigma Beta Official Website