Lugar speaks to fellow Beta brothers at initiation dinner

Beta Theta Pi did not offer Sen. Richard Lugar a bid the first time he rushed at Denison University.

Crushed as he said he was, he got a second chance when he was offered a bid that following spring.

Since then, his life has taken him far from that small Ohio campus. First there was a stint in the U.S. Navy, and then he was elected to the local school board. He was the mayor of Indianapolis and has been a U.S. senator for 33 years.

When Beta’s president, sophomore Matt Edwards, introduced Lugar as the speaker of Saturday’s initiation dinner, he said the senator represented everything for which Beta brothers should strive.

“Tonight, we have someone with us who has taken the principles of Beta Theta Pi and fashioned them into his decision making with his family, with his state and with this country,” Edwards said.

This is precisely why Edwards wanted to invite Lugar to the initiation dinner. Praising Lugar for his continued loyalty to Beta, Edwards said Lugar was someone with whom many of the brothers were familiar.

Edwards said Lugar’s presence at the initiation would help make the rituals mean more and put the ideals of their brotherhood into a wider, more realistic perspective.

But Lugar was more humble. In his 35-minute speech, the senator mixed his personal life with his professional one, talking with a sense of humor, about minor successes and failures and the fraternity that has been the foundation for it all.

Lugar talked about the importance of going greek, of what it means to be a brother and what it means, most of all, to be a Beta. 

“I am hopeful that each one of you as undergraduate Betas will entertain at some point in your lives to take on the burden of public service,” Lugar said.

Perhaps Lugar’s dedication to and understanding of Beta brotherhood stems from his involvement in reforming it. Lugar spoke about the decline in Beta chapters and greek life across the nation.

When approached to improve the faltering fraternity, Lugar did so through the Men of Principle initiative, which placed academics and community involvement back in the forefront.

Though Lugar said it was difficult to watch so many Beta chapters collapse, including his alma mater at Denison, he found reason to celebrate with IU’s chapter, the Pi chapter.

“This is big, believe me,” Lugar said. “The facts of life are that this kind of chapter, and then with this grade point average that you have attained, is even more massive an achievement. It’s a tremendously exciting situation.”

Beta alumnus, George Bledsoe graduated from IU in 1962 but said he returns to Beta events and initiation dinners when his schedule permits. Bledsoe said he liked how Lugar reached the new members with the stories about his past.

“I loved the whole evening,” Bledsoe said. “I loved seeing all these young men and having Lugar here. It was enlightening.”

Sophomore Mike Caldwell, who had been initiated earlier Saturday, said he walked away from the dinner with a clearer understanding of what it means to be a Beta.

“It was inspiring,” Caldwell said. “I want to take an active role in the house, through leadership positions and just remind everyone everyday that that’s why we’re here.