On April 30, 2021, forty-three founders of the Arkansas Beta Emerging Chapter were initiated and signed The Bond of Phi Delta Theta at Centennial Hall at Arkansas State University. The next day, the Arkansas Beta received its charter and was officially installed as a chapter of Phi Delta Theta. Arkansas Beta became just the second charter granted in the state of Arkansas and Phi Delta Theta’s newest chapter.
The weekend’s installation ceremony was conducted by the Fraternity’s General Council President Dr. Chris Brussalis, Chapter Adviser Marvin Day, Province President Ryan Frenz, and Leadership Consultant’s Seth Crain and Corbin Lovelady.
Following the installation ceremony, Kayne Wilson, a leader within the Arkansas Beta chapter, mentioned his gratitude for being a part of such a great group of men. “My whole life I longed for a brother. I grew up in a household with three sisters, and now I have more brothers than I could have imagined. I’ll cherish every moment that I have with this lifelong brotherhood. You guys push me to be a better version of myself every day.”
Phi Delta Theta Leadership Consultant Seth Crain, who was on campus for an entire semester recruiting students to join the emerging chapter, is extremely proud of how quickly this group has organized and built something that will impact each member’s life in a positive way. Seth provided advice to the members to always use sound judgement when continuing to grow as a chapter, “Remember, Phi Delta Theta can be good for everyone, but not everyone can be good for Phi Delta Theta.”
The Fraternity’s General Council President Dr. Chris Brussalis mentioned, “We are so excited to be here and to be partnered with Arkansas State University. When the Fraternity’s leadership gathered a little over ten years ago, and stated that we wanted to be at 200 chapters by 2020, we knew that was going to be a tall task to achieve, but here we are very close. I’d also like to thank our alumni. It truly is our great alumni volunteers who are the glue that hold organizations like ours together. We all took an oath as a Phikeia, and that is to transmit the Fraternity to those who may follow after, not only, not less, but greater than it was transmitted to me. It’s the outstanding alumni, like brother Marvin Day, who have really walked the talk. Recognize and embrace their efforts, and before you know it, you’re next. You’re going to be the future alumni leaders mentoring and guiding those brothers who follow you.”
During their time as an emerging chapter, Arkansas Beta achieved a 3.39 fall GPA which ranked first amongst IFC fraternities. The chapter also retained ninety eight percent of their founders as they added new members during their path to installation.
Congratulations to the Arkansas Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Arkansas State University.
Founded in 1909, Arkansas State University is a public research university in Jonesboro, Arkansas. With 14,000+ students, it is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System and the second largest university in Arkansas.
