Welcome to the Beta Chi Chapter site
Welcome to the official website for the Beta Chi chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon at Southern Illinois University.
Frater Louis Kotvis Appointed to TKE Collegiate Advisory Council
Recently, Frater Louis Kotvis (BX 1061) was named to the collegiate advisory committee for the Fraternity. Frater Kotvis has shown great character and leadership in his three semesters as a frater, which was a reason for his selection. Frater Kotvis also attended the TKE Leadership Academy during this past summer, which helped him get a feel for what TKE Nation is about as a whole.
The reason this position is so prestigious is because Frater Kotvis was chosen to be one of only eight undergraduate collegiate advisors. Their job entails being the voice and represenatives of the undergraduate members of TKE. They are also advisors to Grand Council members and leaders at the TKE headquarters in Indianapolis. Recently Frater Kotvis made his first trip to meet with his committee, in Memphis, and share his opinions and ideas with the TKE CEO, Grand Epiprytanis, and the Director of Communications.
Louis Kotvis’ recent achievements have made BX proud, and continue to make our Southern Illinois chapter known by the entire TKE nation. BX will continue to excel on and off campus with the leadership and commitment shown by every Frater of BX.
Founding Frater Earl “Steve” Hancock passes on to Chapter Eternal
Frater Earl �Steve� Hancock (BX 28), age 86, a longtime resident of Hobart, Indiana passed away Tuesday, September 9, 2008. He grew up in Harrisburg, IL, graduated from Southern Illinois University and was a WWII US Air Force veteran. Steve retired as an Environmental Control Supervisor from US Steel Gary Works with 32 years of service. He was a member of the Supervisors� Club, the Chorus of the Dunes and the Hoosier Grandpas. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marjorie; 2 daughters Pamela (Joseph) Duda of Hobart and Pat (Scott) McLeod of Portage; son David B. (Jan) Hancock of Lakeland, FL; 6 grandchildren Meagan, Meredith and Steven McLeod, Jenny Duda and Anna and Steven Hancock. Funeral services were private. There will be no visitation. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Foundation, 50 E. 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46209.
Beta Chi meets Frater Ron Jeremy
On Tuesday night, the fraters of the Beta Chi Chapter had the opportunity to meet with Frater Ron Jeremy after a debate held at the SIUC Student Center. Frater Jeremy came to SIUC to debate Pastor Craig Gross (founder of the XXX Church) about many issues regarding pornography. Read the full review of the event in the Daily Egyptian. Frater Jeremy seemed overwhelmed by the number of Tekes who attended the event. The event was arranged and sponsored by the SIUC Student Programming Council, whose advisor is Frater Joseph McGibboney (MX 176).
Let’s Play Two!
The Beta Chi Alumni Association, in coordination with the SIU Alumni Association, will be hosting an event at the famed Cubby Bear Lounge for SIU Day at Wrigley Field on Saturday, September 23rd.
View Larger Map
The event will run from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., with game time at 12:05. Tickets are $12, and you will receive lunch along with two drink tickets redeemable at The Cubby Bear.
Calling all Fraters! - SIU @ Northwesterm
On Saturday, September 13th, the Beta Chi Alumni Association would like you to join them in cheering on the Football Salukis as they take on the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, IL.
60th Anniversary Shirt Available
A 60th Anniversary Shirt has been designed and printed. We hope that every Beta Chi frater will order one. A full front and back illustration can be seen on page 5 of the Summer 2008 issue of the Beta Chi News. The beauty of this shirt is that the letters T, K and E are in red with white trim, and the gray/black printing around the letters contain a readable name of every frater on the Beta Chi scroll. Download the image and find your name now!
We all intend to wear this shirt at Homecoming and other events this year. Make sure you have yours! Send $15.00 per shirt (shipping included) and include your mailing address and shirt size to: Chris Bigall, Crysophylos, 406 East Hester Street, Carbondale, IL 62091.
Summer Issue of the Beta Chi News Published
Included is expanded coverage of the year-long plans to celebrate our 60th year at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
If you have given us your email address, you should receive a link to the newest issue of the Beta Chi News in your Inbox on Friday, July 25, 2008. If you do not receive the link, please send your current email address to Bill Bruns (Chapter Advisor). If we do not have your email address, you will receive your copy by the US Mail in the next two weeks.
Our database is managed by TKE International. If you do not receive your Beta Chi News at all by August 8, 2008, please click on this link and update your contact information.
Twopeat!
For the second year in a row, the Beta Chi chapter has been named an International Top TKE Chapter. Judged by the International Fraternity as Excellent in Recruitment Results, Chapter Size, Community Service, Alumni Relations and Extracurricular Activities, we continue to add to the Avalanche of Awards we’ve accumulated during the 2007-2008 Academic Year. Tau Kappa Epsilon has over 250 Active Chapters around the world, and only 11 of them achieved this status this year.
In addition, Dan Sepulveda has been named one of only three Top TKE Recruiters. Truly impressive.
If you are a part of this success … congratulations! If you want to be a part of this success … contact a frater and come to some recruitment events this Fall.
Chapter Advisor in “Pearls of Wisdom”
Frater Bill Bruns, Chapter Advisor of the Beta Chi Chapter, has written a personal account of his reasons for giving to the TKE Educational Foundation. It is published in the “In Their Own Words” section most recent TEF newsletter (Pearls of Wisdom, July, 2008). When you choose to donate, please remember to specify that you would like the donation to fund the Beta Chi Chapter Scholarship Fund, so that your gift can be used to directly help your local chapter.
Beta Chi will celebrate 60!
The Beta Chi Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon will spend an entire academic year celebrating the 60th Anniversary of our presence at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. In the works is an Alumni Association get together in Chicago for the SIUC v Northwestern football game on September 13, SIUC Day at Wrigley Field on September 20, SIUC Homecoming in Carbondale on October 11, Beta Chi Founders Day in February 2009, and Red Carnation Ball in April 2009. Watch here for more official announcements.
Nik Wenzel in “The Barber of Seville”
Frater Nik Wenzel will make his professional opera debut this summer in “The Barber of Seville” in this summer’s Southern Illinois Music Festival. The performances will be at Shryock Auditorium on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm.
Nikolas Wenzel is a first year Master of Music student at Northwestern University studying in the studio of Bruce Hall. Click to read more.
Kyle Dennis honored at State Capitol
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The best debate team in the country — the Southern Illinois University Carbondale duo of Kevin Calderwood and Kyle Dennis, and their coach, SIUC debate program director Todd Graham — basked in the limelight at the State Capitol in Springfield today (May 14). The three were special guests of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, and Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, also greeted the team while it was in Springfield, introducing them on the floors of the House and the Senate, respectively. Bost read a resolution honoring the entire team for its accomplishments that was approved unanimously by the House. Click to read more.
TKE Beta Chi Awards
During the 2007-2008 Academic Year, the Beta Chi chapter has literally won an avalanche of awards. Click to read more.
Celebration of Leadership and Involvement
RSO of the Year! At the 2008 Celebration of Leadership and Involvement ceremony on April 23 in the Old Main Lounge of the SIUC Student Center, the Beta Chi Chapter of TKE was recognized as the The Outstanding Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. This award recognizes “outstanding contributions and commitment to SIUC and the Carbondale community.” Southern Illinois University Carbondale has nearly 500 registered student organizations touching nearly 10,000 students.
The Chapter was nominated by Dr. Phil Anton (Kinesiology), Board of Advisors Treasurer Dexter Baber as well as Bill Bruns, Chapter Advisor.
Read these nomination letters and the rest of the article.
Last Chance to donate! Beta Chi Tekes Raise Money for Relay for Life
Bill Mau of the Beta Chi Chapter is fighting to be the Top Fundraiser for this event. Please help him out by clicking on his name and giving what you can. Each year, across the nation, one event brings together entire communities to take part in the fight against cancer. That event is the American Cancer Society Relay For Life�. This is an all night event held at McAndrew Stadium at SIUC on April 26-27, 2008 from 6:00 pm - 6:00 am.
Read more and donate online to the American Cancer Society.
Miss Sidney San - 2008 TKE Sweetheart
Miss Sidney San has been elected 2008 TKE Sweetheart by the Beta Chi Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon.
Miss San’s superior achievement in all areas of college life, including academics, community involvement and service, school spirit, and a genuine love for the Fraters of Tau Kappa Epsilon propelled her to this high honor.
Even before her affiliation as a sister of Sigma Kappa at SIUC, she was very involved encouraging the success of the Beta Chi Chapter, and has had a significant hand in supporting our successive top ten placements in Recruitment, and our 2007 Top TKE Chapter Award.
Tekes work with the Happy Factory
In addition to all the other community service activities that The Beta Chi Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon undertakes, we have recently begun to help with the SIUC Happy Factory, an organization that “takes scrap wood that could have been wasted … mixes it with spare time that could have been wasted … and turns it into a toy that triggers the imagination so that a little mind won’t be wasted.”
The Happy Factory meets at the SIUC Student Center’s Wood Shop, and has recently been written about in SIU News and on the SIUC Student Center website.
Frater Figueroa on Today Show
If you missed Frater Figueroa on the Today Show on Christmas morning, you can watch the video here.
Overcoming all Odds
It�s true when the term �miracle� is used to portray an individual who displays such ambition for success that is not ready to let go of his dreams. That is a word that can be used to describe Alex Figueroa, a recent graduate from Southern Illinois University majoring in Business. One should live their life as if each day were their last, something Frater Figueroa surely follows because anything is possible.
In 1997, while stationed in North Carolina while serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, Alex was driving his car down an icy road when he swerved to miss a deer and lost control. A few hours later he suffered with severe head trauma, a fractured collar bone, a fractured rib, and remained in a coma for many weeks. The doctors didn�t expect him to live, but Figueroa, being the strong individual that he is, came out of his coma and survived.
Read the rest of Alex’s story .
Alex will be featured on the Today show on Christmas Day, 2007. Read the SIUC Press Release.
Beta Chi Chapter of TKE wins Greek Sing
On Saluki Family Weekend on the Shryock Steps, the men of Tau Kappa Epsilon appeared clad in jackets, white hats and gloves won Greek Sing with a well-rehearsed and well-executed rendition of Michael Jackson songs followed by some Step. TKE brought home three awards: First Place overall, “Best Vocals” and “Best Group Participation.”This is the first time a fraternity has ever won this event.
Watch the video of the performance.
The world’s largest fraternity and was established at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois on January 10, 1899. This TKE chapter was established February 12, 1949 and is the oldest and largest fraternity at SIU. The refounding of this chapter occurred in the spring semester of 2005. Tau Kappa Epsilon promotes the ideals of love, charity, and esteem; the basic principles of true friendship.
