Beta Sigma Rho

Beta Sigma Rho (ΒΣΡ) was a social fraternity founded on October 12, 1910 at Cornell University. 62 years later most of its active chapters were absorbed into Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, following a similar course as two other smaller Jewish fraternities that joined that national society.

Beta Sigma Rho
ΒΣΡ
FoundedOctober 12, 1910 (October 12, 1910)
Cornell University
TypeSocial
ScopeUnited States
Colors  Blue and   Gold
Chapters15 charters granted

History

Beta Sigma Rho was originally organized under the name 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] Founders honored by the Fraternity were:

  • M. H. Milman
  • M. M. Milman
  • Nathaniel E. Koenig
  • Lester D. Krohn

Beta Samach from the onset was notable by 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. But 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. By 1920 pragmatic adjustments resulted in a recasting of Beta Samach with a new name, Beta Sigma Rho, around the time of establishment of its Delta chapter at Buffalo.

During the Fraternity's approximate 62 year history it eventually chartered chapters at 15 colleges, including two in Canada.[1]

The Fraternity gradually removed religious requirements from its governing documents, reflecting this change in its ritual in 1950.

Traditions and Insignia

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]

Merger

Beta Sigma Rho merged with Pi Lambda Phi on December 12, 1972, whose records indicate the latter fraternity "added 5 active chapters, and merged 2 chapters."[2][3]

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 local fraternity Beta Sigma Beta.[4]

At the merger, Baird's estimates that total membership was 5,380.[1]

Chapters

References
  1. 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. "Pi Lamda Phi History". Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  3. 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.
  4. Beta Sigma Beta website, accessed 17 Mar 2020. The local chapter's History section notes a rejection of the Pi Lam merger.
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