Three Called to Lead Student Governments

Beta Theta Pi — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:49:22 +0000

It’s one thing to step up and serve as chapter president. Then, there’s answering the call to lead your peers as student body president. A trio of brothers heard that call and were elected to serve, a tall task when representing more than 70,000 undergraduates between them.

John Brinkman, Florida ’25

Seeking a new direction for campus life at the University of Florida, last fall Brother Brinkman established a new student government party – the Vision Party. His collegiate peers were so aligned with the platform they elected him to lead as student body president this spring. In fact, his party secured the majority of Student Senate seats up for grabs, holding 66 until the next election.

Clay Van Eaton, Missouri ’25

Among the Betas leading at notable SEC schools, Brother Van Eaton spent the semester building the perfect team to lead the Missouri Students Association and executed a successful campaign. His platform, All in 4 Mizzou, brought forward a record year for voter turnout.

Dante Grayson, Tennessee ’25

Under the banner of “Your Voice, Our University,” Brother Grayson mobilized over 100 students to create a platform aimed at fostering transformative change within the student experience. Dante is eager to bridge gaps between student organizations and the broader student body, all while making Tennessee a welcoming home for all students, administrators and volunteers. It will be his second-consecutive year serving at the executive table, rolling off a term as chief of staff.

Carter Arrott, Texas Tech ’25

While not assuming the role as student body president, the Delta Mu Chapter deserves an honorable mention. Brother Arrott took the next step in his leadership journey by assuming the role of external vice president, second in command for Texas Tech Student Government Association. Winning the run-off election, his promotion made it a clean sweep of top positions for the Matador Movement.

It’s another step of high-profile leadership for the Delta Mu Chapter. Beta Brother and former Chapter President Caleb King ’25, oversees all aspects of fraternity life in Lubbock, Texas as IFC president. Brother Arrott serves his fraternal peers on the IFC executive board as well, elected the IFC’s vice president of philanthropy.

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Chapter Eternal: W.H. “Bert” Bates, Missouri ’49

Beta Theta Pi — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 20:45:15 +0000

Bert Bates delivers his acceptance remarks for winning Beta’s Shepardson Award at the 182nd General Convention in Oxford, Ohio.

Brother W.H. “Bert” Bates, Missouri ’49, is best characterized by leadership in his profession and community, as well as his dedication to a Great and Good Fraternity.

Bert passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 20, at age 96.

After serving in the Army’s Second Infantry Division during World War II, Brother Bates was initiated into the ranks of the Zeta Phi Chapter in 1948. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and left Columbia to pursue his Juris Doctorate at the University of Michigan. After completing his degree, Bert practiced law for 70 years at the distinguished law firm now known as Lathrop GPM as associate, partner and senior counsel. In that time, he served as president of the University of Missouri’s Board of Curators, president of the Missouri Bar, member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates and chairman of The Hawthorne Foundation.

Brother Bates won the Award for Outstanding Service from the Lawyers Association of Kansas City, the President’s Citation Pro Bono Award from the Missouri Bar, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Missouri and the Distinguished Non-Alumni Award from Missouri’s law school. He was even designated as an honorary colonel by four Missouri governors. Ultimately, his multitude of achievements in his profession led to him accepting the Oxford Cup on behalf of the Fraternity in 1996.

Bert Bates (second from left) speaks with Beta brothers at a Convention.

In 2001, Bert was appointed to the Beta Foundation Board of Directors. Of his six years volunteering in this capacity, he concurrently spent four as chairman of the Upon These Principles Campaign. Under his leadership, the campaign successfully raised $20.1 million in cash and estate gift pledges — an interfraternity record at the time among Beta’s 60-plus peer organizations — to fund the then-young Men of Principle initiative and endow its educational programming.

At the 182nd General Convention in Oxford, Bert was presented the Francis W. Shepardson Award for his dedication to the Fraternity, becoming the sixth brother to receive both of Beta’s top alumni awards. Jokingly in his remarks, he mentioned how the drive to the Administrative Office — Lugar-Bates Drive, named for the chairmen of the successful capital campaign — would have been better named in alphabetical order. Bert’s humor, quick wit and charm were endearing to all who met him and hallmarks of his warm personality.

A memorial service will be held at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City on November 19 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “The W.H. ‘Bert’ Bates Oxford Cup Scholarship Fund” at Beta Theta Pi Foundation, the “W.H. ‘Bert’ Bates Scholarship Fund” at Zeta Phi Society Foundation, Inc. (supporting collegiate brothers at Missouri), or the music program at his church in Kansas City.

May Brother Bert Bates, Roll No. 981 on the official roll of the Zeta Phi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, rest in peace. Forever in ___kai___.