Beta Upsilon Chapter

Beta Upsilon Chapter (Founded 10 April 1995) is located at University of Massachusetts-Amherst in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Chapter had 94 founding Brothers and is a member of the Northeast Region.

The Beta Upsilon Chapter at the First Annual TFA 5K Road Race

Chapter History

Founding

The Beta Upsilon Chapter was founded on April 10, 1996 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There were 93 founding fathers for Beta Upsilon, Tina Sachar being the first inducted.

The Active Chapter

The Beta Upsilon Chapter currently has 34 Active Brothers.

Beta Upsilon at Relay for Life

Chapter Chant

In the works!

Chapter Mascot

In the works!

Fall 2008 Beta Upsilon Executive Board

• President: Christine Rega
• Vice President: Yang Li
• Secretary: Victoria Hall
• Treasurer: Barry Epstein
• Parliamentarian: Uriel Rodriguez
• Historian: Jamie Bergstein
• Initiate Advisor: Ginny Nielsen
• Rush Advisor: Marisa Pacifico

Past Chapter Presidents

1. (1995)
2. (1996)
3. (1997)
4. (1998)
5. (1999)
6. Matt Fallon (Fall 1999- Spring 2000)
7. (2001)
8. (2002)
9. (2003)
10. Sarah Stanley (Fall 2004-Spring 2005)
11. Joe Cabral (Fall 2005- Spring 2006)
12. Rich Iannone (Fall 2006- Spring 2007)
13. David Romanelli (Fall 2007- Spring 2008)
14. Christine Rega (Fall 2008-present)

Initiate Classes

Main Article: List of Beta Upsilon Chapter Initiate Classes

Chapter Events & Activities

Educational Events

Brothers Uriel Rodriguez and Christine Rega with Peg at the Arbor's

Etiquette Dinner

• The Beta Upsilon Brothers attended their first etiquette dinner in Fall 2008. We were taught to learn how to eat and act properly over a four course meal prepared by students in the Hospitality and Tourism major.

Service Events

Arbor's Assistant Living Center

• The Brothers regularly visit the elderly at Arbor's. In the past we have attended events such as a community dance and pumpkin painting with the residents.

Relay for Life

• The Beta Upsilon Chapter participated in Relay for Life in Spring 2008. The Brothers came out to support the American Cancer Society in this event and raised money for the cause. From dusk to dawn one Brother was walking around the track for this fundraiser and participated in various events through out the night such as a relay race and whipped cream pie contest.

UDance

• Started in 2006, UDance is a 15 hour dance marathon to benefit the Children's Miracle Network and the Baystate Children's Hospital in Springfield, MA. The dance is put on by the fraternities and sororities at UMass. There are many other events during the dance marathon such as a relay race, a four square, and a Guitar Hero tournament. Beta Upsilon has danced the night away since 2007. In 2007, UDance participants raised over $20,000!

Social Events

Formal Banquet

• At the end of each semester, the Beta Upsilon Brothers go to the Holiday Inn in Springfield, MA to celebrate. We rent out a banquet hall room and have a formal sit-down dinner along with superlative awards and night-long dancing. All of the Brothers wait all semester for this event to dress up and have a great fun night!

Founder's Day

• Every year on April 10th, the Brothers gather to celebrate our founding as a chapter at UMass Amherst. We invite the initiates and help them create their Biography sheets and family trees. We also have lots of food and bake a birthday cake and sing "Happy Birthday" to Beta Upsilon. It is one of the best events for the year because it is a time where all the Brothers can get together with the initiates and have a great time. This Spring our chapter will be 13 years old so we will be having a bar mitzvah.

Initiate-Brother Retreat

• Last Spring we had our first Initiate-Brother retreat at Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. The Brothers and initiates played team building games, used the low ropes equipment and climbed their rock wall during our stay. The purpose of this event is to increase fellowship and leadership in the Brothers while also getting better acquainted with the initiates. We all had a blast!

Outgoing Seniors Spring 2008 at Formal Banquet

Fundraising Events

Talent Show

• In Spring 2008, Beta Upsilon held its first annual Talent Show in the Student Union Ballroom. The acts ranged from various student bands to a poetry reading and juggling. Brothers Louis Harris and Korey Mendes also preformed, Louis rapping and Korey preforming kendo.

Mullins Center Clean-Up

• Every semester the Brothers go to the Mullins Center and get hired to clean up after events (i.e. hockey games, concerts, etc). This is our steadiest fundraiser that we do every year, even though it is not a favorite to do.

Brother Auction

• The favorite fundraiser that the Beta Upsilon Brothers do every semester is the Brother Auction. One Brother offers a task up for bid (i.e. cooking dinner, cleaning rooms, sewing PSP pillows). The other Brothers then bid for what is being presented and highest bidding Brother wins. Many times half the money goes to Teach for America while the other half benefits the chapter.

TFA Events

Teach for America 5K Walk

• The Beta Upsilon Chapter held our first TFA 5K run in Spring 2008. The run spans campus, finishing at the Fine Arts Center with the Brothers cheering the runners in. Prizes were awarded to the first place male and female runners with gifts from our sponsors. Last year we had 50 runners and raised $500 for Teach for America.

Notable Alumni

• Tina Marie Sachar (1994)

Founding Member

Chapter Honors and Awards

Publications

• Purple and Gold Fall 2008 Page 2,14&19

National Awards

• None to date

University Awards

• None to date

Further Resources

• Beta Upsilon Chapter Website