Chapter IV:

The 70's - A Roller Coaster Ride

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Beta Mu had never started a decade on a stronger note. Nearly every campus leadership position was held by a Delta Sig, including the Student Body Presidency. The first year of the new decade ended with the selection of Joshua Santana as Mr. Pioneer. 

However, Transylvania was like other campuses across the country, and Beta Mu was like other chapter of this and other fraternities. Student interest in "traditional" and "structured" organizations, such as fraternities, was at an all time low. Campus unrest and uncertainty caused by the lingering Vietnam War made Greek membership unattractive to many college students. 

Through the early seventies, Beta Mu's membership numbers fell, even though the quality of membership remained high. The chapter continued to excel in many areas, particularly athletics, as evidenced by an intramural football team that went undefeated from 1973 through 1977. Brothers continued to be visible campus leaders, although Delta Sig no longer dominated campus leadership positions. Graduation of large, strong classes in 1975 and 1976 left the chapter small in the later half of the decade. 

Although their numbers dwindled, Beta Mu during the 70's was noted throughout the Transy Greek community for its strong brotherhood - a camaraderie that bonded brothers from varied backgrounds and with diverse interests into a tightly knit group of men. With this strong family feeling, many individual brothers were able to experience immense personal growth, thanks to the support provided by the brothers of Beta Mu. 

Around 1978, the chapter recognized that its low membership made it hard to be competitive with the other fraternities on campus, and that the small size, while attractive to some prospective members, was used against the chapter by its competitors during rush. Reverting back to the basics of Delta Sigma Phi, the chapter held its first planning/goal setting retreat using the Engineered Leadership Chapter Planning Guide. Results did not come overnight, and, unfortunately, the members of Beta Mu in the late seventies would not be around long enough to see the fruits of their labors pay off. But unbeknownst to them these brothers had forged the foundation for the brightest period in history of the chapter - the 1980's.

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