The Mu (Georgia) chapter of Zeta Beta Tau is full of history and tradition.
History of the organization at UGA can be traced back to 1893 where UGA accepted an organization calling itself EDS. Although it is said that EDS stood for Eat, Drink, and Sleep, but in reality, it stood for EAY DALETH SIGMA.
The founding date for ZBT through its affiliates is set as 1898. Originally founded as a Jewish Fraternity, the UGA chapter evolved and followed those teachings until the late 1960's. Until the very end of the chapter on campus, many of the original ceremonies and traditions were observed.
The chapter then resided on River Road, just off the UGA campus. At that time, the chapter was operating under the name of Phi Epsilon Pi -- one of about a half-dozen organizations that had merged to form Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity. In the late 1960's, the war in Vietnam, a lack of interest in college organizations in general, and poor financing was the demise of the local chapter. Dr. Thomas Burton, advisor of the chapter at the time, found it his duty to close the house and dissolve the organization. The once proud UGA Mu Chapter of Phi Epsilon Pi found itself on the streets.
In the spring of 1973, three remaining senior brothers of the now defunct Phi Epsilon Pi chapter decided that the organization deserved another chance. An ad in the Red and Black, the UGA student newspaper, provided the basis for the new brotherhood. Thus was born Mu Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau. As Tom Burton still tells the story today, the first chapter meeting of this newly revised chapter was held in a phone booth at the corner of Milledge Avenue and Lumpkin Street in Athens.
The brothers soon found an interest in the organization on campus and the hard work of reorganizing began. They continued to meet in that same phone booth until the next fall quarter. Enough new members pledged to at least have the chapter recognized as an official university organization.
The re-founding brothers decided to sell the organization as A Fraternity of Individuals. At that time in the history of UGA, it worked! They used the example that ... "if you pledge ZBT, you will not have to get up in the morning and check the bulletin board to see what color Izod shirt you have to wear that day!" That thinking remained a mainstay for the fraternity until it was closed about a decade later.
Fall rush that next quarter found the members rushing new members from a motel room at the Downtowner hotel in Athens. The chapter actually had three pledge classes that quarter. It was sweet, quick, and to the point. But there was one major change – the brotherhood became Gentile instead of Jewish. The next year, chapter meetings were held at the University Union in Memorial Hall.
In the fall of 1974, Dr. Burton arranged for the chapter to begin to renting an old residence on Milledge Avenue and it soon became ZBT Central, Zibit, or just the house. It had no air conditioning, a poor heating system, a kitchen that had not been cleaned in a two decades, very poor wiring, no steps on the back porch, two outdated bathrooms with clawfoot bath tubs, totally inadequate restrooms and showers for a group of guys living together, and no furniture. But it was home. That next college year about 10 members lived in the house and worked to make it a home. Some alums to this very day say that Mama Dupree who was the last resident of the house and died there, walked the third floor. They say that she was there all of the time. For a ghost, she really got an eye full!
In 1977, the chapter began buying the house from the previous owners. Little change was made to the house with the exception of adding three rooms in the attic and one room in the basement.
The chapter flourished in the coming years. In 1975, the chapter won the Omega Trophy at the national conference for the best chapter publications. Following his graduation, Rick Denman served on the national staff for one year.
The Milledge Avenue house soon became the center point for activities. It saw the streaking of 1974, the famous homecoming (queen) judging (which UGA officials did not see any humor in at all), many football game weekend after-parties, bowl bus trips, and the now infamous Georgia-Alabama game in the late 1970's where the town had to be shut down because the celebration spilled over (and over and over again) into the streets of Athens.
In the very early 1980's, the chapter began to lose members, just as many other campus organizations did. In 1983, at the time the alumni were celebrating its 10th year reunion, the brothers were about to be moved out of the house and the chapter abolished with the blessings of ZBT national. The plans were to re-charter after four years – when all members had graduated.
The operations of house were assumed by a board of trustees which was made up of several very active alumni members. The board managed to hold the house together for the rest of the decade. Acacia Fraternity rented the house from the board and the future of ZBT at UGA continued to be hopeful.
The final demise of the housing authority came in the late 1980's when an Acacia brother called in the fire inspector for a complete inspection of the facility. That then lead to a structural inspection and as they say, that was that. The building needed emergency lighting, enclosing of all stairwells, complete rewiring, and closing of all rooms on the third floor. It was history.
After a pains-taking year where the board almost had to put its own money into the house, the decision was made to let the house revert to national. An architect’s office now resides on the property.
For a brief time in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the hope for a new Mu Chapter at UGA came back to life. National allowed us to have a colony for almost five years. From that group of young gentlemen came a good group of new alumni. But alas, it was not to be. The colony was closed in 2004.
In March of 2010, ZBT letters were again worn on campus. A new colony was organized by the national organization. Several UGA alums attended the initiation of the 8 “founding fathers” at the Georgia Tech chapter house. After almost 3 years as a colony, ZBT was officially back at UGA as a full-fledged chapter in March 2013.
During this “new” Mu era, the undergrads were consistently ranked at the top in GPA at Georgia. The chapter sent delegates to international conventions yearly in locations as varied as Long Beach CA, Indianapolis and Ft Lauderdale FL where the chapter was the recipient of the Bijur Cup for having the highest GPA in all chapters of ZBT. The brothers participated yearly in ZBT’s philanthropy project “Get On The Ball” which involved rolling a giant beach ball all over campus collecting signatures from passersby. They attained sponsorships from individuals and local businesses who agreed to contribute money for each signature obtained, all proceeds going to the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals.
The brothers also hosted tailgates for all home football games, welcoming alumni and friends of the chapter to their new home that was back on Milledge Avenue. Probably the greatest achievement during this time was the endowment of a $25,000 scholarship fund for a deserving Mu undergraduates. The alumni brothers and friends made this possible with their generous contributions. Unfortunately the chapter closed again in just a few years.
BUT, never say never for ZBT at UGA! The national organization is again planning on expansion to Athens in 2021/22.
The Mu Alumni Association continues to be very active. The group typically meets once annually. During the year, the president tries to put together other social events. One group of Atlanta alums tires to meet once a month for lunch. A group of grads meet at each home football game and tailgate. Several even attend every away game during the year.
Whether the UGA chapter exists or not, the Mu Alumni chapter is flourishing. The alums can boast that they have in their ranks high school principals, college administrators, politicians, judges, former astronauts, Air Force brass, Army brass, veterinarians, physicians, dentists, lawyers, computer gurus, real estate tycoons, district attorneys, bankers, educators, and retailers. All are called brothers!