Beta Upsilon Chi (ΒΥΧ, pronounced "Bucs") is an American Christian social fraternity.[1] It was founded at the University of Texas at Austin in 1985 and has chartered 29 chapters.[2]
In the spring of 1985, Craig Albert, a student at the University of Texas at Austin, mentioned his idea of forming a Christian fraternity to his friends who were involved in the Campus Crusade for Christ.[3] Albert held a meeting at Jester dormitory to present his plan.[3] Beta Upsilon Chi became official on April 27, 1985.[4] The group planned an Island Party to announce the founding of the fraternity.[5]
Established an alternative to the "normal" fraternity scene, the founding fathers established their fraternity as Brothers Under Christ and took the Greek letters Beta, Upsilon, and Chi to identify the fraternity.[6] The purpose of the fraternity was to "equip and empower college Christian men to live faithfully and lead courageously".[7] Albert served as the fraternity's first president which met in the basement of the University Christian Church.[3]
The process of growing from one chapter to a national organization was slow. Initially, the Alpha chapter rejected requests from Christian men at other schools to be initiated into the fraternity or to start new chapters. Eventually, the founding fathers of Beta chapter were initiated at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Beta Upsilon Chi then expanded with Gamma and Delta chapters at Texas A&M University and Stephen F. Austin State University, respectively.[2]
In 1994, the fraternity held another Island Party to give back to the Texas A&M community.[8] Now an annual philanthropy event, the Island Party is a free Christian music concert or event provided to the entire university.[8][9] The largest Island Party was held at the Iota chapter at Baylor University on April 20, 2007; the band Switchfoot was the headliner and attendance was estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 people.[10]
Beta Upsilon Chi changed its policy regarding the expansion of chapters in February 2009. The fraternity's board of directors, in consultation with its board of advisors, implemented a three-phased expansion process for prospective chapters to pursue active chapter status.[11]