In February of 2023, Sigma Chi announced that Beta Pi Sig Peter Potwin (1969, #778) has been inducted into the 2023 class of the Order of Constantine. As stated on Sigma Chi's official website, "Each year, the Order of Constantine recognizes a group of Sigma Chi brothers for their commitment, dedication and service to the Fraternity. Induction into the Order of Constantine is considered to be the highest honor that the Sigma Chi Fraternity bestows upon one of its members. The honor of being named an Order of Constantine Sig has been conferred on just over 720 brothers since the Order’s inception at the 47th Grand Chapter in 1948." Peter has served the Beta Pi chapter faithfully in many capacities as the Chapter Advisor, House Corporation President, and chair of the recent renovation campaign. We are truly grateful for his countless contributions to the chapter and Fraternity at large. Brother Potwin is the second Sigma Chi from Oregon State to join the order, following Mac Heitzhausen (1956, #535, Chapter Eternal) who was inducted in the class of 1983. Please see the press release from the Fraternity here. The list of current members and officers of the Order of Constantine is included on the Sigma Chi Fraternity website here.

A Story of the Beta Pi Chapter Overcoming Discrimination and Living our Values In 1966, a third-generation Japanese-American man named Eugene Okino pledged Sigma Chi at the Beta Pi chapter. This was in the period shortly after the removed of the "White Clause" from Sigma Chi's international constitution. The constitution, however, still allowed for the denial of membership to “any person who for any reason is likely to be considered personally unacceptable as a brother by any chapter or any member anywhere.” This clause conflicted with the anti-discrimination policies of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education and Oregon State Colleges requirement of local autonomy in the decision making of campus organizations, including fraternities. Anticipating difficulty in approving Okino’s initiation with the national organization, 56th Grand Consul, Order of Constantine Sig and Significant Sig Bob Joseph (Willamette 1957), then Grand Praetor of the Northwestern Province, recommended that the chapter poll national alumni for comments on their intention to initiate brother Okino. After sending letters to 900 alumni, George W. Reynolds of San Diego, California returned a letter of opposition based on a recent experience in Tokyo. This prohibited the chapter from initiating brother Okino unless they could get the alumnus to retract his opposition or get the international Fraternity to change its rules. The president of Oregon State College organized a student review board to evaluate whether discrimination had occurred by the Sigma Chi chapter. The undergraduate Beta Pi members gathered a group of local alumni and held a vote on whether to initiate brother Okino, which was approved unanimously. Oregon State Representative Wally Priestly of Portland, also a member of Sigma Chi, proposed a bill that would require Oregon universities to withdraw recognition of student groups that practiced discrimination, to put pressure on the OSC president to act. The review committee did conclude that Sigma Chi had practiced "de facto discrimination ... contrary to the wishes of the local chapter", and threatened to remove Beta Pi's recognition if Okino was not initiated during Winter term. The chapter initiated Eugene Okino during the Winter of 1967. The Beta Pi chapter members advocated to the international organization to further change the constitution to prevent further discrimination and fulfill Sigma Chi’s position of non-discrimination, highlighting the irrelevance of “race, creed, color, or national origin” to the selection of members, Please read the full story on the Oregon State website here. Stay updated with the chapter, update your contact information!