About Beta Delta

Welcome to Beta Delta

Beta Theta Pi at Cornell University is an undergraduate brotherhood built on the enduring principles of scholarship, friendship, and moral character. Since establishing its roots on East Hill in 1874 as the Beta Chapter of Alpha Sigma Chi and chartering as the Beta Delta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi in 1879, the chapter has offered generations of Cornellians a supportive environment where academic ambition, personal integrity, and lifelong leadership go hand in hand. Today, as active participants in Beta Theta Pi’s national Men of Principle initiative, our undergraduate brothers are dedicated to intellectual engagement, campus contribution, and mutual accountability.

An Unbroken Tradition

For nearly a century and a half, Beta Delta has maintained an unbroken tradition of continuous operation. Across that long tenure, Beta Delta brothers have woven themselves into the very fabric of Cornell life—from coining the university’s iconic athletic nickname “Big Red” and writing beloved campus fight songs like Give My Regards to Davy to shaping campus governance, athletic programs, and physical landmarks across the university. Over its history, the chapter has initiated more than 2,000 members.

Our Historic Home & Modern Chapter Operations

The physical heart of Beta Delta is “The Castle on the Rock”—a Gothic-Revival landmark perched on a 4½-acre estate parcel at 100 Ridgewood Road that has served as our chapter house for over a century. In summer 2026, the Castle closed for a comprehensive historic restoration and is scheduled to reopen in September 2027. During the 2026–2027 academic year, active undergraduate operations and housing are situated just two doors down at 2 Ridgewood Road (former Phi Delta Theta house), maintaining a vibrant tradition of campus involvement and close-knit brotherhood.