A close friend and brother to many of us, Russ Wardlow, was in an automobile accident Thanksgiving weekend. He is improving slowly, and we all pray for his full recovery. For updates on his condition, his parents have created a website at www.getwellruss.com.
Zeta Beta Tau emerged
on the Banks of Rutgers in 1948.
Founded as a Jewish fraternity, it soon opened its doors to all men regardless
of religion or race, and worked to transform its members into leaders
in both the university setting and the broader national community.
By 1970, ZBT was joined in its mission by other fraternities in an effort to consolidate membership and strengthen the opportunities for brothers. At Rutgers, Phi Sigma Delta and Phi Epsilon Pi became part of the greater Zeta Beta Tau Brotherhood. From this newly forged brotherhood emerged many campus leaders involved in athletics, student government, various organizations, and the fraternal community. Notable alumni of ZBT include NY Jets founder David “Sonny” Werblin, composer Leonard Bernstein and sports announcer Howard Cosell.
In 1972, ZBT began the ZBT Dance Marathon to benefit the American Cancer Society. This event, the first of its kind, grew in proportion each year until eventually becoming the largest philanthropic event of Rutgers University. The annual Dance Marathon received national attention, with an article in the NY Times and television coverage by all of the NY based stations on its way to earning over $100,000 for cancer research.
In 1989, Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity became the first and only fraternity to ban the practice of pledging and hazing, establishing a new level of equality and standards in the brotherhood.
