Fraternity adopts a mom

Providing guidance, stability and midnight snacks, Beta Theta Pi's Anne Patrick is the only fraternity house mother on the University's campus.

"It's a great experience," Patrick said. "You become a family in a house like this."

Office of Greek Life Panhellenic Adviser Mary Beth Seiler said that while sororities at the University have always had housemothers, it has been quite a while since a fraternity at the University has had one.

"We are really excited that Beta is going to do this again," Seiler said.

Beta Theta Pi has more chapters with housemothers than any other fraternity in the country. The University's Beta members found Patrick after launching a nationwide search. They discovered Patrick last year at the University of Florida, where she wa

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Anne Patrick, the housemother for the University's chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Standing with her are (front row) Don De Fosset, Frank McCormick, (back row) David Singer, Eric Wilson and Matt Jannausch.

s serving as housemother at a chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Patrick said she decided to leave her career as a trauma nurse to become a housemother in the Greek system because she "was getting really tired of the corporate world."

Patrick said she decided to accept an offer from the Beta Theta Pi fraternity in part because she feels her personality meshes well with the overall personality of the house.

"I wanted to go somewhere that wanted a mother," not a house that required one, Patrick said.

Patrick's duties at the Beta Theta Pi house consist mainly of managing the household. She oversees the kitchen staff, orders the food and ensures that the house activities run smoothly.

"Things I do can be anything from putting on a Band Aid to baking cookies at night," Patrick said.

Patrick emphasized that the fraternity members run the chapter.

Members said Patrick has been a welcome addition to their house.

"Anne fulfills a lot of roles for us," said Beta Theta Pi Vice President David Singer, an LSA sophomore. "It's the little things that someone like Anne does."

Don De Fosset, the house's co-rush chair, said having a housemother on the premises continues Beta Theta Pi's proactive tradition.

"Our house is the best it's been in a long time," said De Fosset, an Engineering sophomore. "We're always pioneering things - the first house mom, no hazing, no kegs."

Patrick said parents of the fraternity's members are happy to hear she is guiding the house.

"Parents and alumni feel easier," she said.

Patrick said she plans to remain in her position at the house indefinitely.

"It's not just a year for me, it's forever," Patrick said. "I look upon this as another career."

Singer agreed that Patrick's presence will be welcome at the fraternity for years to come.

"It's definitely working out," Singer said. "Beta looks forward to a long relationship with Anne."

Singer said the fraternity's decision to hire a house mother may encourage other fraternities to follow in their footsteps.

"Our understanding is that due to our success, other fraternities are interested in pursuing house mothers," Singer said.

But not all fraternity members on campus are enthusiastic about the idea.

"I don't think we would ever do it," said Jeff Sieracki, member and former vice president of Phi Kappa Psi. "It's one of the fine differences between fraternities and sororities."

"If we had someone else here telling us what to do it would be kind of annoying," said Sieracki, an Engineering senior. "The present system is fine the way it is."

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