The conversation about a chapter at Manhattan reopened on the last day of 1965. C. Y. Thomas, A trustee of Southern Methodist University living in Mission Hills, Kansas, reached out to HQ inquiring about why K-State had a Sigma Tau chapter, but still no Tau Beta Pi chapter, whereas the Kansas Alpha Chapter had been around since 1914 and had coexisted with the Lambda Chapter of Sigma Tau since 1915. Bob Nagel and he sent letters back and forth discussing the matter. Thomas said he would write his friends at K-State and do some 'spade work' to see what could be done. 

C. K. Razak, an employee at K-State, then reached out to Nagel about the situation. Razak was involved with the Kansas Beta Chapter's petitioning process, and he wanted to see a chapter at Manhattan as well. After letting him know of the requirements, Nagel then heard from K-State's Assistant Dean of Engineering K. K. Gowdy, who suggested that the local Steel Ring society be converted into a Tau Beta Pi chapter. 

Between the Early Days and the 1960s, Tau Beta Pi protocol had changed, and it was required for a local colony, modeled after Tau Beta Pi, to operate for two years before being eligible to petition for a charter. Upon reviewing Steel Ring's governing documents, Nagel sent a long list of needed changes and suggested 'major surgery.' Steel Ring chose not to upgrade their academic standards to those of a true honor society, and so another attempt at securing a chapter had failed. Another vehicle was needed to bring Tau Beta Pi to K-State. 

• Christopher Yancey Thomas (IN-A 1921), Trustee of Southern Methodist University

• Robert Hamilton Nagel (NY-D 1939), 2nd Secretary-Treasurer of Tau Beta Pi

• Charles Kenneth Razak (KS-A 1939), Director of the Kansas Industrial Extension Service at K-State

• Kenneth King Gowdy (KS-A 1955), Assistant Dean of Engineering at K-State

Dear Professor Nagel: Some years ago, via Paul Robbins, I had some correspondence with you concerning the establishment of a chapter of Tau Beta Pi at Southern Methodist University. This still has not come to pass, and I think it is sad commentary on the University—not on Tau Beta Pi

I attach a pamphlet from the Kansas Engineering Society, of which I have been a long-time member, and I particularly call your attention to the item circled in red. Obviously, this pamphlet was written by a Kansas State man where there is a Sigma Tau or Theta Tau chapter, not one of Tau Beta Pi.

There has been a great rivalry between the University of Kansas where there is a Tau Beta Pi chapter and Kansas State, extending way back through the years, but I just can't believe that this would interfere with the establishment of a chapter at Manhattan, Kansas. I have taken the position with a number of my college friends, especially those at Southern Methodist where I am a Trustee, that the absence of a Tau Beta chapter denies an identification which is very valuable to young graduates.

Would you look at your records and let me know if there is a deep, underlying cause of some sort why there is not a Tau Beta Pi chapter at Kansas State University. I would wager that there are a hundred members of Tau Beta Pi on the faculty up there because, as an engineering school, it is larger and more important than that of the University of Kansas, in my opinion. I, for one, would like to see a chapter at Manhattan. Your comment and suggestion will be appreciated. Happy New Year: Sincerely yours, C.Y. Thomas

Dear Mr. Thomas: Thank you very much for your letter of December 31. As you probably know, I have heard nothing more from anyone at Southern Methodist University with respect to a Tau Beta Pi chapter and I'm sorry too. Although my views may well be called prejudiced, I feel as you do, that the absence of a Tau Beta Pi chapter at an engineering school denies the good young graduates of a recognition which is important in both the business and the academic worlds.

But I'm sure you understand Tau Beta Pi's policy in regard to expansion. We want to place chapters in institutions which qualify, but we cannot and will not do so without full local support from the president of the institution on down to the lowliest instructor and the students themselves. When the local people have the spark, Tau Beta Pi will follow up with all due consideration and action.

I am surprised, and somewhat shocked, by the statement in the Kansas Engineering Society's brochure concerning Sigma Tau. Outside of Kansas State University and a very few other important engineering schools, Sigma Tau is unknown. Tau Bets Pi, with 121 chapters and a much larger total membership, is widely known and recognized all over the country and even the worId. I'm afraid that the man who wrote that piece just doesn't know the facts of engineering life.

I have checked my records and I find that the last direct correspondence contact this office had with anyone at Kansas State as in 1928! At that time Professor Herbert L. Oakes of the civil engineering department stated: "Sentiment in favor of petitioning Tau Beta Pi is not strong on the campus among the faculty members. As to the students, most of them do not know of Tau Beta Pi. Sigma Tau has been on the campus for a number of years and is firmly established." Lacking any later evidence of Interest at Kansas State, Tau Beta Pi has not made any overt moves in that direction.

Perhaps you know that at one time a plan was offered to merge Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Tau into a single society. As I understand it, that plan had the support of the officers of Sigma Tau, but it was defeated by a Tau Beta Pi Convention. More recently, I made a rather strong attempt to reopen negotiations between the two organizations, with the full support of Tau Beta Pi's Executive Council. That attempt was rejected out-of-hand by the president of Sigma Tau, and of course I dropped the matter.

Tau Beta Pi's policy with regard to Sigma Tau is now this: We shall give full, fair, and prompt consideration to any formal petition for a new chapter of Tau Beta Pi, regardless of whether Sigma Tau has a chapter on that campus or not. We require that an Institution meet all of Tau Beta Pi's requirements, of course, but Kansas State does this and more -- except for support of the idea on the part of the local people.

I would refuse your wager that there are 100 members of Tau Beta Pi on the Kansas State faculty. I suspect there are even more! I have met a number of them at various meetings around the country, but cannot say that I know any one of them well.

My only suggestion to you would have to be that someone connected with Kansas State should strike the spark for Tau Beta Pi and then stand back and watch my dust! Obviously, Tau Beta Pi belongs at an engineering school as large and important as Kansas State's. Tau Beta Pi is weaker to some extent for the lack of it. Do you have any ideas for getting started?

Thanks very much for your inquiry. We are interested! And a happy 1966 to you, sir! Most fraternally yours, Robert H. Nagel

Dear Mr. Nagel: Just a note to acknowledge your good letter written January 4. Every time I see the letter head, I am in a quandary whether to address you as "Dr.", "Professor" or "Mr.", and the Tau Beta Pi letterhead doesn't give me any help, so if I have done it wrong, I apologize.

I have numerous friends on the faculty at Kansas State University. I have already written a note to one of them, and, just as quickly as I can hear positively, I will do a little more spade work in the principal effort.

I appreciate your very prompt reply to my letter, and you can be assured I will keep you fully advised. Sincerely yours, C.Y. Thomas

Dear Mr. Thomas: Thank you for your letter of January 7. I am not a professor any longer, and I never made the doctorate. Based on my highest academic achievement, you may address me "Master" if you choose! But "Mr. Nagel" is correct, although "Bob" Is preferred!

I am delighted to hear that you plan to do a little spade work at Kansas State, on behalf of the Tau Beta Pi idea. If and when you need help, I am ready to supply it. Thank you very much! Most fraternally yours, Robert H. Nagel

Gentlemen: In the lower, righthand corner of Page 29 in the April issue of THE BENT, there is reference to the increase in life subscriptions and, particularly, to the voluntary increase being made by those who got in under the old rate.

For several years, I have been contributing to the Scholarship Fund, but I, frankly, don't know if I ever sent in any additional funds as mentioned. Assuming that your records would quickly reveal whether I have paid $25.00 or $35.00, would you please let me know. Sincerely yours, C.Y. Thomas

Dear Mr. Thomas: Thank you for your letter of May 9. No, you have not made a gift of $10.00 to bring your BENT life subscription payments up to the new $35 rate. The new rate only went into effect a little over two years ago, but you enrolled as a fully-paid life subscriber back in June 1957, shortly after your initiation into Tau Beta Pi.

You have been very faithful in contributing to Tau Beta Pi’s Fellowship Program, and we appreciate it. If you now want to make an extra donation to the Life Subscription Fund, to help us meet rising publication costs, we shall appreciate that very much also.

Tau Beta Pi is in no financial trouble! And we don't ever want to be! That is why our Executive Council decided it would be better to start early in building up the Life Subscription Fund, before we got in a squeeze. The life subscription plan still Includes as a basic feature the conservation of the full life subscription fee payment, while only the annual investment earnings on the fee are used to pay the actual costs of delivering magazines to the life subscriber. At a life subscribers death, or as we say, when he has passed beyond the reach of the postal service, we no longer have the obligation of delivering magazines to him. But we still hold his full life subscription payment intact. It is thereupon transferred, by bookkeeping, from the Life Subscription Fund to the Fellowship Fund, where it continues in perpetuity to earn a return which thenceforth is used to help pay our annual graduate fellowship stipends. Thus are our life subscription program and our fellowship program tied together at the financial level. Ultimately, this plan will have great significance in engineering education. It is doing very well already!

Incidentally, have you had a chance to do any Tau Beta Pi investigating at Kansas State University yet? Just curious! Very best regards. Most fraternally yours, Robert H. Nagel

Dear Mr. Nagel: Thank you for your letter written May 12, I attach my check in the amount of $10.00 which will bring me up to the fully-paid status.

I hope I did not infer that I have a feeling Tau Beta Pi is going broke. Not at all. I am in favor of expanding the fraternity as rapidly as possible consistent with proper standards. It is almost beyond my comprehension why SMU and Kansas State are still lagging in this area.

The new Dean of Engineering at Kansas State is a member of Tau Beta Pi, and I believe one of the men told me that they have seventeen faculty members who are likewise members. They are working on this, and several of the men, who in the past have thought that another honorary organization was not necessary, have changed their tune. The Dean of Engineering at the University of Kansas and some of his staff are aware of the situation, and I think it is just a matter of time, maybe next fall, that this will become a reality.

Dr. Ayres, formerly a Dean at Purdue, was made Provost at SMU a couple of years ago, and he thoroughly understands the situation. I needle him every chance I get, but just one ordinary Trustee in the institution does not seem to be getting anywhere. It appears to me that SMU will have a chapter only when Texas, Texas A&M, Rice and others make this come about. Best regards. Sincerely yours, C.Y. Thomas

Dear Mr. Thomas: Thank you very much for your letter of May 16 and your check for $10.00 to bring your BENT life subscription payments up to the new $35 rate. We certainly appreciate your continued interest and support.

The news about Kansas State University and its possible interest in Tau Beta Pi is very good! Tau Beta Pi should certainly have a chapter at Kansas State, and I hope that some faculty Interest there has been generated as a result of your good work. I should be most happy, of course, to guide and assist the dean of engineering in every way I can, and I hope that he will write to me for information. This would give me the opportunity to jump in with all four feet and help him lay out a proper plan for securing a chapter.

The situation at SMU appears to be different, from the information you have given me. In view of the apparent "lethargy” of the engineering faculty, there doesn’t seem much that we can do at the present time. I might mention that our members at other Texas chapter schools, including Texas, A & M, Rice, and Houston, and perhaps also including Texas Tech, have exhibited a somewhat negative attitude toward the stimulation of a chapter at SMU. My impression is that our people in Texas would not actually oppose the establishment of a chapter at SMU, but they seem to have little heart for encouraging It at the present time. Perhaps interestingly, there is much more support within the State for a chapter at Lamar Tech and even at Arlington State, neither of which has Tau Beta Pi yet.

We certainly appreciate your continuing interest in this expansion matter. Tau Beta Pi will stick by its quality standards in any expansion situation, but where the quality and the necessary quantity is present, as we know from ECPD accreditation reports, we are anxious to get things started. Your help at Kansas State in particular is most valuable. Very best regards. Most fraternally yours, Robert H. Nagel

Dear Bob: I don't recall whether I had informed you of my move to the Kansas Industrial Extension Service with headquarters at Kansas State University. The enclosed "first edition" of our information Journal will tell you a bit more about this activity. My position of Director also carries Professorial rank in the College of Engineering at Kansas State University where I am headquartered.

Speaking as a member of Tau Beta Pi, I would like to inquire as to the possibility of securing a Chapter of Tau Bate here at Kansas State. I recall the procedure we followed at the University of Wichita which involved the conversion of an honor society, which had membership requirements similar to those of Tau Beta Pi, to the Beta Chapter of Kansas. I am now interested in seeing if a Gamma Chapter could be organized.

My main inquiry concerns the possible time schedule which could be followed. Is it necessary for three years to elapse from the time that a formal application is made until eligibility for a chapter is established? Could an honor society which has been in existence for several years be converted if its entrance and membership requirements are similar to those of Tau Bate? Could you send me a tabulation of the information requirements which must be submitted in a formal application? In other words, could you once again describe the procedure which we should follow for a new chapter.

Please understand that this is not an official application on behalf of the College, but merely an inquiry from an individual member of Tau Beta Pi. I would like to refresh my memory on the various requirements and will then confer with faculty, administrative officers, student groups, and other Tau Beta Pi members who would be interested in serving as sponsors. Only after this preliminary ground work had been laid would a formal inquiry, or application, be forthcoming. Needless to say, I plan to carry this forward. With very best regards, Yours truly, Kenneth Razak, Director, Kansas Industrial Extension Service

Dear Ken: Many thanks for your letter of February 2. No, I did not know that you had moved up to Kansas State and were now running the new Industrial Extension Service. Congratulations!

Well, I am delighted to learn that you are Interested in the possibility of establishing a Tau Beta Pi chapter at Kansas State. The chief reason we have not had a chapter there over the years is that the existence of a Sigma Tau chapter has made Tau Beta Pi unnecessary, in the opinion of the Kansas State people. Now of course I could not agree that that was a good reason, but then I am to be considered a bit biased! Actually, Sigma Tau is no longer properly called an honor society, having been evicted from the Association of College Honor Societies a couple of years ago when it refused to raise its scholastic requirements for membership in line with ACHS requirements. Further, of course, Sigma Tau does not have the number of chapters and number of members to make it truly effective at the national level, particularly in reputation among engineering alumni.

Perhaps you know Mr. C.Y. Thomas of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, a very loyal and interested, and prominent, alumnus of Tau Beta Pi. Mr. Thomas has been interested in the possibility of getting a chapter of Tau Beta Pi at Kansas State, and has done some quiet and proper investigating. Late last spring he wrote me as follows:

"The new Dean of Engineering at Kansas State is a member of Tau Beta Pi, and I believe one of the men told me that they have seventeen faculty members who are likewise members. They are working on this, and several of the men, who in the past have thought that another honorary organization was not necessary, have changed their tune."

I have not heard from Mr. Thomas in this regard since last spring, but I presume he has been thinking and working on the project. If you know Mr. Thomas, I would suggest that you chat with him about It.

Kansas State University is more than fully qualified for a Tau Beta Pi chapter, as you well know. The institution meets our requirements, and then some. But I do not know of the existence on the campus of a local engineering honor society, patterned directly on Tau Beta Pi, which could be quickly converted into the Kansas Gamma chapter. But your letter indicates that there may be such an organization in existence, and I should like to know more about it, Including seeing a copy of its Constitution and Bylaws so that I could check them against our technical requirements.

If such a local honor society is not presently in existence, then the first step to be taken would be to create one. Such a local group must be organized And operating for at least two years — not three years — before a petition for a Tau Beta Pi chapter can be considered. The purpose of this waiting period is to give all the interested local people, including the institution's administrative officials, full opportunity to observe this kind of organization in operation before becoming committed to national affiliation. Naturally, I should be glad to do all I could in helping to get such a local honor society established in the correct pattern for Tau Beta Pi purposes.

I can't seem to lay my hands on an extra copy of the Wichita petition which you and your group gave us some years ago. I guess I gave all my extra copies away to later potential petitioners for their use as a model. But I do have some relatively recent petition booklets available, and two of them are enclosed for you. Both have resulted in the establishment of new Tau Beta Pi chapters.

Our specific requirements and procedures for the establishment of new chapters are stated in The Beta Pi Constitution Article VI, Section 2, starting on page 8 of the Constitution and Bylaws booklet enclosed, and in Bylaw IV, starting on page 24. Essentially, a petition for a new chapter must contain the answers to the questions stated and implied in these Constitution and Bylaws provisions.

After a local engineering honor society has been in existence for at least two years, we will accept a preliminary petition for a new chapter. Such preliminary petition, in 25 copies and duplicated by inexpensive office means, should be in my hands by January 1 of the year in which final action on the petition is sought. The preliminary petition must contain all of the data called for by our Constitution and Bylaws requirements. If our Executive Council approves the preliminary petition, a one-day visit of inspection is arranged. If the report of the inspection committee is favorable, our Executive Council will ask the petitioning group to prepare its petition in final, printed form and to distribute it to all of our chapters and officers that spring. Then the petitioners must send at least one student and one faculty member to our national Convention the following October, where final action is taken. Formal installation of the new chapter is then accomplished during the following winter.

Also enclosed is a copy of the current Tau Beta Pi Information booklet and of a new little "flyer” prepared this year for distribution to engineering students who may not know about Tau Beta Pi and its purposes and operations. I could supply additional copies of any of these printed materials if you could use them.

We are much Interested In the possibility of establishing a chapter at Kansas State, believe me! I firmly believe that Tau Beta Pi has something of value to offer the outstanding engineering upperclassmen of any accredited engineering school. Please let me know how I can help you further. Very best regards. Sincerely yours, Robert H. Nagel

LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALL NOTES:

Purpose of call: Steel Ring for many years but low scholarship requirements, In recent years it has functioned as local honor society.

Action taken: Dean Gowdy will send me (Nagel) Constitution and Bylaws of Steel Ring, Kansas State University catalog, and a list of present student members (of Steel Ring) with grades and activites, plus faculty advisors. He will urge Steel Ring to amend its Constitution and Bylaws now to top 1/5.

Told him 1969 Convention is earliest for action, with January 1, 1969, preliminary petition. I'll (Nagel) recommend approval for 1969 action to Executive Council.

Dear Dean Gowdy: I reported our phone conversation of March 26 to the Executive Council of Tau Beta Pi at Its meeting yesterday and found that all members of the Council are most happy to have this expression of Interest in Tau Beta Pi from Kansas State.

I described, as best I could, your suggestion that an existing organization on your campus, Steel Ring, be the local engineering honor society which Tau Beta Pi requires as the official petitioning group. The Council felt that our normal waiting period of two years might well be waived In the ease of Kansas State University because of your complete familiarity with organizations like Tau Beta Pi and because of our knowledge of the high quality of engineering education at Kansas State. The Council agreed that it would accept for regular consideration a preliminary petition for a chapter from Steel Ring looking toward action on It by our October 1969 Convention. This means that a preliminary petition from your group should reach me In 25 copies no later than January 1, 1969.

You told me over the phone last week that you would have sent to me a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of Steel Ring, a copy of the Kansas State University catalog (or the Engineering College portion thereof), and a list of the present student members of Steel Ring with their cumulative grades and campus activities. I’ll be glad to go over these materials when they arrive and advise you of any technicalities that might be directly related to the Tau Beta PI proposition.

I would urge you again to have the Steel Ring organization amend its present constitution and bylaws to limit Its membership to the top fifth of the senior class, or higher, and to the top eighth of the junior engineering class, or higher. These are the national "scholastic floors" for Tau Beta PI chapters, although each chapter is permitted to set Its own higher standards If it chooses.

I look forward to working with you on the establishment of a Tau Beta Pi chapter at Kansas State. Sincerely yours, Robert H. Nagel

Dear Mr. Nagel: As requested enclosed is a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Steel Ring Society, a copy of the K.S.U. catalog, and a list of the present student members of Steel Ring.

We are pleased by the favorable expression of interest on the part of the Executive Council of Tau Beta Pi. After the necessary changes are made in the Steel Ring Constitution we will begin preparation of the information needed for a preliminary petition. Sincerely yours, Kenneth K. Gowdy, Assistant Dean

THE CONSTITUTION OF STEEL RING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SOCIETY

Revised April 14, 1964

PREAMBLE

Having recognized the need for a society of senior men in the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Design:

• to lead in political, social, and professional activities;

• to encourage underclass participation in activities promoting engineering and architecture;

• to provide for recognition of outstanding effort and accomplishment and to promote the best interests of the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Design;

we, the members of Steel Ring Professional Society have taken as our purpose the fulfillment of this need, and do hereby band ourselves together under the following constitution.

ARTICLE I

TITLE AND INSIGNIA

1. The name of this society shall be "Steel Ring Professional Engineering Society."

2. The color of this society shall be Kelly green.

3. The symbol of this society shall be the key described in the ritual.

4. Other insignia shall be as described in the ritual.

ARTICLE II

OFFICERS AND FACULTY ADVISORS OF THE CHAPTER

1. The officers of the chapter shall consist of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.

2. The chapter shall have two faculty advisors who are on the active faculty of the College of Engineering and/or the College of Architecture and Design. The faculty advisors are chosen on alternate years by a majority vote of the active membership to serve a maximum of two consecutive two year terms.

3. Officers shall be elected by ballot in the order listed in Sec. 1 at the first meeting in May. New officers will assume their duties immediately after the election of all officers.

4. Standing committees shall be appointed by the president, ie. program, rush, etc.

ARTICLE V

HONORARY MEMBERS AND ALUMNI MEMBERS

1. The chapter may, if it so desires, elect one (1) honorary member in the spring term each year, but such action is not required.

2. Honorary members must have a degree in Engineering or Architecture and must be members of the active faculty at the home of the chapter.

3. Alumni members shall consist of former active members.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

1. Amendments to the constitution will require an approval of three-fourths of the active voting chapter.

ARTICLE VII

SOCIETY BY-LAWS

1. There shall be a regular luncheon meeting of the chapter on alternate weeks throughout the college year, the time and place to be decided by the chapter.

2. Special meetings may be called by the president of the chapter.

3. A quorum for regular business meetings shall consist of one-half of the active members of the chapter. A quorum for election of officers and elections of members shall consist of three-fourths of the active members of the chapter.

4. The initiation shall be performed in accordance with the ritual of the society.

5. There shall be an initiation fee for each new member not to exceed $20.00. The exact amount to be determined by the active chapter.

6. The chapter shall order shingles and keys for the individual members. This cost is to be borne by the chapter from the assessed initiation fee.

7. Special assessments may be levied at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the chapter.

8. All bills over $5.00 shall be approved by the chapter before being paid by the treasurer.

ARTICLE VIII

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The president shall preside at all meetings and fulfill all duties usually pertaining to this office.

2. The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president.

3. The secretary shall keep the minutes of all business meetings of this chapter. He shall post notices of all regular meetings at least four days before the date of occurrence, and shall prepare and submit reports as required.

4. The treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all financial matters. He shall receive the dues and other funds of the chapter and shall personally discharge all disbursements.

ARTICLE IV

ELIGIBILITY AND ELECTION OF ACTIVE MEMBERS

1. All students who are ranked as second semester juniors or second semester Ar 04 and enrolled in one of the respective curriculums and Design shall be eligible for active membership in Steel Ring Society.

2. Men who are elected to active membership in this society shall possess leadership, scholarship, social compatibility and professional ability, and shall have at least a 2.0 (C) grade average based on honor points.

3. Selection of active members shall be held annually on or about the first week in April.

4. Membership shall be fixed at seventeen active members with a minimum of one and a maximum of three eligible students from each department of the College of Engineering and the College of Architecture and Design, and the term of active membership shall be one year.

5. All candidates shall be scholastically eligible as determined by a list obtained from the proper college authority prior to each election.

6. Students in their last term or semester or work before graduation are not eligible for election to membership in this society.

7. The active members of each separate department with the head of that department shall nominate six students of eligible standing in their department. The names of these six men from each department will be presented to the actives as a whole, and a discussion as to their qualifications will take place. Then by gentlemen's agreement the activities shall select their successors.

8. Meetings will be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

Dear Dean Gowdy:  Thank you for your letter of April 12 and these materials on the Steel Ring Society and Kansas State University.

I have read the constitution of the Steel Ring Society, and I find that it really does not follow the pattern of honor societies. Major surgery would have to be performed on this constitution to make of the Steel Ring Society a true local honor society.

Taking Constitution Article IV on the eligibility and election of active members, I might comment as follows:

On Section 1 — An honor society would make students eligible for election to membership in both the first and second semesters of their junior year and of their senior year. A student thus has four opportunities for membership election.

On Section 2 — I applaud Steel Ring’s required qualifications of ’’leadership, scholarship, social compatibility, and professional ability," which fit well into the requirement which Tau Beta Pi calls "exemplary character." But I would question whether a 2.0 grade average is truly "scholarship." In an engineering honor society the scholastic requirement would have to be at least equal to the standards set by the Association of College Honor Societies, that is, the top eighth of the junior engineering class and the top fifth of the senior engineering class.

On Section 3 — Honor societies hold elections twice each academic year, in the fall and in the spring semesters (or in the fall and in the winter quarters).

On Section 4 — The total number of eligible members of an honor society should never be limited to a specific figure.

And in an organization patterned after Tau Beta Pi, there could be no requirement that at least one student be elected from each department; a particular department in a particular year might have none of its junior or senior students in the top eighth or the top fifth of their respective classes. Neither would an honor society place an upper limit on the number of members from each department, again in the sense of the top eighth or fifth of the total engineering class.

On Section 5 — The honor society's scholastic eligibility list would be determined by the same means used by Steel Ring, of course.

On Section 6 — I understand the philosophy behind this requirement and Tau Beta Pi imposes a similar limitation on time before graduation for election and initiation. But our limitation is much less restrictive than Steel Ring's; Tau Beta Pi says that a last-term senior cannot be elected less than 10 weeks before his graduation nor initiated less that four weeks before his graduation.

On Section 7 — Nomination of undergraduate candidates in an honor society is not by action of a faculty member. Rather, nomination for membership is automatic in accord with the scholastic standing of each candidate. Whether such candidates are actually elected to membership is entirely in the hands of the student members of the local chapter, in accord with their measurement of each candidate's worthy character.

In looking down the list of the current members of Steel Ring, I would guess that three or four of them stand below the top fifth of their senior class. If engineering grades run about the same at K.S.U. as they do at other major institutions, the top fifth of the class usually cuts off at about a 2.9 cumulative average. This raises the point which may prove to be of diplomatic embarrassment later. If Steel Ring were to be the vehicle on which a Tau Beta Pi chapter were brought to K.S.U., we would not be able to say that all former Steel Ring members were automatically eligible for election to Tau Beta Pi. Only those whose records at the time of graduation placed them in the top fifth of their graduating class could be offered Tau Beta Pi membership. In addition, as always, men who graduated more than 10 years ago and have since made eminent reputations in engineering may be elected to membership by any Tau Beta Pi chapter without regard to their undergraduate scholarship. We call these men eminent engineers.

I enclose a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of Tau Beta Pi, and I refer you specifically to our requirements for the establishment of undergraduate chapters. These are stated in Bylaw IV, on pages 24 and 25 of the booklet. Our procedure for requesting a chapter of Tau Beta Pi is stated in Constitution Article VI, on pages 8 and 9 of the booklet. Our membership eligibility provisions, which are vital in an honor society, are stated in considerable detail in Constitution Article VIII, on page 10 of the booklet.

I also enclose copies of recent successful petitions which you might consider as models for your own. I would especially call your attention now to the constitutions and bylaws of the local societies which presented these petitions, which documents are reprinted in their booklets.

There is, of course, no question whatsoever about the qualifications of Kansas State University or of your College of Engineering with respect to the establishment of a Tau Beta Pi chapter. There might be some question about the desirability of considering architectural students for membership in Tau Beta Pi, although this is done by several of our existing chapters now. Architectural engineering, yes; pure architecture, only maybe. Tau Beta Pi’s curriculum eligibility provisions appear in Constitution Article VIII, Section 2 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), on page 11 of the booklet.

I should hope that you may be successful in revising the Steel Ring Society’s constitution this spring, so that the organization might have the better part of next fall’s semester to work under the revised provisions before its preliminary petition might be presented to us by December 31, 1968.

I am sure you will have questions about Tau Beta Pi and about the organization and operation of your local group. Please don’t hesitate to present those questions to me. I’ll do my best to answer them for you on behalf of Tau Beta Pi. Sincerely yours, Robert H. Nagel