The fraternity had been hard-hit in the 1980’s, with dropping enrollment at the college, and a lack of interest in music in particular. By 1992, the music faculty was disenchanted with the fraternity, and the men of Beta Kappa were forced to look elsewhere for a faculty advisor. With the initiation of Professor of Mathematics Calvin Van Niewaal, things began to turn around.

    In 1993, the chapter sported a membership of only 4 men, and was deeply in debt to the national fraternity. The ensuing presidencies began to turn this around. In 1997, Peter Schinsing was elected president of the chapter. His enthusiasm led to larger initiating classes during his presidency. In 1998, Mr. Schinsing was succeeded by Travis Shepard, who continued to work with enthusiasm to increase membership. At the same time, Eric "Warren" Hammarsten was elected chapter warden, and brought a tight sense or order to business meetings, as well as continually seeking to improve the quality of the ritual. The chapter had also made the brilliant decision to elect newly initiated Brother Benjamin Work to the existing position of setup chairman. He was charged with acting as a liaison between faculty and the chapter in determining what setups were needed in Sinclair Auditorium. He did an incredible job, and as a result, the chapter solved all of its past financial woes, and regained a firm financial standing. This gave the chapter a several thousand dollar balance with which to work.

    In 1999, Scott Shoemaker assumed the Presidency, after Mr. Shepard resigned in order to complete his student teaching. Mr. Shoemaker’s focus was an active "take it to ‘em" campus wide publicly campaign. This included hosting a swing dance for the campus-wide community, donating computer equipment and musical instruments to the music department, increasing its donation to the Jazz Summit, and hosting the first annual Piano Bash, where students and faculty paid for swings at a piano with a sledge hammer. Also under Mr. Shoemaker’s administration, the chapter began a series of honorary initiations. This included Dr. Allan Kellar, Pearl M. Taylor Professor Emeritus of Music History, and Mr. Richard Hoffman, Chairman of the Music Department. When Mr. Shoemaker left office in the spring of 2000, he was succeeded by Mr. Mitch Beahm. Under Mr. Beahm’s tenure, the chapter initiated the largest fall class in living memory.

    The chapter also made a bold move, echoing the 1939 initiation of College President Gage. On November 1^st, 2000, in honor of the Chapter’s 70^th Chapter day, the men of the Beta Kappa conferred honorary membership on Dr. James Pheifer, 14^th President of Coe College. The event drew much attention to the chapter, and for the first time in many years, news of a Sinfonian initiation appeared in the Coe College Cosmos, student newspaper.

    The Beta Kappa Chapter seems to have regained solid standing, in terms of membership, finances, and province interaction. With eyes firmly fixed on the future, the Beta Kappa will boldy move into the 21^st Century. Brothers, on and ever upward…