Male Allyship in Tau Beta Sigma History

Caleb Morris | From the TBS 75th Anniversary Podium Special Edition

In the Spring of 1939, Wava Banes, a band major at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University), and the other two women in the Tech Band founded Tau Beta Sigma to provide a space for women to serve the band. While founded by women, Tau Beta Sigma has always had male allies championing the work of female empowerment: D.O. Wiley, Director of the Tech Band program in the 1930s and 1940s, approved of Wava’s vision of a band Sorority and continued to support the organization after Wava graduated; A. Frank Martin, one of the founders of Kappa Kappa Psi, led the charge to establish Tau Beta Sigma as a national organization, and became the first male member of the Sorority as an Honorary Member of the Alpha Chapter.

In a March 1946 letter to Doris Ragsdale, Martin shared: “I have spent more hours on [creating the plan nationalize Tau Beta Sigma] than I have in any organization that I have ever taken a part of during my life…I have done this on my own time, willingly and cheerfully, yet you will never know the anxious moments I have spent at this task.” Creating a sister organization to Kappa Kappa Psi was a personal project for Martin; his daughter, Frances, was a member of the band at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), and Martin was committed to facilitating an equitable experience for her and all women, “it has all been done for the sake of giving the young ladies and equal advantage in the college bands that is enjoyed by young men,” Martin wrote. From the beginning, men have used their power to support women and ensure the success of the Sorority.

In its first quarter of existence, Tau Beta Sigma laid a strong foundation of fortitude, courage, and service to collegiate bands. While firmly a single gender Sorority, men were initiated as honorary members – usually the director of bands. By the time the Sorority celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1971, societal changes had forced Tau Beta Sigma to diversify its membership. The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex, and 1972’s Title IX emphasised this in educational settings.

In 1975, Tau Beta Sigma altered the Constitution to comply with Title IX, paving the way for the initiation of the first male active member, Kevin Sullivan of the Gamma Kappa Chapter, in the Spring of 1977. Sullivan stated: “I joined because I wanted to serve the band. At the time, there was a lot of social change, and [I wanted to] in a very small way help with gender awareness.” Kevin’s initiation opened the door to men to serve the band and promote empowering women through Tau Beta Sigma. By the time of the 50th anniversary in 1996 and in the years since, men have led the Sorority in all capacities, including as District Officers, District Counselors, Board of Trustees members, and National Council Officers – including National President.

Chris Foster, a past District Officer and President, will be finishing his term on the Tau Beta Sigma Alumni Association as Chair in 2021, and credits the Sorority for creating a place for all to serve: “if you do not fit into one of the traditional molds of masculinity or femininity or a variety of different social constructs, sometimes you seek out areas where you might fit in better and have a chance socially. I have gone back and forth on whether I excelled [in Sorority volunteerism] because I stood out [because of my gender identity], or I excelled because I felt accepted. Maybe its a little of both.” Chris further emphasized the importance of using one’s own power to empower others: “It’s incumbent upon all of us, particularly those that fall under the umbrella of the majority, to listen, observe, and be aware of bias. It’s about understanding and sticking your neck out for people…imagining the world from someone else’s perspective.”

In the 1940s, A. Frank Martin used his fortitude to help women create a space to serve college and university bands. Today, Sorority members of all genders use their fortitude to ensure Tau Beta Sigma continues to push forward our mission of promoting equality and diversity.