Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never restricted membership on the basis of color, creed or national origin though membership traditionally is dominated by those of African heritage. Careful consideration was given to ensure the organization established a firm foundation the first year before efforts to expand were attempted. The Founders were God-fearing, and serious minded young men who possessed the imagination, ambition, courage and determination to defy custom in pursuit of a college education and careers. Fraternity members contributing to the new foundation could deduct their donations as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. In 1921, the Fraternity was divided into districts as a result of proposed legislation by George F. David II, the third Grand Polemarch. Kappa Alpha Psi is the 2nd oldest existing collegiate historically Black Greek Letter Fraternity and the 1st intercollegiate Fraternity incorporated as a national body. Upon Americas entrance into World War I, Diggs resigned his principalship to enter the Nations first Officers Training Camp at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and was commissioned a lieutenant. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Flashcards | Quizlet Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a historically African American fraternity. After leaving the University, he organized the Electric Engineering Company, which he operated until he enlisted in World War I. The charter members were Elder Watson Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, John M. Lee, Henry T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Guy L. Grant, Paul W. Caine, George W. Edmonds, Ezra D. Alexander and Edward G. Irvin. Consequently, eight other men met with Diggs and Armstrong for the purpose of organizing such a fraternity. [53], In 2014, 11 Kappas from the University of Georgia were arrested and charged with hazing for severely beating and humiliating pledges. LSU will not consider reinstatement of the fraternity until at least 2020. George Wesley Edmonds - EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki Create. One pledge was beaten so badly that many of the veins in his backside were broken and he developed a life-threatening gangrene infection. Some of these members include: Ralph Abernathy, Wilt Chamberlin, Montell Jordan, Benjamin Jealous, Oscar Robertson, Cedric the Entertainer, Arthur Ashe, Mike Tomlin, Gayle Sayers, Adrian Fenty, Robert S. Abbott, Bennie Thompson, Donald Byrd, Johnnie Cochran, Ed Gardner, Smokie Norful, John Singleton, Tom Bradley, Bob Johnson, John Conyers, Alcee Hastings, Lerone Bennett, Jr., Kwame Jackson, Bill Russell, Tavis Smiley, Marvin Sapp, and Colin Kaepernick to name a few. The History. David was first Grand Polemarch who had not been nurtured by the Alpha chapter under the influence of the Founders, proposed dividing the Fraternity into supervisory districts. [11], By 1913, the fraternity expanded with the second undergraduate chapter opened at the University of IllinoisBeta chapter; then the University of IowaGamma chapter. Kappa Alpha Psi expanded through the Midwest, South, and West at both white and black colleges. Thirkield Hall) at Howard . [54], In March 2014, several Kappas from the University of Memphis were arrested and charged for hazing and beating pledges. Some confused the abbreviation of the letters to refer to the state of Kansas. His family won a $1.4 million wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity and several Kappas served time in prison. Two of these men, Elder Watson Diggs and Byron Kenneth Armstrong, had previously attended Howard University and had come into contact with men belonging to the only national Black Greek-Letter Fraternity currently in existence. A Brief History - Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The Four Founding Fathers of the Order. [19], The Student of the Year Competition is a contest that encompasses six areas deemed critical to a successful life - scholarship, talent, community involvement, poise and appearance, career preparation, and model chapter operation. January 15th - Alpha Kappa Alpha. Formidable barriers were put up to prevent the few who were enrolled from assimilating into co-curricular . Other fraternity leaders were alerted by Santander Bank of many suspicious transactions which lead to his firing and arrest. In 1915, he became a student at Temple . The History of Kappa Alpha Psi - blinupes.org International History Kappa Alpha Psi Domican Republic Alumni Except for the years of World War I and II, when some Grand Chapter Meetings were suspended, Kappa Alpha Psi has grown and prevailed with unabating impetus. NOTABLE PH MASONS - Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio The Director is uniquely qualified to perform the duties of this office and is appointed by the Grand Polemarch. The first Pageant at the Grand Chapter Meeting occurred at the 58th Grand Chapter Meeting. His contributions and awards in the field of medicine were many. On January 5, 1911, such an organization was born and thus Kappa Alpha Psi (then Kappa Alpha Nu) became a reality. The process of covering the cane in the fraternal colors is considered as 'wrapping' and is done very specifically. [citation needed], In the 1960s the national organization did not condone the use of canes or Kappa Alpha Psi's participation in step shows contending that "the hours spent in step practices by chapters each week would be better devoted to academic or civic achievement. Except for the years of World War I and II, when some Grand Chapter Meetings were suspended, Kappa Alpha Psihas grown and prevailed with unabating impetus. More. [57][58], Also in 2015, a former pledge at Coppin State University sued the fraternity for $4 million due to injuries he sustained while pledging. The American fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi has established over 350 "chapters" (local sections) in universities and colleges all over the United States and elsewhere, in addition to about 90 chapters of alumni in American cities and a small number of colonies.The majority of the chapters remain active. In 1920, he received the D.D.S. A few clouds. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a historically African American fraternity.Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never restricted membership on the basis of color, creed or national origin though membership traditionally is dominated by those of African heritage.The fraternity has over 160,000 members with 721 . The Chief Founder and others. The 20 pearls of Alpha Kappa Alpha, or AKA, refer to the 20 young women who founded and expanded the sorority beginning in 1908, explains the group's official website. [45], And also in 2009, a former pledge at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sued the fraternity for $1 million to cover medical bills caused by an encounter with violent fraternity members. Kappa Alpha Psi, a college Fraternity, was born in an environment saturated in racism. He served as Grand Polemarch for the first six consecutive years of the Fraternity's existence. of the Order. List of Alpha Kappa Psi chapters - Wikipedia Kappa Alpha Psi History | MAC Site One day as one of the Fraternity members, Frank Summers, was running the hurdles, Founder Diggs overheard a White student state, He is a member of Kappa Alpha Nig. The name was officially changed to Kappa Alpha Psi on a resolution adopted at the Grand Chapter Meeting in December 1914. Founders - Capital City Kappas - Raleigh (NC) Alumni Chapter It would be the only Greek-letter organization founded with the concept of achievement. In the school years of 1910-11, a small group of Black students attended Indiana University. These men of vision decided the Fraternity would be more than another social organization. Nor would the new Fraternity seek its members in the manner of other Greek organizations from among the sons of wealthy families or families of social prestige. One pledge was admitted to a hospital for two days after a brutal night of hazing left him with a ruptured ear drum and half a pint of lost blood. Frank M. Summers was the magazine's first editor and later became the Fourteenth Grand Polemarch. WEBSITE. While there, he majored in chemistry, graduating with the A.B. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today. degree. [8], The fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911, by ten African-American college students. John Milton Lee fired the first shot. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. 13th Sovereign Grand Commander, United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction . The founders of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. are: Elder Watson Diggs, more affectionately known as 'The Dreamer', Dr. Ezra D. Alexander, Dr. Byron Kenneth Armstrong, Atty. Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin, and Sgt. These men of vision decided Kappa Alpha Nu would be more than another social organization. (Jua) Baraka. J5 refers to the day the fraternity was founded " 5 January. These incidents caused the Founders to change the name of the Fraternity. Copyright 2022 The Brooklyn-Long Island Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The state of Indiana became the 19thstate of the Union in 1816 and it founded Indiana University in Bloomington four years later. He served on the Selective Service Board during WWII and the Korean War. The Constitution of KAPPA ALPHA PSI is predicated upon, and dedicated to, the principles of achievement through a truly democratic Fraternity. His battery enjoys the unique distinction of having been the first battery of Negro Artillerymen ever to open fire upon an enemy. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated - Originalpeople.org He served as a member of the Grand Board of Directors and was the Fraternitys Historian. [19], The "Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation," established in 1981, is the philanthropic arm of the fraternity and assists both alumni and undergraduate chapters in support of scholarships, after-school programs, and national projects such as Habitat for Humanity. [31], It is the goal of the fraternity to see that all individuals committing acts of hazing and other unlawful and prohibited acts are punished consistent with due process and the concept of proportionality to the full extent of the rules of the fraternity, college and the criminal law.