I dated a KA my freshman year while he was pledging, so in my true style, I researched the fraternity. They are southern in every aspect of the term. Does this mean they're racist? Well, I'm sure they have a couple of brothers who are, but I'm also pretty sure (not knowing myself, of course) that part of their initiation does NOT involve swearing on a bible that they will hate black people for the rest of their life. Now, I loved my boyfriend very much, and a lot of the reasons that I did were the same reasons that made him such a great KA. He opened doors for me, had true southern values, and centered his life around hunting (ok, so maybe the hunting thing wasn't my favorite part). I still tease him from time to time about being a rich, racist, "Khaki A-hole" but in the end he's truly a wonderful guy.

That's pretty stereotypical. Not every Kappa Alpha and not every chapter is like this. Do they exist? Sure. Are there other men that belong to other organizations who are southern, racist good old boys? You bet.

Are you greek? Because honestly, unless you are an ignorant greak you would know that chapters very all over the place. One of my sisters boyfriend is a KA at Mississippi State University. You would expect them to be really racist - but he is absolutly the sweetest guy you will meet.

It is very ignorant for you to say something like that. What I find funny is they have to have female dates for Old South - so I guess the girls that go to that are racist too? If so, then that is an attack on my sister - and well, we won't go there.

Hey Folks - I'm a KA and I just signed up on Greek Chat and read through the past 6 or so pages concerning KA, the South, the Battle Flag etc. I just wanted to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for standing up and defending the Order. I appreciate it greatly and I'm sure the same goes for all my Kappa Alpha brothers.

I know at Ole miss KA's aren't the southern redneck boys with cotton license plates on the front of their cars...that's another frat. I don't know what KA was founded on, but saying that KA's are racist because their founder was is insane- that was like 125+ years ago.

Hello I'm a KA at Oklahoma City University. I am black so I can safely say that KA represents being southern gentlemen and not RACISM! My chapter is one of the most diverse in the country (black, white, hispanic, middle eastern decent, etc.) and the people on our campus know that we are gentlemen.

KA as a fraternity is about brotherhood, community service, academic excellence, and whole lot of social fun!

KA as an Order is about Duty, Honor, Country, Chivalry and Spirituality. Its no coincidence many prominent Military and Religious leaders are KA's. The privledge of becoming a truly initiated member of the Kappa Alpha Order is not easy but definitly well worth it!

Kappa Alpha out of Order
 

The chapter here at Tennessee was pulled...not really sure when, last year? the year before? I know there was some pretty bad stuff going on :-\ It's a shame that messups cost a university's chapter everything

I don't know any KA's at my school personally, but I've been to their house before to drop off finals treats and stuff and they were seriously just the nicest guys. of course any guy is going to be excited seeing a bunch of girls with food, but these guys invited us in to hang out and showed us around their house. They were so polite and so adorable!!! I've heard rumors about them, but then again we have rumors about EVERY house here and seriously maybe out of the 50 million that exist, one might be true. :rolleyes: :)

My brother is a member of KA at the college I went to, and he and his brothers are just the nicest guys I ever met at that school.

It's funny because every person that mentions KA chapters as being racist, redneck, or as a bunch of "tool bag yo-boys".. consider these individuals' credibility. They all go to small, communter schools that themselves can't be any older than 20 or 30 years. If you consider all of the reputable Southern universities, where KA is extremely well-known for having distinguished reputations on campus and throughout their state via alumni, this is where you should adapt a perspective of the fraternity.

KA is one of the oldest men's social greek letter organizations whose almuni and members, the majority being legacies, are prominent in the old school southern social circles of today. If you consider schools such as Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, UGA, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, UVA, South Carolina, North Carolina.. not "Backwoods I'm from a trailor park in Florida where every guy uses gel hair products Community College", you will see KA in an envious light. KA at Auburn, for example, currently is home to the largest fraternity house in the Southern United States, made possible by alumni support with multiple $100,000+ private donations from these former members, many whom are fathers of current members. KA members and alumni at these schools are generally accepted as being "yes old school and extremely Southern" (though when I say Southern, consider the fact that not many rednecks could afford a 20,000 square foot multi-million dollar mansion for a bunch of college kids). So no, they are not rednecks.

They are essentially very well-connected individuals who tend to come from old money all drawn from old Southern families. Imagine a massive anti-bellum style Southern plantation atop a hill (home of mostly 20 to 21 year olds), flanked with Range Rovers, Denalis, and Z71 Tahoes. Doesn't sound redneck anymore, does it?

Getting a bid to KA at these universities is not based on how drunk you can get or how many girls you can pick up. Generally, the pledge classes for KA at these universities have already been hand-picked before formal rush even begins (Note: guys planning on formal rushing KA or similar fraternities at these schools during formal rush without knowing anyone in the chapter would probably be wasting their time). You have to be the total package. Even if you know someone or multiple people in the fraternity, this doesn't necessarily make a difference. Alumni play a huge role in selecting new members, as well as seniors, who both generally consider legacy status, pedigree, employment of the father, hometown, places of vacation home(s) (basically the individual's socio-economic background), all before they consider the individual as a "person" (which has to be acceptable as well - in fact you will be the face of KA for some who may not know any others. However, before you are quick to judge, this is the basis that all "good ole boy" greek letter organizations were founded by). For instance, even legacies are not guaranteed a bid to a pledge class because of the second factor. In one such case I know of a KA brother only in such a house at one of the above-mentioned schools based on his father's call and pledge of $100,000 to the president of the organization. The chapter at this school was on campus for well over a century, like almost all of the afore-mentioned.

So yes, KA is an extremely traditional, Southern fraternity. Its brothers are molded into men who generally return to their hometowns as the most prominent leaders among the select affluent group of society. And again also, if the KA chapters you mention at various schools are not of the established founding chapters in the South, then there is no telling what kind of guys asked to charter the chapter or who they decided to accept in.. In these cases, the groups of 25 - 45 brothers are most likely much more disappointing than the better 100+ member distinguished, well-respected chapters, who generally don't associate with the "other" chapters. This may sound harsh, but it is the reality for every Greek organization.. if someone isn't good enough, they are completely disregarded. Consider those not given bids, they were judged.. not good enough. Good luck somewhere else.

KA accepts the best.. only the best.

Social organizations don't tend to exist with the intention of being too accepting of outsiders. Everyone knows how the world works.. whether you'd like to admit it, or not.

um, googling Kappa Alpha Order earlier today?

Old thread bump alert!

I was just reading through these KA posts, and while at my university (in the North), the KAs tend to come from the South and are somewhat viewed as the "Southern Gentleman" types, they are definitely not discriminatory. Our campus is extremely unaccessible to those in wheelchairs or to those with any other handicap. Our KAs just recently pledged a man that uses a wheelchair, and the entire fraternity has spent the last few weeks building a wheelchair ramp to make their house accessible. That made me so happy when I saw that! So a round of applause to our KAs for making my university a more accepting and accessible place!

My schools kappa Alpha chapter is very racist and everyone on campus knows it. Sure, they may be southern gentlemen, but only to white ladies!