Kappa Alpha Order
 

My son is a member of Kappa Alpha Order. I was wanting find out everyones opionins on this group.

Thanks

Groups vary so much! I know two different chapters of the KAs, one of them is great and one of them has a lot of problems. Over all I really like them, just because one of my close friends is a KA. I don't know if you wanted to know anything more, so I hope that I answered you.

From what I know about KA, they're known for being the archetypal "Southern Gentlemen". As you probably know, they consider Robert E. Lee as one of their spiritual founders, so there is a lot of Confederate loyalty within the group. Their annual event is called "Old South", which has been very controversial at some Southern schools, and as a result, KA is often considered a racist organization. Controversy aside, the KA's I know are very nice men.

Where does your son go to school?

[This message has been edited by AlphaChiGirl (edited January 15, 2001).]

They're great guys if you like the southern, racist, good old boy type. You wanted to know the truth, there it is.

I have been to 2 different schools that have KA chapters, both were traditional southern colleges. At both schools they all seemed like very nice and very respectful people. I didn't know that many of the guys personaly but was aquaintances with quite a few. At one school, they had been kicked off campus for hazing the year previous to my arrival. I am not sure of all of the details on the hazing incident but it seemed that most students on campus still spoke highly of them.

The truth is what you make it - at our school, KA's were the true gentlemen. They were so different from other frats on campus - and they had several African American, Hispanic, and Asian members (which the other 12 had few if any) so I know for a fact at my school that racist would not apply. If you want to know more about KA's - especially pertaining to your son's chapter - then log on to their website, or call HQ and ask them to send you publications - my parents always received The Lyre of AXO while I was in school.

By the way, Old South, was awesome - it was a very sweet event where the guys treated ladies like ladies and the memories I have are priceless!

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"Alpha Chi Omega - If you only had 2 wishes, what would your second one be?"

The KA chapter at my school had lost their house and last semester got a new really nice one. We did Homecoming with them and they are a fantastic group of guys. I've never heard anyone complain about them. I did hear from my friend, though, that at her school they have a very bad rep because of an incident that occured at their house some years back.

Kappa Alpha Order just formed a colony here at my school(University of North Florida). They do have some cool guys but they are already starting stuff with other fraternities on campus(stealing banners, trash talking etc.), but they are the redneck fraternity on campus and pretty much are throughout the south. But its quite obvious why cause their symbol is the rebel cannon, flag is the union jack, they have to face the south when "Dixie" is played and they take their composites in confederate Uniforms. Everyone jokingly says their letters stand for Klan of America and instead of chapter meetings they hold klan meetings. But the BGLO have problems with them cause the ones here have a bumper sticker on their trucks that have a confederate flag with a can of whoop ass next to it that says,"don't make me open a can of whoop-ass on your black ass." And a couple of them have confederate flags attached to their trucks. I don't have a problem with the guys, just what their fraternity is about.

Wow, I knew that the official symbolism of KA revolved around the Confederate Battle Flag (not the Union Jack), and the guys took their composites in Confederate regalia. The bumper sticker, however, is completely rude. I know at my school (which is a PC bubble, I freely admit that), that sort of behavior wouldn't be tolerated. It's really surprising to me, even as a Southerner (I'm from North Florida), what is tolerated here.

BTW, Sigma Chi is off the hook everywhere I've been...diverse chapters, good guys. Of course, I think every fraternity is full of "good guys", until I have reason to think otherwise. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks AlphaChigirl for the EX comment. Our spiriit says we like to have brothers of different temperments, talents and convictions so its always great to hear from people that we are still diverse. I think thats why we are such a large fraternity. Your AlphaChi's here are really awesome and they won derby days this year. We are doing homecoming with them as well.

Sir, your son has chosen a fine fraternity. I am a member of the Order at Eastern Kentucky University. Be assured that your son is in good hands and the teachings that he will learn will continue to make you proud. Your son will be learning chivalry and gentility, the teachings of our founding fathers from 136 years ago, that still shine through today. Please do not pay attention to the comments about us being racist. None of the items that were described by the Sigma Chi are recognized by our nationals as "official" Everyone one has love and pride for something, and the KA chapters south of the mason dixon line just happen to be proud of and love the romantisism of the old south. (pre and post civil war) There is a beauty and elegance of the south that cannot be matched anywhere. The rebel flag is NOT our official flag, most of us choose to give it the utmost respect. You can contact me at TRIG243@aol.com if you have any further questions or I can be of any assistance to you or your son. Good luck to both of you.

[This message has been edited by KABillyMac (edited January 17, 2001).]

When I went through rush. I wanted to be in the fraternity that got the most girls. Well I talked to a freind from high school, he was a KA. I went to a party with them I was impressed by the way they stood up when a ladie walked into the room. I knew that if it ment that much to them it was important. I went agianist my freinds and joined KA instead of Sigma Chi or Beta theta Pi like everyone else from my high school. I believe in the south and always have, ever since I understood what it ment. I am not a redneck. You will always see me face the south when I hear "OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH I wish I was in the land of cotton." I will still do that even after college. If any one still says that me are racsits then take a drive south of the dixie line and you will understand how I can the love the south so much. The south will always be my first love. My chapter of kappa alpha order is most well respected chapters on the campus. We have been on campus the longest and we are the one of the top 3 on my campus.
Pledge of the Gamma Beta chapter
of
Kappa Alpha Order

I love the KAs here, they are always the first to jump up and open a door for a female or offer to buy her a drink or whatever. The chapter here isn't as big as the one at A&M but it's still awesome. I had a blast meeting them at their rush parties.

The KA's here are racist and rude. They are not popular on East Carolina's campus and they seem to separate themselves from the other frats.

Is there still a KA chapter at Auburn University?

I heard somewhere that KA order doesn't consider itself a fraternity. They see themselves as an order of christian knights. There's no chapter here so I can't really say anything about them other than that.

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Just because and idea is stupid doesn't mean it won't work.

Yes I think that there is still a KA chapter at Auburn.
Yes KA is considered an Order for exactly the reasons that you mentioned.
How do you know the KA's at East Carolina are racist and rude? If they seperate themselves from everyone else have you ever had any contact with them?????

I have to disagree with sororitychick.
The KA's at ECU are not that bad. I live with one so I should know http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

AlphaChiGirl is right, it is the Confederate Flag, not the Union Jack, because this is the Union Jack here (i.e. Great Britain's Flag):
http://www.ujnews.com/images/greatbr.gif

Ya your right it is the confederate flag. I don't know what i was thinking when i said union jack :-)

Then there is also a Kappa Alpha Society. Does anyone know why they use the society part?

Just thought I'd make this topic a little more confusing http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif.

I disagree, all the KA's at ECU I know are sweethearts and I've never been in a situation with them that I feel uncomfortable in. Then again, I'm a typical southern belle http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif and I love how gentlemanly they are as opposed to some of our other frats!

OOOOOOOOHHHHH I feel the SAME way!!!!! I love how our KA's are always such gentlemen!!

Ditto with Preppie

33girl - yeah, there was a KA Society in the day - they were founded in the union triad with DPhi and SigPhi i think, if i remember my fraternity history from pledging correctly. it was simply a different group than the KA order i assume, which died off

Rob


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"So listen up and you will surely see why we wear the scarlet, white and green . . . "

My brother-in-law is a Kappa Alpha alumni and he is such a sweetheart. I think the brothers of Kappa Alpha are different at all schools. It is a fact that KA was founded by KKK members but that doesn't mean that all KA's are racist. I personally do not like the attitudes of some of the KA's at ECU but I do love my brother-in-law.

Hi guys!
My father and both his brothers were KAs. I think the whole Robert E. Lee/Southern Pride issue is getting confused with racism. The way my father explained to me was KAs try and uphold the standards set by Robert E. Lee (in terms of being a gentleman, ect.). While I'm sure there are some racists in KA, I don't think they represent most members.

Just my $0.02!

Claire

I just feel the need to point out that Robert E. Lee was Lincoln's first choice for General of the Union Army and WAS going to accept that post before Virginia decided to be witht the south.

No, KA was not founded by members of the Klu Klux Klan. THats all a bunch of crap that has been spread around campus's for years. The founding fathers were, like Robert E Lee, Confederate Veterans that DID NOT simpathize with slavery. I didnt apprecate that post from a ZTA since one of our founding fathers wrote your ritual

i'm also going to have to disagree with sororitychick and stick up for the KAs at ECU. they've always been my favorite fraternity on campus and they're a great group of guys in spite of their reputation as "campus assholes."

First of all, you do not have to get so hostile KABillyMac. I read that members of the KKK started KA somewhere and since it was in a book, I thought it was true. I've also heard it through the grapevine that it is true. But I talked to my brother-in-law last night and he said that he knows that it is not true and I believe him. I apologize for the mix up. Just chill out!

I guess this topic died but Kappa Alpha Order is the best. your son did a fine job on his choice!!!!!!!

I don't know any KA's personally. But the charter of the chapter at University of North Texas was just suspended for 5 years due to racist comments made to minorities on campus.

Here is the link to the story at CNN.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/02/03/fra....ap/index.html

DISGUSTING!!!

i think you would find what happened to the KA's at my school very interesting.

KA society still exists. I think!
We have a chapter at the University of Toronto.
They're a 'literary society'. So they say. Although, as far as I'm concerned, they have a beer fridge, so they're a frat.
Regarldess, the society, if it is one of the same, is still alive, at least in Toronto.

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Gamma Phi Beta
University of Toronto
Alpha Alpha

I don't know any KA's either, but while in Austin I saw this in the American-Statesman. I dont think it got the national attention that the same thing at UNT did. Funny how the media is. The reporter on tv there did mention the UNT event in December and closed his remarks with, "So obviously there is a history of problems with this orginization." Sounds like he'd already made his mind up about the suspension.
http://www.austin360.com/statesman/e...o_state_3.html

There is a Kappa Alpha Order forming at my school (Univ. of N.Florida) and from who i've met they are really great guys.. Real Gentlemen!

Chapters are different on every campus, so I can only tell you my impressions of 2 KA chapters. The KA men I hung out with in my college days at Georgia College were all gentlemen. They stood for women when we walked in the door, opened doors for us, and treated us as ladies. The same goes for the KA chapter at Georgia Tech where my brother is a member. He was just initiated last Saturday, and I can tell you right now that he would not be a part of any group that supports racist ideals.

They are very proud of their roots and do consider Robert E. Lee one of their spiritual founders. It is because of this Confederate link that they are often stereotyped as "racist". This makes my blood boil! I truly wish that more fraternity guys incorporated the Southern Gentlemen idea into their daily lives like the KA's do. From everything I have seen, they are all decent, upstanding men - proud of their fraternity and its history.

We have the Kappa Alpha Order here at ASU and they're great guys. They do have things like a Confederate flag in their house, and pictures of General Lee, but I've never heard one of them make a racist remark. Some of my sisters have gone on dates with them and have all reported that they're real gentlemen.

just got this today over the school greek web list serve that some school in Texas is under fire because while a tour group was viewing the school, including several african-american basketball persepectives, several of the KA's wrapped in a confederate flag, shouted racial slurs towards the group. while the incident was shut down quickly, the KA chapter at (i want to say U. of Northern Texas--but not hundred % positive since i deleted the email) is under investigation and likely to get there charter pulled, especially since this hinges on the recent end of probation for the chapter for alcohol related violations. I will look for the article.