This week... Alpha Kappa Alpha and Alpha Sigma Phi.
Sorority helps young, old with numerous programs
By: Phil Dishon
Issue date: 2/10/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News
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Hearing the term "skee-wee" yelled across campus may seem strange to some students. However, to the sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha the term means friendship, community devotion and individual respect.
Kristye Russell, sophomore from Louisville and president of AKA, said the sorority started Jan. 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
"Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek letter organization for black women," Russell said.
Russell said Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a student at Howard University, came up with the idea of a sorority specifically for black women. She said Lyle's success came because of 15 other students at Howard.
For the Murray State chapter, Russell said the Pearl Interest Group officially founded it Jan. 9, 1971. Since then, Russell said they have worked to fulfill the organization's motto.
"The motto of the sorority is service to all mankind, and we do just that," she said. "It is our main purpose."
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Defining elements of Alpha Sigma Phi key to local chapter's success
By: Phil Dishon
Issue date: 2/10/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News
~excerpt
When thinking of the traditional Greek organization, the images of ritual meetings and solemn oaths of secrecy come to mind. Alpha Sigma Phi finds being honest and open produces better results.
Mike Young, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, began advising the fraternity when it was founded [chartered at Murray State] in October 1994. He said the fraternity came to Murray as part of the Alpha Sigma Phi National Expansion Project.
"They were looking on a national level to start a new brand of fraternity ... in a sense," Young said. "A premiere gentleman's fraternity."
He said when the headquarters approached him about advising, he accepted the opportunity.
"(This aspect) was appealing and just being able to mold a chapter into what Greek life, what a Greek man should be ... so these guys can get a true Greek experience," Young said. "And I'd say we've done very well at that."
He said the fraternity has accomplished a lot on the national level, including winning the Most Outstanding Chapter Award twice. He said this honor is given to one ASPhi chapter two years.