[Virtuous Woman]

Kappa Alpha Psi week follows USM spring break
By Toria Chatman

April 06, 2006

The Kappa Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity will kick off their philanthropy week April 16-22 bringing educational topics, good food and fun to the USM and Hattiesburg community.
Nicholas Trotter, marketing major and president of Kappa Alpha Psi, said the fraternity was founded Jan. 5, 1911, at Indiana University. The Kappa Iota chapter at USM was charted on Oct. 10, 1980.

“We have done programs, community service and donated scholarship funds,” Trotter said. “We have various initiatives on the grand chapter level that we must participate in annually, one of which is our National Guide Right Program,”

An initiative of the program is Kappa Kamp. It is a summer enrichment camp for young men ages 9-14. Kappa's national programs include: Buckle up with Kappa, National Prostate Awareness Campaign and a National Voter Registration Drive.

Trotter added, “We have done community service at PACE Head Start, completed Adopt-A-Highway, participated in the Adopt-A Fire Family Program through American Red Cross, Toys for Tots, Hurricane Katrina clean-up and Habitat for Humanity.”

Trotter said as for as the week, Kappa is dedicated to service but provides entertainment as a source of fund-raising for their chapter. A portion of the funds will be donated to PACE Head Start for supplies and materials needed to enhance the education of younger children.

Trotter added, Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on Christian principals, and that is the reason why they are beginning their week with a church service.

“We want to enlighten students with information pertaining to health as well as political issues,” said Trotter

Jamaya Smith, marketing major and the vice-president of Kappa Alpha Psi, said this week consists of their philanthropic events as well as other things. Kappa Iota does events catering to the USM and Hattiesburg communities. The types of programs Kappa Iota will host during the week include Politics in the State of the Nation and Prostate Cancer Awareness. The Politic in the State of the Nation will consist of a panel of students, faculty and professional politicians. It will consist of different questions relating to politics, the campus, community and nation that will be directed to the panel for open discussion.

“We have done community service for Palmer Crossing and PACE head start. At the end of our week, we will make a donation to PACE head start.” Smith added, “During our week, we try to be diverse by co-sponsoring activities with the University Activities Council, NAACP, FBLSA, and USM Dining Services.”

Smith said the Kappa's will co-sponsor a New Orleans Brass Band Blow Out with UAC and USM Dining Services. This program is catering to everyone. “We are trying to bring a little bit of the New Orleans culture to the university campus,” Smith added.

“People at the university and in the Hattiesburg community should be able to be more aware of issues that are happening in the community as well as in the nation,” Smith added.

Frank Baker, a criminal justice major; and a member of the fraternity said he wants people from the USM and Hattiesburg community to gain a positive image in the black community by learning about prostate cancer, which threatens the lives of many black men.

Baker said, “Kappa Alpha Psi was founded on Christian beliefs, members are god-fearing men, and all strive towards achievement in every field of human endeavor.”