Alpha Kappa Psi ... What ... ?

[Paul_flan84]

Hey people, sorry im new to this stuff and im wondering what on earth is going on? Im pledging to Alpha Kappa Psi in Manchester England (UK) and im wondering what all these different chapter names are. As in delta Epsilon or whatever. Im guessing each chapter is given a name, but are we all in the same fraternity? Well, any how, greetings from england.

Regards

Paul

[decadence]

Okey doke. Naming conventions for chapters vary between fraternity/sorority and if there are different types of chapters in the same org (e.g. collegiate/alumni then those may also have different naming methods).

Take for example a social (i.e. generally non co-ed) fraternity: it would usually term it's first ever chapter as the Alpha chapter, then Beta chapter and so forth. And they go through the Greek alphabet as new chapters are added; some fraternities use two names in title e.g. Beta Gamma chapter of XYZ fraternity. I believe most groups use single greek letters until they reach the end of the Greek alphabet then move to multiple words in the chapter name. So, an established fraternity from the 19th century installing new chapters with multiple lettered names might have some of its chapters with single letters still around and some might've closed down over the years.

Also, sometimes when a chapter exists at a university but closes down and say a few years later recolonises ('comes back') the national fraternity may give the exact same name as before or some groups (like Alpha Phi womens sorority - which is called a fraternity technically) rename it with the word "Deuteron" to indicate it's returned and is the second time around. E.g. Beta Nu Deuteron chapter of Alpha Phi at Duke's university.

Or... then you have lots of fraternities like Phi Psi who use the state name as part of the chapter designation:
e.g. Pennsylvania Epsilon chapter at Gettysburg College.

Or... some professional (or other) fraternities might simply either name their group after the university -
SuchandSuch_university chapter of XYZ fraternity or after a famous person in that professional field e.g the
Benton chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity at University of Missouri.

There will tend to be some variation from group to group with no hard and fast rules as to what they use but I believe the alphabetical letters in sequence then multiple greek letters is the most common method. Hope that gives an idea, other members on the board shall probably give more details or correct any mistakes I may've made.

ETA: A very quick look at AKpsi's website shows they appear to use some alphabetical sequence, having a Beta chapter as well as, say, a Delta Zeta chapter.
Also, you may already know it but just in case here's a link to a webpage created by a member on this site. giving the greek alphabet with a picture of the letter and pronunciation.

[Tom Earp]

decadence explained it very well!

Maybe a little easier to understand is that some Greek Organizations say go in to a State:

New York-Alpha, NY Beta, NY Gamma, etc.

Some as decadence said go by the Greek Alphabet letters, Alphia, Beta, Gamma etc. as they are Inititiated into said Greek Organization, when the single letters of the alphabet were used, they then went to Alpha-Alpha, Alpha-Beta, etc.

With Lambda Chi Alpha that is the way we do it with some exceptions. When the Fraternity was first started in 1909 communicatins were tough. When in 1939, TKN merged with LXA, Letter designations were added to denote TKN Chapters using Tau, Kappa,or Nu + finishing designations.

When we have a Chapter leave campuses for some reason, and they are re-colonized they still keep that Chapter designation.

[DietCoke43]

My sorority often uses the abreviation from the school. For example, I go to Georgia State University (GSU) and I am part of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi. LaGrange College is Lambda Chi Chapter of AOPi.

[thetalady]

Originally posted by Paul_flan84
.... Im pledging to Alpha Kappa Psi in Manchester England (UK) ..... Paul

I am curious if your group will have any conflict with Alpha Kappa Psi established in the United States in 1904. They are a collegiate business fraternity founded at New York University. This could be a bit confusing to people. It looks like they copywrited their name, but I am not certain.

http://www.akpsi.com/

[decadence]

thetalady, the HQ of Alpha Kappa Psi (yes the one you mentioned) list his university as an official chartered and installed chapter in the roll of chapters ("chapter directory") on their website you also referenced. Other GC members have also been pleasantly surprised (inc. myself) to learn the info... so you aren't the only one who wondered if they had indeed chartered in the UK.

Hope that helps,

Richard.

[thetalady]

Originally posted by decadence
thetalady, the HQ of Alpha Kappa Psi (yes the one you mentioned) list his university as an official chartered and installed chapter in the roll of chapters ("chapter directory") on their website you also referenced. Other GC members have also been pleasantly surprised (inc. myself) to learn the info... so you aren't the only one who wondered if they had indeed chartered in the UK.

Hope that helps,

Richard.

Thank you! I incorrectly assumed that when Paul said he was pledging a GLO, he was referring to an all-male, social fraternity. I saw that AKPsi is a coed, professional organization, and didn't realize we were both talking about the same thing. I appreciate the info.

[Paul_flan84]

Just Wondering how Say Akpsi Differs From any other fraternity. Are they all vaguely the same, how do you choose which to attend? Since AKpsi is the only one here im a bit stuck for a comparison.

[hoosier]

In the US, I think AKPsi is a business fraternity, as their web site says:

"Developing well-trained, ethical, skilled, resourceful, experienced business leaders "

[thetalady]

Originally posted by Paul_flan84
Just Wondering how Say Akpsi Differs From any other fraternity. Are they all vaguely the same, how do you choose which to attend? Since AKpsi is the only one here im a bit stuck for a comparison.

AKPsi being co-ed (at least that's what is states on the website) makes it significantly different from traditional American fraternities for men.

[decadence]

Paul, if I may. Generally speaking, there are social fraternities, professional fraternities, service fraternities. Oh, and honorary fraternities. (or sororities obviously). Still, like the phrase members of greek orgs (those named with greek letters) use goes: "No matter what the letter we're all Greek together".

Professional fraternities are usually where the international fraternity has an orient toward one professional area/major over another e.g. business/law/dentistry/psychology etc. They are usually members of the PFA (Professional Fraternity Assoc.) These are always co-ed (mixed) orgs. So let's say for example there were at your campus multiple professional orgs. You'd probably choose AKPsi as it's less likely they would have two professional (business in this case) fraternities at the same university; although not unheard of (if they did you might choose the one you thought best for you based on programming, size, members etc). The other professional orgs would be catering for other areas such as say Dentistry, Music etc. Very often also members "find their place" in such groups when they don't necesarily have any desire to work in that field too but *do* have an interest in the underlying ideals of that organisation, do want to be a part of and take advantage of the groups activities (e.g. are interested in the philanthropies that come with it) and benefits (academic encouragement, supportive friends, community service opportunities, professional events etc); never hurts to have people with different interests to keep your group from being too stuffy too and all sorts of people can make great members of an org and get lots out of it themselves.

Social fraternities and sororities are single sex orgs ('Title IX' part of the US Education Act (?) required single-sex professional fraternities to go co-ed and allowed student groups designated as "social" to 'discriminate' for membership on grounds of gender. i.e be all male/all female), their members bond through constant social interaction and pursuit of the ideals and motto etc of that organisation (e.g. compassion, integrity, being a True Gentleman (SAE) etc). Choosing between different social fraternities... prospective members look into the ones at their campus and see which ideals appeal to them, what's offered e.g. some offer structured leadership programs to progress through, see how they fit in with the members of that chapter etc, and generally see how the activities of that group appeal to them Paul. Broadly speaking. Ditto sororities. During recruitment aka rush, interested students will usually have a chance to meet all the groups, there might be interest meetings, maybe take part in some activities with them etc and get to learn all about the group (NPC groups have sets of rules for the 'formal rush' process involving meeting all of the groups, whittling choices down etc). International social sororities are members of the umbrella body NPC, for fraternities it is the NIC. Then, the NPHC is for the historically black fraternities and sororities; they are set up as service organisations with a predominant focus on that and also social ties. There are also Latin-American social orgs (NALFO), locals etc etc.

Service orgs such as APO (Alpha Phi Omega) have as their fundamental role community service and philanthropies. This is not to suggest they don't have lots of social activities, academics etc (or that other types of group don't have community service programs). Just that overall they have that focus.

There'll be different sized groups, different groups. Often prospective members find they feel they fit in with one place more than the next, whatever type of group that might be. Like the Christian Morgenstern quote - Home is not where you live but where they understand you.

Honoraries I believe are usually mixed too; entry into these is via say invite based on a high GPA (Grade Point Average), academic success etc.

Hope that helps a little.

[TriDeltaGal]

Wow decadence...great explaination of the difference between various GLOs!!

[Tom Earp]

Dang decadence, English Pub Beer must be agreeing with you!

You have become a real pletheria for info! Good Oh Old Chap!