Murray State Year of the Greeks

[TSteven]

Two articles from The Murray State News (Murray, Kentucky) Year of the Greeks series.

First secret society celebrates Murray history
By: Phil Dishon
Issue date: 1/27/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

When thinking of Greek life on campus, the stereotypes of toga parties and keggers quickly come to mind.

The sisters of Alpha Delta Pi, however, find community service projects and companionship far more entertaining and rewarding.

Joanie Balbach, junior from Louisville and president of Murray State's ADPi chapter, said the sorority was formed nationally May 15, 1851, as the first sorority for women. Nearly a century later, the Murray State chapter was formed, she said.

"We came to Murray State on Feb. 10 in 1968," Balbach said. "From then, we have grown and expanded into the chapter we are today."

The sorority sports a membership of 75 sisters. She said sorority membership is based on several important guidelines that govern the membership of other campus sororities, too.

~and

Fraternity focuses on brotherhood, community
By: Janet Robb
Issue date: 1/27/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

Alpha Gamma Rho has the best of both worlds - a fraternal bond and professional interests.

"We're both a social and professional fraternity," said Justin Mason, AGR president. "It's very strong for agriculture students because 75 percent of members are (agriculture) majors."

AGR established a colony in 1959, and Mason, junior from Henderson, said its charter was passed in 1968. Since then, AGR members have remained focused on the fraternity and community involvement.

"They're involved a lot through organizations on campus, and (we) have quite a few leadership roles in those organizations," Mason said. "We're really strong in the (agriculture) department."

Even though the fraternity members involve themselves in numerous organizations, he said they still have to fight against stereotypes dealing with Greeks.

[SurfinDBeach]

Reminds me - your University President, Dr. Alexander, is now our president at Long Beach State.

Seems like a great guy who did a phenomenal job at Murray State...

GO BEACH

[Tom Earp]

A Positive Twist on Greeks for a Change.

Murray State have from what I have heard a Great Greek Commity!

Sounds Like The New Pres. could be an asset there too!

Lets hope so!

[UKTriDelt]

Not very related to the topic, but Joanie Balbach of the article graduated from my high school with me! Glad to see that she's doing well

[TSteven]

Originally posted by SurfinDBeach
Reminds me - your University President, Dr. Alexander, is now our president at Long Beach State.

Seems like a great guy who did a phenomenal job at Murray State...

GO BEACH

I'm not a Racer but a Wildcat (The University of Kentucky). But I do happen to have family and good friends back there so I end up knowing what is going on there.

Dr. Alexander is a great guy and Long Beach State is very fortunate to have him.

By the way, Dr. Alexander is a Sigma Alpha Epsilon from Centre College. (Danville, Kentucky) And under his leadership, Phi Kappa Tau and Kappa Alpha Order were re-colonized. And it is my understanding that Kappa Sigma and Tau Kappa Epsilon have colonies at Murray State as well.

[TSteven]

Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Gamma Delta

Fraternity celebrates 100 years
By: Casey Northcutt
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity turns 100 this year, celebrating a century of supporting and cultivating young black men, the most prominent of whom include Martin Luther King, Jr. and W.E.B. Dubois.

Murray State Chapter President Kyrus Harrington II, senior from East St. Louis, Ill., said Alpha Phi Alpha began in 1906 at Cornell University in Ithica, N.Y., as the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for black men.

The seven founders, who the members call "Jewels," began the organization to supply minority students with emotional and academic support.

~and

Rock-a-Thon, Alpha Gambling top list of annual philanthropic events
By: Casey Northcutt
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

Of all the social fraternities on the Murray State campus, one exists without a single man's name listed on its roster - Alpha Gamma Delta.

Twelve women founded Alpha Gam in 1904 at Syracuse University in New York. Understanding the Greek roots of the word "fraternity" to mean brotherhood or sisterhood, the women began the organization with the hopes of making it international.

According to the alphagammadelta.com, the fraternity's purpose explains that the organization exists to enhance each member's wisdom, faith and womanhood.

With the motto, "Inspire the Woman. Impact the World," the Alpha Gams strive to develop through sisterhood.

Chapter President Blaire Bushart, junior from Benton, said AGD established itself at Murray State in 1966.

"We strive for excellence, and we empower women," said Michelle Clark, Murray State alumna and Alpha Gam's sponsor. "We consider ourselves the ladies on campus."

[AGDLynn]

Yea for both organizations!!

I checked out the Panhellenic website. Interesting that 4 of 5 groups begin with Alpha!

[TSteven]

Originally posted by AGDLynn
Yea for both organizations!!

I checked out the Panhellenic website. Interesting that 4 of 5 groups begin with Alpha!

And of the two NPC chapters that closed, one of 'em also began with Alpha.

[TSteven]

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

~excerpt

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."

~and

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.

[TSteven]

Step up... Alpha Omicron Pi and Alpha Tau Omega

Women develop sisterhood, host long-standing Mr. MSU pageant
By: Casey Northcutt
Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

Four young women joined together at Bernard College more than a century ago to create an organization that bound them in sisterhood and promoted the values and ideals they held most dear.

On Jan. 2, 1897, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Stella George Stern Perry, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman and Jessie Wallace Hughan founded Alpha Omicron Pi fraternity.

According to the Alpha Omicron Pi Web site, alphaomicronpi.org, Perry said the founders began the fraternity so members could continue to experience collegiate fellowship after their university days. Above all, they wanted to create an organization that strived to justify existence by reaching for worthy purposes.

AOPi spread beyond Bernard College and eventually reached Murray State, officially establishing itself on campus Feb. 18, 1961. Casey Humkey, junior from Lexington, serves as the president of the chapter.

"We strive to be the best we can in everything we do," Humkey said. "We realize that we are at this University to go to school and further our education, and that's really important to us."

She said AOPi women focus on scholastic goals and exert a lot of energy in community service. They promote the Arthritis Foundation as their official philanthropic organization and stage several events to benefit the charity.

~and

Fraternity emphasizes community service, friendship
By: Phil Dishon
Issue date: 2/17/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

Being a successful Greek organization requires respect, understanding and unity among its members. For the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega, these strong bonds represent the fraternity's original calling.

According to ATO's national Web site, www.ato.org, the organization began Sept. 11, 1865, from the efforts of Virginia Military Institute student Otis Allen Glazebrook.

According to the site, Glazebrook founded the organization as a vessel of unification under the teachings of Jesus.

Chris Morgan, senior from Sydney, Australia, and ATO president, said the fraternity also helped strengthen the nation after the Civil War.

"(Alpha Tau Omega) was the first chapter formed after the Civil War so it was trying to unite the North and South through the principles of Christianity," Morgan said.

Instead of graduating last semester, he took on the role of chapter president.

It seemed like a reasonable way to give back to the organization responsible for giving him a permanent position on campus, a place to live and a sense of belonging.

[irishpipes]

That is really nice, but we were founded at BARNARD College not Bernard College. It is wrong twice in the article.

[eringobraugh]

My (real) sister is an ADPi alumna from MSU, that is cool to see them highlighted

[TSteven]

Alpha Sigma Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi

Sorority plays games to help children during holidays
By: Janet Robb
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

By teeter-tottering and playing dodgeball, Alpha Sigma Alpha helps children have a better life and more enjoyable Christmases.

Originally established Nov. 15, 1901, as an education-major-based sorority at Longwood College in Farmville, Va., Meghan King, ASA president, said the organization has grown to accept women of many different majors.

Since 1946, ASA has had a presence at Murray State and uses its love for children to help raise money through its Dodgeball Tournament and Teeter for Tots. These two events raise money for Toys for Tots and two national philanthropies, the S. June Smith Center, a children's hospital, and the Special Olympics.

To help raise more than $500 for the Special Olympics, King, junior from Murray, said 10 members participated in the Polar Bear Plunge in Paducah a few weeks ago. Another popular fund raiser for ASA is its Dodgeball Tournament.

"We started the dodgeball tournament three years ago, and it's really gotten big on campus," King said. "It involves fraternities, sororities and independent teams."

~and

Kappa Alpha Psi strives for achievement, hopes to continue tradition
By: Janet Robb
Issue date: 2/24/06 Section: Lifestyles
The Murray State News

~excerpt

Resurrection - that's what the three active members of Kappa Alpha Psi call what they're doing.

"(We're) kind of resurrecting the fraternity - taking it to greater heights," said Ben Rush, Kappa vice polemarch (president).

Rush, sophomore from Starkville, Miss., said even with a small fraternity, they are very busy and have high hopes to rebuild the organization.

"With graduation and a lot of other factors leading to it, that's why we only have three members," he said. "But ... that's why we call us three resurrection."

The fraternity, established Jan. 5, 1911, at Indiana University, was founded because there were not any exclusive black organizations, Geco Ross, Kappa polemarch, said.

"The majority of the African-American Greek organizations came about because there weren't really any organizations that were exclusively for African-Americans during the time of 1911," Ross, junior from Paducah, said. "That's pre-Civil Rights, so a lot of the ideal and foundations of our organizations come from just that."

Ross said founders probably didn't realize the organization would grow into a national fraternity with its own government, stability and international headquarters.

"It has a rich history," Ross said. "A major part of it is just, to say the least, our motto 'Achievement in every field in human endeavor.' The founders set it out, and that's what we're here to keep going."

That's what the three Kappas are doing. On April 15, 1972, 22 men established the Murray State chapter and with an acting alumni association of 86 members, Ross said they have good alumni support.

[sigma3]

It's nice to see Murray getting recognized for once. Most people I talk to have never heard of us. I guess my chapter hasn't been profiled yet. Can't wait til the are, especially since I am an alum.

On a side note, our chapter advisor died this past Saturday, so please keep the Alpha Chi chapter of Tri-Sigma in your thoughts.

Sorry for that hijack.

Courtney

[honeychile]

Courtney, I'm so sorry to hear about your advisor - please accept my sympathy.


I'm just thrilled to see ANY school paper give recognition to the Greek Community!! Thank you for posting the articles & links!