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It's funny because every person that mentions KA chapters as being racist, redneck, or as a bunch of "tool bag yo-boys".. consider these individuals' credibility. They all go to small, communter schools that themselves can't be any older than 20 or 30 years. If you consider all of the reputable Southern universities, where KA is extremely well-known for having distinguished reputations on campus and throughout their state via alumni, this is where you should adapt a perspective of the fraternity.
KA is one of the oldest men's social greek letter organizations whose almuni and members, the majority being legacies, are prominent in the old school southern social circles of today. If you consider schools such as Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, UGA, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, UVA, South Carolina, North Carolina.. not "Backwoods I'm from a trailor park in Florida where every guy uses gel hair products Community College", you will see KA in an envious light. KA at Auburn, for example, currently is home to the largest fraternity house in the Southern United States, made possible by alumni support with multiple $100,000+ private donations from these former members, many whom are fathers of current members. KA members and alumni at these schools are generally accepted as being "yes old school and extremely Southern" (though when I say Southern, consider the fact that not many rednecks could afford a 20,000 square foot multi-million dollar mansion for a bunch of college kids). So no, they are not rednecks.
They are essentially very well-connected individuals who tend to come from old money all drawn from old Southern families. Imagine a massive anti-bellum style Southern plantation atop a hill (home of mostly 20 to 21 year olds), flanked with Range Rovers, Denalis, and Z71 Tahoes. Doesn't sound redneck anymore, does it?
Getting a bid to KA at these universities is not based on how drunk you can get or how many girls you can pick up. Generally, the pledge classes for KA at these universities have already been hand-picked before formal rush even begins (Note: guys planning on formal rushing KA or similar fraternities at these schools during formal rush without knowing anyone in the chapter would probably be wasting their time). You have to be the total package. Even if you know someone or multiple people in the fraternity, this doesn't necessarily make a difference. Alumni play a huge role in selecting new members, as well as seniors, who both generally consider legacy status, pedigree, employment of the father, hometown, places of vacation home(s) (basically the individual's socio-economic background), all before they consider the individual as a "person" (which has to be acceptable as well - in fact you will be the face of KA for some who may not know any others. However, before you are quick to judge, this is the basis that all "good ole boy" greek letter organizations were founded by). For instance, even legacies are not guaranteed a bid to a pledge class because of the second factor. In one such case I know of a KA brother only in such a house at one of the above-mentioned schools based on his father's call and pledge of $100,000 to the president of the organization. The chapter at this school was on campus for well over a century, like almost all of the afore-mentioned.
So yes, KA is an extremely traditional, Southern fraternity. Its brothers are molded into men who generally return to their hometowns as the most prominent leaders among the select affluent group of society. And again also, if the KA chapters you mention at various schools are not of the established founding chapters in the South, then there is no telling what kind of guys asked to charter the chapter or who they decided to accept in.. In these cases, the groups of 25 - 45 brothers are most likely much more disappointing than the better 100+ member distinguished, well-respected chapters, who generally don't associate with the "other" chapters. This may sound harsh, but it is the reality for every Greek organization.. if someone isn't good enough, they are completely disregarded. Consider those not given bids, they were judged.. not good enough. Good luck somewhere else.
KA accepts the best.. only the best.
Social organizations don't tend to exist with the intention of being too accepting of outsiders. Everyone knows how the world works.. whether you'd like to admit it, or not.
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