Kappa Alpha Psi

The fraternity was founded as Kappa Alpha Nu on the night of January 5, 1911, by ten African-American college students. The founders of the fraternity were Ezra D. Alexander, Byron Kenneth Armstrong, Henry Tourner Asher, Marcus Peter Blakemore, Paul Waymond Caine, Elder Watson Diggs, George Wesley Edmonds, Guy Levis Grant, Edward Giles Irvin, and John Milton Lee. In addition to the founders, Frederick Mitchell's name is on the application for the incorporation of the fraternity, but he withdrew from school and never became a member of the fraternity. The founders endeavored to establish the fraternity with a strong foundation before embarking on plans of expansion. By the end of the first year, the ritual was completed, and a design for the coat of arms and motto had begun. The name Kappa Alpha Nu may have been chosen to honor the Alpha Kappa Nu club, which began in 1903 on the Indiana University campus but had too few registrants to effect continued operation. The organization known today as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was nationally incorporated under the name of Kappa Alpha Nu on May 15, 1911. The name of the organization was changed to its current name in 1915, shortly after its creation. The fraternity is unique among NPHC-affiliated organizations in that it has two names: Kappa Alpha Psi (ΚΑΨ) and Kappa Alpha Nu. During this time, there were very few African-American students at the majority-white campus at Bloomington, Indiana, and they were a small minority due to the era of the Jim Crow laws. Many African-American students rarely saw each other on campus and were discouraged or prohibited from attending student functions and extracurricular activities by white college administrators and fellow students. African-American students were denied membership in athletic teams except for track and field. The racial prejudice and discrimination encountered by the founders strengthened their bond of friendship and growing interest in starting a social group. By 1913, the fraternity expanded with the second undergraduate chapter opened at the University of Illinois—Beta chapter; then the University of Iowa—Gamma chapter. but the name became an ethnic slur among racist factions. Founder Elder Watson Diggs, while observing a young initiate compete in a track meet, overheard fans referring to the member as a "kappa alpha nig", and a campaign to rename the fraternity ensued. The resolution to rename the group was adopted in December 1914, and the fraternity states, "the name acquired a distinctive Greek letter symbol and KAPPA ALPHA PSI thereby became a Greek letter Fraternity in every sense of the designation." Kappa Alpha Psi has been the official name since April 15, 1915. Kappa Alpha Psi is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). It has over 150,000 members and is divided into twelve provinces (districts/regions), with each chapter under the aegis of a province. == Symbols and traditions ==

The original name (Kappa Alpha Nu) is the source of the nickname for members, "Nupes". The phrase Phi Nu Pi (ΦΝΠ) has a deeper meaning only known to its membership. The fraternity's badge is diamond-shaped and features a raised black scroll with the Greek letters . The fraternity's colors are crimson and cream. In the 1960s, the national organization did not condone the use of canes or Kappa Alpha Psi's participation in step shows, contending that "the hours spent in step practices by chapters each week would be better devoted to academic or civic achievement." Senior Grand Vice Polemarch Ulysses McBride complained about the vulgar language and obscene gestures sometimes engaged in by cane-stepping participants during these stepshows. In 1986, during the fraternity's 66th national meeting, cane stepping was finally recognized as an important staple of Kappa Alpha Psi. ==Activities==

Guide Right Guide Right is a program for the educational and occupational guidance of youth, primarily inspirational and informational. Its reach extends to high schools and colleges alike. are Kappa League Jr. Kappa League, A-MAN Program, St. Jude Research Hospital, and the premier program, "Kappa Kamp," which enables inner city boys to attend camps across the county. Kappa League The Kappa League was founded on February 12, 1970, by the Los Angeles (CA) Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi; under the direction of Leon W Steward. Steward brought the idea to Los Angeles from Dayton, Ohio, where he had worked closely with Jay Crosby to expand the Guide Right activities of Dayton (OH) Alumni chapter. The Kappa League is a series of activities designed to help young high school male students develop their leadership talents. The activities provide both challenging and rewarding experiences to enhance their lives. The goal of the league is to help the students achieve worthy goals for themselves and to make meaningful contributions to their communities. It includes a series of workshops to achieve its goals. Students from grades 6 to 12th can join . Student of the Year The Student of the Year competition is a contest that encompasses six areas deemed critical to a successful life: scholarship, talent, community involvement, poise and appearance, career preparation, and model chapter operation. Each province sponsors a pageant during its council. In the year of a Grand Chapter Meeting, the province winners compete at the Grand Chapter Meeting. The first Student of the Year Pageant was held on May 20, 1972, at Drexel University, under the direction of Mel Davis. The first Pageant at the Grand Chapter Meeting occurred at the 58th Grand Chapter Meeting. The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation was conceived by Oliver S. Gumbs, the 23rd Grand Polemarch. In May 1982, he proposed forming a separate 501(c)(3) charitable foundation to accept contributions to finance the headquarters' renovation project. The foundation also accepts contributions from individuals, organizations, and businesses. ==Membership==

Kappa Alpha Psi accepts male students of any color, creed, or national origin. To be considered for membership, a candidate must have at least a 2.5 GPA. For consideration into Kappa Alpha Psi on the alumni level, a candidate must possess a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited college or university. Kappa Alpha Psi no longer bestows honorary membership. == Governance ==

The president of the national fraternity is known as the Grand Polemarch, who assigns a Province Polemarch for each of the twelve provinces (regions) of the nation. Currently there are twelve provinces with the following names: , 1922 == Chapters ==

Kappa Alpha Psi has chartered over 721 undergraduate and alumni chapters in every state of the United States, and international chapters in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Japan, United States Virgin Islands, Nigeria, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, and The Bahamas. ==Notable members==

Embezzlement In February 2022, fraternity member and head financial director of the fraternity, Curtis Anderson, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for embezzling $3 million from the fraternity over six years. Other fraternity leaders were alerted by Santander Bank of many suspicious transactions, which led to his firing and arrest. Anderson admitted to gambling and alcohol addictions. Prosecutors confirmed he spent most of the money at Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack. Hazing controversies Kappa Alpha Psi was founded January 5, 1911, at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. The fraternity's stated position is that hazing and pledging are forbidden and that violators of this policy are to be expelled. In 1990, Kappa Alpha Psi along with fellow NPHC organizations issued a joint statement announcing the elimination of pledging. The fraternity backed its stance by releasing Executive Order One in 1988, Executive Order Two in 1993, and Executive Order Three in 1994. Many members of Kappa Alpha Psi have nonetheless conducted underground pledging and have engaged in acts of hazing, In February 1996, a University of Pittsburgh pledge for Kappa Alpha Psi named Santana Kenner-Henderson was beaten severely and was in critical condition for more than a week; he was 20 at the time. Another student was beaten along with him. Five members of the fraternity were arrested as a result. Donald Edwards was pledging to be a part of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and experienced hazing, which included a bruised kidney, a concussion, and cigarette burns, in addition to getting extorted for his money. As a result, the fraternity was suspended from NIU's campus, they no longer had a Kappa house, and five of the attackers were suspended, and two were expelled. In 1998, eleven Kappas affiliated with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore were charged with first-degree assault and reckless endangerment for hospitalizing several pledges. One pledge was beaten so badly that many of the veins in his backside were broken and he developed a life-threatening gangrene infection. In 2006, the chapter at Florida A&M University was suspended after two members were sentenced to serve two years in prison and three others given three years of probation due to an anti-hazing law established in Florida following a hazing death involving the Kappa Sigma fraternity at the University of Miami in 2001. According to sworn complaints made by pledges at FAMU, they were punched, hit with canes, and hit with two-by-fours, and suffered extreme exhaustion due to hazing. One pledge was admitted to a hospital for two days after a brutal night of hazing left him with a ruptured eardrum and half a pint of lost blood. In 2009, Louisiana State University (LSU) placed an eleven-year ban on the fraternity for repeated hazing violations and severe abuse of pledges. LSU will not consider reinstatement of the fraternity until at least 2020. Also in 2009, two Kappas at the University of North Texas were arrested and charged with a Class B misdemeanor for beating a pledge with a paddle. In 2009, a former pledge at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sued the fraternity for $1 million to cover medical bills caused by an encounter with violent fraternity members. In 2010, a pre-med student at Wayne State University suffered kidney failure and was hospitalized for twelve days after weeks of physical abuse by men of the fraternity. Also in 2010, the fraternity chapter was permanently banned from the campus of Georgia State University for being a repeat offender and beating a pledge so badly that he coughed up blood. In 2011, the fraternity registration was canceled at the University of Texas at San Antonio for striking pledges and providing misleading information to university officials during the hazing investigation. In March 2012, the University of Florida chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi was suspended because of thirteen misdemeanor-level sworn complaints involving striking and harassing pledges. In April 2012, the fraternity at Arkansas Tech University was permanently banned from campus for beating a pledge into a coma. The fraternity was suspended at Kent State University for hazing in October 2013. In 2013, a former pledge at California State University-Bakersfield sued the fraternity after being shot with a BB gun and hit with canes and horse whips that left him paralyzed. Also in 2013, nine Kappas were charged with felony assault for severely beating pledges from Youngstown State University in 2012. In 2014, eleven Kappas from the University of Georgia were arrested and charged with hazing for severely beating and humiliating pledges. In March 2014, several Kappas from the University of Memphis were arrested and charged for hazing and beating pledges. Also in March 2014, five Kappas from the University of Central Arkansas were arrested for beating pledges. In 2015, a D.C. man sued the fraternity for hazing and humiliation. The 45-year-old filed a $2 million lawsuit because he stated that after paying his non-refundable $3,000 graduate intake membership fee, he was coerced into allowing himself to be beaten with a cane, rub lotion on a Kappa, and clean a Kappa's house in only his underwear and bare feet to become a welcomed member of the fraternity. Also in 2015, a former pledge at Coppin State University sued the fraternity for $4 million due to injuries he sustained while pledging. In his lawsuit, he stated he was beaten and terrorized by CSU Kappa alumni members in their thirties and forties. In 2016, three unidentified men affiliated with the fraternity at the University of Central Florida (UCF) were brutally beaten by Kappas after dropping their twirling canes while dancing, according to witnesses. The UCF chapter was placed on suspension and under investigation. Also in 2016, the chapter at Florida State University (FSU) was suspended by the university after a concerned mother of a pledge shared with a Tallahassee news station a disturbing video showing pledges being brutally beaten with canes by Kappas. FSU also placed the chapter under investigation to identify and prosecute all members involved in the beatings. In 2018, it was reported that the chapter at Edward Waters College was beating and paddling pledges as well as forcing them to take a designer drug called "jig," a mixture of synthetic heroin, cocaine, and LSD. In March 2019, Delaware State University student Marlon W. Jackson died, and three other students were hospitalized after a car crash due to sleep deprivation caused by pledging the fraternity. As a result, the Delaware State University chapter was suspended for ten years. In April 2019, three Virginia State University members were arrested and charged with ten counts of hazing. Eight other fraternity members received University discipline but no criminal charges related to a hazing incident. ==See also==