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| Adolphus M. Pruitt, II - Province Polemarch |
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Freddie D. Frazier, III - Province Reporter
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Message from the Province Polemarch
My Brothers,
And the beat goes on, and on, and on...the last of the undergraduate chapter visits consisted of Iota Omega, Mu Epsilon, Nu Epsilon and Zeta Omega.
It's a windy and cold Saturday morning. As a matter of fact, the wind is blowing at about 35-40 miles per hour and it's time to head due west on I-44 around 150 or so miles. Get off on exit #148 and head into Rolla, Missouri, and to 12th & Pine, make a left on Pine and travel to the fourth house past the railroad tracks and you're there, the house that serves as home for the Brothers of the Iota Omega Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. The one thing that's been consistent throughout my visits is that our undergraduates live in a Kappa motif, and Iota Omega was no different. The walls of this house were lined with paddles bearing the names of all who have traveled into Kappadom (via the Iota Omega chapter) before them. Each and every line from the inception of this chapter was represented along the walls. Iota Omega is among the small undergraduate chapters within our province, and they have consistently left their mark in Kappa and at the University of Missouri at Rolla. They have an active Guide Right program, one that puts every member of the chapter in front of the local school once a week, and they recently played host to the St. Louis Kappa Leaguers. Some of their most recent achievements consisted of the chapter members being recognized at the 3.0 Awards Banquet, recognition from the Minority Affairs Office, winners of the 20-team Bowling League, and winning the university's Spirit Award. They head the Pre-College Initiative Program, a high school component of the National Society of Black Engineers, and they will jointly host a Date Auction with Sigma Chi in April. According to the University, the Iota Tau chapter had the most improved GPA for all Greek letter organizations on their campus. And most recently, they have not been innocent bystanders with respect to improving the racial climate on campus, for all minorities!!! The African American Cultural Recognition Committee's "Coloring Outside the Lines Lecture Series" presented Tim Wise, an orator who has made a career out of being an anti-racist according to Rolla Daily News at Centennial Hall on campus. According to the Polemarch, few if any non-minorities attended the lecture, causing the Polemarch to write a letter to the Editor of the Missouri Miner (The University Newspaper) openly challenging the lack of diverse student participation at the lecture. Of course, the response to his letter can best be summed up in five words, Let's Get Ready To Rummmble . . . The paper wars were on, letter for letter, published at that. The end result was an open forum on racial issues that was hosted by the Student Union and the Missouri Miner Newspaper. I'll keep you posted. I had a chance to visit the University's Culture Center, they have a collection of Jazz and Blues posters adorning the walls, a collection worth dying for!!! And I met Soror Toni Scott of Zeta Phi Beta who has served as their on-campus advisor over the years. All in all, I had a great visit. Of course, we ended with food (lunch on me at Applebees), and it was time to saddle up. Iota Omega, thanks for the everything you do!!!
Continuing west on I-44 for 120 miles to Springfield, Missouri, home of Southwest Missouri State University - the Mu Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. It's my first visit to this campus, and while looking for the meeting place I got a glimpse of a building that caught my eye, should I stick to the directions I was given, or do I go out and explore - you know me, let's take a look. As I got closer to this ongoing construction I came in contact with an awesome sight, a true marvel. They have most recently finished construction of a new campus library, a thing of sheer beauty. Now that I've had my tease, off to find the marker they told me to look for (A Big Black Bear), I found it!!! Standing about twenty feet tall in front of this junior mall they call a student union, the site of our meeting room. I now know where all our State tax dollars go, west. Mu Epsilon is the furthest chapter away from St. Louis in southwestern Missouri; it's less than 75 miles form the Oklahoma/Missouri/Kansas State line (all three states meet near Joplin, Missouri). This is the smallest chapter in Missouri, yet big on impact. They were busy planning for their Kappa Week scheduled for April 28th - May 4th while also finding time to serve their community. They were telling me about this Convoy for Hope. I had never heard of it. It consists of chapter members lending a hand to load tons of food on semi tractor trailer trucks to be shipped off to food pantries, shelters, etc., and the Safe Halloween event for the kids in the community, when chapter members bring children on campus to celebrate the holiday in a safe environment. For a small chapter, Mu Epsilon seems to be headed in the right direction, especially in supporting their community. We ended my stay with dinner at the best rib joint in Springfield, the smoked turkey was outrageous. Mu Epsilon, thanks for the hospitality, and thanks for all that you do.
It's time for our 30-day preview for the upcoming Province Council meeting in Kansas City Missouri, home of the University of Missouri - Kansas City, the Nu Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. My visit to this chapter was strictly business, another hearing . . . the second one this semester. As you know our policy is not to discuss disciplinary actions openly, but I think I'll add a cent or two. At our next CRWLC this fall, our undergraduates are going to be in for the surprise of their lives. My undergraduate chapters, you all are surely going to become your brother's keepers!!!
Next up is the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma - The Zeta Omega Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. It's Saturday morning and breakfast with the members of Zeta Omega turned into a love fest for them. OU was slated to play Missouri U. (a team they have defeated eight times already) to gain a bid to the final four, and I assured the members of Zeta Omega that I didn't care about the outcome (I'm a ACC fan), yet the debate during breakfast was lively. It was now time to head to the Culture Center, home for all the NPHC member organizations. When you walk into the Kappa room it's easy to see the crimson & cream touch, rough but Kappa manmade. One thing that caught my eye was a table full of trophies, a couple are from 1984 and 1985 Middle Western Province Basketball tournaments, I'm interested in knowing the history of these items. I didn't know the Province held a Basketball tournament. Zeta Omega is turnaround chapter lesson #101, from the ashes is a rising star. I don't think there exists any other chapter within our Province where eight good brothers out-represent every other organization on campus with respect to holding leadership positions within campus organizations. If you take a close look, Zeta Omega is everywhere, and leading not following. I don't care at what aspect of student government you dare to look, they are there!!! It was refreshing to hear about the Arden Griggs scholarship for freshman and sophomores (Brother Griggs died from sickle cell) to support sickle cell awareness. But it's not like they're not in good hands, Norman Alumni Chapter Polemarch Berry Pitts is their Advisor, and on campus there are at least eight Kappas within the University Administration, including Brother Ambassador Edward J. Perkins, a Laurel Wreath Recipient. When you enter this campus it's easy to see that you're on holy ground, the historic markers in front of every other building remind us that this institution is truly Oklahoma's pride and joy. As a member of Historic Trust you can only imagine the pleasure I derived from this tour. Brother Pitts spent most of Saturday afternoon showing the place off, including a multi- million dollar rehab of the future home of the Culture Center. The most impressive building was not an historic gem, but the most profound piece of architectural genius I've seen in a long time - The Music Center. It's easy to see why Zeta Omega won the AKA's most conceited award, thanks for the memories.
Well I've kept my word this year, at our CRWLC I promised my undergraduates that I would personally visit them all before our Province Council Meeting. I wanted to see them up-front, close and personal - I learned quite a bit, saw just as much, and relived my undergraduate years in Beta Nu. We started with Alpha Psi in Pittsburg, Kansas, and finished with Zeta Omega in Norman, Oklahoma. It's six-months later, over 10,000 travel miles, at a cost that will exceed $6,500 dollars, and most importantly, $1 Billion Dollars worth of Undergraduate Brotherhood, IT'S TRULY THE YEAR OF THE UNDERGRADUATES, I SALUTE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
Yours in the Bond,
Desmond Wilson Selected Mr. Langston
Brother Desmond V. Wilson has been named Mr. Langston for the 2002-2003 school year.
Competitions are supposed to be "competitive," but Brother Wilson took home the Mr. Langston Crown hands down. Brother Wilson is Vice Polemarch of Alpha Pi and the chapter's Director of Guide Right. He is an education major from Oklahoma City.
Brother Wilson won the talent competition and the interview which account for more than 70 percent of the pageant. "I'm excited about everything. This is not just a great accomplishment for me, but for the whole chapter and hopefully the university as well." Alpha Pi hopes to continue their success during Student Government Association elections in mid-April.
Community Service At Alpha Pi By Russell Carter The Alpha Pi chapter has been very busy during the spring semester with various community service projects. In early February the brothers of Alpha Pi teamed up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive on the campus of Langston University. Brother Russell Carter coordinated the project and signed up 115 participants and, despite the temperature being below 20 degrees, over 60 faculty and staff attempted to donate. The Red Cross collected over 31 units of blood and was impressed by the turn out despite the weather. The brothers gave carnations to each of the ladies who attempted to give blood along with a t-shirt donated by the Red Cross. This is the second year Alpha Pi was asked to coordinate a blood drive near Valentine's Day because of the chapter's romantic reputation, and they have been asked by Langston University and the American Red Cross to repeat the effort next February. Alpha Pi also teamed up with the "Gear Up" project as part of the chapter's Guide Right Project. Chapter members visited students at high schools in Oklahoma City and Guthrie on the first and third Saturday of each month. The project was coordinated by the chapter's Director of Guide Right, Brother Desmond Wilson.
Certification Criteria For Undergraduate Chapter AdvisorsBy Elmer J. Crumbley - Province Trainer Certification will be based upon a twenty-hour course of study during a three-year cycle. Year One - 12 hours
As we have conducted business now for the past years, the majority of the Middle Western Province Chapter Advisors have attended the eight- (8) hour Council of Chapter Advisors Workshop for three years. The workshop is designed to orient the Chapter Advisor to the role and responsibilities of being an advisor. With this already being done, it is redundant to have the experienced advisors sit through the same workshop over and over again. Not only is this a large amount of time to ask the advisor to give up, it is also a large amount of dollars which the Chapter is able save. Going to a three-year cycle with four-hour enhancements yearly, this is adequate to keep the Chapter Advisor sharp and knowledgeable of fraternity guidelines and any needed changes. In the event that a new Chapter Advisor will be named after the eight (8) hour Province Council of Chapter Advisors Workshop, the newly appointed advisor will be given provisional certification. The new provisionally certified Chapter Advisor would:
The three-year Chapter Advisor certification will begin with the eight- (8) hour Middle Western Province Council of Chapter Advisors Workshop. Rationale: For many reasons the Province Polemarch has to appoint a new Chapter Advisor during the university school year. By provisionally certifying a newly appointed Chapter Advisor, this will allow a chapter to function with the day to day business it needs to conduct. The two (2) hour training sessions held at a C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference or at a Province Council Meeting will begin to orient the new advisor to the duties and responsibilities while at the same time acquaint the advisor with seasoned advisors he may rely on for advice. Decertification of a Chapter Advisor: In the event that a Chapter Advisor is not able to comply with the required number of hours needed during the three- (3) year time span, a new Chapter Advisor has to be appointed by the Province Polemarch. It is the role of the Trainer of Chapter Advisors to keep the Province Polemarch informed when advisors are in jeopardy of losing their certification. A Chapter Advisory team is recommended to prevent any Undergraduate Chapter losing the continuity of functioning because of a decertificated Chapter Advisor. Rationale: The courts have taken a hard and long look at how fraternities/sororities conduct the training of their advisors. When it becomes evident that an advisor is not able to complete the total number of hours needed for certification during the three (3) year cycle, the advisor puts the local Chapter, Province, Grand Chapter and International Headquarters at risk for litigation should an illegal incident happen by chapter members. It is strongly recommended that an advisory team be established for all Undergraduate Chapters. By using an advisor team approach, the Undergraduate Chapter would not have to slow down or stop business if the Chapter Advisor is unable to attend a meeting or function. The advisory team may also provide additional oversight and guidance to the advising chapter. It is the prerogative of the Province Polemarch who serves as Chapter Advisor! Because of this, the Province Polemarch must approve who serves as members of the advisory team.
History Korner
By Berry H. Pitts, III - Province Historian
Questions:
Answers:
N.U.D.
You have probably heard of "N. U. D." as a result of the Tom Joyner morning show related to CompUSA. NUD is the acronym for a very subtle and little-known marketing term specifically directed toward people of color. NUD stands for Non Urban Dictate.
These three words essentially mean that a company is not interested in the Black Consumer. An NUD label means that a company does not want their marketing and advertising materials placed in media that claim an urban audience as their main target.
There are legitimate reasons for companies not using urban radio. It may be that Blacks don't index high in certain categories or that a company's strategy is to market to the Black consumer down the road after they have established a strong position in their primary target.
But "NUD" usually means that a company is not interested in the Black consumer.
Companies evade discrimination liability by embracing it as theory rather than policy.
As a service to Black consumers, the Urban Institute will list all companies that have an NUD policy. Armed with this information, we feel that Black consumers will be able to make informed buying decisions.
Companies with NUD:
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News from Alpha Mu U.S.S. Fast and the Furious . . . In Spring of 2002 the Alpha Mu chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi attended the Middle Western Province C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference on the campus of Washington University. Brothers came to St. Louis from as far away as Nebraska, Colorado, and Oklahoma to be in attendance. The greatest highlight of this conference was the initiation of new members, three of them from Alpha Mu chapter. New initiates Jason Spain, Mark Franklin, and Toranza Every crossed the "burning sands" into Kappa Land on Februrary 1, 2002. These newest members create the Ship known as " U.S.S. Fast and the Furious."
 Left to right: Alpha Mu Chapter Polemarch Ronald Young with new initiates Toranza Every, Mark Franklin, Jr., and Jason Spain at the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference
Mark "Kruise" Franklin is a Sophomore from St. Louis Missouri as well, and is majoring in English and minoring in Criminal Justice. In the future, Mark will attend law school and work in law enforcement. Toranza "Konclusion" Every, from New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Junior studying Criminal Justice. In the future, Toranza will become a successful attorney.
Since Kappa Alpha Psi believes in quality in its members and not quantity, the Alpha Mu chapter now includes twelve of the most elite men of Lincoln University. The Reverend Jamal Harrison-Bryant . . . This is a man that totally captures his audience. During Black History Month, he delivered a speech in the Langston Hughes auditorium that was really insightful. He began by giving a little background on himself. He shared with us his personal and professional life, which included being the reverend of one of the largest growing churches in the United Sates and also a dedicated member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Brother Harrison-Bryant's speaking ability is remarkable. The highlight of his speech was about a poem entitled "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" that was read prior to his introduction by Brother Phillip Santoli. Brother Harrison-Bryant not only recited the poem but explained and taught the audience about the poem. Brother Harrison-Bryant left an impact on the audience that every great speaker leaves. An impact of understanding, and a feeling of appreciation that you were in attendance to receive that understanding.
Left to right: Morris Robinson, Keith Overall, Ronald Young (Alpha Mu Polemarch), Reverend Jamal Harrison-Bryant (Black History Month Speaker), Earl Smith, V, Eric Harris (Past Polemarch of Alpha Mu), Phillip Santoli (Grand Board Member) after Brother Harrison-Bryant's motivational and educational speech for the occasion of Black History More Alpha Mu Photos . . .
 After a day of serving the students of Lincoln University in the cafeteria and passing out Red Carnations and Kappa Kisses to the ladies of the campus, Brother Tyrome Hoskins (left) and Chapter Polemarch Ronald Young take advantage of a frequent opportunity to pose with two beautiful ladies of Lincoln.
The new initiates of the Alpha Mu Chapter preforming at their Probate Show, otherwise known as a Koming Out Show, with the freshly cut "K's" in their head. During the show they unveil themselves to the campus as the newest Kappas on the Yard! They are Jason Spain (front left), Mark Franklin, Jr. (middle rear), and Toranza Every (front right).
General Counsel Report
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Many have found this constitutional provision a bastion of free expression and have engaged in protected verbal and non-verbal speech ranging from Vietnam era flag burning to Ku Klux Klan marches in downtown Cleveland. However the United States Supreme Court has recognized that freedom of expression has its limits and does not protect someone who yells fire in a crowded theater, when he/she knows there is no fire, and people are harmed as a result. It may not protect you in the Fraternity either. This issue recently came to light at Auburn University and the University of Louisville when white fraternity members engaged in disparaging activities insulting to African Americans. At Auburn, members of Beta Theta Pi and Delta Sigma Phi dressed in Klan hoods, as confederate soldiers, and put a noose around the neck of one member who was wearing black face make up. A local photographer taking pictures for the group unwittingly exposed the sick behavior by posting the pictures on his web site, presumably as advertising for the photographer's services. At Louisville, members of Tau Kappa Epsilon dressed in black face while attending a Halloween party, off campus. Public condemnation was, predictably loud and persistent. In both cases the universities took swift action. At the 2001 annual meeting of the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC), representatives of the National Pan Hellenic Council, led by our International Grand Polemarch, Brother Howard L. Tutman, Jr., walked out of the final banquet as a protest of the NIC's failure to condemn the actions of the Auburn students. At Auburn, the university president declared the activities shocking, unacceptable, and outrageous, according the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The president of Louisville quickly apologized to anyone who was offended and "harmed by the offensive actions of a few…students." After a committee of faculty members investigated the Louisville matter, the University suspended Tau Kappa Epsilon's privileges through the end of the semester and banned the chapter rush activities. In the Auburn case, however, students suspended by the university for that incident sued and, within a few days, the local court found the activities were protected speech and ordered them reinstated. Similarly, in a 1989 case, a local federal court invalidated a University of Michigan policy that prohibited its students from "stigmatizing and victimizing" individuals or groups on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, handicap, or Vietnam era status." Michigan adopted the policy in response to incidents like the ones that occurred at Auburn and Louisville. The court held "The University may subject all speech and conduct to reasonable and non-discriminatory time, place, and manner restrictions….What the University could not do, however, was to establish an anti-discriminatory policy which had the effect of prohibiting certain speech because it disagreed with the ideas or messages sought to be conveyed." Is the Fraternity subject to such First Amendment restrictions when disciplining its members? That question is still unanswered but recent indications say the answer is no. Legal analysts who practice law in this area and do extensive work for fraternities and sororities believe First Amendment protections probably do not extend to members when asserted against the chapter. The Editors of "Fraternal Law," a quarterly legal newsletter published by Manley, Burke & Lipton of Cincinnati, stated the following in its January, 2002 issue:
Until next time, I am
Yours in the Bond,
Crumbley Receives Governor's Award
Eugene Skinner Magnet Center Principal, Brother Elmer J. Crumbley, has received the Governor's Excellence in Arts Education Award. The award is presented to an individual, school district, or community organization that has made an outstanding contribution to the enhancement of arts education. On Wednesday, January 30, 2002 Nebraska Governor Mike and First Lady Stephanie Johanns hosted Nebraska's premier celebration of the arts, the Governor's Arts Awards Luncheon at the Lincoln's Cornhusker Hotel. The 2002 Governor's Arts Awards are given biennially to recognize artists, arts organizations, businesses, and individuals across the state for their contributions to the arts in Nebraska. The honorees are selected by a committee of Nebraska artists, arts administrators and arts advocates. The committee choose this year's honorees from a pool of more that three hundred nominated individuals and organizations. Brother Crumbley, a twenty-seven year veteran of the Omaha Public School system, has served as Skinner's Principal since the school's founding in 1996. During these years, he has developed world-class arts programs at a magnet school focused on mathematics, technology, and communication arts. Located in an economically challenged, primarily African-American neighborhood in Omaha, Skinner Magnet Center is one of the largest elementary schools in Nebraska, while maintaining one of the most vibrant visual arts programs. Skinner students work with international, national, regional, and local artists several times during each school year. Some of the artists Skinner students have worked with and whose work they have focused on in their studies include Jacob Lawrence, sculptor Littleton Alston, Ernie Barnes, the official artist of the Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games, William Tolliver, the official artist of the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games, Mexican paper cut artist Jorge Rosano, photographer Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte of the exhibit Americanos, Italian fashion designers photographer Ron Samuels, Jamaican musician and storyteller Marjorie Whylie, textile artist Deborah Bunting, and visual artists Deborah Taylor and Neville Murray. The secret to Skinner's success in the arts is the skill and dedication of the school's faculty. With Brother Crumbley's support as Principal, Skinner faculty members have been some of the most active participants in the annual Prairie Visions Summer Institute, where they have the opportunity to hone their skills, explore new ideas, and share experiences with other art specialists across Nebraska. Skinner faculty have also participated in artist exchanges with Jamaica, where their week-long residencies helped to deepen cultural understanding, and inspired creativity in designing arts programming for schools with few or no resources available. Under Brother Crumbley's leadership, enthusiasm for the arts is contagious at Skinner Elementary. This is why BRAVO, the arts and entertainment cable network, presented him with a Start Smart National Arts Educator Award in 2000. Brother Crumbley was one of four educators from across the country who received Start Smart awards for their initiatives in arts education. Brother Crumbley and Skinner Magnet Center are a winning combination when it comes to arts education.
80th Province Council Meeting - Register Now! The 80th Middle Western Province Council Meeting will be held April 18-21, 2002, in Kansas City, Missouri. Pre-registration for alumni members is $150 through April 1, 2002, and $175 thereafter. The pre-registration fee is $100 for undergraduate members and Silhouettes, with no penalty for late registration. Delegates must be currently financial with Grand Chapter and the Middle Western Province, and must have paid the International Housing Assessment. Mail your payment to:
636 N.E. 36th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Should you have any questions, please contact the Province Keeper of Records & Exchequer or call 405-CD-KAPPA (235-2772).
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79th Province Council Souvenirs
E-Mail Addresses
The technology of the Internet has become more than a luxury in the year 2002. Business and personal communication is now "defined" by an E-mail address and connection to the World Wide Web. Our province is clearly committed to the maximum use of this medium, and we can only be successful with your help. Should you change your E-mail address, please remember to notify us as soon as possible. And please help us identify every other member of our province who may have access to this technology. Spread the word!
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25 Year Membership Pin
Pictured above, the pin is circular in design, slightly smaller than a quarter, and cast in a silver color. It is wrapped in a laurel wreath, emblazoned with the number "25" in the center with a small nugget below the number, and the words "Middle Western Province" around the bottom with "Kappa Alpha Psi" around the top on a crimson band. There is a dwindling supply at a cost of $25 each. Contact our Province Keeper of Records & Exchequer to purchase your pin today. Don't miss this one! Order now - While Supplies Last!
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