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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 Junior Province Vice Polemarch
My Brothers,
First, I would like to say thank you to the Delta Upsilon Chapter at Wichita State University. They did a great job hosting the CRWLC and showed everyone how well they can plan an event. I would also like to thank the Wichita Alumni Chapter for their great hospitality during the after hours of CRWLC. They showed me how brothers should host the Province Board when in town. BIG THANKS TO WICHITA. On another note I felt this CRWLC was one of the best for me because I saw the bonding of brothers at a meeting like I have never seen before at CRWLC. We covered a large number of issues during business sessions, but the recurring topic of the day was LEGAL LIABILITY. This just keeps coming up and coming up which should alarm those who missed this CRWLC that they need to check in with what's going on in the fraternity.
I also had the opportunity right before CRWLC to attend the Council of Province Polemarchs, Senior Province Vice Polemarchs, and Junior Province Vice Polemarchs meeting at International Headquarters in Philadelphia. I can say it was a change to see the headquarters for myself and understand the great upgrades they have provided to our home. Yes, that is our home and we should respect it as such when thinking about the upkeep of the facility. We covered a number of issues including major issues concerning chapters and legal incidents which seems to keep coming at us without warning. I will update individual chapters on the things we spoke on concerning chapters in our Province.
Brothers let's get it together and start supporting our smaller chapters who are having events to bring in new members. I will make the first step for everyone by attending the charter day banquet of Epsilon Eta Chapter at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri on December 7, 2002. They requested assistance from all the chapters in the Province in an effort to bring in new members to a chapter whose numbers will fall after graduation hits in the spring. Brothers let's help them out with this issue.
I would like to leave by saying congratulations to the new initiates on both the undergraduate and alumni level - 43 of them! Good luck in your journey into Kappa.
Yours in the Bond,
Middle Western Province
Santoli Resigns Date: 25 September 2002 To: Howard L. Tutman, Jr., 29th International Grand Polemarch From: Phillip Santoli, Grand Board Member Regarding: Resignation Dear Brother 29th International Grand Polemarch, As the second year of our two year term rounds the corner I begin to recognize the imminent focus that my future career will demand. With the military life bearing down on me I realize the need to give total concentration to this endeavor. To divide my attention between a military career and Kappa Alpha Psi gives justice to neither the career, Kappa or myself. Therefore, after the extensive time I have had to contemplate this matter I have finally come to the conclusion: I, Phillip Santoli, resign from the position of Grand Board of Directors as of Wednesday, September 25, 2002.
Yours in the Bond,
 History Korner By Berry H. Pitts, III - Province Historian Greetings my brothers, During our most recent CRWLC, one of the hot topics bantered about was the relationship between undergraduate chapters and alumni chapters and how that relationship can be improved. While, I don't want to discuss how we evolved and arrived at this gulf between the groups (assumption that there is a philosophical difference), I do want to address and impart a little information as well as some historical background in order to develop some insight about this relationship. As many of you already are aware, several alumni chapters developed from undergraduate chapters, implying that there was an outstanding relationship between both groups and all were marching to the same sheet of music. In the Middle Western Province we have a perfect example of this coexistence, where both groups worked as one to accomplish many and varied achievements and helped to advance the goals and purpose of Kappa Alpha Psi. If you are familiar with the Beta Theta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi established May 29, 1939 - then you are also aware that Denver Alumni (02/20/1954) has its origins from Beta Theta. However, here is my point, they coexisted (alumni and undergraduate), working together, achieving in every field of human endeavor, in the name of Kappa Alpha Psi, for over 15 years. If it was done then my brothers, wouldn't you think we should be able to coexist and overcome our philosophical differences now? After all our fundamental purpose is about achievement.
Yours in the Bond,
 Political Korner The Morning After The 2002 Election By Terry S. Milan Brothers of the Middle Western Province are reaching for achievement in the political field of endeavor. We have identified four of our members who participated in the 2002 election process with the following results:
I ask the question of all brothers of the Middle Western Province. What can we do to help our good Kappa brothers to win elected office? If you have any suggestions, or if you know of any members of our province who will be running for elective office, please contact me via e-mail. When our brothers win an election, everyone in the province will benefit. We CAN make a difference!
Chapter Invisible We are saddened to announce that Brother Willie Williams of the Denver Alumni Chapter has joined the Chapter Invisible. We have added his name to the CHAPTER INVISIBLE page of our province website. We request that you review that site and provide updates to our Province Keeper of Records and Exchequer. Please help us fill in the blanks and also provide us with additional brothers to be memorialized.
Middle Western Province Opens Virtual Museum We are proud to announce the opening of our Middle Western Province Virtual Museum. This new website has been designed to preserve and display documents, photos and other articles of historical significance about chapters in our province, as well as our province-at-large. For this project to be successful, we ask each of you to examine your archives in search of items that would be appropriate for inclusion in the museum. Many chapters are not yet represented here. Our initial emphasis is focused on items that MUST be digitized for permanent keep before they might be destroyed by deterioration or otherwise lost forever. Still, we recognize that history is being made right now for future generations to appreciate. Some of that history has already been preserved in issues of our province newsletter and elsewhere in our website. Obviously a work in progress, we will eventually provide "captions" for items currently archived in our museum that are not self-explanatory. As you submit items for inclusion, we ask that you provide an accompanying explanation where appropriate. For instructions on how to submit documents and photos in a suitable format, please contact our Museum Curator at Museum@KAPsiMWP.com.
Student Who Opposed Hazing in Sri Lanka Is Slain, and Campus Is Shut Down By MARTHA ANN OVERLAND New Delhi A student who was objecting to the practice of hazing at Sri Lankan universities died Saturday after being attacked by a group of students who want to continue the ritual abuse of freshmen. The vice chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, where the incident happened, responded by shutting down the campus. Ovitigala Withanage Samantha, a junior, was killed as he and a group of students met with the director of student welfare on Thursday to complain about the practice, which is known as "ragging." Ragging, or the ritual humiliation and abuse of new students, typically involves starving and beating students, as well as having them perform embarrassing sexual acts. During the meeting Thursday, a group of students who support ragging broke into the director's office, armed with clubs and bricks, and assaulted Mr. Samantha and others at the meeting. One news report said that Mr. Samantha was struck in the head with a computer monitor and was beaten unconscious. Six students were hospitalized, and one remains in critical condition. The student-welfare director, Neville Warnakulasuriya, was also injured. D.S. Epitawatte, the vice chancellor, told The Sunday Observer, a Sri Lankan newspaper, after leaving the hospital mortuary, that newly elected student leaders and their followers were responsible for Mr. Samantha's death. He said they had turned the university into a "place of butchery." The University of Sri Jayewardenepura, which is located on the outskirts of Colombo, the capital city, is one of Sri Lanka's major institutions of higher education. The university of 7,000 students has previously experienced clashes between groups that advocate ragging and those that oppose it. "I am very angry about the incident," said Mr. Epitawatte, who took charge of the university only a week before the incident. "My officers have told me that this student misbehavior has been growing for the last couple of years. The killed student, Samantha, is very innocent and he was of the opinion that ragging should not be in the universities. But this is how he got treated for his opinion." Ragging has long been a problem in Sri Lankan colleges and universities. Following the death of two freshmen who were abused by older students, the government prohibited the practice in 1998. Students guilty of torturing their classmates can be suspended or even imprisoned. Yet ragging continues, with some students demanding that they have a right to initiate new students into college life. There has been one arrest so far in the incident.
Pay Your Province Dues Now! Personalized invoices for FY03 Province Dues were sent via e-mail to 545 members for whom we have e-mail addresses. Another 2,158 were sent via postal delivery during the month of August to those members who reside in our province but who have not yet shared their e-mail address with us, or who don't yet have an e-mail address. Your Province Dues were due on or before October 1st, and will be delinquent after November 30th. You may pay your dues by sending a check to our Province Headquarters, or you may charge your dues on your Visa or Mastercard via e-mail or by telephone at 405-CD-KAPPA (235-2772). Our mailing address is:
636 N.E. 36th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Visit the Middle Western Province EMPORIUM Our province EMPORIUM offers quality Kappa paraphernalia that may be ordered via e-mail. Shipping is FREE in the continental U.S. for most items, with prompt delivery assured. Shop for yourself or purchase gifts for others.
WE HAVE IT!!! You've seen it! You've wanted it! You've asked for it! WE HAVE IT! The OFFICIAL 75th Grand Chapter Souvenir! Members who were fortunate enough to attend the last Grand Chapter Meeting in Cleveland received what has been cited as "THE BEST" souvenir ever offered by our fraternity. None were available for sale at that meeting, nor have they been offered since then. The supply was supposedly exhausted. BUT, we found more, and purchased ALL of them. These cases are GUARANTEED to be the ORIGINAL and OFFICIAL issue. They are all BRAND NEW in unopened boxes. And, we have the LAST and ONLY cases available ANYWHERE! We are your SOLE SOURCE and the supply is limited. First come, first served! The multi-functional case offers:
The cost is only $95 with FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental United States. Get yours today. Send your personal check or money order to:
636 N.E. 36th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
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Milan Appointed as Province Director of Finance Brother Terrance S. Milan of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter has been appointed as the Director of Finance of the Middle Western Province. His principal responsibility will be to serve as the singular backup to our Province Keeper of Records and Exchequer in which capacity he has been granted and assigned full access to every aspect of that officer's duties. His wider focus will include an array of duties that will make him an integral consultant to the province administration. Regarding the appointment of Brother Milan to this prestigious post, the Province Polemarch was asked, "Brother Pruitt, do you think some brothers may have a problem with your appointment of Brother Milan as the Province Director of Finance, despite the fact that any number of financial issues have emanated from the Kansas City Alumni Chapter and/or it's members?" In response, the Province Polemarch said, "Every brother is responsible for picking his own wardrobe, his set of clothes, his reputation is his set of clothes. Contrary to what people within and outside Kappa may think, all brothers don't dress alike. And I challenge anyone to look in Brother Milan's Kappa closet and find a suit of clothes that would bring discredit to his body or the body of Kappa as a whole." Brother Milan is a thirty-two year member who was initiated in 1970 at the University of Kansas Chapter, the Mu of Kappa Alpha Psi. He is a Past Junior Province Vice Polemarch and currently serves as a member of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter's Board of Directors. Just one of his many and varied areas of expertise has been proven through the successful supervision of several profitable fundraising acitivities in his local chapter. We have no doubt that Brother Milan will bring that range of experience and committment to excellence to the province level. You may contact Brother Milan with congratulatory messages at Finance@KAPsiMWP.com.
Fight Accepts Appointment as Investigative Protocol OfficerBrother Jimmie Fight of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter has been appointed as the Investigative Protocol Officer of the Middle Western Province. His principal responsibilities will include the conduct of investigations within our province, and he will also serve as our primary Province Hearing Officer. Brother Fight is a twenty-five year member who was initiated in 1977 at the Culver-Stockton College Chapter, the Eta Kappa of Kappa Alpha Psi. He is a Past Polemarch of the Kansas City Alumni Chapter and is currently serving as Chapter Advisor of the University of Missouri at Kansas City Chapter, the Nu Epsilon of Kappa Alpha Psi. He is a brother of integrity and honor whose work product in this position will reflect his fundamental fairness and his keen eye for details. You may contact Brother Fight with congratulatory messages at Protocol@KAPsiMWP.com.
General Counsel Report
Brothers, I am fresh off the heels of the very successful C. Roger Wilson Leadership Conference (CRWLC) that was held in Wichita, Kansas. As a proud graduate of the University of Kansas (the Mighty Mu), I always enjoy going back to the state of my undergraduate roots and breaking bread with my brothers in Phi Nu Pi. I had a great time and learned a lot about the current thinking of the brothers in the bond. Some of that thinking gave me pause and generated much fodder for this and future articles. So, let me address a couple the issues and globally answer some of the questions that arose at the CRWLC. Q. My chapter is thinking about adding a couple of components to the Membership Intake Program (MIP) that don't involve any that one could construe as hazing. Is that acceptable? A. No. The MIP was developed after long and arduous consideration of all practical and legal implications. It is designed to insure that candidates are meaningfully initiated into the Fraternity with maximum protection against any acts of, or "opportunity for" hazing. The brothers have differing views of the MIP and those views led our International Grand Polemarch to establish an MIP review task force that I chaired. The task force worked for 18 months to tweak the then current program and made comprehensive presentations to the Board in Cleveland and St. Louis. The Grand Board adopted some aspects of the proposal and rejected others. The bottom line is that the Board is unwilling to accept any activity that "opens a window" for possible hazing activities. Furthermore, a couple of courts have reviewed our MIP, ruled that it's a good one, and absolved the Grand Chapter from legal liability in those cases. Chapter advisers and officers are well protected if they stay within the boundaries and strictly adhere to the provisions of the MIP. It is only when they stray from those provisions that they find themselves exposed to legal liability. Such was the case of a chapter adviser in a Pennsylvania case I earlier reported in the General Counsel's column. The court in that case ruled that the MIP was well designed but the adviser had not followed it. The court dismissed Grand Chapter but allowed the case to proceed against the adviser. Adding requirements beyond the MIP is perilous, greatly increases your exposure to legal liability when you do so, and violates the rules of the Fraternity. Q. I have heard of some financial impropriety within chapters of the province. How does my chapter avoid such situations? A. Great Question!!! The number one factor that leads to financial problems and inquiries is record keeping. I know of some good brothers that have come under intense scrutiny because they can't tell you where the money went. I would tell you the simple answer is to treat the fraternity's money as you would your own, but I have recently learned that often brothers screw up their own finances. So, I will give you specific recommendations on how to avoid these issues. Here are the steps you should take and follow religiously.
Some other issues came up at the CRWLC but I have run out of room for this column. We will talk about them in future issues of The Middlewesterner. Until next time, I am . . .
Yours in the Bond,
National Pan-Hellenic Council Holds Regional Meeting By Adolphus M. Pruitt, II - NPHC Regional Board Member The North Central Region of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) held its Regional Conference in Dayton, Ohio on November 8th and 9th. The North Central Region consists of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Among the items of business that took place at the conference was the granting of three new charters at Purdue University, Wayne State University, and the University of Missouri at Kansas City. An assessment for each council was approved at the meeting at the rate of $15 per undergraduate council and $25 per alumni council.
DeJuan Groce - SBC Big 12 Player of the Week
It was the fifth Big 12 Player of the Week award for the Huskers and the third time Groce has been honored this season. He was also named the special teams player of the week following his two punt returns for touchdowns against Troy State, while being tabbed as the defensive player of the week for his performance against Utah State. Groce is the second Husker to earn Big 12 POW honors three times in one season, joining quarterback Eric Crouch, who was named offensive player of the week three times in 2001. It also marked the second straight year Groce has been named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Missouri. Colorado running back Chris Brown and Oklahoma running back Quentin Griffin were selected as co-offensive players of the week, while Iowa State's Matt Word was tabbed as the defensive player of the week. Groce returned his third punt for a touchdown this season with an 89-yard romp in the third quarter of the Huskers' 24-13 win over Missouri. The touchdown was the third-longest punt return in NU history and the second of 89 yards or more in the past three seasons against Missouri. Bobby Newcombe set a school record against the Tigers in 2000 with a 94-yard punt return. Groce's three punt return touchdowns this season ties NU's school record, set by Johnny Rodgers in 1971, and is just one shy of the NCAA record of four that is held by eight players. With his 114 punt return yards on Saturday, Groce moved into second place on the NU charts with 885 career yards. He trails only Rodgers' 1,515 yards from 1970 to 1972 in Husker annals. Groce also had four tackles, including one for a two-yard loss.
Province Life Membership The Middle Western Province now offers a Province Life Membership that is available to the first 100 members who pay the one-time fee of $600. Participants are absolved from the payment of Province Dues for life. The Province Life Membership Program does not absolve participants from their obligation to pay Grand Chapter and Local Chapter Dues and/or assessments. Each Province Life Member will receive a lapel pin, certificate, and numbered identification card. A Subscribing Life Membership Program is also available for an initial payment of $230, with a payment of $230 in the second consecutive year, and a final payment of $200 in the third consecutive year. Payments may be charged to your Visa or Mastercard, or you may send your personal check or money order to our Province Headquarters at:
636 N.E. 36th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
We now have seven fully paid Province Life Members. Congratulations to our brothers whose names will forever be engraved in the archives and history of the Middle Western Province . . .
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Middle Western Province Initiates 43 New Members - October 18, 2002
 Kelly Dewayne Austin Zeta Omega |  Jeremy Donnell Avant Mu |  Douglas Montee Bass, Jr. Zeta Theta |
 Jeffery Oliver Beckham, Jr. Delta Omega |  David Robert Blair Delta Omega |
 Jamal G. Bogle Iota Tau |  Emos Thaddeus Bryant Zeta Omega |  Bryan Thomas Calvin Zeta Theta |
 Dwayne Jerome Chaney Zeta Omega |  Anthony Sharoid Clemons Wichita KS Alumni |
 Adrian Damon Cole Columbia MO Alumni |  Cory J. N. Crosby Zeta Omega |  Leonce B. Crump, Jr. Zeta Omega |
 Jarrett W. Dickerson Columbia MO Alumni |  Eric Jaron Frazier Alpha Mu |
 Craig Jerome Gadson Zeta Theta |  Geoffrey Edwin Green, Jr. Zeta Omega |  Anthony Dai'Jon Gregory Zeta Theta |
 Preston Wynslo Hammond Delta Omega |  Dennis Anthony Hardridge Alpha Pi |
 Alpachino Tadaro Hogue Delta Omega |  Barry Allen Jones Alpha Pi |  Marvis Allen Jones Delta Omega |
 Bryan Justin Lattimore Delta Omega |  Fredrick Eugene Love, II Zeta Theta |
 Melvin Frank Luster Alpha Pi |  Koai K. Matthews Alpha Mu |  Ashanti Zaki Mitchell Epsilon Gamma |
 Cary L. Pittman Alpha Mu |  Burdett James Rice Delta Omega |
 Clint Robinson, III Alpha Mu |  Erick Kobie Rozier Delta Omega |  Robert D. Smith Zeta Omega |
 Lincoln Christopher Stephens Delta Omega |  Justin Lamar Stevenson Zeta Theta |
 Tauren Nathaniel Thompson Epsilon Gamma |  Jere Jimar Tobias Columbia MO Alumni |  Corey William Turner Alpha Pi |
 James Reuben Warner Delta Omega |  Michael Lawynn Washington Epsilon Gamma |
 Robert Duke Weaver Columbia MO Alumni |  Curtis Price White Delta Omega |  Eric Munzell Williams Wichita KS Alumni |
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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