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http://www.thehilltoponline.com/media/paper590/news/2006/02/17/Campus/Fraternity.With.Racist.Past.Comes.To.Howard-1618372.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.thehilltoponline.com&mkey=1809198#more
Traditionally white fraternity colonizes at Howard
Today, Howard University will become the first predominantly black college to start a Pi Kappa Alpha colony since the fraternity's "whites only" racial clause was lifted in 1964.
According to their official website, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity is a Greek letter, social fraternity. It is composed of men who share the similar ideals of friendship, truth, honor and loyalty. Founded in 1868 on the campus of the University of Virginia, the men of S.L.A.G, as they are also known, believe in the virtues of scholarship, leadership, athleticism and gentlemen-like qualities.
Despite these characteristics, some students have questioned why the organization is coming to Howard's campus given the fraternity's history of blatant racism within some of its more prominent chapters.
"Howard has enough Greek organizations on campus that students have no need to establish new ones, especially ones that weren't designed with us in mind", said Dalontee Edgarton, a senior physical therapy major. He added, "as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I feel that it is an embarrassment to add a historically white and racist fraternity to Howard's historically rich Greek legacy."
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity came under heat on several occasions in the late 90s when members of Auburn University's chapter dressed as Ku Klux Klan members for their Halloween party, and once again at Georgia Tech University when the chapter's "Straight Outta Compton" party, where members were encouraged to wear their most "Ghetto Fabulous" attire, prompted several members to paint their faces black to compliment their "baggy" jeans, afro wigs, and T-shirts sporting the coveted "black power" fist.
Despite these incidents, the members insist that their decision to charter this particular organization here on campus is with good intent.
"We felt like there was a void as far as male students doing positive things on campus," said Jason Johnson, a senior legal communications major and charter member. "We want the campus to be open-minded about what we are doing."
Some students, such as senior physical therapy major Trinity LeFlore, have expressed their anticipation to see exactly what this new brotherhood will bring to the campus.
"I hope they have a genuine love for their fraternity, and it will be interesting to see what they're about" LeFlore said.
According to www.Pikeloyalorder.com "when you choose to wear the Pi Kappa Alpha badge you make a strong statement about who you are and what you believe in."
The winter 2005 edition of the Diamond Shield, Pi Kappa Alpha's quarterly publication, as well as the fraternity's emblem of excellence, encouraged all "brothers" to "demonstrate their commitment to those same sacred ideals that inspired our founding fathers in 1868."
Ironically, it is the encouragement of those same ideals that has some students questioning the intent and purpose of this organization on Howard's campus. "As a member of the Divine Nine I am disappointed to see the fabric of the Howard Greek legacy and traditions be torn by this new addition," said senior marketing major A.C. Onyia, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Traditionally white fraternity colonizes at Howard
Today, Howard University will become the first predominantly black college to start a Pi Kappa Alpha colony since the fraternity's "whites only" racial clause was lifted in 1964.
According to their official website, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity is a Greek letter, social fraternity. It is composed of men who share the similar ideals of friendship, truth, honor and loyalty. Founded in 1868 on the campus of the University of Virginia, the men of S.L.A.G, as they are also known, believe in the virtues of scholarship, leadership, athleticism and gentlemen-like qualities.
Despite these characteristics, some students have questioned why the organization is coming to Howard's campus given the fraternity's history of blatant racism within some of its more prominent chapters.
"Howard has enough Greek organizations on campus that students have no need to establish new ones, especially ones that weren't designed with us in mind", said Dalontee Edgarton, a senior physical therapy major. He added, "as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. I feel that it is an embarrassment to add a historically white and racist fraternity to Howard's historically rich Greek legacy."
Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity came under heat on several occasions in the late 90s when members of Auburn University's chapter dressed as Ku Klux Klan members for their Halloween party, and once again at Georgia Tech University when the chapter's "Straight Outta Compton" party, where members were encouraged to wear their most "Ghetto Fabulous" attire, prompted several members to paint their faces black to compliment their "baggy" jeans, afro wigs, and T-shirts sporting the coveted "black power" fist.
Despite these incidents, the members insist that their decision to charter this particular organization here on campus is with good intent.
"We felt like there was a void as far as male students doing positive things on campus," said Jason Johnson, a senior legal communications major and charter member. "We want the campus to be open-minded about what we are doing."
Some students, such as senior physical therapy major Trinity LeFlore, have expressed their anticipation to see exactly what this new brotherhood will bring to the campus.
"I hope they have a genuine love for their fraternity, and it will be interesting to see what they're about" LeFlore said.
According to www.Pikeloyalorder.com "when you choose to wear the Pi Kappa Alpha badge you make a strong statement about who you are and what you believe in."
The winter 2005 edition of the Diamond Shield, Pi Kappa Alpha's quarterly publication, as well as the fraternity's emblem of excellence, encouraged all "brothers" to "demonstrate their commitment to those same sacred ideals that inspired our founding fathers in 1868."
Ironically, it is the encouragement of those same ideals that has some students questioning the intent and purpose of this organization on Howard's campus. "As a member of the Divine Nine I am disappointed to see the fabric of the Howard Greek legacy and traditions be torn by this new addition," said senior marketing major A.C. Onyia, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
