Talk:Kappa Alpha Order/archive 1

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Archive This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current talk page.

This not an article!!

I agree, at least partially due to how it is written. I'd hope someone would clean this up and get rid of the loads of pointless information and re-center the neutrality of this page.--68.231.168.20 12:03, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

Thanks to Vkraul the neutrality has been recentered--Samwisep86 05:28, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

Contents

He's Right

This article is completly biased. "Southern Ideals"? As if there is a code of conduct uniqe to just southerners? This looks like it was taken RIGHT from the website. PLEASE clean this up.

Cleanup?

User:L0b0t, for whatever reason it is obvious that you have a personal issues with this organization considering you don't watch over articles of other fraternities other than this one. Your constant edits of citation needed tags when information can be easily found on the links already provided as well as your cleanup tag without an explanation of what needs to be cleaned up and only stating "this is not college level writing" doesn't help much at all. The vast majority of articles on Wikipedia are not college level writing. All of this coupled with your very poor and failed bad faith nomination to get this article deleted is quite disruptive. So instead of trying to find everything wrong with this article why don't you actually try and clean this up yourself since you have watch over this article or leave it alone because compared to similar articles, the format of this article is either better or the same as others --† Ðy§ep§ion † Speak your mind 05:57, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Biased

This entry reads like a press release and mentions nothing about the organization's long-standing racist and oppressive history in the South. The "Old South" parties alone should tell you that. At some universities, the members would pay young black children to pick up pieces of candy in the front yard so it looked like they were picking cotton. I know many whites and blacks who have had negative experiences with this fraternity. That should be included to add more balance to the article. Jyroberson 01:46, 14 November 2006 (UTC)

Feel free to add it as long as you can cite it with a reference. Articles shouldn't be biased for or against. --† Ðy§ep§ion † Speak your mind 02:00, 14 November 2006 (UTC)
As stated above, adding a negative bias to this article is just as bad as a positive one. The "picking cotton" incident in reality happened at an Alpha Tau Omega chapter in Mississippi. It was a fellow costumed fraternity member picking the cotton and not "young black children" as you have described. Many fraternities have negative stereotypes associated with them. That doesn't mean they are true or factually based.Mshrop 12:19, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
No, adding positive and negative bias would mean neutrality, one of the things Wikipedia aims for. --† Ðy§ep§ion † Speak your mind 17:15, 11 December 2006 (UTC)
I don't quite understand how adding any sort of bias to this article contributes to the neutrality of the article. No bias, neither positive nor negative, should be added to these fraternity and sorority articles. Wikipedia:WikiProject_Fraternities_and_Sororities specifically states its goal is "To provide unbiased and in depth articles on the subject of fraternities and sororities." Logically, it seems the best way to keep the neutrality of the article would be to avoid bias altogether. Mshrop 07:55, 28 December 2006 (UTC)
The purpose of Wikipedia is to provide BOTH sides. Take a look at other fraternity and sorority articles and you'll see what I mean: Pi Kappa Phi, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Anyone can present positive or negative bias as long as it is cited. I see how anyone can read this present article and it reads off as a recruitment brochure and in that sense it is not neutral. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Dysepsion (talk • contribs) 16:03, 28 December 2006 (UTC).

I am going to have to agree with Dysepsion. I pledged for Kappa Alpha ['KA'] in my Junior year of undergraduate. To simplify state things, the Beta Omega Chapter pledging process was not designed to enhance my academics, my moral character, or even to help the college community (three things noted to be the primary objectives in the fraternity). The pledging process was more of a ritualistic abuse- "because it was done to me, I have to do it to you" was a common motto. For over ten-weeks, I was subjected to all forms of hazing [listed in a way to show ascending discomfort]: - being forced to come to the chapter house to spend the night awake, just sitting there (without falling asleep) for days at a time - scavenger hunts during the night, where we were blind-folded and driven usually over 10-miles out into the backroads, even outside the town limits. The objective was to make it back without being caught or seen by anyone (including members who were out doing "Spot-Lighting"- a task where current members would search you out for the sole intention of finding and punishing pledges if they were seen) - being given a wooden paddle to have on us (hidden) at all times, to PROTECT & to have signed by all present members within a period of time given by the vice-president. To earn a signature, pledgings had to do bidding for that current members (errands such as driving them all over town, being their slaves for a day, having to drink a large amount of alcohol ... this list goes on) We were constantly called into the chapter house for general 'tasks' (other forms of hazement that did not earn us a signature) that needed to be done at that moment- current members (numbering 3-5) jumped the pledgings at these times, with the mission of finding their paddles and breaking them (meaning pledgings would have to start over again 'earning' signatures). Pledgings and members were normally injured as the pledging tried to get away, and Kappa Alpha 'Gentlemen' kept them in the house while roughing them up for their paddle (I had clothing damaged, bruises ... and the only satisfactory I got was never having my paddle broken). - forced to drink large volumes of alcohol, most notoriusly the "Crimson-Red-Vodka" (two/three-people shared a handle of red colored vodka). This drink induced you to vomit what appeared to be blood, staining anything it touched. Before leaving, we were made to wash our hands thoroughly to remove the coloring. Crimson Red- one of the flag colors of KA. - forced to guzzle a 1-gallon container of Whole Milk. This task induced vomitting as well as painful stomach cramping through the night and well into the morning (think of a type of constipation, where it felt like you were the character in the movie "Aliens" where the serpent larva ripped out of your chest ... only in the abdominal area). This was noteably one of the sickest moments I felt in my whole life!

I pledged for Kappa Alpha because they (in the interest meetings) noted that their primary task was to make 'gentlemen' out of us, improving our academics, our moral character, and our community services. At this time, I was not only trying to maintain my high GPA, but I was also studying for the MCATs (I payed $1400 for the study prep course and test). Not one activity was made for helping me to achieve either of these ... ALL ACTIVITIES were designed to keep me away from achieving these personal tasks. In whole, my Kappa Alpha experience was a struggle for nothing. In the end, after the 10-wks and right before initiation, I was asked to make a choice- "choose KA, or choose to take your MCATs." I am proud to state that here today, I am currently maintaining a 3.0 in my studies in becoming a doctor, where I have a good future ahead of me (and not a 'Kappa Alpha Gentlemen', where I would be on the way of developing a beer-gut working for McDonalds at $10/hr). You state to have proof, contact Washington College, Chestertown MD. Ask about the Kappa Alpha incident of Spring '05. Ask about the following stay, where Kappa Alpha members vandalized my car, physically/verbally threaten me, and did all they could to make my life a living hell. Then message me back to see if they achieved there goal (-laughs-).

So Why Aren't These Truths Recognized on THIS Article? It is the truth and should be recognize before an innocent student is hurt like I was, or even worse, killed, for following your Kappa Alpha Pledging 'Rituals' carried out by your chapters. After googling "hazing" and "Kappa Alpha Order" I must admit I was not totally shocked to see trials listed for members who hazed, and I am sure that it wasn't individuals that were doing it, but individuals that were caught or handed over. Just admit it, you are a bunch of hazers and proud of it!

You are quite obviously the same person that vandalized this page along with the Washington College page masquerading as a Kappa Alpha member. The omission of a signature confirms it. Mshrop 01:45, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
No, it's all true ... As a former member of Beta Omega, the truth is not vandalism ... it's just the full description of a UNBIASED article. If you don't believe it, contact the college. I am sure they would love to correct you.
However, seeing that you cited a correction above, I am sure you already know the truth and sadly trying to cover it up. If you can't cite the truth, then delete the entire article. Don't be bias'd!

Please see WP:VERIFY, WP:No original research, and WP:NPOV. Unsourced accusations cannot be included based on your own experiences. The "truth" should be easily backed up by sources, but until then, this content cannot be included. AuburnPilottalk 04:17, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

College paper, The Elm. Go to the college, get a copy, read and be rid of thy ignorance. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by LetTruthBeKnown2006 (talk • contribs) 14:19, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
The burden of proof is not on me to seek out sources for an unverified, libelous paragraph. You cannot add such information without proper sources. It is unquestionably unacceptable. Please review WP:VERIFY and WP:CITE. It is not my duty to go to a specific college and search out an essay. The content cannot stay unless cited. AuburnPilottalk 14:53, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
I believe 'Truth' is referring to the event followed up in [1], where one of the chapters was placed on probation for (1) year and kicked out of housing after admitting to several acts of hazing towards pledges, Spring 2005. Further information regarding the incident, written in the Elm (school newspaper) has not been added to the online source (neither has any of the Spring 2005 issues).
As for the honor board hearing, briefly mentioned in the first article, outcomes are not documented online (this would compromise the college's overall integrity, as one group's mistakes do not represent the college as a whole - in this situation, Beta Omega Chapter as well as a second male fraternity, Phi Delta Theta were both charged with acts of hazing). You would have to clarify with a senior editor the terms of citation, whether or not if specifics were provided if this source is feasible.
On a last note, many fraternities haze. I agree that to be correct and factual for all aspects, such negative events should be documented in these articles, HOWEVER, not as a 'general' assumption of the whole group. Maybe under a subheading as "Striving to Perfect," where chapters/colonies that have hazed could be found - to clarify that the group is striving to clean up "ritualistic" pledgings as 'Truth' makes mention of. This may be overstepping - so find a senior editor to talk to about making those particular revisions (and maybe the group itself) D-Hell-pers 17:37, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

KA Stereotypes

As a current Vice-President of a Kappa Alpha chapter, I wish to at least express my take on any negative reputations of the national fraternity.

I do acknowledge that the racist stereotype of the KA fraternity did not randomly appear out of the clear skies, but rather there have been isolate incidents of specific chapters engaging in racist behavior, consequentially begetting unfair stereotypes. You may even find a Confederate flag or two in each house in the KA southern chapters; however, it must be known that there should NOT be a racist connotation with the Confederate flag, especially in this case...as many southerners will tell you (by the way, I'm from the Midwest and not a racist for the record so I can at least partially be objective in that claim).

Racist behavior by an individual chapter is an anomaly. The national fraternity condemns racism on all accounts (and hazing on all accounts for that matter) and instead advocates gentlemenly and honorable conduct as inspired by our spiritual founder, Robert E. Lee, with an emphasis placed on holding women in high esteem and being faithful to God. Was General Lee man who was loyal to his home state and lead the Army of Northern Virginia and afterword became the head of Washington College (now W&L, a prestigious institution)? Yes. A racist, oppressive Southerner? Definitely not.

Fraternities across the nation have their share of problems they must deal with. Many fraternities haze pointlessly. I can honestly say that what sells KA on my campus (and we are NOT an anomaly, for I know many KAs from many other schools) is that our pledgeship makes each and every KA a better person, rather than the sadistic and pointless hazing that I know for a fact other fraternities engage in.

In summary, KAs are relatively good men, generally speaking. The few that give the whole chapter a bad name are not accepted nationally. When word gets out of one isolated racist incident (which unfortunately happens in countless other fraternities besides KA, let me assure you), this racist reputation perpetuates simply because it is easy to slap a racist card against us because of the negative connotation of Southern Values and what some falsely believe Robert E. Lee represents. This connotation is probably believed by the isolated ignoramous whose actions tarnish what it truly means to be a KA. Let it be known that gentlemen of the Kappa Alpha Order, as a whole, oppose the cowardly ignorance of racism.

I can even simplify it more for everyone without trying to sound like a 19th century noble Southern gentleman: we are just a bunch of fun-loving, decent college guys trying to enjoy these great and exciting final years of our youth...before the real world hits. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by CDB3889 (talk • contribs) 06:02, 29 December 2006 (UTC).

My personal favorite experience of Kappa Alpha, was the alumni chapter mailing out a biased letter full of lies, talking about how unfair and unjust it was that a chapter be punished for hazing (among other things) ... the letter contained private information of a former pledge's name and full living address. What was the reasoning behind a move like this Mr. Vice-President, besides the Kappa Alpha Gentlemanly way of 'vengenance'?LetTruthBeKnown2006 04:35, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

206.169.45.183, Ignorance Not Welcomed

Ignorant vandalist. Please keep to the article, not personal attacks against other editors. If it is unreferenced, then the citation can not be claimed (it's the laws of wikipedia, not my own). If you have such a problem with unreference tags, just REFERENCE them yourself. It's not that hard to do for a competent individual (please ask your mommy or daddy to help you if you are having difficulty). D-Hell-pers 17:26, 28 April 2007 (UTC)

Tags

Pretty much the entire article is quotes from a KA Order Book, followed by notable members. That's it. It's not well-organized, nor is it truly an article. Jmlk17 03:07, 18 May 2007 (UTC)