Knight Commander's Message: Winter 2004
Ben W. Satcher, Jr. | 1/18/2005 Dear Brothers:
As I look back over the past twelve months, I am extremely proud of what the Order has accomplished. First and foremost, we have returned to several campuses where we have a long and proud history. In May, we initiated 50 men at Chi Chapter,Vanderbilt University, and the same number at Beta Epsilon Chapter, University of Delaware. We initiated 30 men at Epsilon Omicron Chapter, Virginia Wesleyan College. In August, we initiated 30 men at Xi Chapter, Southwestern University. October saw us return to Epsilon Rho Chapter, Purdue University, with 30 men, and in December, we returned to Tau Chapter,Wake Forest University, with 60 men. It is a true testament to our staff, our alumni volunteers and our young men when universities welcome us back to their respective campuses after a period of absence. We look forward to the contributions these chapters will make in our continued quest for excellence.
In addition to chapter growth, the National Administrative Office has settled into Mulberry Hill, in Lexington, Va. Our new headquarters is a wonderful place to conduct the business of the Order and the KAOEF. I encourage active and alumni brothers alike to visit our new home.
I want to thank our alumni for your continued support. It enables us to continue to provide exceptional training and educational programs for our undergraduates. Membership in the Loyal Order is another way that you can help support KA. Those alumni joining will help to endow The Kappa Alpha Journal, thereby eliminating the need to support this magazine through undergraduate dues. Your participation in this program offers many benefits including the Journal for life.
On a more serious note, I’d like to address an issue that has again reared its ugly head this past semester: The issue of hazing in some of our active chapters. A member’s first duty and overriding responsibility is to ensure that active chapters act in concert with the values and ideals of the Order. In order to do that, our chapters have to foster an environment where our core values are taught and lived. Good behavior must be a part of these core values.
In earlier communications I have stressed our commitment to excellence. That includes the proper treatment of other members including members awaiting initiation. There is no way to exercise proper treatment of another by hazing. Hazing is illegal. Hazing is immoral and hazing is against virtually everything we believe and teach.
Fortunately, we have quality men as leaders and advisors and we have fine young men in our active chapters. Even some who make bad decisions are good young men. But, whether we like it or not, we live in a fish bowl. People look to see how we act. We have a responsibility to live by our ritual each and every day. We owe that to those who have come before us in our chapters and to those who will come after us.
This past semester in a small number of chapters, decisions have been made to address these improper activities, and I have overwhelmingly supported them. In some cases the decisions may not seem fair to the majority of the active brothers or alumni who work so diligently with the chapter. Regardless, I believe strongly that they are the right decisions. We have to maintain the credibility and integrity of the fraternity, as it impacts us all. We need all of our young men to know that hazing is not right and will not be tolerated.
With that said, I can not say enough good of the positive impact Kappa Alpha men are having in our chapters all across the country. We participate in thousands and thousands of hours of community service. Our undergraduates are leaders on our campuses and surrounding communities. Kappa Alphas are excelling in the classroom and those who are securely grounded in the values expressed through our ritual will continue to do so.
I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and may this holiday season be a safe and blessed time shared with family and friends.
Fraternally,
Ben W. Satcher, Jr.
Knight Commander
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