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Round-Up Extra: Kappas at Bethune-Cookman Suspended for Seven Years
Kappas banned at Bethune-Cookman for seven years
By Kari Cobham, Voice of the Wildcats-BCC
April 15, 2005
The members of the Gamma Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. will not be wearing their gear on the Bethune-Cookman College campus any time soon.
Effective March18, Valencia Cooper, vice president for student affairs, suspended the college chapter for seven years in light of escalating conflicts between members in the group since spring 2004.
"I feel that the suspension was unfair and I was hurt," said Antron Mahoney, current president of the Gamma Theta chapter.
"But with a lot of the things that have been going on, I could see why the administration would want to take that action," the graduating senior said.
As a result of the suspension, the fraternity will not be allowed to have a tree or identifying landmark on the college's campus. They will also be prohibited from wearing member paraphernalia, hosting functions or engaging in a new member intake process.
The problems within the group have remained rumor until recently when some members of the chapter appeared on campus less than a week before the March 12 Greek Letter Advisory Council coming out show, bearing signs against other members.
Subsequent to the show, incident reports, a hearing, a suspension and fines brought the administration to the difficult decision to ban the organization.
According to Darnell Walker, a self-professed Nupe, the decision to bear placards publicly was a sign of protest against another group of Kappas and their presence in the brotherhood.
"I don't consider them part of the group," said Walker, 22, who was only recently reinstated in February 2005 as a Kappa after being suspended in April 2004.
Although admittedly now a non-financial member, Walker points to the fact that he and nine other members were not informed of their suspension by Cooper until October 2004 after making inquiries. Yet another example of how deep the division has become, he said.
On the Nupe side of the dissention, Walker believes the other members, who he refers to as "Paper," were threatening the Kappa tradition.
"We want to keep tradition in the organization, because when this happens there's a brotherhood that comes with that," said Walker, a graduating senior.
Mahoney refrained from commenting on Walker's allegations and the circumstances surrounding the suspension out of loyalty to the organization.
"Kappa business is Kappa business," Mahoney said.
However, he did voice his belief that certain members of the fraternity have gone against the rules of the college and Kappa policy.
"It's sad to see that an organization with such talented people won't be able to prosper on this campus," said Mahoney, a Kappa since 2003.
Despite the division, both Walker and Mahoney expressed regret at the state of the Gamma Theta chapter.
"I hate to see Gamma Theta go, but I believe in destroying everything and rebuilding," Walker said.
"Hopefully we can learn from this and other organizations can learn from our mistakes too," Mahoney said.
Vice President for Student Activities Valencia Cooper and Student Government Association President Jared Yancey could not be reached for comment on the decision to take the Kappas off of the yard.
Kari Cobham is a student at Bethune-Cookman College who writes for the Voice of the Wildcats..
Posted by Rashid on April 21, 2005 8:30 AM
Comments
Finally starting to get stuff on KAPsi. Can we get some positive stuff, LOL. '
Sorry, i missed you will in DC
Commented by Dwayne Wayne on April 24, 2005 6:55 PM