The Kappa Alpha Order, Alpha Omega chapter, was disbanded five years ago but has been voted to return to the University.
Earlier this semester, a basic interest group was established to contact young men interested in becoming founding fathers of the returned Kappa Alpha Order.
Matt Walker, a junior in communications, said a T-shirt captivated his interest.
“One of my really good friends in Sigma Kappa came by my house one day wearing a shirt that said KA was returning to N.C. State, I was immediately interested,” Walker said.
The Kappa Alpha Order was originally established at the University in 1903 and generated thousands of alumni, but lost their charter five years ago due to violations of the risk management policy, poor academics and poor leadership.
However, “the Order” received a chance to redeem their reputation when the National Alumni Council voted in favor of their return to the University.
“KA has a huge history here, it was here for a hundred years; it will be part of one of N.C. States oldest organizations,” Robert Rudd, a sophomore in political science and KA vice president, said.
Kappa Alpha’s national recolonization team, Jesse Lyons and his associate director Chris Woods, started a basic interest group, where young men exhibiting core values the fraternity prides itself for were interviewed, asked to attend KA events then selected and offered bids.
Rudd also said that 15 founding fathers received bids on Oct. 8.
The fraternity will receive is provisional charter on Oct. 27 and has one year to establish and earn back the respect it was once known for.
Rudd clarified what the fraternity was once known for and what it will be known for once again.
“We are looking for men with principals; fraternities take guys and try to make them better. We’re the order that takes guys that already have the values that we are looking for such as chivalry, good academics, giving back to the community and having reverence. Basically we are looking for Southern gentlemen,” Rudd said.
Walker said the fraternity’s principles influenced his decision to join.
“When I went out and met the guys they were the kind of guys I wanted to surround myself with and the kind of guys I could see myself calling brothers,” Walker said. “The core values – being a gentleman, chivalrous and respectful – of the Kappa Alpha Order were also very influential in my decision.”
According to Matt Korff, recruitment chairman of the fraternity and sophomore in business administration, the first rush will take place Oct. 27, where the brothers will be looking for and accepting gentlemen of all classes who have a GPA of at least 2.5 and display core principles of “the Order.”
”You will see us participating in philanthropy events, trying to help out and trying to regain some respect that was lost five years ago,” Korff said. “We are still looking for quality gentlemen that are interested in joining the order.”
“If you want to join something and want to help make it yours, this is a great opportunity. You will have the chance to build the fraternity from the ground up and an opportunity to make an impact on your life that many never experience,” Rudd said.
