With over 40 different Greek organizations at SDSU, it's hard to know which one is right for you.
As an incoming freshman, I knew that I would eventually join a fraternity, and be a part of Greek life, it was only a matter of choosing the right council to register for. After much consideration, I knew that a social fraternity would suit me best, but now I had to see which organization I liked most.
During the first few weeks of my first semester at SDSU, my roommate and I both decided to go through rush and see what these fraternities were all about and what they had to offer. After going to each table, getting information, and attending the rush events, bid day rolled around and I was surprised to see that I had been given a bid to two social fraternities. I chose one over the other, but decided to drop a few weeks later for reasons I don't really remember.
Even though I dropped out of Greek life that fall semester, I knew I still wanted to be a part of it, so I waited for spring rush and that's when I met Dustin Brann and Andrew Carr, who both came from the Kappa Alpha Order national office. These two gentlemen were at SDSU recruiting men for what would be the newest social fraternity on campus. I thought I'd give it a chance and went to a few of their information sessions and did my research on the fraternity.
It wasn't long before I knew that Kappa Alpha Order was the best organization for me because my values align with those of KA, and because I also had the opportunity to start up an organization that would eventually thrive with success. I, and 15 other men, helped up this organization that spring semester and it was not an easy task. After being on campus for a year and a half, where we are now seems to be further and further away from where we were spring 2013. We have come a long way since our start and are close to chartering and becoming an active chapter!
Being a new fraternity at SDSU wasn't easy. Stereotypes were placed upon us, we were looked down on, and faced some hardships, but with the leadership, motivation and determination brought by our brothers, we were able to thrive and push forward. We've become acquainted with other organizations, have participated in events on and off campus, raised over $650 for MDA in one day, were a part of the winning team for Greek Week 2014, and more. If all goes as planned, we will be chartering and becoming an active chapter this fall semester.
While being in Kappa Alpha Order, I've had a lot of people ask me why I decided to start up an organization rather than join one that was already established. I did this because it gave me the opportunity to shape the fraternity into something that I wanted. It allowed me to start traditions and build on what the fraternity was founded on. I wanted to be with a group of men who had the same vision and motives. I also get asked why the fraternity is Kappa Alpha Order and not just Kappa Alpha. This is what makes us different from all other fraternities. An order is a group of individuals that already have similar values and who work together to improve on them. An order doesn't try to mold an individual into what we want them to be. KA extends bids to gentlemen who already have our seven values and who want to work and improve on them. We still run and work like a fraternity, and are also a part of the IFC.
So what does KA mean? Well, KA is someone who is a strong believer, and is following and living up to our seven values which include leadership, knowledge, reverence, service, gentility, perseverance and excellence. We are the moral compass for the modern gentleman, and we uphold and have immense respect for women and God, just as our motto states, "Dieu et Les Dames." We are strong on leadership and to help our leaders grow, our national office puts on ELA (emerging leaders academy), Number I's Leadership Institute, Province Councils, and conventions. As mentioned on our national website, "through fellowship and brotherhood, KA seeks to teach young men to be leaders; to be brave, self reliant, and to continually strive to better themselves."
Kappa Alpha Order means more to me than I could have ever imagined. KA is the organization that has made me the gentleman I am today. I am a leader at my university who puts forth all that has been learned through ELA and province council. KA means that I have a place to be myself, while building on my college experience. It means that I have a place where I can meet new people and be known as being a brother of the "gentlemen's fraternity." KA is where I met some of my best buds who I will have with me for a lifetime. The unique thing about our group of men is that we all have different interests and personalities; at the same time, we have so much in common and that's what brings us together. KA is determined to impact Greek life and building a positive reputation for San Diego State. Most importantly, to me, KA means that I can grow within myself, and through the things I've learned to be a better brother, son, student and, eventually, a great husband.
Kappa Alpha Order isn't something that you're part of only for your college years. It's a lifetime commitment and I've learned this through the immense support that the Gamma Iota chapter has gotten from alumni all over! Why KA? Because it belongs to me!
