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Alpha Kappa Psi

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Alpha Kappa Psi

Alpha Kappa Psi (ΑΚΨ, often stylized as AKPsi) is the oldest and largest business fraternity. The fraternity was founded in 1904 at New York University. It is headquartered in Noblesville, Indiana.

During the winter months of the 1903–1904 academic year at New York University, the idea of starting a business fraternity was first brought up. One of the founding members later suggested that it was Frederic R. Leach who first developed the idea for formation of a fraternity. Leach and Jefferson, along with Nathan Lane Jr. and George L. Bergen, came to be known as the "Brooklyn Four". These men grew to be close friends while attending night classes, and they walked home together each night over the Brooklyn Bridge, hence their nickname. As the spirit of brotherhood grew stronger in the hearts and in the minds of the men from Brooklyn, they decided to suggest to the other members of their class that something be done to perpetuate it. They received hearty support from the men approached regarding their idea, and by the end of April 1904, things were beginning to take definite shape. Before the academic term came to a close, a date was set for a meeting to take place at the Hotel Saint Denis in which a plan for the organization would be outlined.

On June 9, 1904, The Brooklyn Four were joined at the Hotel St. Denis by Robert S. Douglas, Irving L. Camp, Daniel V. Duff, Morris S. Rachmil and Herbert M. Wright. William O. Tremaine was to be invited, but he was not in attendance at the meeting, as he later said that the invitation had never reached him. The nine men in attendance were all strongly in favor of forming a fraternity, and many points worthy of being incorporated into a constitution were suggested. The Brooklyn Four were appointed to draft a constitution and present it the next time all of the men met. On July 16, 1904, a group of them traveled by steamer to Sea Cliff, Long Island and, at this meeting, the draft of the constitution was presented. The social aspect of the fraternity was emphasized early on, as Jefferson later recounted, "The greater part of the day, however, was spent in having summer fun, and although the party did no real work on the constitution, yet the friendships were strengthened."

After university resumed in the fall, a meeting was held on October 5, 1904, in the assembly room at 32 Waverly Place. All ten men, including Tremaine, were present at the October 5 meeting, and the decision was made to officially organize the fraternity along the lines of the constitution that had been presented by the Brooklyn Four. On written ballots, Robert Douglas was elected president, Howard Jefferson was elected secretary and Nathan Lane Jr. was elected treasurer.

In spring 1905, a formal application was made to the State of New York for a charter of incorporation for Alpha Kappa Psi. The application was approved and the charter of incorporation of the Alpha chapter was officially issued in the name of Alpha Kappa Psi on May 20, 1905.

Alpha Kappa Psi became an international fraternity on Saturday, April 18, 1931, when the Beta Kappa chapter was installed at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. The ceremony was held at the Hotel London, and it was conducted by Grand President O. Arthur Kirkman, Grand Secretary-Treasurer J.D. Sparks, District Councilor J.R. Gabell and members of Phi chapter of the University of Michigan, Beta Theta chapter of Detroit College, and Beta Iota chapter of Buffalo.

Membership in Alpha Kappa Psi was originally restricted to men who were "of the Christian faith and Caucasian race". By 1950, the restrictive clause in the fraternity's constitution was beginning to stir controversy on some college campuses. At the 1950 Alpha Kappa Psi Convention in Minnesota, delegates voted 66–44 in favor of dropping the restrictive membership clause from the national constitution.

In June 1972, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 was passed and it brought the beginning of the most significant change in the history of Alpha Kappa Psi. Title IX prohibited sex discrimination in federally assisted educational programs and amended parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While social fraternities and sororities were exempt from the provisions of Title IX, professional fraternities were included. Around this time, the brothers of the Delta Chi chapter at Clarkson University introduced legislation to amend Alpha Kappa Psi's Constitution to include women as brothers. While this move did gain the support of a few other chapters, the proposed amendments were easily defeated. In fall 1973, the Delta Chi chapter admitted four women into their chapter and soon granted females full rights and privileges, including participation in ritual. Delta Chi went on to elect a female president and attempted to send her to the 1974 national convention as their voting delegate. As a result, Alpha Kappa Psi revoked the charter of the Delta Chi chapter. The chapter proceeded by changing its name to Delta Chi Delta aiming to be completely independent from its former counterpart. During the same year, the Alpha Kappa chapter at the University of Idaho also admitted women to membership. As a result, Alpha Kappa Psi also moved forward with disciplinary action against the Alpha Kappa chapter. Upon having their charter revoked, the former Alpha Kappa chapter continued as an independent organization known as Pi Beta Sigma, and the organization's advisor remarked, "My sentiments are that if we are being excommunicated from the national because we failed to discriminate against women, then it's a pleasure to get kicked out of that organization."

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