THE STATE OF THE FRATERNITY
seemed impossible. Enduring the trials of this pandemic have prepared us for anything and COVID-19 presented an opportunity to reflect on the history of our fraternity and understand how our challenges as disenfranchised people, including the challenges faced by our Founders at the University of Indiana at Bloomington more than a century ago. A review of our illustrious history reminds us that our Founders faced obstacles and challenges of tremendous magnitude. Enrolled at a university where the Ku Klux Klan operated with credibility, the Founders were treated as inferior human beings and deprived of the rights and privileges afforded to a college student. This was not easy, but they met and rose above the challenge. Those ten men endured “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and took up arms against a sea of troubles:” Our Founders did not have all the answers when we were established, however, they knew that we are a resilient people who had endured slavery. They knew there was hope at the Delphic Shrine and if they pooled their resources, the dreams of a people could be fulfilled. As the fraternity grew, so did the chal- lenges that the fraternity had to tackle. But our Founders continued to share their vision of hope with male students across America, training for leadership and demonstrating the importance of achievement. The world would soon see Kappa men as recognized leaders and achievers in every field of human endeavor, in their homes, and in their communities at large. Kappa men are leading the way forward and leaving legacies for young men to follow. Today, we indeed are faced with the COVID-19 ordeal, the greatest chal- lenge of the century. We are now tasked with the difficulty of transitioning from a virtual lockdown to resuming normal activities in a safe and responsible way. We must be guided by knowledge, sci- ence, wisdom, and most importantly,
led by our faith in God to determine the best path forward as we continue to conduct Kappa business. The way brothers responded to the challenge is nothing short of amazing and remark- able. We adjusted, revised, and created ways out of no way. It is because of your efforts and tenacity that I can say you were a bridge over troubled waters and the fraternity will come out of these troubled times better and nimbler than we were when the trouble began. Broth- ers, thank you for responding to the call and serving as that bridge over troubled waters. We could not have come through this without your strength and demonstrated love for Kappa Alpha Psi. My parents would consider COVID-19 an insidious blessing in disguise because, irrespective of the pain it inflicted on so many levels, it also chal- lenged us in ways that brought out the best in our character, compassion and resilience as an organization. CO- VID-19 compelled us to realize that, as we come out of this pandemic, we must change the way we do business and adopt ways that promote the longevity of our fraternity, especially at the under- graduate level. Now we must continue to move forward and adapt to our new environment. Our undergraduate chapters have been decimated by our inability to conduct intake due to COVID-19. Our primary focus is to reinvigorate our under- graduate chapters through programs and initiatives that encourage undergraduate participation in ALL operations of the Fraternity. Therefore, I am asking the Grand Chap- ter delegates to amend our Constitution and Statues to eliminate proxy voting and require all delegates to cast their own votes in person or electronically. For many years, our undergraduate brothers have been pressured to assign their cherished votes to Alumni mem- bers. This practice has discouraged our
undergraduate brothers from showing up and participating in the Fraternity’s electoral process and many times they have no idea how their votes are cast. This amendment will eliminate the abil- ity of Alumni members to exert pressure and will result in our undergraduates participating at Grand Chapter Meet- ings at a much greater level. There are other proposed amendments that will increase oversight of our Inter- national Headquarters operations and celebrate our Military brothers who lay their lives on the line every day for our freedoms. I ask that you vote YES to all proposed amendments you will read and review on the ballot. Brothers, it is an honor and privilege to serve as your Grand Polemarch and I take that solemn responsibility very seri- ously. If it is God’s will, I will continue this journey with you for another two years without any personal agenda or ego, but with a unique concentration of what is best for Kappa Alpha Psi. We will continue to "Build Bridges and Break Barriers," one brother at a time and complete the mission we began in 2019 to fully restore faith and confi- dence in the leadership of Kappa Alpha Psi graciously bestowed by the member- ship of Kappa Alpha Psi. God bless you brothers and please con- tinue to enjoy this historic 85 th Grand Chapter Meeting!
Yours in the Bond, Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. Grand Polemarch
46 | SUMMER 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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