Letters to the Editor
Todd Shelton | 6/29/2004 I would like to commend you on addressing the issue of suicide that our youth are facing.Dear Editor:
The article on suicide was really good. I haven’t seen anything in the Journal (save for some articles about alcohol abuse) that were as thought provoking. There are other statistics associated with suicide as well. For example, a study at one time indicated that smokers were more likely to commit suicide. Additionally, those who were gay were also more likely to contemplate or commit suicide. Suicide is still a big killer for youth.
I think KA should continue to explore contemporary, or not so contemporary issues, which impact not only undergrads, but Kappa Alphas in general. At one time, when I was working at Emporia State, I noticed that the Kappa Sigs did an article on HIV. In their magazine, they chose a “straight” guy who had unsafe sex when he was an undergrad and then as a married man discovered he was HIV+. Later, he died. Anthony Perkins, the guy who played the psycho in “Psycho,” was a KA and died of HIV related complications as wellÑor so it was reported. One of the largest growing segments of HIV positive cases is young people. Many are still taking unnecessary risks.
Also, when I attended the Interfraternity Institute at Indiana University, they had a segment on demographic changes in fraternities and discussions about being gay and Greek. At the time, the conversation was tense and provocative. The national leadership consultants from various fraternities had a great deal of trouble openly discussing the issue. Since my time as an alumni, I have run across a lot of gay KAs. In fact, our chapter has had more than one. It would be interesting to see in future articles if KA could address those particular issues and how they are playing out in the contemporary Order.
In any case, I liked this article a lot more than those of the past.
Fraternally,
Rodney Cook (Epsilon Zeta ‘88)
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Dear Editor:
I would like to commend you on addressing the issue of suicide that our youth are facing. Like your article stated, this is not a new problem. I would like to point out that we lost another brother ten years ago to suicide. Hugh Lawson III was a good friend and mentor to me when we were active brothers at Mercer University (Kappa Chapter). I think of him often and pray that he had chosen a different path. Let us not forget or ignore this silent killer.
Fraternally yours,
Brooks O’Kelley (Kappa ‘89)
P.S. - The website looks great. Keep up the good work!
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Dear Editor:
The latest issue of The Journal is a smashing success. It is simply beautiful. Congratulations! It is a great pleasure to read. Pictures were terrific. Many thanks for all you efforts.
Fraternally,
Bill Baldt (Beta Epsilon ‘54)
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Dear Editor:
Please accept my appreciation for the outstanding job you did on the recent Kappa Alpha Journal. The content was meaningful, and the layout was creative and encouraged the reader to “read on.” I applaud your continued effort to address critical issues. The article entitled “The Silent Killer” was a most timely message and addressed a topic that most prefer to ignore or suppress. The professionalism that is reflected in the Kappa Alpha Journal makes one proud to be a member of the Order. Thank you for your service to Kappa Alpha and good work on the Journal. Keep it up!
Fraternally,
Jim Lawson (Delta Delta ‘68)
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Dear Editor:
“Combine a frat boy, a black guy, a homophobe, an Upper East Side bitch, among other incompatible stereotypes, and MTV has another ratings-boosting epoch of The Real World.”
This is an excerpt from an article from the spring edition of the Journal about a Kappa Alpha brother who was on MTV’s “The Real World” series. I am personally shocked that the word “bitch” would appear in the Kappa Alpha Journal.
As a Number I, I know how difficult it is to instill the ideals and precepts of gentlemanly conduct in today’s college men. Many do not realize that gentlemanly conduct goes beyond respecting womanhood to displaying honor, helping those in need, practicing gentility and courtesy, and simply doing the right thing. With these principles constantly fleeting in our society, the least we can do is live up to our motto “Dieu et les Dames” and treat women accordingly, regardless of where they are from and how “incompatible” they might be.
As an Order, we must be more than just common “frat boys.” The principles that guide KA are not always easy to live up too, especially in the face of “stereotypes.” We are not all perfect, but what makes us different is that we strive for these ideals. We must remember the ritual. We cannot simply follow the trends of society, of the “social club” fraternities, of “ratings-boosting” displays of disrespect. We must carry our ideals, simply because we are among the few left in this world that still live up to something. We must strive to teach these things without being hypocrites.
Fraternally,
Corey Neal (Epsilon ‘02) |
