Black Greek Network

Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother wants UT to be family affair

LDockery — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0400

On Friday morning, Gene Cross was riding down the turnpike heading east to Toledo and practicing his introductory speech over the phone to longtime friend Cliff Warren, the men's basketball coach at Jacksonville University.

Warren heard the voice of Cross' mother, Haroleon Cross, in the background in the car and gave Gene advice he would later eschew: Don't look at your mother during your speech or you'll get emotional.

Gene told him, "I'm getting emotional now."

The new University of Toledo men's basketball coach calls himself "the biggest mama's boy there is," but that wasn't the sole reason for the feelings on the drive over from South Bend and during his speech. It was the thought that kept crossing his mind: "This is the job I was supposed to get."

"He and I talked all the time about what it's going to take to get a job," Warren said. "He's thankful and honored and I think he's going to cherish it for a very long time."

Cross is a guy who puts his team's grade point average on his resume. He's a crazy yet efficient driver in his hometown city of Chicago. He's a Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother. He's Haroleon's only child.

Kappas gather for practice

LDockery — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:00:00 -0500

If you haven't seen a Greek step show like the one featured in the 2006 movie "Stomp the Yard" you might want to get to a St. Petersburg greek show early to get the best seat. That's because people will tell you the rhythmic moves are breathtaking and if you blink you might miss the action.

No one knows that better than the producer of the flick Will Packer Jr. He's from South St. Pete. He graduated from Florida A & M in Tallahassee in electrical engineering and says he stumbled into film making because he wanted to be an entrepreneur.

He and his best friend Rob Hardy, have accomplished that goal together by

Kappas stand strong on campus despite one member left

LDockery — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:48:00 -0500

On UD’s campus, the word “nupe” might not generate many pictures in a person’s head.

There aren’t many of them left, but nupes, members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., are trying their best to revive a brotherhood they hold dear.

Kappa President Stacey Harris is the only active member left on campus and represents the fraternity alone in the Kappa house, 206 Lawnview Ave. He is surrounded by colorful 5-foot pledge class paddles in every room, with names of brothers he never knew. He is also often surrounded by invested alumni, a reminder of the family he will always have.

From 2000 to 2006 Kappa was the largest black fraternity on campus. UD recognized it as an official organization in 1978; it was founded at Indiana University in 1911. Its birth state was the same as the Ku Klux Klan’s during a time there weren’t many black college students, according to chapter adviser Charles Kellom.

The adversity Kappas have faced throughout the years gives them a reason to join together. Kellom, ’05, said the fraternity is “a tradition of lifetime commitment . . . because we’re always helping brothers succeed.”

Kappa honored at 29th Annual Black Achievers Award Celebration

LDockery — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:00:00 -0500

Like most dedicated achievers, Richard Watkins and Yunina Barbour-Payne are more concerned about the work they do than any accolades they might receive as a result.

But last night, they were celebrated as two of the local African-American community's best and brightest stars at the Chestnut Street Family YMCA's 29th Annual Black Achievers Awards Celebration.

The event, held at the Kentucky International Convention Center, celebrates academic and volunteer achievements of African Americans from

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc donates $1500

LDockery — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:16:00 -0500

On a single Sunday morning in January, the local chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity collected $1,500 in donations to benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

The group's collection was part of the fraternity's nationwide ``Sunday of Hope'' campaign, which aims to raise $500,000 for the research hospital within five years. The Sunday of Hope campaign will run annually in January.

For 2006-07, the national fraternity raised $100,000, according to Trumaine Thomas, event marketing representative for St. Jude Region 11, which includes Michigan and Ohio.

New director for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc will focus on enhancing greek life

LDockery — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:00:00 -0500

It seems only appropriate that Timothy Dunn, Union’s new director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, began his career with Greek groups as a result of talking with a fraternity brother.

“Fraternities and sororities are about having lifelong relationships, building real bonds among brothers and sisters,” he says.

Dunn earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communications at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and went on to get a law degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. He was working in social services in California when his KAPsi brother hired him as an assistant director of residential life at the University of Hartford. In that position, he began co-advising for Greek organizations.

“Greek advising gave me a great

Kappa named SWAC Commissioner

LDockery — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:01:00 -0500

The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors -- Ronald Mason Jr. -- announced Wednesday the selection of Duer Sharp as the new Commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Sharp, who begins his duties immediately as the SWAC’s fifth commissioner, succeeds Robert C. Vowels, Jr. Vowels stepped down in June to become the vice-president for educational services with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

“I am honored and excited to lead the Southwestern Athletic Conference, and I am grateful to the Council of Presidents and Chancellors for giving me this opportunity

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. sponsored Kwanzaa festival

LDockery — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 14:17:00 -0500

More than 300 people gathered in the Jazz Cafe in Ontario Sunday evening to celebrate the black holiday Kwanzaa with children's crafts, traditional music and dancing and a solemn candle-lighting ceremony.

The festival, "Celebrating a culture and sharing a vision," is the 41st annual Kwanzaa commemoration and the first to be jointly sponsored by three Southern California organizations: the San Gabriel Valley National Council of Negro Women, the Riverside Alumni Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Inland Area Kwanzaa Group.

"Kwanzaa is basically a cultural celebration that brings family and

Kappa announces bid for constable

LDockery — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:00:00 -0500

Incumbent Henry P. Jackson announced his bid for Smith County Precinct 1 constable.

Before becoming constable in 1999, Jackson, a Democrat, worked eight years as a reserve officer for the city of Tyler and two years as deputy constable for Precinct 3.

Jackson, 55, has owned a private security business, H&J Controls, for more than 22 years.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and holds a peace officer certification.

Precinct 1 encompasses primarily the Tyler city limits.

While constable, Jackson started the Community Policing Program, which has increased the number of patrols in the precinct's neighborhoods.

Kappa plans to retire

LDockery — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:00:00 -0500

Assistant Police Chief Paul Cross said Monday he was planning to retire after 24 years with the El Paso Police Department.

"I've been an assistant chief for four years," said Cross, 48. "I was thinking about retiring in December. I teach part time at UTEP and will start teaching part time at the University of Phoenix. That's enough to keep me busy."

Cross' retirement will be the second among the top command at the Police Department this month. Police Chief Richard Wiles announced that he will leave the position at the end of the month, and he has hinted he will join the crowded field for sheriff.