What's with Kappa Alpha fraternity?--IIRC it was called the Confederate fraternity yrs ago

[bobbieinok]

It's the fraternity the guys who shot up Emmett Till memorial are members of.

In the 50s that frat at a local college had a cannon with balls nearby in its front yard

[TexasTowelie]

1. They are the "Southern Gentlemen".

I attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and the chapter there had a cannon in front of the frat house. They were also known for hosting the To-Kill-A (Tequila) Longneck party in the fall on a Friday night. The campus would be dead on Saturday since so many people had hangovers.

I didn't hang around there much when I was a student, but I knew a couple of them on an acquaintance basis.

After I graduated, there were four or five students that I spent a bit more time (small parties) and they were pretty normal and didn't push any of the racist crap--I actually think that none of them had strong anti-racial sentiments. Oddly enough, after I graduated a Puerto Rican student was admitted to the frat.

I suspect that there may have been some frat rituals that were racist, but I never saw or heard about any of it. It was mostly a drinking club, more than anything else. I think that there may have been more racist sentiments at other universities.

[bitterross]

2. We used to joke that KA stood for Klan Advancement

I'm from the South. They're known for being a bit racist. Seriously, Robert E. Lee is known as their spiritual founder.

From their web site:

Kappa Alpha Order was founded on December 21, 1865, during Lee’s presidency. Lee was not a member of Kappa Alpha Order, but his religious convictions, Kappa Alpha Order was founded on December 21, 1865, during Lee’s presidency. Lee was not a member of Kappa Alpha Order, but his religious convictions, exemplary ideals, values, strong leadership, courtesy, respect for others and gentlemanly conduct greatly influenced the students at Washington College. His requirement for all students was, “We have but one rule—that every student must be a gentleman.” It is in this spirit that Lee is noted as the Order’s Spiritual Founder., values, strong leadership, courtesy, respect for others and gentlemanly conduct greatly influenced the students at Washington College. His requirement for all students was, “We have but one rule—that every student must be a gentleman.” It is in this spirit that Lee is noted as the Order’s Spiritual Founder.

Exemplary ideals - the aim that humans should continue to be owned by other humans and treated like livestock.
Strong leadership - as a traitor as Commander of the Confederate Army.
Values - turning his back on his oath as an office of the US Army to take up arms against it

Yep, no surprise these guys keep getting caught doing racist stuff.

[Zorro]

3. As a Vanderbilt freshman many decades ago

I was invited during "Rush Week" to have lunch at KA's two story, white columned house on campus.

They had an elderly black man dressed in formal livery serving the meals.

It convinced me that the KAs were a bunch of racist, pretentious dicks.