Prompt 5: Observing Community

By: Jen Mylett

Campus Organization: Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity

What is Alpha Kappa Psi?

Alpha Kappa Psi is a national co-ed, professional business fraternity that was founded in 1904 at New York University. Michigan State’s specific chapter, Gamma Mu was founded in the early 1950s. At Michigan State, they are the only business fraternity to have a chapter house and be actual members of the Greek community. Alpha Kappa Psi hosts and attends events throughout the semester focusing on professional and social development, and improving and giving back to the community. 

How Does Alpha Kappa Psi Represent themselves?

As of January 2016, Alpha Kappa Psi holds the highest average GPA among all Greek fraternities on campus. They are really an organization that cares about their member’s well-being as well as how others perceive them. 

As a pledge of Alpha Kappa Psi, I have definitely gotten the gist of the regularities and expectations. I am a marketing major, so the fraternity definitely acknowledges that. They make sure your Big also has the same major as you and helps you with your school work, job planning, and other factors that may affect a student in the marketing field. Alumni from various background come to speak to us as well. For example, a graduate from MSU that graduated with a marketing major, told us about her job, how she obtained it, and everything that she can basically do with that major. We also can run for various positions in the fraternity, some being beneficial for my major may include: event planners and organizers who want outside individuals to attend their events, and the philanthropy which is responsible for creating a good name of the fraternity.

When attending business professional events or meetings, everyone is well dressed and taken care of, and we must show up a little early. This may seem like a natural thing for the brotherhood to do, but it takes a lot of time management to finish school work, take off time from a possible job, or plan future events accordingly. Pledging is equivalent to a three or four credit class on top of our schedules we have now. Of course, school comes first, but the organization truly stresses the importance of getting everything done earlier than later. I feel as this is an example of how one could market themselves by changing how other perceive them.