The History of Syracuse (NY) Alumni

The Salt City Nupes

The Syracuse (NY) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi developed through stages before being charted as a chapter. Its origins begin with a group of Kappa men meeting up in the fall of 1961 and decided to become an organized group of Kappa men in Syracuse. Being that the number of Kappa men was small at the time, they were not able to officially charter a chapter with the Grand Chapter. The transitioning of brothers to and from Syracuse played a role as well.  

Members at the time were Joseph Adams, (first president), Donell Bacon, Alfred Bunton, Alvin Harrison, Winfred Jones, Joseph N, Walker, David Brown, and John Willis Jr. These men were actively involved in the Syracuse community; especially in the Afro-American community serving as big brothers to younger boys. The group affiliated itself with the Y.O.U. Program (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) which tutored, encouraged, and facilitated JR High and High school students in many ways to complete at least a high school education and expose them to events which help the to expand their horizons in other areas of their lives. The Kappa men of Syracuse became well known in the Syracuse community and were looked to and did help to provide social events for the community. 

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The second stage began when the Kappa men of Syracuse, under the presidency of Donell Bacon, decided that the number of Kappa men in Syracuse had grown to a point that the Grand Chapter could be petitioned for a charter for an association. The petition was granted which resulted in the Northern Province Polemarch, James A. Jones, installing the Syracuse (NY) Alumni Association as an active and recognized component of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. Alfred Bunton was elected and installed as the first Polemarch of Syracuse (NY) Alumni Association. Other charter members were Donell Bacon, Alvin Harrison, Joseph N. Walker, Winfred Jones, Joseph Arrington, David Brown, D.D.S., John Willis Jr, and M. Gilbert Kirkland.

The Association continued its involvement in the community and grew in membership as time passed. As an Association, only one vote was granted at Province and Grand Chapter conventions. Associations could not induct new members, which was found to be a drawback for Syracuse (NY) Alumni Association. For those two reasons primarily, Syracuse (NY) Alumni Association thought to become a full fledged chapter to gain all of the voting rights and privileges that Kappa Alpha Psi has to offer. On September 29, 1973, Syracuse (NY) Alumni Association made history as The Syracuse (NY) Alumni Chapter emerged as a chartered chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. Its charter members included: Donell Bacon, Merle Greene, Robert Costen, Joseph Wilson, Ronald R. Young, Earl Johnson, Melvin Stith, M. Gilbert Kirkland, Dwight Peebles, Kenneth Jackson, and George Stubbs.

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 The Syracuse (NY) Alumni Chapter Accomplishments: 

• 3x Small Chapter of the Year Award for Northern Province

• Ronald R. Young, Gerald Williams served as Northern Province Board Memberd

• Ronald R. Young served as Northern Province Polemarch

• Ronald R. Young served as 28th Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi

Compiled By: Bro. Donell Bacon (Gamma Chi, Spring 1958) ​