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/Alpha Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc. new article content ...
Alpha Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc. is a non for profit organization that began on October 11th, 1972, at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The seven Founding Members: Delandis Neeley, DeMarcio C. Washington, Kenneth Lester, Claude Newman, Wayne Merrick Thomas Suddeth and Vincent Davis forged a new brotherhood that is based on community service and outreach, a positive cultural environment and duty to each other. The colors adopted were those of SIU-C to include Maroon and White with Gold Trimming to give honor to the university the order was started at. At a meeting at Schneider Dormitory, on the east-side of the SIU-C campus, the members of the new organization elected officers and officially swore in new charter members.
The new organization decided that their stated purpose would be "To promote the spirit of unity among the black brothers and sisters of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale." The original motto, "Brothers & Sisters United" was a general theme of the times in the early-to-mid 1970s with political, social and economic unrest at a fever pitch. Born of a generation growing up witnessing the Civil Rights Movement, the war in Vietnam, the assinations of President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Senator Robert F. Kennedy and and civil rights crusader Malcolm X., was the reason for the drive and need to feel a sense of achievement and belonging to something good and positive. With other organizations springing up on campus such as The Nine, The Black Saints (TBS), Wine Phi Psi and The Family Club (TFC) Abraxas more than held its ground with its rival organizations and gain respect also among the Greek letter fraternities and sororities with the initiations of pledge lines.
Four of the original Seven Novas and several charter members had dual membership at SIU-C. Kenneth Lester - Kappa Alpha Psi, DeLandis Neeley - Phi Beta Sigma, Thomas Suddeth - Omega Psi Phi, and DeMarcio C. Washington - Phi Beta Sigma. Charter members Kay James - Delta Sigma Theta, Rodney Phillips - Iota Phi Theta, Clyde J. Neal - Phi Beta Sigma, Linda Anderson and Brenda Paige - Zeta Phi Beta. There was a school of thought that Abraxas would eventually become an umbrella organization with so many members holding dual membership. The other idea within Abraxas was to eventually end dual membership and adopt Greek letters pointing out the humble beginnings of the "older" organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity starting as study groups.
After early years of growth, years of slow and meager membership set in due to lack of interest, and a large decline in young black men attending colleges and universities nationwide during the 1980s and 1990s. Young brothers were more likely to join a gang than finish high school. There was a collective sense within the fraternity to close ranks and screen potential members with great scrutiny.
After seven years of co-ed membership, many and most of the original members, founders and charter members had graduated, transferred or left school for various reasons. The members of the St. Louis Chapter wanted to change the direction and culture of the organization to that of a more traditional fraternity/sorority.
The new organization adopted as its new motto and purpose would be:
The purpose of this organization is to promote the spirit of unity among the academic and laymen communities through social and cultural activities and events. To provide service to those in need through charitable means regardless of race, religion, nationality, creed or color.
Alpha Phi Psi was incorporated on April 20th, 1989 in the home state of Missouri as The Alpha Phi Psi Brotherhood Association Incorporated. The name was changed to "fraternity" officially by the Secretary of the state of Missouri in 2005.
Alpha Phi Psi has chapters in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jacksonville, Florida, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia. Alpha Phi Psi has also been involved in many charitable organizations in its history that include:
Annual year-end can food drives, Faith House which supported babies born from drug dependent mothers, voter registration drives, support groups for Matthew-Dickey Boys Club for struggling students, mentoring and tutoring in the St. Louis Public School System, fundraising functions they led to donations for UNICF and the United Way of Eastern Missouri and many others.
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