Alpha Kappa Lambda (ΑΚΛ), commonly known as AKL or Alpha Kapp, is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1914. Today, it operates 25 active chapters and has approximately 28,000 living-initiated members.
History and tradition
Alpha Kappa Lambda was founded on April 22, 1914, by a group of young men attending the University of California, Berkeley. Its birth, however, dates back to 1906 when a group of friends, the Los Amigos Club, discussed the "need of Christian men for a place to live and study that was within their [financial] means." These eleven men celebrated as the Fraternity's founders, were:
- Herman Ritchie “Dickie” Bergh
- Harold Alonzo “Hal” Savage
- Charles Oscar “Oscar” Perrine
- Allen Holmes Kimball
- Ludwig Rehfuess
- Gail Cleland
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- Charles Junius “Charlie” Booth
- William Barnum
- Leonard Herington Day
- Harry Levi Osborne
- Joseph Leon “Joe” Taylor [1]
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After assisting in the cleanup of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, four of the group re-addressed their desire to organize a house club during a YMCA conference in Pacific Grove, California. They formed Los Amigos in January 1907, a house club named from the Spanish translation of "The Friends." Shortly after, seven more men joined Los Amigos.
The club adopted its Greek letter name Alpha Kappa Lambda on April 22, 1914. The fraternity contemplated an early expansion program and adjusted its operational model into a more permanent fraternal association model. However, its growth was put on hiatus by World War I. After the war, active members and alumni focused on expansion, establishing Beta chapter at Stanford, followed by chapters at several Midwestern universities.[1] The fraternity joined NIC in 1930.
The Great Depression and World War II disrupted the geographic expansion of the fraternity until 1949 when it hired its first full-time employee. Expansion resumed with an aggressive plan in 1950.[1] Alpha Kappa Lambda became a senior member of NIC in 1954.
The fraternity has eliminated Hell Week, personal duties by pledges, and hazing.[1]
Symbols
Alpha Kappa Lambda is a non-secret order with no pledges of secrecy in the ritual, grips, passwords, or other clandestine signs. Reliance upon honor and the "members' finer feelings [are] depended upon" to safeguard the ritual and meaning of the fraternity.[1]
The official badge of the fraternity is made of ten-carat gold. An Α and a Λ rest in the background, covered with the flowers of a dogwood, representing Christian principles, and a Κ that is raised, set with eleven whole pearls. The pearls represent the eleven founders of the Los Amigos Club. The badge is to be worn only on collared shirts, sweaters, or suit vests, and in the traditional position over the heart. It may only be worn by initiated members of the fraternity. There is also a pledge pin that is a small hollow diamond.[2]
The fraternity's colors are purple and gold.[2] Its motto is Alethia Kai Logos which means "The Truth and the Word " in Classical Greek; the motto's'initials are the same as the fraternity's abbreviated name.
National service projects
These Hands Don't Hurt
These Hands Don't Hurt is the fraternity's response to the sexual assault problem on college campuses and was founded in 1996 by the Beta Zeta chapter at East Tennessee State University.[3] The project fights sexual assault through education, service, and philanthropic fundraising projects. Members fundraise through a "Promise Wall" that is displayed in a high-traffic area of campuses. Students, faculty, and members of the community are asked to add their hand to the Promise Wall for a contribution of $1. By placing their hand on the wall they make a promise that their hand will not be used to harm others. In the spirit of "growing the movement," Alpha Kappa Lambda has allowed other student organizations from around the country to use the program as a way to raise awareness about domestic violence.[4]
Cystic Fibrosis
The fraternity adopted cystic fibrosis as a national philanthropy at the 1990 National Conclave. Chapter fundraisers provide financial support to local organizations, research, and individuals. Chapters also provide manpower to help local organizations' events.
Adopt-A-School
The Adopt-A-School program was endorsed by the National Executive Council during a 1994 Winter meeting. The program provides one-on-one relationships between local college students and local elementary students. It allows college students to give something back to their host communities while being positive role models for children.
