Kappa Kappa Psi - Alpha Chapter

Oklahoma State University

Serving the OSU Bands and Striving for the Highest Since 1919

History Snippets

Snippet #5 - "Why?  A Member of Kappa Kappa Psi!" by William A. Scroggs, taken from the January 1928 issue of The Baton.

Steve Nelson:  "If you read much of the writings from William A. Scroggs, you'll see that most of them tend to ramble a bit and are made up of the longest sentences you can imagine!  This article give his views on the dedication needed to be a member of KKPsi."
 

WHY? A member of KAPPA KAPPA PSI!
(BATON Vol 10, Nos 1&2 January 1928)

    The good old University Band is swinging into line and instilling that pep into the student body, faculty, townspeople and even the individual bandsman himself, as no other dynamic force can possibly compare.  Why is this so?  Because a group of progressive, alert and real red-blooded college students are so inspired by "that something" within them, which they translate to the world, and especially about the campus, that joy that causes one to radiate with happiness and contentment.

    Why are you a member of Kappa Kappa Psi?  If you are a WORTHY member, it is because you see the opportunity for service, to your director, the new band members, and to yourself; it is because you desire to promote good-fellowship, by entering into every progressive band movement that will further the cause of scholarship, advance the standard of music and develop a better band for the institution; it is because you appreciate the privilege of associating and being among the most active, most worthwhile and most select group of students found on the campus;  it is because the progressive student desires to be among the leaders, where his associates are up and doing things, for the band and his Alma Mater; it is because Kappa Kappa Psi fulfills to a more complete degree than any other honorary organization that highly desirable satisfaction and appreciation which comes from membership in this unusual organization.

    The band members in each institution, if you will notice, are the outstanding student leaders in curricular and non-curricular activities.  You will find them at the head in their classwork, leaders in pep and student organizations and dependable to the last.  The reasons for such initiative on the part of the university bandsmen are many.  One of the foremost reasons is that the sense of concentration is developed more fully than is possible through any other student activity.  Also the development of one's inner self is prominent as is evidenced by the squareness and justice that a real bandsman demands.  Music alone, and band work especially, more prominently develops these sterling qualities than any other type of activity.

    Now take such an individual who is highly cultured and a real "he-man", such as you will find in any university band where Kappa Kappa Psi is located, and you will have the cream of the student body as your fellow associates in that band.  Then take a small select group from this band membership, who are outstanding individuals as to musical ability, scholarship and personality, and you have a group that no other organization on the campus can compare.  On this basis we bar no group, be it honorary or social in character.  The high quality student who is a real well-rounded young man makes up our membership, and such fullness of character and scholastic training can alone be found and developed to such an extent through band work, and you will invariably find them within the local chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.

    Remember that Kappa Kappa Psi is only available to those students in the outstanding universities of America, those students who have opportunities for self expression and personal development.  The result is this: no organization on the campus should be more sought after for membership, no honor should be more appreciated by the fortunate few than by those affiliated with Kappa Kappa Psi.  If the rules, by-laws and constitution are strictly adhered to, your chapter is the biggest prize on the campus and it IS the outstanding organization thereon.  Live up to the trust which has been placed in you.  Either get into the swing and progressive strides of the organization or get out, since a bad mistake was made in selecting you for a member.  Give of your time and talent to your development.  Send in to see that your chapter has an "A-1" classification as to standing with the National organization.  You will get out of Kappa Kappa Psi exactly what you put into it.  Why are you a member of KAPPA KAPPA PSI?  The let's get busy, work for the common good of your band, and the fraternity, live up to that high ideal, and enjoy life to its fullest.  Let's go!  altogether -- we're off!!

William A. Scroggs
Grand Secretary