The historically black fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. has put a national hold on recruitment due to an alleged hazing incident which left one member critically wounded.
Nineteen year-old Fort Valley University student and APA brother Brian Tukes was hospitalized for acute renal failure after complaining of back pain and vomiting. He is currently in a stable condition.
Fellow Fort Valley student and APA member Bryson Trumaine Amey was arrested for allegedly beating Tukes with his fists and other body parts at the APA fraternity house.
“Following my review of 2009, it became clear to me that one area that needs our immediate focus is the conduct of the brothers involved in the intake process,” APA Inc. General President Herman Mason said in a memorandum addressed to the APA community.
Seven African-American Cornell University students established APA, the nation’s oldest historically black fraternity, in 1904. The Kappa Pi chapter of APA was established at the College of William and Mary in 1975.
Some of the fraternity’s more famous members include Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Jesse Owens.
The College’s chapter is known for its step dancing show performances at various campus events.
Once the Kappa Pi chapter of APA receives a sufficient number of applications from potential members, the fraternity begins a two weekend rush period.
There are five active members of APA on campus, but none have been recruited this year. There have been no reported APA hazing incidents at the College.
“There have not been any problems here at the College, and we have been here since 1975,” APA Historian Lamar Shambley ’10 said.
Shambley could not comment on how the national halt on member intake could affect recruitment on campus.
It is still unclear how long APA recruitment will remain frozen.