The Fellowship of Kappa Sigma began over six hundred years ago when students of the University of Bologna joined together for mutual protection. These students, five disciples of a renowned Greek scholar and statesman teaching at the University of Bologna, considered themselves sons of the same father - their learned teacher Manuel Chrysoloras. Theses sons of this father, these brothers, joined together to create Kappa Sigma.
PRE-FOUNDING
1396 - 1400
1396
Florence, Italy
Manuel Chrysoloras was a professor in Florence in 1396, where he would help revive the study of Greek in the Christian West. The Florentine Republic contracted with him to teach Greek to anyone who wanted to learn it, both formal courses and informal lessons.
1397 - 1400
The University of Bologna
From 1397-1400, Chrysoloras taught Greek at the University of Bologna. His greatest genius was to teach Greek to a few disciples and inspire them to go on teaching and translating - thus spreading - the wealth of Greek literature and philosophy throughout Europe.
Chrysoloras authored the first academic text for the teaching of language, Erotemata Civas Questiones and his students went on to become the first of the great humanists whose work signaled the full advent of the Renaissance.
Chrysoloras authored the first academic text for the teaching of language, Erotemata Civas Questiones and his students went on to become the first of the great humanists whose work signaled the full advent of the Renaissance.
TRADITIONAL FOUNDING
1400
1400
THE BIRTH OF KAPPA SIGMA
Bologna, Italy
Around the year 1400, at the University of Bologna, Manuel Chrysoloras and his disciples formed a society for mutual protection against physical attack and robbery by the unscrupulous governor of the city of Bologna, Baldassarre Cossa. These students devised secret signs, words and forms - a ritual - to protect their ranks from penetration and betrayal and to ensure the members' safety. It was these rites which transformed their association from a protective guise against the ruthless Cossa into something much more important. Their ideals, embodied in a ritual, transformed them from a group of men to a true brotherhood - the Fellowship of Kappa Sigma.
Tradition holds that Cossa practiced extortion and robbery against the students, that he levied fees from traveling students (from other cities) and Cossa's agents preyed on those students when given the opportunity. Chrysoloras and his disciples stood against those forces on the strength of their bonds in Kappa Sigma. Born to a family of sea pirates, Cossa later usurped the Papcy under the name John XXIII after leaving Bologna.
Tradition holds that Cossa practiced extortion and robbery against the students, that he levied fees from traveling students (from other cities) and Cossa's agents preyed on those students when given the opportunity. Chrysoloras and his disciples stood against those forces on the strength of their bonds in Kappa Sigma. Born to a family of sea pirates, Cossa later usurped the Papcy under the name John XXIII after leaving Bologna.
AMERICAN FOUNDING
DECEMBER 10, 1869
1869
THE FIVE FRIENDS & BROTHERS
Charlottesville, VA
Modern day Kappa Sigma was founded one chilly evening in the fall of 1869, as five students attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville gathered in the room of William Grigsby McCormick, at 46 East Lawn, and planted the seed of brotherhood. For many weeks the bonds of friendship had drawn these five together; now the need became clear for a formal structure to contain their feelings. Thus, not only did the Founders formalize their friendship, but they also created a fraternity steeped in the traditions of the past and dedicated to the pursuit of learning. The new brothers recorded their bond in a Constitution and in an Oath that set forth the ideals and principles to all Kappa Sigmas today.
KSU FOUNDING
April 29, 2006
2006 - Present
The omicron-Kappa Chapter
Kennesaw State University, GA
Like most of the finer things in life, the Omicron-Kappa Chapter of Kappa Sigma was not crafted overnight. The establishment of our Order at Kennesaw State University took months of hard work, commitment and perseverance from not just one person - but from 50. These young men banded together to upset the status quo. Most organizations pride themselves on one or maybe two things that they do well. Our founding fathers come from all walks of life, however, the one thing they did agree on - they wanted to be dominant in all faucets of an organization. They all believed that a Fraternity's greatest asset is only as strong as their biggest weakness. They strived to change the status quo, become the "jack-of-all-trades" and dominate in every aspect that characterizes a Fraternity. They set their goals where others wouldn't dare to go. They wanted to set the Fraternity Standard - and that's exactly what they did.
In August 2015, Southern Polytechnic State University officially merged with Kennesaw State University adding over 7,000 students to the new university's population. SPSU was home to the Omicron-Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma, who similarly merged entities with the KSU chapter and together created the new Omicron-Kappa Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Today, Omicron-Kappa continues to dominate KSU Greek Life in all facets of fraternal life. Now, O-K only looks to progress upward and onward by proudly wearing the Star and Crescent, building a stronger presence in the Kennesaw community, and crafting a brighter future for Brothers yet to come.
In August 2015, Southern Polytechnic State University officially merged with Kennesaw State University adding over 7,000 students to the new university's population. SPSU was home to the Omicron-Lambda chapter of Kappa Sigma, who similarly merged entities with the KSU chapter and together created the new Omicron-Kappa Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Today, Omicron-Kappa continues to dominate KSU Greek Life in all facets of fraternal life. Now, O-K only looks to progress upward and onward by proudly wearing the Star and Crescent, building a stronger presence in the Kennesaw community, and crafting a brighter future for Brothers yet to come.
