Guest post by Malique Boothe.
Kappa Alpha Psi originated at Indiana University in the year 1911, from the strength of 10 illustrious men. One hundred and six years later the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated continues to be actively engaged in the community; uplifting students and people around them. The historically African-American organization now is leading the Greek Community in a different direction through hosting a screening of a documentary called The 800 Mile Wall. Their purpose behind this screening is to shed light on and support the #IUTakesAStand peaceful demonstration that occurred on February 5th, 2017 in response to President Trump’s controversial executive orders. The hashtag was created to display the unity amongst ALL students as they are standing up to be heard at Indiana University.
Minority students felt it necessary to take a stand to be heard on campus for a few reasons: their overall experience attending a PWI (predominantly white institution) as minorities, to directly respond to the executive orders signed to impose travel-ban on six predominantly Muslim countries, and the allocation of Federal Funding for the planning, designing, and construction of a physical wall on the southern U.S. border. A few weeks later, an eye-opening opportunity appeared to the Brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated to partner with the IU Cinema to send a greater message in the efforts towards social justice.
The 800 Mile Wall documentary was chosen to highlight the construction of the new border walls along the U.S.-Mexico border and share an unflinching look at a failed U.S. border strategy that many believe has caused the death of thousands of migrants and violates fundamental human rights. Kappa Alpha Psi is partnering with IU Cinema to screen this documentary in the hope of educating and influencing students along with the Greek community at Indiana University to focus on the longevity of social acts they support. So often in the Greek community organizations focus their programming on controversial issues only during the time they are plastered on major news outlets. This causes the overall objective and social meaning to be sidestepped, resulting in no change. In the labors of many student voices on campus the goal of the screening is to educate and inform students on the current board policy and the repercussions from it, as well as focusing on ensuring the longevity of #IUTakesAStand.
“We Don’t Need Unity In Theory, We Need Solidarity In Practice” on the campus of Indiana University.
The 800 Mile Wall will screen at the IU Cinema on September 5. This screening is supported through the Cinema’s Creative Collaborations program.
Malique Boothe is a Junior at Indiana University studying Human Resource Management in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a minor in Business Administration. Alongside being a student in the Washington Leadership Program in SPEA, he is also the Vice Polemarch for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and Chair of the on-boarding committee for Indiana University Student Association congress.