Paddles, floats and exciting Spring Sing shows—these are just a few of the things Kappa Sigma Tau, Oklahoma Christian University’s oldest men’s social service club, has become known for in its 50 years on campus.
Kappa is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a social service club this Homecoming. In honor of the occasion, club members are inviting alumni to revisit their time at Oklahoma Christian and reunite with past and present members.
Hunter Wiederstein, the alumni relations officer for Kappa, announced a variety of events for Kappa alumni to reconvene with brothers throughout the club’s history, including a night at Topgolf on Friday, Nov. 1, an alumni breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 2, a fundraising lunch at Johnnie’s in order to benefit a Kappa alumnus whose house was destroyed in a hurricane. There will also be a banquet on Saturday evening.
Austin Peace, president of Kappa Sigma Tau, said he believes Kappa’s longevity may be attributed to the club’s stability throughout the years.
“I think we’ve been really consistent with what we do,” Peace said. “Kappa has pretty much remained the same for the last 50 years. It’s a hodgepodge group of guys who love each other and love God. Traditions have changed, but the core of consistency is still there. The guys love each other and want to be around each other.”
Wiederstein attributes much of the club’s success to the many Kappa alumni who have laid a solid foundation for the future. Wiederstein said he hopes to continue Kappa’s connections with alumni well after they have graduated.
“I love learning about the legacies we have created and the memories that came before I was ever involved,” Wiederstein said. “I want to build on those legacies and make connections to continue the relationships with our alumni. [It] is a huge opportunity of which we can take advantage.”
Kappa is most known for its annual float trip, their passion for Spring Sing and bonds between brothers, according to Peace.
“Float is always a big Kappa memory,” Peace said. “The night before we just mess around and play games. The actual float is an experience. It’s just one big wrestling match. Other memories like winning football intramurals and directing Spring Sing are big.”
“I have so many great memories of spending time with the guys,” Wiederstein said. “Being together, making jokes, bonding. Being together is what makes Kappa [the club it is].”
Both Peace and Wiederstein noted how Kappa has changed in the time they have been in club.
“When we first got into club, there was more apathy towards doing club things,” Peace said. “At the time, there was the idea of ‘we’re not going to try’ and that was going to be our bit. The biggest change is that we definitely care about what we are doing. We want to do well in intramurals, Spring Sing and Homecoming. We also care a lot more about each other.”
“There was a stigma for many years that you were in club just to say you were in club,” Wiederstein said. “In the last few years, we’ve worked hard to change the rhetoric, have purpose with each other and build a community which will rely on each other and have fun doing it.”
Kappa has made its mark in its fifty years, but the club plans to have a strong presence on campus for years to come, according to Peace.
“The identity we have created of accepting [guys] where they are, letting them grow and helping them along the way isn’t going to change,” Peace said. “It hasn’t changed in 50 years; I don’t see why it would change now.”
At the end of the day, Kappa is a club whose 50 years have been marked by a fun-loving attitude and a supportive environment, according to Wiederstein.
“We have not always gotten first place in things, and we will not always get first place in things,” Wiederstein said. “Regardless of where we land in the standings, we’re going to have a good time doing it and always try to get there.”
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