Contact Information:

Kappa Kappa Psi Omicron
P.O. Box 6111
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6111

Whoever said that history wasn't exciting? If it weren't for history, we wouldn't be the wonderful people we are today. And if it weren't for history, you'd never know how the Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was formed. If you're the kind who thinks that all aspects of history are dull and boring, read on.

It all started in the Roaring Twenties, when the Charleston was the dance to dance and getting out of the stock market was the thing to do. Mostly men dominated the college campuses around the United States, although there were select groups of women there to keep the boys in line. On the campus of West Virginia University, there was a great tradition beginning, the tradition of a marching band that would gain the respect of bands all over the country. In 1925, this marching band was made up of only ROTC members until the spring when George Saari, with his posse of 11, joined. The group learned that the ROTC members were getting paid for the marching band's public performances at football games and at ROTC functions. The non-ROTC members were not paid a red cent. Sounds unfair to you? Well, you're not the only one.

Because of this discrimination, Saari and the others decided to form their own marching band. The rebel band of musicians obtained permission from band director Walter Mestrezat and athletic director Charles Stansbury to perform during half-time at the WVU football games. Things started to look up until the news of a rebel band reached the office of Frank Trotter, the president of West Virginia University.

Trotter wanted the dispute to end very quickly, thus banning the newly formed band. Saari and his posse realized how much trouble they were in and promptly sought to make themselves a legitimate student organization. Forming the Greek band fraternity Gamma Kappa Psi in the winter of 1925, the group achieved permission to pledge a national band fraternity. On June 17, 1926, the Kappa Kappa Psi - Zeta Chapter from Penn State put through the twelve "rebels." The chapter of Omicron at WVU was born.

Omicron lasted for almost ten years, but when the ROTC band merged with the "rebel band," the need for Omicron was no more. The last class was put through in 1933. Times were a-changing in 1940 when the brothers from Cincinnati put through a new Omicron class. But unlike before, the ROTC band was a part of Omicron. And because many of its members were in the Army, there were being shipped overseas to fight in WWII. Thus, the chapter was suspended in 1943, but nothing can keep a good Kappa chapter down. In 1947, many Brothers returned and restarted Omicron. Even though the Brothers stayed with the band, the director did not: Lawerence Intravia was plagued with many illnesses and many temporary directors took over. People soon began to lose interest in the bands and with Omicron.

If you were even a tiny bit of a WVU fan, you would know that Pitt is not one of our favorite schools. But if it weren't for Pitt's Kappa Kappa Psi - Alpha Omega chapter, Omicron wouldn't be Omicron. In 1964, the Brothers of Alpha Omega re-initiated Omicron. Since Kappa Kappa Psi was a "fraternity," no girls were allowed. Thus, a Tau Beta Sigma (the sorority equivalent to Kappa Kappa Psi) chapter was established. Omicron and Delta Beta got along for a while, working together to better the bands of WVU. But competition arose and friction inside the band resulted from the competition. No great thing comes without conflict, right?

In 1990, the squabbling became too much for the Pride to handle. Don Wilcox, the band director and sponsor of Kappa Kappa Psi, gave the two organizations an ultimatum: either merge into one organization, form a non-Greek affiliated "band club," or abolish both organizations. After hours upon hours of negotiating, the Brothers and Sisters voted that the Tau Beta Sigma chapter would consolidate into Omicron. Delta Beta became no more and Omicron gained some powerful assets to their chapter.

Eight years later, Omicron is as strong as ever. The newest members are always full of energy and ideas, just as Saari and his posse so long ago. All of us in Omicron have a love of music and a love of Brotherhood in Kappa Kappa Psi. We have won countless awards, especially being recognized as one of the top chapters in our Northeast District. Our best asset, though, is our rich, exciting history. We have approximately 25 active Brothers and over 700 Alumni. For 70 some years, the Omicron chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi has served the bands and continues to carry on the tradition of striving for the highest!

Paula Andras

Alumni Secretary

with the help of John Kuch

(Alumni Secretary '96-'98)

and Alumni Brothers