Kappa Alpha Psi was established on the UT campus in the summer of 1978 as a colony. The fraternity was founded in 1911 at Indiana University in Bloomington. The current Mu Rho Chapter was chartered May 17, 1986. Colors of the fraternity are crimson and cream, and the flower is the red carnation. The motto is “Achievement in every field of human endeavor.” Philanthropies of the local chapter are the holiday canned food drive and Book-A-Boy program. Among notable alumni of the national fraternity are Arthur Ashe, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Johnnie Cochran, Montell Jordan, Penny Hardaway, Mikki Allen, and Andre Lott.
In spring 1988 the fraternity was charged by the Interfraternity Council Judiciary Board with hazing, and its punishment was to cease to be recognized as an organization by the university for an “indefinite period.” It was reinstated in spring 1993.