“KA will continue to have dialogue with alumni and Active Chapters who wish to have a

productive discussion. We received a letter from Furman KA alumni on Monday. In response to

some of the specific requests: we are engaged with a third-party historian to review the
fraternity’s history; the national board, chapters, and staff are considering concrete steps to
make meaningful change; new member educational materials are being reviewed to include
more information and education addressing racial equality.

KA leadership and members are always examining our past in the context of our present and
future. KA’s relationship with Lee is constrained by history to his time as president of
Washington College. During those five years, he provided a source of leadership and an example
of gentlemanly conduct that inspired the students, KA’s founders among them. Many historians
claim that no one did more to unify the country after the war than Lee. KA does not deify Lee nor
claim he was a perfect man. Like any of us, Lee was flawed, he made serious mistakes, and
errors in judgment. This is an increasingly important lesson for developing tomorrow’s leaders.
Developmental psychologists often cite the concern that today’s college students, in their
desperate efforts to achieve perfection, ultimately lack in human development. In a time when
any mistake can be ridiculed or canceled on social media, today’s students are taught failure is
not an option. This leads to depression, anxiety, and a fear of risk of any sort. In other words, it
stunts human development. Rejecting Lee because he made mistakes only underscores that any
failure is unacceptable for today’s college students.

No one can re-write history, and KA cannot change the past. But we can take these and other
steps to learn from the past and work to contribute to a better future. Last summer, KA
retained the services of Marlon Gibson, most recently Director of Sorority and Fraternity Life at
Emory. He is now completing his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia. His task was to assist KA in
developing a best-in-class educational program centered on KA values, diversity, and inclusion
and the Order’s relationship with Lee. KA ultimately hired Marlon as its first Director of
Community Engagement, at first a part-time position but one that became a full-time position as
of July 1. Marlon led the implementation of the program entitled “Values in Action” at the
Number I’s Leadership Institute (NLI) in January with all but one chapter president
participating. He further presented the program at each of five Officer Training Conferences
across the nation to more than 1,800 undergraduate members, including all officers from each
chapter. Marlon and his program have been incredibly well-received. As a result of the tragedies
that have occurred this spring and summer, and to best support our members, Marlon
developed a supplemental program presented over three sessions by webinar to each chapter
president. He has also been providing chapter-wide and individual consulting to chapters and
alumni leaders.

In contrast to the letter containing demands, Marlon and other staff have been actively engaged
with our Active Chapter at Furman and with university administrators in order to best
coordinate that chapter’s plans for the fall in reference to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They
are developing an action plan and engagement with stakeholders to be a positive force for
change on campus and we are proud of that effort.”