san jose state Growing strong with eight new brothers, Epsilon Mu, 1977 Western Region Chapter of the Year, is building stronger fraternal support. Brother Jerome Cannon is serving as the new Western Assistant Vice President and Brother La Guan Lea will serve as President for this chapter. More than ever there is concern for the Black community in the San Francisco Bay area. The chapter gave a $500 pledge too the N.A.A.C.P. at an annual banquet held on May 28th in San Jose. Many prominent California citizens and politicians were present, including California State Supreme Court Justice Wiley W. Manuel. The chapter is also forming a tutoring program which is directed at underprivileged children in the San Jose area. Six Brothers graduated last semester; Phil Brown, Michael Cunningham, Chris Darden, Andrew Isadore, Derrick Kendricks, and Luis Silvestre. Brother Cunningham received his Masters in Business. Bringing the Alpha spirit back to the campus, Brothers head various campus groups. Brother Miles Newborn is President of the Concerned Black Students, Faculty, and Staff; Bruce Santos is President of Black Business Students; and La Guan Lea is Editor of the Minority Newspaper. And I am Juan Sigler, reporter for the Sphinx magazine. Other newly elected officers are: Luis Silvestre, Vice President; Kevin Clark, Recording and Corresponding Secretary; Eugene Carter, Treasurer; and Maurice Sullivan, Parliamentarian.
Brothers of Epsilon Mu chapter. 58
La Guan Lea, president of Epsilon Mu.
California On August 26, 1976, Brother Kenneth D. Chapman held the first meeting of what soon came to be Mu Xi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. This meeting was comprised of military and civilian brothers in the San BemadinoRiverside area. Interim officers were elected and subsequently forms were submitted to the National in Chicago. Thereby Alpha begins in the Inland Empire. Due to the increase in chapter applications during the 76-77 year, the processing of cur chapter charter was delayed. However, we continued to grow and function by drafting our Chapter Constitution and increasing our membership. After lengthy communications with the national, and
receiving tentative approval of our chapter, plans were made to honor the upcoming festive occasion. Arrangements for a Charter Dinner Dance were made, although the Brothers did not know the date the chapter would be approved. Correspondence was sent to all area chapters requesting their assistance in recognizing this monumental occasion. On February 12, 1977, Mu Xi Lambda (Key Number 558) officially received its Charter — which was presented at the dinner dance held the same evening. The keynote speaker was Brother Ray Bartlett, President of Eta Pi Lambda Chapter, Pasadena, California. Members of all Black Greekletter organizations were represented (except Phi Beta Sigma) and acknowledged. Also present were community and civic leaders. At the conclusion of the dinner, Brother Bartlett introduced the Charter Members: Carl E. Brazelton, Lt., USAF; Kenneth Chapman; Charles M. Coffin, Capt., USAF; Walter Lewis, Capt., USAF; Byron McGuire; Ron Stanley, Capt., USAF; Norman Towels; Robert Dixon, Lt., USAF; Cornell Jones, Capt., USAF; and, Howard Wallace, Capt., USAF. Other chapter members are Marion Black, Maj., USAF; John Taylor, Lt., USAF; and, Bennett Desadier. Current projects include advisory assistance to area college chapters, active participation in the Western Regional in Denver, Colorado and scholarship programs. In the opinion of the Brothers of Mu Xi Lambda, our chapter will have to be reckoned with as the most influential voice in the far Western Region.
From left to right: Charles M. Coffin, toastmaster; Kenneth Chapman, president of Mu Xi Lambda chapter and Roy Bartlett, key note speaker. The Sphinx / October 1977