Alumni Newsletter SPRING 2012 Kappa Alpha PI

Kappa Alpha PI
PHILANTHROPY | BROTHERHOOD | PROFESSIONALISM
Alumni Newsletter SPRING 2012
Kappa Alpha Pi
Pre-Law Co-Ed Fraternity
University of California, Los Angeles

Alumni Newsletter SPRING 2012
Kappa Alpha Pi
Pre-Law Co-Ed Fraternity
University of California, Los Angeles
Alumni & Friends|
It is definitely a bittersweet transition
as we proudly welcome the new Upsilon
pledge class into our brotherhood but at the
same time, are forced to say farewell to an
exceptional group of graduating brothers. It
is my hope that the Upsilon pledge class will
continue to uphold the values and lessons
that were instilled upon them throughout
this quarter as they become the newest brothers
of this fraternity and carry on the traditions
and spirit that define Kappa Alpha Pi.
Also seniors, congratulations on successfully
completing your undergraduate experience. I
know that no matter what path you all end
up pursuing -- whether it be law, education,
policy, etc. -- you all will do so exceptionally.
Furthermore, no matter the distance that may
eventually separate us all, forever remember
that we will always be brothers through
the bonds forged during our time together.
I am honored to have been elected to
produce this newsletter, and it is my hope that
the articles not only bring back fond memories
of all our experiences this quarter (retreat,
a new pledge class, going to the shooting
range, and volunteering at Skid Row -- just
to name a few) but also remind you all of how
much we have been able to achieve together
in such a short amount of time. Lastly, thank
you so much to those who contributed and
helped make this newletter possible. Enjoy.
Ken Huang | Sigma Pledge Class
Alumni Relations Chair | Spring 2012
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I. Introduction: Alumni & Friends
Ken Huang | SIGMA Pledge Class
II. Table of Contents
1. Upsilons: Unlock Kapiness
Areni Shahinian | PI Pledge Class
3. A Sorority Girl in a Fraternity World
Taylor Cross | UPSILON Pledge Class
5. Brotherhood: Right to Bear Arms
Juan Hernandez | RHO Pledge Class
7. Quotable Quotes
Michelle Nguyen | RHO Pledge Class
9. Fraternity Girls
Brooke Scott | RHO Pledge Class
11. Skid Row
Kenneth Carbajal | SIGMA Pledge Class
13. Senior Send-Off
Brian Springer | OMICRON Pledge Class & Megan Grossman | PI Pledge Class
SPRING BID DINNER
GRAPHIC DESIGN // EDITING | KEN HUANG | SIGMA PLEDGE CLASS
ARTICLES

BY: Areni Shahinian | PI Pledge Class
U N O C K
KAPi.VPR@gmail.com made it all
real. I mean, I knew what I was getting into
when I got elected to the position of Vice
President of Recruitment, but there was no
way for me to foresee my upcoming quarter.
You have heard stories and seen people
experience it, but it is a whole new ride
when you do it yourself.
I loved pledging, I loved the work,
how busy we always were, and the bonding
that was forced upon the pledge class
through the needs of the process. I would
always tell people I wanted to pledge
again and again; VPR was the closest thing
to pledging again. It was always something
I had dreamed of doing and was so
honored to have been elected for this position.
Looking back at this past quarter, I
can say it has been one of the best quarters
of my life. Before I met any of the Upsilons,
I was already saying how I was going
to keep telling them “Oops” and “You
messed up again” because I had the idea
that they would be messing up at all hours
of every day. They obviously proved me
wrong. They have made me so proud! From
their first meeting and retreat I already
knew I had a good group in my hands. They
have given me so much joy and made me
a proud mom!
The quarter is coming to a close. The
gift is wrapped, and it is waiting its final
bow. I cannot believe how quickly 6 weeks
could pass. Last I remember from this quarter
was rushing to Costco with Maura to
get cookies, juice and lots of veggies for
our nights of rush. Next thing I know we are
at bid deliberation deciding a class size,
I am directing the Oopsies into the bid
ceremony, I am addressing them and the
prized binder at their first meeting, we are
at their social event, then their professional
event…and now here?! Where has this
quarter gone?
They say time flies when you’re having
fun. Now, I don’t know whom “they”
Welcome UPSILONS! KAPINESS
are, but they are right! I have had a blast
this quarter and really was not expecting
to fall in love again. But now I think I have
found something new to fall in love with.
My new thing to tell everyone is how I want
to be VPR over and over again.
For my Upsilons, Good luck! This fraternity
is being passed to you slowly. Treat
it delicately, for it is one of my greatest
treasures.
Areni Shahinian
Pi Pledge Class
Upsilon Pledge Mom
EUROPE!
TOP: ARENI SHAHINIAN (PI) UPSILON VPR AND JUAN HERNANDEZ (RHO) UPSILON AVPR | BOTTOM: UPSILON PLEDGE CLASS
1 2
FBGM

A SORORITY GIRL IN A FRATERNITY WORLD
BY: Taylor Cross | UPSILON Pledge Class
Walking to Monday meeting, Shelby casually
asked, “Oh yeah, did you want to go to that pre-law
thing tomorrow night?”. I accepted the offer, imagining
a presentation made
by one or two people in a
lecture hall.
Star-
OOPS
ing at
m y
closet the next
evening, I tried to
picture a business
casual outfit.
Images of
Carie Bradshaw
came to mind:
cute heals, a
skirt, and some sort
of blazer. Accordingly
I put on my six-inch nude
pumps, cream pencil skirt,
burnt orange button-up, and
grey blazer. Showing up to rush,
I quickly realized that it was not going
to be anything like I had imagined. Here I was
thinking I would be able to sit anonymously in the
back of a presentation. The realization that I would
be standing in my shoes for three hours hurt my soul,
as well as the soles of my feet. However, the speeddating
style of rush entertained me so much that
I did not even think about my feet. These people
were so diverse and accomplished that they made
me feel mundane and unprepared for life. They
were who I wanted, and needed, to be. Freshman
year was fun, but I needed to get my life aimed in
the right direction: law school.
My work and class schedule forced me to
sign up for the very first interview slot, Thursday at
9 am. Again channeling my inner Carie, I selected
the same heals to wear to the interview. This
time paired with high-waisted dress pants, a colorful
striped blouse, and a navy blue cardigan. We were
instructed to bring three copies of our resume, but
being the overachiever that I am, I brought four. I
was proud to slide one copy to each of my interviewers;
my resume was sunflower-scented with my
name and the headers printed in eye-catching coral
ink. It gave it something extra, don’t you think?
Needless to say, I have now realized the
error(s) of my ways. Carie Bradshaw’s wardrobe is
the farthest thing from professional. A resume like
Elle Woods’ will not gain you admittance to a prestigious
law school or give you credibility with employers.
My most important accessories have become
my pledge pin and binder. People who used
to be fifteen strangers have become my brothers.
This process has taught me so much about professionalism,
brotherhood, and philanthropy; it has also
taught me about myself.
Retreat cemented Kappa Alpha Pi in my
memory as an experience that can never be repeated,
substituted, or forgotten. Though we did
not know each other very well at the time, I believe
that the Upsilons elected individuals to the positions
which suit each person’s unique personality and skillset
very well. I had the honor of being elected President
of my pledge class, and it has truly been one of
the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.
The Upsilons have earned the reputation of
being a pledge class which is prone to injury/illness.
Simply beginning at retreat, we were all slightly infected
with a cold. For the social event held that
following Thursday, one of our Social Chairs broke
her elbow the day before. Carie and
Talea (our social chairs) were able
to coordinate an amazingly fun ice
cream social, complete with original
games, despite the injury. Somehow
we managed to make it to our next
event, Professional Night, without another
brother finding themselves in
harm’s way. Kaite and Hector (our Professional
Chairs) hosted a professional
night which was expertly executed,
coordinated down to the last cup of
water. Our next big extravaganza as a
pledge class was the Mock Trial.
As I have never participated in anything
remotely similar to a mock trial, it
intimidated me beyond belief. Luckily,
three of my Upsilon pledge brothers
have been actively involved in mock
trial since high school. Phil and Katie
were both cast as attorneys for the defense,
while Shezaf was cast as an at-
torney for the prosecution (these
three being those with previous
mock trial experience). As Phil
stated, “it [didn’t] matter that
we’re on opposing sides we [had]
to help each other out.” And we
did just that; as a pledge class we
dedicated countless collective
hours preparing both sides of the
case. In the end, the verdict was
inconsequential. We all learned
to value each other’s strengths
and help our pledge brothers improve
in their areas of weakness.
Throughout the entire pledging
process, we have had multiple
brothers have to call in sick for
individual events or workshops.
But one single brother has proven
her strength and dedication to the
“OH YEAH, DID YOU WANT TO GO TO THAT PRE-LAW THING TOMORROW NIGHT?”
UPSILONS....AND THEIR SHENANIGANS
UPSILON PROFESSIONAL EVENT: “WHAT CAN I DO WITH A LAW DEGREE?”
3 4
process above all others. Ashley had to be rushed
to the hospital before our last Mock Trial workshop
and has not been physically capable of returning
since. However, this has not halted or even slowed
her participation in our pledge class. As one of the
fundraising chairs, she and Shezaf have worked
tirelessly to ensure that we not only meet our fundraising
goal, but exceed it. I am proud to call such
strong and dedicated individuals my brothers.
Our Brotherhood Chair, Joey, said it best: “Our
pledge class is like a machine. If you take out just
one of the parts it won’t work right anymore.” We
have persevered through illness and injury. We have
hosted professional and social events. We have interviewed
countless actives and aced the hardest
of tests. We have sported mint-green t-shirts and
modeled professional attire. We have even tried
one of our own for murder. Through the pledging
process we have formed a bond closer than friendship:
brotherhood.

Brotherhood
Right to
Bear Arms
BY: Juan Hernandez | RHO Pledge Class
Angelina Jolie, Alicia Keys, Michelle
Rodriguez, Kate Beckinsale, and Mila Kunis;
what do all these women have in common
besides being beautiful actresses?
They look even hotter when they are firing
a gun! So if we use reason, guns are good
for appearances, but also, they are good
for brotherhood! On April 19th , we
had a Brotherhood Event
at some- what-nearby Los Angeles
Gun Club, a shooting range, to which about
15 brothers attended. Having shot many
guns before (cue the ghetto/ gangster
jokes), I felt right at home pretending I was
Denzel Washington in Man On Fire minus the
a suit.
I got to pair up with Daniel Rios, a.k.a.
Mr. Call of Duty, and we rented a Beretta Px4
Storm – the .45 caliber version. Our neighbors,
Megan and Kirsten rented the 9mm
counterpart of our gun and we ended up
trading guns a few times. Needless to say,
the .45 sent vibrations up our forearms as the
recoil left our pistol pointing skyward after
every shot! But the adrenaline is addicting.
“ Once you fired one bullet, you wanted to
unload the whole magazine! I can honestly
say I now understand why people don’t just
shoot another person once but at least ten
times! The 9mm gun was far more accurate,
but felt like a toy in comparison to the potent
.45. Nonetheless, it added that tactical
feel to it. Holding the nine gun made
me imagine myself as a SWAT agent, but the
forty five made me feel like a Navy SEAL!
BROTHER ARENI SHAHINIAN (PI) DEMONSTRATES GUN SAFETY
The most important thing I learned, though,
was how good guns make us look. As a result,
I took about 100 pictures with my phone
of all of my brothers going H.A.M. on the
shooting targets! Of course, some of them
tried their best but nonetheless missed the
target completely, but it was a friendly competition
after all! As the Director of Brother-
BUT THE ADRENALINE IS ADDICTING.
“
hood for the upcoming quarter, I have already
determined that this will be one of
the Brotherhood Events I will be proposing,
so alumni, if you’re interested: join us!
P.S. The tacos afterward were icing on the
cake!
BOTTOM LEFT: KAPI AT THE LA GUN CLUB | RIGHT: BROTHERS KAT DO (TAU), MAURA NUNO (XI), MICHELLE NGUYEN (RHO), AND KATY HO (RHO).
SHOW OFF THEIR IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS.
6

“
“
COMPILED BY: Michelle Nguyen | RHO Pledge Class
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Kappa Alpha Pi is the only place at UCLA that I’ve
met people who are willing to pick you up from the
hospital at 3am, even though they have a final the
next morning at 8am. Now that’s Brotherhood.
Kappa Alpha Pi is the only place on campus
where pre-law students can come together
and forge and grow friendships across gender,
race, and background. It’s refreshing to be a
part of a group where none of that matters and
it’s all about the brotherhood. I’m glad I joined.
“ “
“
“KAPi brought me my
internship, my future
roommate, and some
of the most eccentric
people I’ve ever
met. It’s my home
away from home.”
“Come for the professionalism but stay for the brotherhood.” When I first heard this
during rush, I thought: that’s just a slogan they are required to repeat. However, after
having been in KAPi for a year, I truly believe brotherhood is what makes KAPi so special.
7 8
“

Fraternity Girls, albeit a
paradoxical statement, this
is who we are. As brothers
of Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law
Fraternity we acknowledge
and uphold the ideals of
brotherhood.
On first discovering
that UCLA had a pre-law coed
fraternity I was thoroughly
intrigued and also a bit
confused. The possibility
of fusing my interest in the
law with Greek life had
been something I had not
known was possible before
pledging KAPi my freshmen
Fall Quarter. I wasn’t really
expecting there to be any
major difference between a
co-ed fraternity compared
to a male-only fraternity,
besides the obvious fact
that the fraternity would also
include females, and in that
respect my expectations
were met. However, what I
could not have expected
Fraternity Girls
The female perspective on being a brother
BY: Brooke Scott | RHO Pledge Class
MEMBERS OF THE BITCH FAMILY AT FALL BANQUET IN MARINA DEY REY
was the extent to which they
upheld brotherhood as well
as the understanding that
we were to address each
other as brothers and the
deeper meaning behind the
definition of a brother.
In all honesty, on first
joining this fraternity it was
difficult to refer to myself
as a brother or to address
any of the other females
in our fraternity in that
way. At first glimpse it may
seem as though referring to
ourselves as a fraternity and
as brothers is just another
reminder of our patriarchal
society, but in Kappa Alpha
Pi the word brotherhood
encompasses a deeper
meaning. What I ultimately
came to find is that our
brotherhood encapsulates
a group of individuals who
may have first come to unite
over a common interest
in the field of law, but this
unification has come to
grow into something more
“ONE OF THE THINGS THAT INITIALLY ATTRACTED
ME TO KAPI WAS THE FACT THAT IT WAS CO-ED”
Delaram Kamapour
profound. In this regard,
a brother is not limited to
gender but is more so a
feeling of kinship amongst
individuals who triumph
through tribulations and take
pleasure in the successes of
one another.
Upon asking some of
the female active members
in KAPi their opinion on what
it is like to be in a co-ed
KAPI GIRLS PLAYING 10 FINGERS
fraternity, they came up with
some insightful responses.
Delaram Kamalpour, a 2nd
year political science student
and member of the Sigma
class stated, “One of the
things that initially attracted
me to KAPi was the fact that
it was co-ed. I think that
there is something to be said
about the productivity of a
group in which both sexes
are permitted to participate,
especially considering the
effort of women to gain
equal recognition in the field
of law.” In addition, Katy
Ho, a 2nd year undeclared
student and member of the
Rho class believes, “It [the
word brother] grows on you
and brotherhood represents
less of a gender related term
and becomes something
more significant and
meaningful that represents
the fraternity and all that we
stand for.”
The brothers of Kappa
Alpha Pi, guys and girls
alike, are bound by the
bonds of brotherhood. And
though we may come from
different places with different
perspectives and even be of
different gender, we are one.
2
9 10
BROTHERS ARENI SHAHINIAN (PI), DIANNA LINDSEY (SIGMA), AND HINNANEH QAZI (OMICRON) AT SPRING
BANQUET
xx
BROTHERS VOLUNTEERING AT THE STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION GALA

SKID ROW
BY: Kenneth Carbajal | SIGMA Pledge Class
I remember listening to speakers during
Spring Rush 2011, wondering why I should
pledge and what differentiated Kappa Alpha
Pi from other pre-law organizations at UCLA.
As soon as Philanthropy was described as one
of the pillars upon which the fraternity was
founded I immediately envisioned being able
to express my passion for serving the less fortunate
through the fraternity. In each of the
two quarters since I was elected Director of
Philanthropy, and during my pledge quarter,
my proudest moment has been when members
meet at my apartment, make bagged
lunches and take them down to Skid Row. I
began attending Skid Row trips my freshman
year of high school, when I was 13. The ability
to be able to continue with those trips, that
have been so important to me throughout my
life, is one of my favorite aspects of this fraternity.
During each of our quarterly service
trips an average of fifteen members have met
at my apartment at nine in the morning. We
make bagged lunches from bagged snacks,
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water
bottles. The satisfaction members felt after
they pass out the bagged lunches has
not been the only gratifying part of the trip.
While preparing the lunches there is usually
music playing, members are joking around
and generally being good brothers to one
another. This trip always unites brotherhood
with philanthropy, we have fun while helping
others.
Oftentimes members who attend the
Skid Row trip have not been to Skid Row before.
It is difficult to describe the state that
Skid Row is in, difficult to have someone imagine
what its like not to have an adequate
change of clothes or the comfort of knowing
whether there will be anything to eat in a few
hours. Members frequently comment to me
that they enjoyed the trip and that they were
surprised how quickly we ran out of food. I
try explaining that regardless of how large
12
a budget we approve, we will never have
enough food to pass out. It is both a rewarding
and heartbreaking experience to help
those who have nothing but the possessions
they can carry with them. Some members are
nervous about going down to Skid Row but it
KAPI VOLUNTEERING IN THE SKID ROW DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN LOS
ANGELES
goes to show just how amazing our brothers
are for not letting this fear get the better of
them and actually going out with the intent
of helping those who have less than us. It was
my purpose when elected to this position to
do as much as possible to help those in need.
Although I do not feel I have completely accomplished
this goal, I feel as a fraternity we
have taken great steps towards sharing some
of our wealth with the less fortunate.
LA, CA 90013
PB & J SANDWICHES, GRANOLA BARS, AND BOTTLED WATERS WERE
HANDED OUT

Congratulations 2012
BY: Brian Springer | OMICRON Pledge Class & Megan Grossman | PI Pledge Class
Two years ago, we crossed into a fraternity full of
graduating seniors. We watched in confusion as people
bawled at banquet, saying goodbye. At the time, we didn’t
understand the magnitude of the impact this fraternity
would have on our undergraduate experience. But now, as
we’re about to be in that same position, we understand exactly
why everyone was so emotional and we can’t believe
its coming to an end. Through all of the good times and all
of the bad times, the frat has been important to us and it is
really hard to be leaving it, once and for all.
As we reflect on our times in the frat, we think
about all of the things it has taught us. One philanthropy
event stands out, where we made and delivered lunch to
the homeless on Skid Row. Being able to so directly affect
someone’s life in a positive way had a lasting impact on us.
This year we have also witnessed a bunch of new events.
One example was our Dinner with Professors event, where
we interacted with a bunch of different professors and asked
for advice on professional development. We also saw the return
of the KAPi bonfire, where we got a chance for a large
group of the members to get to know each other better,
away from the pressure of school. We’ve seen this passion
within the fraternity to throw new events that make a difference,
whether in our own lives, or in the community. This
fresh look at the pillars has allowed the fraternity to progress
in a new direction and we
are excited to continue
to see it change
even after we
have graduated.
Looking back
at the last two
years, we are
realizing how
much we are going
to miss. In
KAPi, we learned how to write a resume, how to interview
professionally, and these skills helped us each get jobs at
law firms. Throughout this whole process we gained lifelong
friends who we hope to keep in contact with for the
years to come. Even just in meetings, we have gotten the
opportunity to interact with a diverse group of people, tied
together by one common interest. We have been able to find
our voice, even in difficult situations, without wavering
in our brotherhood towards the people we
may be having disagreements with. We
will always treasure the random moments,
hanging out with brothers
that we do not normally hang
out with, so we can get to
know them on a personal
level to really understand
their story. This
begins for everyone
when you play five
questions with
your pledge class,
connecting with
people you have
just barely
met,
form- ing a
bond of brotherhood
that lasts forever. We would not
have made it these last two years without
this family away from home.
Now, we are moving across the country to University
of Pennsylvania and University of Texas, to join
some of our alumni in law school. We’re excited for
the other graduating seniors, some going off to teach,
some off to work, and others who are still planning to apply
to law school in the future. We are confident that because
of the things they have learned, they have the tools they will
need to be successful. No matter where we go, Kappa Alpha
Pi will always be a part of us, and how we have gotten to
where we are today. You guys are the ones who have really
made UCLA special.
SENIORS:
Angela John
OMICRON
Center Director, Mathnasium Math
Learning Center of Westwood
Brian Springer
OMICRON
University of Pennsylvania Law
School, Class of 2015
Carlie Jones
OMICRON
Obtaining TEFL license and teaching
abroad
Dianna Lindsey
SIGMA
Teach for America- Los Angeles,
Loyola Marymount School of Urban
Education, Class of 2014
Elizabeth Black
SIGMA
National Teaching Fellowship for
Citizen Schools: Boston
Elliot Schwartz
XI
Working at Mark S. Temple, A
Professional Law Corporation
LSAT Studying (Part II), applying
in the fall
Ingrid Rodriguez
TAU
Attending the UCLA CAPPP
program in fall & then taking the
LSATs
Jose Gonzalez
SIGMA
Pursuing a finance certificate
through UCLA Extension and applying
to business school
Juan Hernandez
RHO
Pursuing CPA, MBA and potentially
a JD. FBGM
Katherine Do
TAU
Violin Teacher for the Huntington
Beach Union High School District
13 14
WHAT’S NEXT ON
YOUR RESUME?
Katie Sloss
RHO
Applying to graduate school in
philosophy and working on my
graphic design portfolio
Mary Fersch
RHO
University of San Diego Law
School, Class of 2015
Maura Nuno
XI
Law Office of Jonathan I. Kelmanll
Megan Grossman
PI
University of Texas School of Law,
Class of 2015
Supreet Gill
OMICRON
Writing for Vibe Magazine
Tessa Roberts
SIGMA
Boesch Law Group, Assistant
LSAT in October, applying in
the fall