Category Archives: Photojournalism

Alpha Sigma Phi Commemorate Founding

Alpha Sigma Phi “Black Lantern Processional” for The News Record. Published Dec. 12, 2012. Click here.

Alpha Sigma Phi’s Beta Sigma chapter is commemorating its founding for the first time at the University of Cincinnati since 2010.

The fraternity hosted its Black Lantern Processional Thursday to honor deceased brothers as members dressed in black robes and carried lanterns from Sigma Sigma Commons to McMicken Commons.

The national organization of Alpha Sigma Phi was founded Dec. 6, 1845 at Yale University and in 1937 at UC. The fraternity closed at UC in 1981 due to low membership, but reopened in 2010.

Alpha Sigma Phi President Danny Dressler was excited to have the Black Lantern Processional on UC’s campus. Dressler has been a part of the brotherhood for two years.

“A lot of [the ceremony] hit home for me,” Dressler said. “It is pretty cool as a re-founding father since we were off of the university for a little bit and came back.”

Nearly 100 chapters from across the nation participate in the annual Black Lantern Processional. UC’s chapter hopes to host the event every year.

“It is cool to have a connection with people back in 1937 that started it all up,” Dressler said.

Nathan Fliger, the chapter’s vice president, served as director of rituals during the ceremony. Instead of wearing a black robe, the director of rituals wears white and leads the procession through the campus.

The white robe symbolizes purity and “the light that leads the way,” Fliger said.

Fliger read names of deceased members dating back to the first roster number of UC Alpha Sigma Phi brothers in the ’30s. Those who have been members and have died are said to pass on to the Omega Chapter.

“We do not and will never have an active chapter that has the Omega symbol,” Fliger said. “Omega means ‘the end.’”

The lanterns are carried and burn small candles to commemorate the brothers that have passed on.

“We were a little scared and anxious [about the processional],” Fliger said. “[We hope that] after completion it will inspire a lot of the brothers and take the meaning of our brotherhood and fraternity to another level.”

The Beta Sigma chapter is chartering to become a recognized chapter in April 2013.