 |
|
"To think that all of our college labor in the arduous
task of founding a Society has not proved vain, but on the contrary, that
Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity still stands with her glorious and mystical
insignia untarnished. I pray God she may yet survive to transmit to future
generations her renown."
|
|
The
Badge of Alpha Sigma Phi is almost exactly the same design as that created
by Louis Manigault in 1845. (The original Badge was, however, flat and
non-dimensional.) It is the only fraternity badge that is rectangular with
right-angle corners. The Badge of Alpha Sigma Phi may never be modified
in size or jeweled in any way. Every member of Alpha Sigma Phi wears exactly
the same badge. Inscribed on the back of each member's Badge is inscribed
the Brother's name, initiation date, chapter name (in Greek letters) and
chapter founding date.
The Badge is worn over the heart on shirt, sweater or vest; never on lapel or jacket. A chapter guard pin (shown attached to the Badge) may be added as well as officer insignia on the chain of the guard. No Brother ever allows any person not a member of the Fraternity to wear his Badge, except for the wife or fiancee of a brother. It is a tradition that the Badge of the Fraternity is willed at death to the Fraternity and returned to its archives.
Each chapter has a special President's pin that is a replica of the original badge and resembles the Delta Beta Xi key. A few chapters treasure an actual Badge used during the early days at Yale, gifts of the brothers who wore them as students.The President's badge is passed on within the Chapter from President to President, and remains the property of the chapter.
THE PLEDGE PIN | Top of Page | Home Page |
The
Pledge Pin of Alpha Sigma Phi is an adaptation of the Badge of Alpha Kappa
Pi, which consolidated with Alpha Sigma Phi in 1946. It is worn on the
left lapel of a suit or sport coat or over the heart on sweaters or shirts.
The Pledge Pin is the property of the Chapter and is entrusted to the Pledge
in accordance to the instructions given to him. The symbolism of the Pledge
Pin is explained in the Pledging Ritual.
The Pledge Pin is the only insignia of the Fraternity that a pledge may use prior to initiation; nor is a Pledge permitted to wear jewelry with the Fraternity insignia on it or any item with the Fraternity's coat of arms. A pledge may wear clothing with the three Greek letters of the Fraternity.
Historical note: prior to the consolidation with Alpha Kappa Pi in 1946,
Alpha Sigma Phi's pledge pin was a diamond-shaped pin with rounded corners.
The pin was divided in three sections: gold, cardinal and stone. It was
always worn with the gold part up. After the adoption of the Alpha Kappa
Pi Badge, the old pledge pin served as the "little sister" pin until such
organizations were abolished in the early 1990s.
THE COAT OF ARMS | Top of Page | Home Page |
The
coat of arms of Alpha Sigma Phi consists of a crest, a wreath, a shield,
and a ribbon.
The crest is a Phoenix, the mythical bird that arises again from its own ashes, in gold with upraised wings. The wreath, or twist, is made of six segments, alternating white and black.
The shield is quartered, the dexter chief (as you face the shield, the upper left quadrant) and sinister base (lower right quadrant) are fields d'argent (of silver) crossed with a black bend dexter with three mullets (stars) d'or (of gold) spaced at proper intervals.
The sinister chief (as you face the shield, the upper right quadrant) is a field d'or supporting a open book, the pages supporting a pen and inscribed with five hieroglyphics. The dexter base (lower left quadrant) is a field d'or containing a Greek column minus capital, an ancient lamp burning at its base and leaning against its opposite side, a wreath of laurel.
Beneath the shield upon the ribbon d'or are inscribed the year of the Fraternity's founding, 1845, and the open motto, in Latin, of the Fraternity: "Causa Latet Vis Est Notissima," meaning "The cause is hidden, (but) the results well-known." The symbolism of the coat of arms is revealed in the initiation ritual. For the heraldic blazon (description) of the Alpha Sigma Phi coat of arms, click here.
THE FLAG | Top of Page | Home Page |
The
Flag of the Fraternity consists of two equalized, vertical bars, the one
next to the staff cardinal (red), the other stone (grey). From the lower
corner, next to the staff, a white bar, one-fourth the width of the Flag,
extends diagonally across to the upper end of the Flag and has three equally
spaced cardinal stars upon the bar. The Greek letters of the Fraternity,
in cardinal, appear in the lower right corner of the stone bar. Some chapters
add their Greek-letter designations, in stone, to the upper left corner
of the cardinal bar (see illustration).
OTHER
SYMBOLS OF THE FRATERNITY | Top
of Page | Home
Page |
Official Colors - The official colors of Alpha Sigma Phi are cardinal and stone (red and grey)
Official Flower - The official flower of Alpha Sigma Phi is the Talisman Rose (photo at left), chosen beacuse it is a combination of Alpha Sigma Phi's old cardinal rose and Alpha Kappa Pi's yellow tea rose. The Talisman Rose is a beautiful flower, but often difficult to obtain; if it is not available, a suitable flower of cardinal color may be substituted instead.
The Official Seal - The seal is circular, with the shield as it appears on the Badge. The shield is surrounded by a double circle between which the open motto of the Fraternity, "Causa latet vis est notissima." On a scroll connecting or crossing the circles under the lower apex appears the year of our founding.
The Oak Wreath Seal - First used in the fall of 1846 in
The Yale Banner. This seal later appeared in The Yale Tomahawk,
on Alpha Sigma Phi stationery, songbooks and other items until 1864, when
the Greek letters Alpha Sigma Phi were replaced by Delta Beta Xi until
its suspension by Yale in 1875.
 |
 |
 |
The Recognition Pin and Monogram Pin - The Recognition Pin is a small replica of the open book with its hieroglyphics and pen. The Recognition Pin permits members unknown to each other to recognize the common bond of our Fraternity when the Badge is not worn or obscured by the suit jacket. The Monogram Pin is a simple gold pin with the Greek Letters. Both of these pins are worn on the left lapel of a suit or a sport coat only by initiated members of the Fraternity.
The Official Ring - Set with a rectangular flat black stone, the ring has engraved on the stone the shield as it appears on the Badge. The base of the stone is surounded by a wreath of oak leaves -- so the top of the ring is a replica of the Oak Wreath Seal. One shank has the coat of arms in gold and the date, 1845. The other shank has the Pledge Pin in gold. The Alpha Sigma Phi Ring is correctly worn with the base of the shield towards the tip of the finger. (A ring with a family's coat of arms is worn the opposite way.) It is worn only by initiated members.
The Phoenix Mark - A contemporary symbol of the Fraternity that relates to its rituals and reflects the upward movement of "The Old Gal." A pin with the Phoenix Mark and Greek Letters is worn only by initiated members of the Fraternity.
The Sister Pin - A seven pointed star of gold bearing on its face crossed sabers on a field of black above which are the Greek Letters. The sister pin is worn only by the female members of the family of a Brother or by his fiancee. It is the only insignia of the Fraternity that may be jeweled.
TRADITIONS
OF ALPHA SIGMA PHI | Top
of Page | Home
Page |
Traditions can be young or old. They are manifestations of the spiritual ties that bind men of kindred soul and common goal. Alpha Sigma Phi has developed a rich heritage of traditions of over the years, many dating back to the early days at Yale.
"The Old Gal" - Traditionally, Alpha Sigma Phi has been referred to as "The Old Gal", an affectionate term so old that its origin is unknown. Alfred Dewey Follett, the first Grand Senior President of the Fraternity, addressed the 1918 National Convention with his visualization of "The Old Gal." Just as Brother Follett was passing on to younger Brothers his insight into the Fraternity, so you will pass on to others the the lore and custom of your chapter.
The Rituals and Grip - The oldest and most cherished traditions of the Fraternity are part of the Rituals of Alpha Sigma Phi, esoteric (secret) and never revealed to anyone not a member of the Fraternity. The beauty and depth of the ritual is appreciated more and more as you participate within the Mystic Circle. The secret grip of the Fraternity has never been described in writing; it is passed on from Brother to Brother as new members are initiated into the Mystic Circle of Alpha Sigma Phi. It, like our traditional heraldry, is a device of recognition shared only by the initiated.
Chapter Designations - Chapters of Alpha Sigma Phi are given Greek-letter designations, assigned in order of installation into the Fraternity. No chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi is designated Omega, the last letter of the Greek alphabet that traditionally signifies "the end." Deceased brothers are respectfully referred to as having joined Omega Chapter.
All members have equal status as Brothers. Therefore, all badges are the same and none may be jeweled. There are no honorary members and there is no inactive status. Members-at-large are those Brothers who are initiated into Alpha Sigma Phi by authority of the Grand Council, traditionally during a national event such as the National Convention or the National Leadership Conference. While they may not be affiliated to a specific Chapter, they hold the same rights and privileges of any initiated member.
A chapter consists of all the members ever initiated through it. The undergraduate group should never refer to itself alone as "the chapter." Alpha Sigma Phi has no defunct chapters, though some may not be currently active at the undergraduate level. Each of these chapters still exists for it has alumni members.
Annual Traditions - Most chapters hold a "Sig Bust" sometime during the year when alumni Brothers return to renew fraternal ties and meet the current undergraduate membership. The highlight of the reunion is a traditional dinner known as the "Sig Bust." On or near December 6 each year, chapters hold a banquet or other observance of Founder's Day to honor the anniversary of the founding of Alpha Sigma Phi. Alumni brothers and special guests are invited to attend. It is a time of rededication of the Fraternity to the pursuit of its goals and objectives.
Pinnacle Week - This week is a time of special significance
to pledges of Alpha Sigma Phi, for it is the week immediately prior to
initiation into the Mystic Circle. This is a period for candidates for
membership to reflect on the Fraternity's ideals, purposes and traditions.
It is not, and should never be considered as
a "Hell Week", as hazing in any way, shape or form is in direct violation
of the Fraternity's Constitution and Bylaws. The program for Pinnacle Week
is designed by each chapter in keeping with the objectives of the Fraternity
and reflecting the special traditions of each chapter. Traditionally, all
alumni Brothers of the Chapter are invited to participate in the initiation
ceremonies that climax Pinnacle Week.
The
Black Lantern Processional - One of the oldest traditions of the
Fraternity, dating to Alpha Chapter at Yale, is the Black Lantern Processional
to induct new members. Led by the chapter's Marshal, robed and cowled in
white and the members, robed and cowled in black, all marched in single
file, approximately ten feet apart. Each carried a black Diogenes lantern
with a single candle. The procession was made in strict silence with no
word being spoken. The candidates for initiation were placed in the procession
annd taken to the chapter room to be initiated. The record for the longest
continuous use of the Black Lantern Processional was held by Delta Chapter
at Marietta College following their annual Sig Bust. The earliest initiate
present leads the procession followed by all members in attendance. As
used by Delta Chapter, the procession is enacted in memory of Brothers
who have passed into Omega Chapter. Some chapters re-enact the procession
in observance of Founder's Day, others at the anniversary of their chartering.
Other Chapter Traditions - The oldest traditional dance held by the chapters is the Black and White -- a formal with all the decorations in black and white. Nu Chapter at University of California - Berkeley is credited with beginning the tradition.
Gamma Theta Chapter at the University of Miami is credited with the tradition of having each pledge make a replica of an Indian tomahawk (reflective of our Fraternity's publication, The Tomahawk, oldest continuously-published college fraternity publication) which carries the names of his pledge brothers and the Fraternity's insignia. In some chapters, the pledge class makes a large replica inscribed with the names of the members of the pledge class to be kept permanently in the chapter rooms.
New Chapter Traditions - Delta Epsilon Chapter at Rio Grande University is credited with starting the tradition of presenting a baby blanket to the newest chartered chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi. The "Rio Grande Baby Blanket" is kept by the newest chapter until the next chapter is chartered.
Another tradition for the newest installed chapter is the presentation of the "Alpha Badge." This large bronze replica of the Alpha Sigma Phi Badge, donated by an Alpha Chapter (Yale University) alumnus is trusted to the custody of the newest chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi until the next chapter charters
A Singing Fraternity - Traditionally, Alpha Sigma Phi
has been a singing Fraternity. And its collections of songs, many of them
written over the years by Alpha Sig Brothers, is an impressive one. One
of the first publications of the Fraternity was a songbook. The Songs
of Alpha Sigma Phi is available through National Headquarters as both
a song book and a cassette tape. For the lyrics of a few of the favorite
songs of Alpha Sigma Phi, click here.
