Fraternity hopes to restart MC chapter

The Marietta College campus has welcomed Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity into our Greek community once again.

"Alpha Sigma Phi's decision to return to campus was a surprise to most of the Greek community but we welcome the chance to expand the Greek community," Adam Stonier, interfraternity council president, said. "Especially, with a fraternity that has such a storied history here at Marietta."

Founded at Yale University in 1845, Alpha Sigma Phi is the 10th oldest fraternity. The chapter was founded at Marietta College in 1860, the fourth in the nation with the other chapters located at Harvard, Yale and Amherst. The Delta chapter at Marietta College was active until 1993 when recruitment hit a stand still.

"For 32 years (1875-1907), the chapter here at MC was the only active Alpha Sigma Phi chapter in the nation," Jacob Tidwell, assistant director of student activities and Greek life said. "Without our students' dedication and commitment, the organization would not exist today."

Until Feb. 13, Alpha Sigma Phi Coordinator of Chapter and Colony Development, Jeremy Ried, and Director of Chapter and Colony Development, Matt Humberger, will be on campus recruiting "founding fathers." These "founding fathers" will be the new leaders of the Delta chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi.

From Feb. 13-18 there will be an Alpha Sigma Phi development team on campus and twice more during March and April. This team will serve to guide the process and efforts of Alpha Sigma Phi to revive the Delta chapter. If recruitment numbers and interest in the fraternity are satisfactory, a chartering petition will be submitted and, if approved, the Delta chapter should be formally installed by the next academic year.

"Alpha Sigma Phi has been generating quite a bit of interest and success," Stonier said.

Ried and Humberger spoke of multiple advantages to joining Alpha Sigma Phi, one of which was their award-winning leadership program. The Ralph F. Burns Leadership Institute is a three day program where participants take part in discussions and brotherhood experiences in an effort to become a better leader and gentleman, which is suiting since the Alpha Sigma Phi motto is "to better the man." This program won the Laurel Wreath Award from the North American Interfraternity Conference. This award is the highest a fraternity can receive for educational programming.

"Beyond their stated mission and values, which includes charity, honor, and patriotism, Alpha Sigma Phi is also actively involved in the Lance Armstrong Foundation," Tidwell said.

Humberger also believed an advantage was that "there's not a pre-image here." Sometimes students get preoccupied with joining a fraternity or sorority because of its status on campus, but with Alpha Sigma Phi it's the start of something fresh.

Alpha Sigma Phi hopes to recruit members through referrals from administration, faculty, student leaders, social networking and face-to-face communication.

Ried who was initiated as a member in 2007 and started his career with Alpha Sigma Phi in December 2011 recalled that the fraternity made an impact by "giving me lifelong friendships and strong leadership skills to carry throughout life after college."

Alpha Sigma Phi is actively looking for student leaders. If interested in joining contact Jeremy Ried at jried@alphasigmaphi.org. More information can also be found online at www.alphasigmaphi.org or visit The Office of Student Activities and Greek Life located in Andrews Hall.