Alpha Sigma Phi - Interest Group at Alabama Established

Interest Group at Alabama Established

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 30, 2009 | 12:00 NOON EDT

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – Alpha Sigma Phi is excited to announce that a new Interest Group has been established at the University of Alabama. The 15 man Interest Group recently met with the Fraternity’s Director of Expansion Matt Humberger and confirmed their interest and laid out a plan to become a colony in the fall.

“I was very impressed by the men at Alabama. They want to start a fraternity for the right reasons and are committed to creating a chapter that lives its values and does not haze. I’m confident that we have the right men involved and that we can expect good things from them in the very near future,” said Matt Humberger.

A local group of men established a new fraternity in 1925 and called Chi Delta Epsilon. The group of men petition Alpha Sigma Phi and were granted a charter as the Alpha Iota Chapter on May 3, 1930. The chapter was inactive from 1943 to 1948, and the first post-war initiation was conducted in January 1948 with assistance of members of University of Kentucky Chapter. Don Cronin, Alabama ’48, was the first post-war Chapter President. The Chapter House was located at 721 Tenth Avenue in Tuscaloosa. The 721 Tenth Avenue facility was a two story colonial style house accommodating 24 men. The 721 Tenth Avenue house burned on August 23, 1968, during the 1968 National Convention of Alpha Sigma Phi. The chapter operated from temporary quarters at its old 310 Thomas Street house for about a year and a half after the house fire, but died out in 1970.

Alabama boasts U. S. Senator and Alabama Lieutenant Governor James B. Allen, Alabama ’30, who received the Fraternity’s Distinguished Merit Award in 1971. Four initiates of the Alpha Iota Chapter, Gordon Davis, Alabama ’30, Robert W. Lee, Jr., Alabama ’40, James B. Allen, Alabama ‘30, and Leonard Hultquist, Alabama ’60, have received the Delta Beta Xi Award.

Social fraternities and sororities have been an integral part of student life at The University of Alabama for a long time. Fraternities began forming in 1847 and as women's enrollment increased, the first sorority chapter was started in 1904. As the University population began to diversify, the first national historically black fraternity and sorority formed on campus in 1974. These organizations have made important contributions to University life and today over 5000 students - nearly 27% of the undergraduate student population at the Capstone - are in the 31 fraternity and 22 sorority chapters.

In 1818, the federal government authorized Alabama Territory to set aside a township for the establishment of a "seminary of learning." Alabama was admitted to the Union on March 2, 1819, and a second township was added to the grant. On December 18, 1820, the seminary was officially established and named "The University of the State of Alabama." UA offers 80 undergraduate degree programs, 69 master programs, 6 educational specialist programs, 56 doctoral programs, and 1 law program. UA is a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for all sports.

The Fraternity is now looking to form a Chapter Council and select a Grand Chapter Advisor before the start of the fall semester. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Denis Beaudoin, Director of Volunteer Initiatives at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MEDIA CONTACT:
Matt Humberger, Director of Expansion
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | 317.843.1911 ext. 234

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Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Yale University in 1845, and currently recognizes 68 chapters and colonies across the country. The Fraternity aims to be the co-curricular organization of choice for discerning young men through the provision of an enriching brotherhood experience and a full range of character and leadership development opportunities. The national headquarters of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is located in Carmel, Indiana.

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