Growth of the Greeks
Beta Sigma Lambda Founded 1926
The beginning of Beta Sigma Lambda has just recently been put down in writing by one of its founders, Nick Lucia Lucas. It is reprinted here in the form in which it was received by our fraternity.
On a balmy Fall Day six of us young fellows were having a bull session in one of the old dormitories – specifically “The Dog House.” We talked about fellowship, lasting friendships, and loyalty to each other.
At that time, we were very idealistic and dreamed of the future! We continued the discussion and meeting in Derr Hall – also one of the old dormitories now moved too for progress!! One of us, probably “Al” Featherer, came up with the idea of a fraternity! Someone else came up with ideas of Brotherhood – someone else the idea of loyalty and then sincerity. This was the nucleus of B.S.L. in Greek letters and only us 6 knowing what the letters stood for! We had to go “underground” since fraternities were forbidden at “U”.
We then talked about the structure of the fraternity. Not to take in too many students unless they were carefully screened and me with our ideals! We instituted a handshake and an initiation process. In this I know “Al” Featherer ’29, our first secretary, was the man with the ideas. I have a hunch that in his hometown of Pennsgrove, NJ., he was tied with some lodges and our initiation ritual may have been patterned after one of those lodges “Al” belonged to.
The candidate for membership was brought into the room that was poorly lighted. We all sat around in a semi-circle and each member spoke of the meaning of the letters B.S.L.and the purpose of the fraternity. To me at the time, this was very interesting and touching! Then the president showed the member the handshake.
At that time, each member had, and new member got, a goblet to drink a toast to the fraternity! I don’t know what happened to mine. 50 years is a long time. We were to meet every year. We did for a while, but the Great Depression 1930-35 and second World War made us forget the promises of our youth!! Soon—you find out its too late. Four of our six are gone and all that is left are memories.
Hope you can use this J.T., but the new has to go forward, not the old!!
Fraternally,
Nick L Lucus ‘29
The brothers of Beta Sigma Lambda thank Nick for his informative and historically important letter. BetaSig has gone forward and is, still active on the “U” campus. Keith Brand is president today
and John Pambianco is this year’s vice-president. Michael Injaian is our recording secretary and Steve Masone is BetaSigs’s corresponding secretary. Bob Simpson is our social chairman and AI Mazur was this fall’s pledgemaster. Bud Walters presides as B.S.L. treasurer, Walt Denkowski is our chaplain
and John Kominski is our sergeant-at-arms.
Beta Sig has had a long and full history and we hope to continue for many years to come. Our founders never had “Hey Raunchy” or “We’re a bunch of.”, but we’re still the same Beta Sigma Lambda.
