Throwback Thursday: Lantern Chain

Today for Throwback Thursday, we're exploring another old SHC tradition. Once upon a time, the College had a "big sisters" and "little sisters" mentoring program, similar to many sororities today. Junior girls would be paired with first-year students to help them adjust to college life.

Though these photos in the old Sullivan Gym may look like a creepy cult's religious ritual, they are actually from what was called the Lantern Chain ceremony. The Senior "big sisters" would pass the lanterns to their Sophomore "little sisters." This symbolized that the little sisters were assuming the role of big sisterhood and would be becoming the mentors the following year.

This set of photos originally appeared in the 1954 Chevron publication. Thanks, as always, to Bill Black in the SHU Archives for the pictures and the stories!