Snickers, chuckles and giggles may follow it down the aisle as it makes its way along processional lines, capping those who conquered challenges affording them this exclusive honor.

But as distinctive as those who earn the privilege of wearing it, the Luther cap, which honors education and the role of the educator, presents a link through time that connects Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, with Martin Luther, the Lutheran Church and the University of Wittenberg, founded in 1502, in Saxony.

Articles in the Wittenberg Alumnus, the Torch, and the Springfield News-Sun note the revival of the tradition of the academic cap.

On September 17, 1959, the late President Clarence C. Stoughton revived the wearing of the red cap in “honor of the original Wittenberg and the man whose ideas transformed the world.”

Stoughton and his cabinet members wore the new academic cap for the first time at a program that commemorated Wittenberg’s name change from college to university.

On June 15, 1975, as president emeritus and in his last public appearance, Stoughton presented his cap to new President William A. Kinnison during a commencement ceremony.

The spring 1976 Alumnus makes reference to the “red velvet ‘Luther’ hat” worn by Kinnison during his induction as the 11th president of the university on Feb. 21. Baird Tipson received the cap from Kinnison at his inauguration, Nov. 4, 1995.

The caps replicate those worn by Luther and fellow educators during the 16th century. Back then, the caps delineated a teacher’s badge of office. They also provided protection against the bitter drafts blowing through the 16th century halls.

Today, complete with ear tabs and made of red velvet, the cap is worn by the university president and is given as a presidential award to those receiving honorary degrees and the Wittenberg Medal of Honor.

Nancy U. Dominick, director of special programs, noted that those nominated to receive a Luther cap as a presidential award must be approved by the honors committee.

University policy states that others permitted to wear the cap include “Wittenberg officials of vice presidential level and above, department chairs, tenured faculty and delegates appointed by the president to represent him at academic functions such as inaugurations and dedications.”

Registrar Emeritus Francis E. Roller holds great reverence for the cap and remembers being asked to represent President Emeritus Kinnison several years ago at an event.

Proudly wearing the hat, Roller sat next to a woman in a navy blue Elizabethan-style hat. “I’ll bet we made quite a pair,” Roller said with a chuckle.

The honor of wearing the Luther cap is also reserved for Wittenberg alumni who have earned a baccalaureate degree from Wittenberg and are either of vice-presidential rank or above, department or tenured faculty at two-, three-, or four-year fully accredited institutions of higher education.

Currently, 501 alumni teach at two or four-year accredited institutions. Produced by the E. R. Moore Company of Chicago, with all orders strictly supervised by the university, the caps cost around $50.

Michael S. Rogers, manager of the Wittenberg Bookstore, confirmed the sale of one or two caps a year in addition to those given to honorary recipients at commencement or convocations.

“They’re very strict about who receives them,” Rogers said, noting that orders are few and far between.

Richard P. Veler, general secretary of the university and professor of English, proudly wears a Luther cap and admitted that he loves the color and grandeur of formal academic processions.

He also noted that the distinctive appearance of the Luther cap suits the formality of these events and offers color in contrast to the black mortarboard. “It’s amazing how attached we get to our regalia,” he said.

Admittedly a few heads wear the cap as a favored chapeau, lending it style, grace and beauty. Others give it an air of distinction, solemnity and honor.

However, taken out of the context of a formal academic procession, loyal Wittenberg supporters find the caps odd-looking, amusing and a source of fun.

Roller explained, “The further we move away from an event, the significance of why a practice was instituted in the first place becomes lost.” He pointed out the symbolism the cap holds in connection to Luther and the tradition of academic freedom.

This shared humor and pride accompanying the Luther cap belong solely to the Wittenberg community, and although Veler agreed that 20th century tastes may find the caps peculiar-looking, he explained, “After all, they were never intended as a fashion statement.”

— Phyllis Eberts