Alpha Epsilon Pi
ΑΕΠ
The official crest of Alpha Epsilon Pi
FoundedNovember 7, 1913 (1913-11-07)
New York University
TypeSocial
AffiliationFFC and NIC (former)
EmphasisJewish
ScopeInternational
MottoDeveloping Leadership for the Jewish Community.[1]
Colors  Gold
  Blue
Flag
FlowerFleur-de-lis
MascotLion
PublicationThe Lion
PhilanthropyConference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Chapters146 Active, 86 Inactive
Colonies19
Members9,000+ undergraduate collegiate
102,000+ lifetime
Headquarters8815 Wesleyan Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
United States
WebsiteAEPi homepage

Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ), commonly known as AEPi, is a college fraternity founded at New York University in 1913. The fraternity has more than 150 active chapters across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Israel, and has initiated more than 110,000 members. Although the fraternity is based upon Jewish principles, it is non-discriminatory and is open to all who are willing to espouse its purpose and values regardless of their particular faith tradition.[2]

History

The AEPi house at the University of Maryland, College Park

Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded on November 7, 1913 under the Washington Square Arch at New York University (NYU) by Charles C. Moskowitz and 10 other Jewish men: David K. Schafer, Isador M. Glazer, Herman L. Kraus, Arthur E. Leopold, Benjamin M. Meyer, Arthur M. Lipkint, Charles J. Pintel, Maurice Plager, Hyman Shulman, and Emil J. Lustgarten. These men are known as the "Immortal 11."[3] Their first pledge was Samuel L. Epstein.[4][5]

Charles C. Moskowitz had just transferred to New York University's School of Commerce from the City College of New York. Several fraternities at the School of Commerce expressed interest in him and one gave him a bid. The name of that fraternity is unknown. When Charles asked whether his close Jewish friends could join as well, he was told that the invitation was for him alone. At this point, the group of 11 men began meeting regularly in a German Ratskeller called "Haan's Ladies' and Gentlemen's Restaurant, Cafe and Rathskeller". Official school recognition of AEPi was granted on November 7.[5]

The founding members intended for AEPi to be a national fraternity even before the second chapter at NYU was designated the Alpha chapter. In 1917, the local fraternity Phi Tau at Cornell University became the Beta chapter of AEPi.[4][6]

Only fifty-two men had been initiated into AEPi by the start of World War I. Almost every undergraduate and alumnus of the fraternity served in the military, causing the fraternity to become nearly inactive during the war years.[5]

In the years between the world wars, Alpha Epsilon Pi grew to twenty-eight chapters. Expansion remained dormant throughout World War II as many fraternity members served in the war effort.[4][5]

With the end of the war and the shift of the national headquarters to St. Louis, Missouri, Alpha Epsilon Pi had gained new life and momentum in its reopening of inactive chapters, expansion to new campuses, and merging with other locals, that had seen reduced membership as a result of the war. In 1940, Sigma Omega Psi joined Alpha Epsilon Pi adding three chapters, as did Sigma Tau Phi in 1947.[4][5]

The next two decades were a time of steady growth for Alpha Epsilon Pi, as well as other college fraternities. However, with the onset of fighting in Vietnam in the early 1960s, fraternity life faltered. Liberal student bodies revolted against authority and the Greek system, which was seen as a conservative, elitist group.[5] Membership plummeted and nearly half the chapter roll was lost. However, the fraternity was able to reverse the trend and stabilize membership numbers by 1975, following the end of the Vietnam War.[5]

In 2009, AEPi became the first fraternity to establish a chapter in Israel at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.[7][8][4]

In 2014, AEPi was the first college student organization to be admitted as a full member to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.[9]

In 2015, AEPi became the first fraternity to establish a chapter in Australia.[10]

Coat of arms

To Brothers, it is known as the "Cofa," arranged by the initials of the phrase. The coat of arms of Alpha Epsilon Pi contains a number of symbolic objects, the true meaning of which is only revealed to brothers during their initiation into the fraternity.[6] Regardless, the coat of arms does contain symbols that have a history in Judaism obvious to the uninitiated and even to non-Jewish people. The crest of the arms contains a menorah intertwined with the star of David. Also, the top of the arms has a lion that could be the Lion of Judah.

Chapter organization

AEPi has specific titles that are used for its officers; many correspond to Fraternal tradition.[6]

  • President — Master
  • Vice President — Lieutenant Master
  • Secretary — Scribe
  • Treasurer — Exchequer
  • Sergeant at Arms — Brother at Large
  • Master of Ceremonies — Sentinel
  • Head of Recruitment — Rush Chair
  • New Member Educator — Pledge Master

National controversies, local chapter or member misconduct

Reassertion of Jewish focus

Alpha Epsilon Pi's mission statement describing a "non-discriminatory fraternity"[2] has occasionally come under fire, particularly under former Executive Director Andrew Borans:

  • In 1990, Alpha Epsilon Pi's Mu Tau chapter at MIT decided to disband their chapter after the international fraternity kicked out 45 of 55 members of the chapter. Members believed it was largely in part due to the international fraternity's desire to use a member review process to re-align the chapter as a Jewish fraternity.[11] Joseph P. Wong, former vice president of the chapter who was invited to stay, was quoted saying "AEPi is inherently discriminatory and does not deserve a place on this campus".[11] Soon after, the national fraternity successfully rebuilt its Mu Tau chapter, with an emphasis on its Jewish heritage. Meanwhile, the brothers who'd been removed went on to form a local chapter, which, five years later was admitted en masse to become the restored Epsilon Theta chapter of Sigma Nu on the campus, which was also successful.[12]
  • In 1998, members of UCLA's Xi Deuteron chapter dropped out, stating that the international organization was "discriminatory against non-Jewish pledges".[13]
  • In 2009, the Mu chapter at University of Virginia was shut down, with members claiming the international fraternity told them they "weren't Jewish enough".[14]
  • In 2015, the Beta Rho chapter at Brown University disaffiliated with Alpha Epsilon Pi, citing mistreatment of non-Jewish members by their international organization, and a lack of emphasis by the international organization on sexual assault education.[15]

Local chapter or member misconduct

  • In 2016, a freshman female student at the College of Charleston, site of ΑΕΠ's Chi Omicron chapter, sued the fraternity after she stated she was disrobed, served drugs and alcohol, and raped while one of the fraternity members recorded the assault on his cellphone during the fraternity's Bid Day celebration party. Her lawsuit states she had been seeking unspecified damages for her "serious personal injuries" that have required hospitalization, doctor's care, and other treatment. As a result of the lawsuit, two fraternity members, Timothy Eli Seppi, and James F. West III, identified in the incident were arrested and released on bail and the fraternity charter was revoked.[16]
  • In 2019, the Upsilon Alpha chapter at the University of Arizona was kicked off campus for code-of-conduct violations including alcohol use, hazing, and bodily harm to pledges.[17]
  • In 2019, the Epsilon chapter at Emory University was mandated to shut down for at least two years due to hazing pledges and alcohol violations.[18]
  • In 2020, several members left the Upsilon Kappa Alpha chapter at the University of St Andrews after more than twelve posts alleging rapes and sexual assaults were posted anonymously through social media,[19][20][21] but in the absence of any formal complaint no member was expelled.[22]

International organization structure

AEPi is governed by the Supreme Board of Governors.[23]

The Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation is the charitable arm of the organization. It directs the philanthropic affairs of the fraternity, supports projects of a Jewish and fraternal nature, and provides support for the individual chapters and colonies. They work very closely with the Director of Jewish Programming.[23]

The Executive Office is made up of the professional staff that oversees the day-to-day functions of the fraternity. The current Chief Executive Officer is Rob Derdiger

The Supreme Board of Governors is made up of 11 positions: Supreme Master (President); Supreme Master-Elect (President-Elect/VP); Supreme Scribe (Secretary); Supreme Exchequer (Treasurer); Supreme Sentinel (Sergeant-at-Arms); five Supreme Governors at-large (other alumni members); and the Immediate Past Supreme Master[24]

The Supreme Board of Governors makes the majority of decisions for the fraternity's well-being and meets semi-annually to discuss matters of importance, including the granting of charters.

Leadership input to the SBG from the undergraduate membership is accepted from The Undergraduate Cabinet, whose members are elected annually in the winter.[24]

Notable alumni

Alpha Epsilon Pi has notable alumni across many different industries and fields. AEPi counts among its members at least 7 billionaires, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson. Alumni also include the founders of Tinder, Lyft, Home Depot and Hotels.com as well as former/current presidents or chairmen of Citigroup, ESPN, MGM Studios, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox and NBC Television. In sports, AEPi alumni include the founder and first owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, the current owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, the CEO of the Atlanta Hawks, president of the Florida Panthers, the commissioner of the National Hockey League and at least 2 Olympians. In American politics, AEPi has had at least 6 U.S. Representatives, 1 U.S. Senator, 1 U.S. Governor, a former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and a U.S. State Supreme Court Justice. In Canadian politics, AEPi alumni include the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the current and one former Israeli Ambassador to Canada, as well as Canada's first Jewish Cabinet member and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. In arts & entertainment, AEPi alumni include Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry, Academy Award and Emmy Award-winner James L. Brooks, both members of Simon & Garfunkel, singer/rapper Hoodie Allen, actor Gene Wilder, as well as co-creator of American Dad! Matt Weitzman, and Family Guy writer Neil Goldman. The fraternity also counts 3 Nobel Prize-winners among its alumni.

List of chapters and alumni clubs

The fraternity currently has 154 active chapters and colonies in eleven of the fourteen Big Ten Conference schools, seven of eight Ivy League schools, and eight of the ten University of California campuses. It is also the largest international fraternity in Canada, California, New York, and Massachusetts. The fraternity established the Aleph chapter[8] in Israel during the spring of 2009, located in the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya.[25] It has since expanded to other universities in Israel. In 2011, the fraternity expanded to the United Kingdom, establishing a colony at St Andrews in the spring, followed by Birmingham and Leeds in the fall.

The fraternity also has 24 active alumni clubs in several major cities.[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "AEPi". AEPi.
  2. 1 2 "Alpha Epsilon Pi International mission statement". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "Meet the Founders | AEPi". 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive)". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 17 April 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History". Alpha Epsilon Pi. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 Dunn, Sidney N. (2003). Alpha Epsilon Pi: Commitment for a lifetime. Indianapolis, Indiana: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, Inc.
  7. ↑ Strauss, Ilana (15 June 2009). "Israel's first college fraternity opens". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  8. 1 2 Udasin, Sharon. "Brothers in the Holy Land: AEPi chapter in Herzliya is first college fraternity in Israel". Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  9. ↑ JTA (7 January 2014). "Jewish Fraternity Becomes Full Member of Conference of Presidents". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "AEPi Opens First Fraternity Chapter in Australia | Alpha Epsilon Pi". Archived from the original on 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
  11. 1 2 "MIT withdraws AEPi recognition - The Tech". tech.mit.edu.
  12. ↑ An earlier incarnation of Sigma Nu on the MIT campus had some two decades earlier voted to become a co-ed "Independent Living Group" named Epsilon Theta, which itself remains viable on the campus.
  13. ↑ "Fraternity under fire for denying membership to minority pledge". dailybruin.com.
  14. ↑ "National Chapter Locks UVa. Fraternity Brothers Out of their House". newsplex.com.
  15. ↑ Owens, Ben (27 January 2016). "Owens '17: Why we disaffiliated from AEPi". browndailyherald.com.
  16. ↑ Pan, Deanna (19 December 2016). "Alleged rape victim sues College of Charleston, Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity". postandcourier.com.
  17. ↑ "Fraternity loses recognition at UA following hazing investigation".
  18. ↑ "AEPi Suspended for at Least Two Years for Hazing". 6 March 2019.
  19. ↑ Rob, Picheta (July 13, 2020). "Rape scandal erupts at prestigious British university after fraternity members accused". CNN. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  20. ↑ Johnson, Jamie (10 July 2020). "Exclusive: University of St Andrews fraternity suspends members over rape and sexual assault allegations". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Horne, Marc (July 22, 2020). "St Andrews told to ban Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity group at the centre of rape allegations". The Times. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  22. ↑ Smith, Saphora; Cobiella, Kelly; Perrette, Amy; Archer, Susan (23 September 2020). "Prestigious British university rocked by online allegations of rape, sexual misconduct". NBC News. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Contact Us - Alpha Epsilon Pi". 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009.
  24. 1 2 "Supreme Constitution- AEPi". 4 December 2018.
  25. ↑ Greenspan, Mordy. "AEPii Fraternity hosts Beach Volleyball Tournament" (PDF). Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  26. ↑ "AEPi Alumni Associations". Archived from the original on 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2017-04-30.
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