Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Epsilon Pi
ΑΕΠ
FFC and NIC (former)
Emphasis	Jewish
Scope	International
Motto	Developing Leadership for the Jewish Community.[1]
Colors	Gold   Blue
Flag
Flower	Fleur-de-lis
Mascot	Lion
Publication	The Lion
Philanthropy	Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
Chapters	146 Active, 86 Inactive
Colonies	19
Members	9,000+ undergraduate collegiate 102,000+ lifetime
Headquarters	8815 Wesleyan Road Indianapolis, IN 46268 United States
Website	AEPi.org

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

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

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

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]

Symbols

Coat of arms

To Brothers, it is known as the "Cofa," arranged by the initials of the phrase. The

AEPi is governed by the Supreme Board of Governors.[11] 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^[12]

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. 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

Leadership input to the SBG from the undergraduate membership is accepted from The Undergraduate Cabinet, whose members are elected annually in the winter.^[12]

Foundation

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.^[11]

Local

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

Chapters and alumni clubs

The fraternity currently has 154 active chapters and colonies in eleven of the fourteen

The fraternity also has 24 active alumni clubs in several major cities.[14]

Notable members

AEPi counts among its members at least 7 billionaires, including

Controversies and local chapter 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.^[15] 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".^[15] 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.^[16]
• In 1998, members of UCLA's Xi Deuteron chapter dropped out, stating that the international organization was "discriminatory against non-Jewish pledges".^[17]
• 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".^[18]
• 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.^[19]

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.^[20]
• 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.^[21]
• 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.^[22]
• 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,^[23][24][25] but in the absence of any formal complaint no member was expelled.^[26]
• In 2024, the Omega Deuteron chapter at the University of Michigan was suspended after a video showing hazing at the chapter leaked online.^[27][28][29]

See also

• List of Jewish fraternities and sororities
• List of social fraternities and sororities

References