Alpha Epsilon Pi

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Alpha Epsilon Pi
(ΑΕΠ)
Image:ColorCofa.jpg
Founded November 7, 1913 (1913-11-07) (age 94)
New York University
Type Social
Emphasis Jewish
Motto No one could tell me where my soul might be; I searched for God, but He eluded me; I sought my brother out and found all three. - Poet Howard Crosby
Colors Gold & Blue
Symbol Lion
Flower Fleur-de-lis
Philanthropy Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Chai Lifeline’s Camp Simcha, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum[1]
Chapters 136 chapters and colonies [2]
Members Over 82,000 [3] currently
lifetime
Free label ΑΕΠ, AEPi, Pies
Headquarters 8815 Wesleyan Road
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Homepage www.aepi.org

Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ or AEPi) is currently the only international Jewish college fraternity in North America, with chapters in the United States and Canada. Alpha Epsilon Pi is a Jewish fraternity, though non-discriminatory and open to all who are willing to espouse its purpose and values.

Contents

[edit] Mission statement

“ Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish Fraternity of North America, was founded to provide opportunities for Jewish men seeking the best possible college and fraternity experience. We have maintained the integrity of our purpose by strengthening our ties to the Jewish community and serving as a link between high school and career. Alpha Epsilon Pi develops leadership for the North American Jewish community at a critical time in a young man's life.[4] ”


Chapter Mission Statement:

“ Alpha Epsilon Pi’s role is to encourage the Jewish student to remain dedicated to Jewish ideals, values, and ethics and to prepare the student to be one of tomorrow’s leaders so that he may help himself, his family, his community, and his people. ”

[edit] History

AEPi was founded in 1913 under the 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, Emil Lustgarten, and Hyman Shulman. Their first pledge was Samuel L. Epstein.

Charles C. Moskowitz was a basketball player and 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 if 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 the German rathskellar. Official school recognition of AEPi was granted on November 7.

The founding members always intended for AEPi to be a national fraternity. Long before the second chapter, the NYU group was designated "Alpha Chapter." In 1917, the local fraternity Phi Tau at Cornell University became the Beta Chapter of AEPi.

[5]

[edit] Coat of arms

The coat of arms of Alpha Epsilon Pi contains a number of symbolic objects, the meaning of which is only revealed to new members (pledges) during their initiation into the fraternity.

[edit] Chapter organization

AEPi has specific titles that are used for its officers, many correspond to Fraternal tradition.

  • President - Master
  • Vice President - Lieutenant Master
  • Secretary - Scribe
  • Treasurer - Exchequer
  • Sergeant at Arms - Sentinel

[edit] National organization structure

AEPi is governed in a diamond model[6]. It consists of the AEPi Foundation, The Fiscal Control Board, the Executive Office and the Supreme Board of Governors.

The AEPi 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.

The Fiscal Control Board (FCB) is responsible for the financial well-being of the organization. It oversees the financial decisions of the apparatus, and makes recommendations to the Supreme Board of Governors. Each member of the FCB is also on the Board of Directors of the AEPi Foundation.

The Executive Office is made up of the professional staff that oversees the day to day functions of the fraternity. The staff consists of the housing coordinator, the leadership consultants, the Director of Jewish Programming, and the Executive Director.

The Supreme Board of Governors is made up of 11 positions, the Supreme Master (President), Supreme Master Elect (President-Elect/VP), Supreme Scribe (Secretary), Supreme Exchequer (Treasurer), Supreme Sentinel (Sergeant at Arms), and four alumni members, styled Supreme Governors, as well as two undergraduate representative, styled, Undergraduate Supreme Governors. The 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.

[edit] Notable alumni

  • Newton Becker, Kent State 1952 - Founder, Becker CPA Review Course
  • Sheldon Good, Illinois 1955 - International Realtor, Former World President of FIBICA
  • Sanford Grossman, Alabama 1957 - Director of NFL telecasts for CBS and now FOX
  • David Horowitz, Bradley 1959 - Television Personality/Consumer Advocate
  • Allan Jaffe, Pennsylvania 1957 - Family Owner of New Orleans' Preservation Hall (Deceased)
  • Allyn Kilsheimer - George Washington 1963 - Structural Engineer who orchestrated the rebuiling of the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
  • Martin Leaf, Illinois 1947 - Family Owner, Founder, Leaf Candies and Donruss Baseball Cards
  • Perry Mendel, Emory 1943 - Founder, Kinder Care Day Care Centers
  • Charles C. Moskowitz, NYU 1914 - Former President/Treasurer, MGM Studios (Deceased)
  • Louis Nizer, Columbia - Lawyer, Novelist (deceased)
  • Michael Politz, American 1990 - Media Conglomerate Owner and National Television Host, owner of Food & Beverage Magazine[citation needed]
  • Alan Schulman, NYU 1955 - Retired CEO/Chair of Board, Ecolab, Inc.
  • Rabbi Levi Shemtov - Director of Chabad, Washington, D.C.
  • Fred Silverman, Syracuse 1958 - Independent Producer, Former President NBC Television
  • Walter Winchell, Miami - Early Gossip Columnist/Radio Personality (Deceased)
  • Sam Zell, Michigan 1963 - Real-estate entrepreneur, co-founder and Chairman of Equity International, a real-estate private equity firm, owner of the Chicago Tribune

[edit] Popular culture

The Upsilon Omega chapter (University of Oregon) house can be seen in the 1978 movie Animal House. It was used for exterior shots of Omega House. [9]

[edit] List of chapters

The fraternity currently has 136 active chapters and colonies. Alpha Epsilon Pi is the only national fraternity to have a chapter at every Ivy League and University of California Campus with the exception of UC Merced, San Francisco and Hastings and Dartmouth College.

Main article: List of Alpha Epsilon Pi chapters

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Philanthropy Programming
  2. ^ Chapter Roll
  3. ^ History
  4. ^ Alpha Epsilon Pi International. Retrieved on 2007-11-30.
  5. ^ Dunn, Sidney N. (2003). Alpha Epsilon Pi: Commitment for a lifetime. Indianapolis, Indiana: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, Inc., 128. 
  6. ^ AEPi organizational model
  7. ^ AEPi Babson: Alumni. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  8. ^ Kesselman, Bruce (July 2006). 46 Union Street, 240. ISBN 978-0977244201. 
  9. ^ ACME Animal House Filming Locations - College as it should have been
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