Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Epsilon Pi
ΑΕΠ
Founded November 7, 1913 (1913-11-07) (98 years ago)
New York University
Type Social
Emphasis Jewish
Scope United States
Canada
Israel
United Kingdom
Mission statement
Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded to provide opportunities for the Jewish college man seeking the best possible college and fraternity experience.[1]
Motto
No one could tell me where my soul might be; I searched for G-d, but He eluded me; I sought my brother out and found all three. [2]
Colors  Gold   Blue 
Flower Fleur-de-lis
Mascot Lion
Publication The Lion
Philanthropy Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Elem, Jewish National Fund, Keshet, Leket Israel, Save a Child's Heart, and Sharsheret
Chapters 148 [3]
Colonies 7
Members 9,000+ undergraduate collegiate
102,000+ lifetime
Headquarters Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Homepage Alpha Epsilon Pi Website

Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ or AEPi), the Global Jewish college fraternity, has 155 active chapters in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Israel with a membership of over 9,000 undergraduates. Alpha Epsilon Pi is a Jewish fraternity, though non-discriminatory and open to all who are willing to espouse its purpose and values.[4]

Contents

Mission statement

“ Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Global Jewish Fraternity, 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. 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.[1] ”

History

AEPi was founded in 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." Their first pledge was Samuel L. Epstein.[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 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 a German rathskeller. Official school recognition of AEPi was granted on November 7.[5]

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.[6]

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

Coat of arms

To Brothers it is known as the "Cofa". 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]

Chapter organization

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

National organization structure

AEPi is governed in a diamond model. It consists of the AEPi Foundation, The Fiscal Control Board, the Executive Office and the Supreme Board of Governors.[9]

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.[9]

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.[9]

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.[9]

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 Supreme Governors (other alumni members), along with two Undergraduate Supreme Governors (representing the Undergraduate membership).[9]

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.

Notable alumni

Name Original chapter Notability Reference
Michael Albert Mu Tau Political activist and economist, co-founder and co-editor of Z Magazine
Irving Azoff Delta chairman and founder of Azoff Music Management Group, Inc.; former president of MCA Records [10]
Herbert Baum Alpha Deuteron Former president, Quaker Oil [10]
Jason Bedrick Beta Epsilon Member of the New Hampshire state legislature [11]
Alan Baker Nu Kappa Former Israel Ambassador to Canada (Honorary brother) [10]
Alan Barry Upsilon Tau Appointed CEO of Masco Corporation in 2003 [10][12]
Newton Becker Phi Deuteron Founder, Becker CPA Review Course [10]
Gary Bettman Beta Current Commissioner, National Hockey League [10]
Wolf Blitzer Upsilon Beta Journalist, Author, CNN Correspondent [13]
Dr. James Borin Epsilon Upsilon Member of the US Fencing Team [10]
Myles Brand Rho Pi President, National Collegiate Athletic Association/ Former President, Indiana University [10]
James L. Brooks Alpha Academy Award And Emmy Award winning Producer/Director [10]
Matthew Brooks Lambda Beta Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition [10]
Ken Chertow Pi Deuteron Wrestling Olympian [10]
Brad Cohen Pi Deuteron Teacher, Author, motivational speaker and subject of the film Front of the Class [10]
Jeff Cohen Chi Alpha Child Actor: The Goonies
Rabbi Stanley Davids Tau Deuteron President of Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA) [10]
Bob Diener Phi Gamma Founder of Hotels.com [10]
Haim Divon Nu Kappa Former Israel Ambassador to Canada [10]
Jay Feinberg Honorary Founder and Executive Director, Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation [10]
Ian Eagle Sigma Deuteron Sports Broadcaster
Wayne Firestone Kappa Deuteron Current President, Hillel [10]
Richard H. Frank Delta Former president of Walt Disney Studios [10]
Steven Friedman Delta Executive producer of NBC Nightly News [10]
Art Garfunkel Iota Singer/Composer [14]
Scott Garson Sigma Beta Basketball Coach, UCLA
Frank Gehry Upsilon Architect, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain [10]
Leonard Goldberg Gamma Former Chairman of 20th Century Fox [10]
Neil Goldman Epsilon Upsilon Television Writer and executive producer of Family Guy, Scrubs, and Worst Week [10]
Steve Goldman Delta Executive Vice President, Paramount Pictures [10]
Nathaniel Goldstein Alpha Former New York Attorney General (Deceased) [10]
Sheldon Good Delta International Realtor, Former World President of FIBICA [10]
Herb Gray Nu Kappa Canada's first Jewish Cabinet member, Former, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Career politician (Honorary Brother)
Sanford Grossman Iota Deuteron Director of NFL telecasts for CBS and now Fox [10]
Patrick T. Harker Gamma President of the University of Delaware, former Dean of the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania [10]
David A. Harris Sigma Executive Director of the Israel On Campus Coalition [10]
Yoel Hasson Honorary Member of Israeli Knesset, Kadima Party [15]
Russ Herman Past President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America [10]
David Horowitz Beta Upsilon Television Personality/Consumer Advocate [10]
H. Robert Horvitz Mu Tau Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine [10]
William Immerman Pi Former senior VP for 20th Century Fox, Film Producer [10]
Allan Jaffe Gamma Family Owner of New Orleans' Preservation Hall (Deceased) [10]
Richard Joel Alpha Former International Director of Hillel, Current President of Yeshiva University [10]
Jake Jundef Sigma Beta Child Actor: Brooklyn Bridge, Mannequin, Earth Girls Are Easy [16]
Allyn Kilsheimer Kappa Deuteron Structural Engineer who orchestrated the rebuilding of the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks [10]
Martin Leaf Delta Family Owner, Founder, Leaf Candies and Donruss Baseball Cards [10]
Matthew Lubotsky Levin Lambda Deuteron NFL Team Owner, Green Bay Packers [10]
Jerry Lewis Comedian, Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association [13]
Richard Lewis Eta Actor, Comedian [10]
Howard Lorber Alpha Epsilon CEO/President, Nathan's Famous and Vector Group [10]
Daniel Magder Beta Chi Actor, Life With Derek [17]
Josh Mandel Eta State Treasurer of Ohio [10]
Bernard Marcus Rho Upsilon Founder, Home Depot [18]
David Markin Beta Upsilon Former Chairman of The U.S. Tennis Association [10]
Perry Mendel Epsilon Founder, Kinder Care Day Care Centers [10]
Charles C. Moskowitz Alpha Former President/Treasurer, MGM Studios (Deceased) [6]
Jerrold Nadler Iota United States Congressman, New York's 8th congressional district [10]
Ari Ne'eman Mu Delta Founder of Autistic Self Advocacy Network; First Autistic Presidential Appointee [19][20]
Robert Novak Delta Columnist, pundit and panelist on CNN Crossfire [21][22]
Louis Nizer Iota Lawyer, Novelist (deceased) [10]
Mike Pesca Epsilon National Public Radio correspondent [23]
Michael Politz Sigma Pi Media Conglomerate Owner and National Television Host, owner of Food & Beverage Magazine
Ron Popeil Delta Inventor, Infomercial Producer, Owner, Ronco Industries [10]
Stanley B. Prusiner Gamma Nobel Prize recipient in Medicine [10]
Jerry Reinsdorf Kappa Deuteron Owner of Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox [10]
Sam Rothberg Beta Upsilon Creator of Israel Bonds [10]
Abe Saperstein Delta Former owner of Harlem Globetrotters (Deceased) [10]
Alexander Schindler Epsilon Deuteron Past President of Union of American Hebrew Congregations [10]
Alan Schulman Alpha Retired CEO/Chair of Board, Ecolab, Inc. [6]
Michael Schwerner Beta Civil Rights worker killed June 21, 1964, depicted in Mississippi Burning [10]
Andy Schwartz Xi Deuteron Writer for Scrubs
Evan Serpick Iota Music Critic, Rolling Stone
Samuel H. Shapiro Delta Former Governor of Illinois (Deceased) [10]
Rabbi Levi Shemtov Director of Chabad, Washington, D.C. [10]
Fred Silverman Sigma Deuteron Independent Producer, Former President NBC Television [10]
Chet Simmons Kappa Deuteron Founder of ESPN [10]
Paul Simon Kappa Chi Singer/Composer [14]
Jack Stahl Epsilon Former president, The Coca-Cola Company, current president of Revlon [10]
Steve Stone Phi Deuteron Cy Young Winner 1980 Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox TV color analyst [10]
John E. Wallace, Jr. Rho Deuteron New Jersey Supreme Court Justice (appointed May 20, 2003)
Sanford I. Weill Beta Co-chairman, Citigroup [10]
Gene Wilder Iota Upsilon Actor, Producer, Director [10]
Walter Winchell Lambda Deuteron Early Gossip Columnist/Radio Personality (Deceased) [10]
Scott Wolf Kappa Deuteron Actor [10]
Michael Yormark Delta Deuteron President and COO of the Florida Panthers [10]
H. Albert Young Rho Deuteron Former Delaware Attorney General (Deceased) [10]
Sam Zell Omega Deuteron Real-estate entrepreneur, co-founder and Chairman of Equity International, a real-estate private equity firm, owner of the Tribune Company [10]
Mark Zuckerberg Eta Psi Founder of Facebook [24]

List of chapters

Main article: List of Alpha Epsilon Pi chapters

The fraternity currently has 148 active chapters and colonies in ten of the twelve Big Ten Conference schools, seven of the eight Ivy League schools, and eight of the ten University of California campuses. It is also the largest 'national' 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]

References

  1. ^ a b "Alpha Epsilon Pi International mission statement". http://www.aepi.org/?page=MissionStatement. Retrieved 2010-10-06. 
  2. ^ Crosby, Ernest Howard, The Search
  3. ^ Roll - Alpha Epsilon Pi
  4. ^ About AEPi
  5. ^ a b AEPi Founders
  6. ^ a b c d e Dunn, Sidney N. (2003). Alpha Epsilon Pi: Commitment for a lifetime. Indianapolis, Indiana: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, Inc.. 
  7. ^ Strauss, Ilana (June 15, 2009). "Israel's first college fraternity opens". Jerusalem Post. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1244371106498&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull. Retrieved 2009-12-29. 
  8. ^ a b Udasin, Sharon. "Brothers in the Holy Land: AEPi chapter in Herzliya is first college fraternity in Israel". http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/39284/brothers-in-the-holy-land-aepi-chapter-in-herzliya-is-first-college-fratern/. Retrieved 2009-07-16. 
  9. ^ a b c d e AEPi organizational model
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl AEPi International: Well-known Alumni
  11. ^ "AEPi Babson: Alumni". http://www.aepibabson.com/alumni.html. Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  12. ^ Masco timeline
  13. ^ a b Greenberg, Richard (December 3, 2009). "Hillel director joins AEPi after 30-plus-year wait". Washington Jewish Week. http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=9776&TM=30588.5. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  14. ^ a b Artist Spotlight: Simon & Garfunkel
  15. ^ AEPi Blog: Yoel Hasson
  16. ^ "Jake Jundef: IMDB". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0432469. Retrieved 2008-09-05. 
  17. ^ Life with Derek at the Internet Movie Database
  18. ^ Kesselman, Bruce (July 2006). 46 Union Street. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-9772442-0-1. 
  19. ^ "Exclusive: First Autistic Presidential Appointee Speaks Out". http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/tag/ari-neeman/. Retrieved 2010-12-31. 
  20. ^ "ALUMNI ACCOLADES: Mu Delta". The Lion of Alpha Epsilon Pi 98 (1): 8. Winter/Spring 2010. http://www.aepi.org/resource/resmgr/docs/2010_winter_and_spring.pdf. Retrieved 3 January 2011. 
  21. ^ "Interviewing Novak, Blitzer confirmed Novak's description of him as a "soft interviewer"". MediaMatters. July 27, 2007. http://mediamatters.org/research/200707280003. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  22. ^ Robert Novak: Feared political columnist, harsh critic of Israel
  23. ^ "Testing the bonds of brotherhood, Apes embodies the fraternal spirit". Emory Wheel (student newspaper). February 11, 2003. http://emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=22975. Retrieved May 19, 2011. 
  24. ^ "Facebook Press Release: Facebook Secures $25M Investment". http://www.facebook.com/press/releases.php?p=639. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
  25. ^ Greenspan, Mordy. "AEPi Fraternity hosts Beach Volleyball Tournament". http://portal.idc.ac.il/He/Main/about_idc/news_events/DocLib2/53_aepi_volleyball.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-07. 
  26. ^ "AEPi Alumni Clubs". http://www.aepi.org/?page=AlumniClubs. 

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