Alpha Epsilon Phi

History

Alpha Epsilon Phi was established at Barnard College in New York City on October 24, 1909. Its founders were seven Jewish women: Helen Phillips, Ida Beck, Rose Gerstein, Augustina "Tina" Hess, Lee Reiss, Rose Salmowitz, and Stella Strauss. Their goal was to foster lifelong friendship and sisterhood in academics, social involvement, and community service, while providing a "home away from home" for the sorority's members.

In 1951, the sorority joined the National Panhellenic Conference and celebrated its centennial at Barnard College in 2009.

Symbols

The columns of the Alpha Epsilon Phi insignia or crest were selected in 1916. Its members wanted a simple insignia, as opposed to a more elaborate crest like that of other Greek letter organizations. The three columns Α, Ε, and Φ represent faculty approval, student esteem, and sorority fidelity, respectively. The sorority's motto is Multa Corda, Una Causa or "Many Hearts, One Purpose”.

The sorority's badge is the Greek letters ΑΕΦ on a small gold bar and jeweled in pearls. Its new member pin is the Greek temple facade in gold. The sorority's colors are green and white. Its flower is the lily of the valley. Its publication is Columns.

During the 1977 National Convention, after a suggestion put forward by the Alpha Kappa chapter at Miami University, the sorority adopted the giraffe as its official mascot. The giraffe was selected because it stands the tallest and has the largest heart of all land mammals.

Activities

Alpha Epsilon Phi currently has 51 active collegiate chapters across the United States and Canada. Alumna groups exist across the United States and hold events to celebrate their Founder's Day, to socialize, and to interact with other local pan-hellenic alumnae groups.

The sorority also has a magazine to chronicle news relevant to the organization. First published in November 1917 as Alpha Epsilon Phi Quarterly, the title was changed to Columns in the late 1920s. Columns is published twice a year, in the fall and spring. It is sent to college students, alumnae volunteers, donors, subscribers, inter-fraternal partners, and friends of Alpha Epsilon Phi. Fraternity and sorority professionals, and vice presidents of student affairs on campuses with Alpha Epsilon Phi chapters also receive the magazine. Families contribute to Columns to support philanthropic events and activities for current members, alumnae, family members, and friends across the United States.

Notable members

• Jill Martin (Pi) — TV Personality
• Melissa Ben-Ishay (Iota) — CEO of Baked by Melissa
• Chloe Hechter (Iota) — Social Media Personality; Actor
• Jennifer Fessler (Alpha Chi) — TV personality, entrepreneur
• Barbara Barrie (Omega) – actress; (Barney Miller)
• Marilyn Beck (Xi) – Hollywood columnist and author
• Carol Lynn Blum (Alpha Eta) – 1965 Miss Florida, third runner up Miss America 1966
• Lillian Copeland (Xi) – Olympic Gold and Silver medalist in discus; set world records in discus, javelin, and shot put
• Miriam Freund-Rosenthal (Zeta) – Jewish-American civic leader
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Kappa) – Supreme Court Justice
• Elizabeth Glaser (Sigma) – AIDS activist and co-founder of The Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation
• Nancy Goodman Brinker (Mu) – Founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research; appointed in 2001 as Ambassador to Hungary
• Bonnie Glick (Kappa) – politician, diplomat, and businesswoman
• Erica Hill (Alpha Chi) – CNN anchor
• Randi Kaye (Alpha Chi) – reporter and CNN anchor
• Bessie Margolin (Epsilon) – former U.S. Department of Labor attorney
• Stacey Nuveman (Phi) – Gold medalist for Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos (Kappa) – socialite, philanthropist, real estate executive
• Charlotte Rae (Omicron) – actress; (Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life)
• Nan Rich (Alpha Tau) – former member of the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate
• Judith Resnik (Alpha Nu) – 2nd woman American astronaut and first Jewish woman in space
• Dinah Shore (Chi) – singer, actress and talk show host
• Annette Strauss (Omega) – former mayor of Dallas
• Carmen Warschaw (Phi) – California philanthropist and politician
• Lauren Weisberger (Kappa) – author; (The Devil Wears Prada)
• Harriett Woods (Pi) – former Lt. Governor of Missouri

Chapters

Main article: List of Alpha Epsilon Phi chapters

• Adelphi University (Delta)
• American University (Epsilon Theta)
• Arizona State University (Epsilon Zeta)
• Binghamton University-SUNY (Phi Mu)
• Boston University (Alpha Chi)
• Buffalo State University-SUNY (Beta Gamma)
• Concordia University (Beta Pi)
• Cornell University (Kappa)
• Elon University (Beta Rho)
• Emerson College (Beta Alpha)
• George Washington University (Alpha Gamma)
• Hofstra University (Phi Upsilon)
• Indiana University (Epsilon Epsilon)
• Jacksonville University (Phi Eta)
• LIU Post (Epsilon Mu)
• New York University (Zeta)
• Northeastern University (Phi Omega)
• Ohio State University (Rho)
• Rowan University (Phi Kappa)
• SUNY at New Paltz (Phi Phi)
• SUNY at Oswego (Phi Nu)
• SUNY at Plattsburgh (Phi Tau)
• Syracuse University (Iota)
• Temple University (Phi Theta)
• Texas A&M University (Beta Xi)
• Tulane University (Epsilon)
• University at Albany-SUNY (Eta)
• University of Arizona (Alpha Lambda)
• University of California, San Diego (Beta Eta)
• University of Central Florida (Beta Zeta)
• University of Connecticut (Alpha Xi)
• University of Delaware (Phi Chi)
• University of Florida (Alpha Tau)
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Mu)
• University of Maryland, College Park (Alpha Mu)
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst (Beta Beta)
• University of Michigan (Pi)
• University of Pittsburgh (Nu)
• University of Texas at Austin (Omega)
• University of Wisconsin (Sigma)
• Washington University in St. Louis (Psi)
• Wayne State University (Phi Sigma)

Alpha Epsilon Phi also has many inactive chapters, and the Iota Alpha Chapter for Alumnae Initiates.

Surveys

Anti-Semitism Report (2021)

In September 2021, a report based on a survey conducted by the Cohen Research Group for the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity examined the experiences of Jewish fraternity and sorority members on college campuses. The survey collected responses from 1,027 self-identified Jewish students involved in Greek life at 118 campuses across North America. The report revealed that 65% of respondents had experienced or were aware of antisemitism on their campuses, and 50% admitted to hiding their Jewish identity at times to avoid hostility or discomfort.

Marcus argued that the findings should alarm college leaders, as many Jewish students feel pressured to conceal their identity due to rising antisemitism on campuses.

References

References

1. "Our Member Organizations". National Panhellenic Conference.
2. (2000). "Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895-1968: An Overview". Journal of American Ethnic History.
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7. (January 2018). "Manual of Information". National Panhellenic Conference.
8. (January 2018). "Manual of Information". National Panhellenic Conference.
9. (2023-04-05). "Phi Phacts".
10. "Chartered Chapters " AEPhi". Alpha Epsilon Phi.
11. "Alumnae Groups " AEPhi". Alpha Epsilon Phi.
12. "Columns." Alpha Epsilon Phi. Alpha Epsilon Phi, 2013. Web. March 6, 2013.
13. Jacobson, Judie. (January 2, 2007). "Conversation with…Bonnie Wunsch Jewish sorority on the rise in CT and elsewhere". The Jewish Ledger.
14. "Alpha Epsilon Phi – Famous Phis". Alpha Epsilon Phi.
15. Rosman, Katherine. (May 20, 2002). "The Self-Made Socialite". [[New York (magazine).
16. Sanua, Marianne Rachel. (1994). "'Going Greek': A social history of Jewish college fraternities in the United States, 1895–1945". [[Columbia University]].
17. Carrasco, Maria. "Survey Finds 'Openly Jewish' Students Feel Unsafe on Campus".
18. Gerstmann, Evan. "Are Jewish Students Feeling Forced To Hide Their Identity On Campus?".
19. (2021-09-20). "Half of Jewish college students have hidden their Jewish identity - survey".
20. Sales, Ben. (2021-09-20). "Survey of Jewish fraternity and sorority finds most respondents experienced antisemitism on campus".