This spring term, the Union College chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity was refounded. The chapter was on campus as recently as 2018. AEPi becomes Union’s seventh active Interfraternity Council (IFC) member and 12th active Greek organization. The chapter has promising early membership numbers. As a fraternity founded on Jewish principles, the organization intends to collaborate with Union’s Jewish organizations.
AEPi first established a chapter at Union on February 19, 1985, but was not initially formally recognized by Union. The first 18 pledges were initiated at Syracuse University on April 20, 1985. Union’s IFC formally granted recognition to the chapter on September 23, 1986. Beginning in spring 1987, the fraternity resided at 305 Seward Place, a house that is today owned by Union and that serves as an apartment-style living option for upperclass students.
In winter 2018, nearly all members of Union’s chapter of AEPi disaffiliated with the fraternity because the majority of non-Jewish members of the fraternity were removed by AEPi’s national headquarters. The fraternity then ceased to exist on campus due to a lack of members.
In fall 2024, Michael Caine ‘27 began talking to Union’s Greek Life office, Professor Brian Cohen (the previous chapter advisor of AEPi), and Rabbi Shmuly Rubin (from Union Chabad) about refounding the chapter on campus. “I always felt like there was a bit of a niche or something that was lacking, and I wanted to restart the chapter to expand Jewish life,” Caine told Concordiensis.
This past week, the newly re-founded chapter recruited 13 total members and elected its first executive board. Though the national organization’s mission is to develop leadership for the Jewish community, Caine emphasized that the fraternity welcomes members of all faiths, as four of its new members are not Jewish. AEPi will continue to recruit members in the fall alongside Union’s other IFC fraternities.
The chapter does not currently have a house on campus, but Caine told Concordiensis that he hopes the chapter will be able to gain a house in the next few years. The organization intends to collaborate with Chabad, Hillel, other fraternities, and Union’s sororities to host philanthropic and other events beginning this term.
