Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi
ΣΑΕΠ
The official crest of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi
Founded October 1, 1998 (1998-10-01)
University of California, Davis
Type Social
Emphasis Jewish
Motto Spirit, Strength, Sisterhood (open)
Colors

     Blue

     Gold
Symbol Paw
Flower Blue Iris
Jewel Sapphire
Mascot Lioness
Philanthropy American Jewish World Service
Members 750+ collegiate
Website http://www.sigmaaepi.com

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΣΑΕΠ) is a national Jewish sorority that was founded on October 1, 1998 at the University of California, Davis.

Formation

In the early 1990s with the closing of a national Jewish sorority, the University of California, Davis was left without a Jewish women's social organization. Several women on campus noticed the gap left by the absence of the former sorority and strategized starting an organization on campus that would fill the need. Members of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a national Jewish fraternity, also urged the women of Davis to start a Jewish women's social organization of their own. With positive response from the campus Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi was formed.

The "Sigma" is meant to represent "sisters of" in honor of Alpha Epsilon Pi's contributions towards the formation of the sorority. Sigma is also the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet; in Jewish tradition, the number 18 means chai (life).

The six women who founded the sorority—Alycia Seaman, Erin Glick, Leah Dansker, Rachel Rothfarb, Erin Barker, and Dana Miller—are considered the eternal mothers of the sorority.

Despite being a Jewish sorority there is no discrimination based on race, creed, ethnicity, or religious beliefs.[1]

Purpose

"The purpose of this organization shall be to promote unity, support, and a Jewish awareness, as well as to provide a Jewish experience for ourselves, our members, and the community as a whole. This organization is devoted to friendship, motivation, opportunity, leadership, and well-being."[2]

Sorority Life

The first season of MTV’s Sorority Life was filmed in the spring of 2002 on the UC Davis campus featuring members and pledges of ΣΑΕΠ. Through the airing of the show, ΣΑΕΠ began to expand across the country.[3]

National Board

A national board was started in the summer of 2002 to oversee the expansion and growth of ΣΑΕΠ as a nationwide sorority. Currently, there are seven alumnae from different chapters voluntarily serving as the directors on the National Board.

In early 2017, the National Board voted to restructure in order to consolidate operational functions into the Executive Office, maintaining the National Board for governance, strategic planning, and oversight.

2018-2019 National Board members are:

  • Past President: Hilary Stein (Charter)
  • President: Adi Hanein (Charter)
  • President-Elect: Dawn Savage (Mu)
  • Secretary: Rachel Allen (Mu)
  • Treasurer: Emmy Bajayo (Lambda)
  • Regional Governor - West: Amy McElroy (Charter)
  • Regional Governor - East: Deena Abramson (Xi)

National Philanthropy

At the 2008 national convention, Cancer Schmancer was selected as the sorority's national philanthropy.

In 2011 the National Board re-evaluated the national philanthropy and decided to move on to an organization that encompasses all of the philosophies of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi. American Jewish World Service was chosen. In addition to the national philanthropy, some chapters also support local philanthropies.

Chapter list

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Charter 1998 University of California, Davis Davis, California Active
Alpha 2003 Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Inactive As of 2005
Beta 2003 University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minnesota Inactive As of 2008 [4]
Gamma 2003 University of California, Riverside Riverside, California Inactive As of 2006
Delta 2005 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California Active
Epsilon 2005 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Inactive As of 2005
Zeta 2005 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Inactive As of 2011
Eta 2008 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Active
Theta 2008 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan Inactive As of 2011
Iota 2009 University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, Maryland Inactive As of 2014
Lambda 2010 University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Active [5]
Mu 2010 James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Active
Nu 2011 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California Active
Xi 2013 Binghamton University Binghamton, New York Active
Omicron 2014 California State University, Northridge Northridge, California Active
Pi 2015 University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada Active
Rho 2017 Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey Active
Sigma 2018 Queens College Queens, New York Active
Tau 2017 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active
Upsilon 2018 University of Colorado, Boulder Boulder, Colorado Active


In 2001, a chapter was founded at San Diego State University by members of the UC Davis chapter, however they did not remain a chapter of Sigma for very long.[6]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "About Us". Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi National Website. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
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