Iota Alpha Pi

Iota Alpha Pi was the first national sorority for Jewish women. In March 1903, on the campus of Hunter College, seven young women created a new sorority (Bairds, p. 807). J.A.P., or "Jay-ay-peez",[4] focused on religious education and settlement house work. Nine years later, with the new name Iota Alpha Pi, the members began the traditional sorority expansion process. The original organizers grouped themselves as Alpha chapter and the succeeding group became Beta chapter. Iota grew slowly and steadily for the next sixty years. Canadian chapters were chartered; Manitoba had a particularly prosperous chapter.[3]

In 1924, a Rotation Scholarship Fund was created, allowing money to be loaned to worthy students by the sorority on the expectation of it being repaid. In 1925 the sorority began creating its own semi-annual bulletin.[3]

Iota joined the National Panhellenic Conference as an associate member in 1953 and became a full member in 1957. Although many chapters were planted, Iota Alpha Pi could not keep up with its rapidly growing competitors.

Historian Marianne Sanua recounts the life of Iota Alpha Pi in her book, Going Greek: Jewish College Fraternities in the United States, 1895- 1945. The sorority was "not for the especially popular, affluent, or snobbish, but just a group of good friends" (p. 81) The American Jewish Yearbook 5692 describes the sorority as Jewish in a positive way" (p. 197). This accolade probably stems from Iota's studies on women in the Bible.[4]

By 1966, Iota Alpha Pi had granted a total 23 charters. A report by Wilson Heller indicates that the sorority was strong until 1968. Heller posits that the sorority saw dramatic declines in membership, particularly with the cessation of the "Christians only" clause in non-Jewish organizations.

In 1969, Iota Alpha Pi had new chapters at the University of Maryland College Park and Hunter College Park Avenue.

In July 1971, the international headquarters voted to disband Iota Alpha Pi (Heller).

As of 2008, some alumni continue to hold reunions and other events. However, no formal organization exists to coordinate these gatherings.

The original name of the sorority was J.A.P. Their publication was The J.A.P. Bulletin. With the name change to Iota Alpha Pi, the magazine was also renamed: The Heights. Fraternal history buffs have speculated the secret meaning of J.A.P. The likeliest answer is "Just a Plain Sorority".[4]

The first official badge was a scarlet horizontal diamond surrounded by seed pearls. The scarlet diamond bore the letters Ι Α and Π, in gold. Above the Α, in gold, was a skull and crossbones. Later versions of the badge included two full blown roses at the points of the diamond.

Baird's (1991), lists the official colors as red and black.

The official coat-of-arms is described as " a diamond of scarlet surrounded by jewels" (Butterfield, 1931).

• 1903 Α Hunter College (1913)
• 1913 Β Hunter College (1965) [3]
• 1913 Γ Brooklyn Law School (1946) by 1969 Brooklyn Law School no longer had a chapter although the date it was disbanded is uncertain.
• 1922 Δ NYU Washington Square
• 1922 Ε New Jersey Law School (1942)
• 1926 Ζ Adelphi University
• 1927 Η University of Denver (1942)
• 1929 Κ University of Toronto (1956)
• 1930 Ι Long Island University
• 1931 Λ Brooklyn College
• 1932 Μ University of Manitoba (1965)
• 1935 Ν Wayne State University
• 1938 Ο Queens College
• 1942 Π Syracuse University
• 1946 Ρ Miami University of Ohio (1956)
• 1946 Σ Temple University
• 1947 Υ Rider College (1955)
• 1955 Φ University of Illinois
• 1960 Ψ NYU University Heights (1965)
• 1962 ΒΑ Penn State

(Above chapters compiled from Marianne Sanua's book.)

Additional chapters:

• 1965 ΒΒ CCNY
• 1966 ΒΔ Cornell University
• 1966 ΒΕ C.W. Post College
• University of Maryland at College Park

Conventions include August 1954 in Miami Beach.[1]

• Adler, Cyrus; Szold, Henrietta; American Jewish Committee; Jewish Publication Society of America. American Jewish Yearbook 5692. American Jewish Committee, 1931.
• Butterfield, Emily Helen. College Fraternity Heraldry. George Banta Pub. Co, 1931.
• Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (multiple editions)