Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΣΑΕΠ) is a national Jewish sorority. It was founded on October 1, 1998 at the University of California, Davis.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi | |
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ΣΑΕΠ | |
Founded | October 1, 1998 University of California, Davis |
Type | Social |
Emphasis | Jewish |
Motto | Spirit, Strength, Sisterhood |
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 |
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 began strategizing how to start 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]
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission: "The purpose of this organization is 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]
Vision: "Our vision is to provide a Jewish environment for collegiate women to grow as individuals and leaders. "[3]
Values: Unity, Trust, Strength, Sincere Sisterhood, and Exemplifying Jewish Values. These values define the sorority as a community. Members, individually and collectively, aim to live these values both in and out of the context of the organization.
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.[4]
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.
2019-2021 National Board members are:
- Past President: Adi Hanein (Charter)
- President: Dawn Savage (Mu)
- President-Elect: Emmy Bajayo (Lambda)
- Secretary: Rachel Allen (Mu)
- Treasurer: Deborah Joseph Friedman (Eta)
- Regional Governor - West: Amy McElroy (Charter)
- Regional Governor - East: Deena Abramson (Xi)
- Executive Director: Chayla Furlong (Delta)
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 | Active | As of 2018 | [5] |
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 | |
Kappa | 2009 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | Inactive | As of 2020 | |
Lambda | 2010 | University of Missouri | Columbia, Missouri | Active | [6] | |
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 | ||
Sigma Alpha | 2017 | SUNY New Paltz | New Paltz, New York | Active | ||
Tau | 2017 | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado | Active | ||
Upsilon | 2018 | University of Colorado, Boulder | Boulder, Colorado | Active | ||
Phi | 2018 | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, California | Inactive | As of 2019 | |
Chi | 2018 | Hunter College, City University of New York | New York City, New York | Inactive | As of 2019 | |
Psi | 2018 | Wilfrid Laurier University | Waterloo, Ontario | Inactive | As of 2019 | |
Omega | 2018 | Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, Florida | Active | ||
Sigma Alpha | 2018 | State University of New York, New Paltz | New Paltz, New York | Active | ||
Sigma Beta | 2018 | Ryerson University | Toronto, Canada | Inactive | As of 2019 | |
Sigma Gamma | 2018 | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada | Inactive | As of 2019 | |
Sigma Delta | 2018 | South Miami, Florida | Active | |||
Sigma Epsilon | 2018 | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Active | ||
Sigma Zeta | 2018 | Brandeis University | Waltham, Massachusetts | Active | ||
Sigma Eta | 2019 | Stockton University | Galloway, New Jersey | Inactive | As of 2020 | |
Sigma Theta | 2019 | University of Hartford | Hartford, Connecticut | Active | ||
Sigma Iota | 2019 | Baruch College | New York, New York | Inactive | As of 2020 | |
Sigma Kappa | 2019 | Towson, Maryland | Active |
References
External links |