Although the celebration took place in New York City this past August, today is the day when Alpha Epsilon Pi turns 100 years old. A century ago, the seven men who decided to found a fraternity of their own received word that their organization was a recognized fraternity on the New York University campus.
The idea came to them earlier, likely sometime in late 1912 or early 1913. Charles C. Moskowitz enrolled in night classes at New York University (NYU) after studying at City College of New York where he played basketball. His reputation as a basketball player preceded him. At NYU he was immediately rushed by one of the established fraternities. Moskowitz was given a bid, but before accepting, he asked if bids could be extended to a circle of his Jewish friends with whom he ate dinner before going to night classes. The fraternity said the bid was just for him.
The men who juggled a day job and night classes made the decision to band together. They decided to start an organization for Jewish men. In addition to Moskowitz, the Alpha Epsilon Pi founders are I.M. Glazer, Herman L. Kraus, Arthur M. Lipkint, Benjamin M. Meyer, Hyman Schulman, Emil J. Lustgarten, Arthur E. Leopold, Charles J. Pintel, Maurice Plager, and David K. Schafer.
They chose the name Alpha Epsilon Pi likely unaware that four years earlier a sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi, had been formed in New York City at Barnard College.
The Centennial celebration took place this past August on the NYU campus with a gala at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Alumnus Wolf Blitzer served as the banquet’s master of ceremonies. Best wishes to Alpha Epsilon Pi as it begins second century!
(c) Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
