Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi

Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi is a United States sorority that was founded on October 1, 1998 at the University of California, Davis.

The 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. With the gap left open Alpha Epsilon Pi, a national Jewish fraternity, 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. Additionally 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.

Purpose

"The purpose of ΣΑΕΠ is to promote unity, support, and Jewish awareness, as well as to provide a Jewish experience for ourselves, our members, and the community as a whole. We are devoted to friendship, motivation, opportunity, leadership, and well-being."

“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 has begun to expand across the country.

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 7 alumni members from all different chapters voluntarily serving as the directors on the National Board.

Chapter List

"(Inactives denoted with italics)"

*University of California, Davis [http://sigmacharter.webs.com/ Charter Chapter]
*"Arizona State University Alpha Chapter"
*University of Minnesota [http://www.sigmaumn.org Beta Chapter]
*"University of California, Riverside Gamma Chapter"
*University of California, Santa Cruz [http://www.santacruzhillel.org/student-groups Delta Chapter]
*"University of Oregon Epsilon Chapter"
*Virginia Tech [http://www.saepi.org.vt.edu/ Zeta Chapter]
*University of California, Los Angeles Eta Chapter
*Eastern Michigan University [http://sigmaatemu.tripod.com/ Theta Colony]
*University of Maryland, Baltimore County Iota Colony