Jewish Fraternity At Syracuse Suspended Over Student Safety Concerns
Image by Anya ulinich
By Josh Nathan-Kazis February 21, 2018
Officials at Syracuse University in upstate New York suspended the school’s chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, citing an unspecified threat to student safety, Syracuse’s student newspaper reported.
“As soon as we were made aware of conduct that threatened the safety of a student participating in the new member process, we took immediate action to halt fraternity activities at Alpha Epsilon Pi,” Sarah Scalese, a spokesperson for the university, told the Daily Orange.
AEPi is a Jewish fraternity with chapters in colleges across the United States. AEPi’s national office is defending the Syracuse chapter, saying that the misconduct was on the part of an individual student.
“Syracuse administrators have taken this unilateral action with little regard to the facts of the case or the possible impacts on many innocent students,” Jonathan Pierce, a spokesperson for the national office, told the Daily Orange.
The Forward reported last summer that two top officers of the national fraternity had resigned over a lack of financial transparency.
At Syracuse University, all three national Jewish fraternities are currently in disciplinary trouble. According to the Daily Orange, the local chapter of Zeta Beta Tau is “on disciplinary reprimand,” while the local chapter Sigma Alpha Mu is under investigation for hazing.
Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected] or on Twitter, @joshnathankazis.
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
