In the fall of 1998, with the help of Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑΕΠ), the idea of starting a Jewish women’s group was conceived and executed at the University of California, Davis. Several informational meetings were held at the ΑΕΠ house and at the Hillel House. The response was extremely positive, and thus, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΣΑΕΠ) was born on October 1, 1998. In the spring of 2000, the UC Davis Panhellenic Council, which was comprised of 8 national social sororities, voted unanimously to offer the first chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi associate membership to the Council.
Our Eternal Mothers, the founders of our organization created the values that each sister still holds dear today. The “Sigma” in our name is meant to represent “sisters of,” making us the sisters of ΑΕΠ to honor their contributions in creating this sorority. The letter Sigma (Σ) is also the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet, and in Jewish tradition, the number 18 means chai (life), adding even more meaning to our name.
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Largely taken from the national website sigmaaepi.com
Our History
As the Beta Chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, in addition to upholding the mission statement of the national organization, we shall: embody a compassionate and supportive sisterhood of Jewish women, in which we value trust, loyalty, and honesty. Together we will empower one another to better ourselves, our campus, and our greater Jewish community.
We started out as a local Jewish sorority in 2016 named Kappa Lamda Epsilon for Community, Leadership, and Equality. In 2017, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi saw our ambition and wanted to help us grow and bring SAEPi back to Minnesota where we were active from 2003 – 2008. In October 2019 we achieved chapter status, and we continue to grow in size and spirit.
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Our Chapter
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. Each value is equally important and should never be sacrificed for another.
Spirit, Strength, Sisterhood. These three words, the core of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi, are the foundation of what the organization is and what sisters strive toward.
Our mascot is the lioness, and our symbol is the paw. The lioness represents strength, power, and force within the sisterhood. A sister, just like the lioness, should be strong-minded and caring to those around her.
Our flower, the blue iris. Blue irises are flowers that are delicate, unique, and command attention. The colors of the blue iris also are remarkably similar to the colors of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi.
The ΣΑΕΠ colors are blue and gold. Blue is a prominent color in Judaism. Gold represents the richness which Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi brings to its members. They are also the colors of the University of California where Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded.
Blue bijou, our jewel is the sapphire. The sapphire’s blue color is linked to emotions such as sympathy, harmony, friendship, and loyalty.
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Largely taken from the national website sigmaaepi.com
Our Values
