Alpha Epsilon Pi back on IU campus following hiatus

Alpha Epsilon Pi was kicked off of IU’s campus in January 2008. But now, the chapter is back.

In 2008, the brothers were given fraternity alumni status and Phi Sigma Kappa leased the fraternity’s house on North Jordan Avenue.

This semester, members of AEPi’s national headquarters are re-colonizing the chapter at IU and interviewing potential new members, who will become founding fathers.

“The school and our nationals decided together two years,” said Marty Bock, director of leadership development and alumni relations for AEPi. “But we did three because we wanted to come back at the right time, when we had enough time to get the word out and make sure we were doing it in the best way possible.”

None of the old members will be a part of this AEPi, Bock said.

Bock spent three weeks in Bloomington at the beginning of the semester interviewing roughly 300 men that were referred by member recommendations or through word of mouth.

Thus far, there are 85 founding fathers, 75 percent of whom are freshmen, he said.

“It’s AEPi policy that once a chapter closes, those members cannot re-enter,” Bock said. “We’re starting from scratch, with a new group and a fresh look, to build a strong personality and reputation on campus.”

Junior Rob Langer is the incoming president, one of a handful of upperclassmen who will be initiated into the new chapter.

He said he is excited about AEPi’s return, and as someone who has family who are members of the organization, he has been actively pursuing the fraternity’s re-colonization since his freshman year.

“One of the reasons that I personally wanted to pledge AEPi is because my whole family is in AEPi — my cousins, my uncle, my father,” Langer said. “It was kind of a no-brainer for me. And it was really tough coming here as a freshman and not being able to do that.”

Langer, who knows members of the old AEPi, said he doesn’t think there is any tension between new and old members.

If anything, he said the legacy they originally established — of a competitive bike team, strong academics and a good reputation — will make the transition back easier and faster.

“Not only are we getting an organization that kind of has its traditions here, we get to make it our own,” Langer said. “It’s our chapter, how we want to give back to the IU community, how we want to be involved with other greeks, we get to build all that.”

Next semester, AEPi will participate in the Interfraternity Council’s spring rush — forming their first pledge class of the new chapter.

Freshman Aaron Millberg knew about AEPi and its status from friends who are members of AEPi on other campuses.

Millberg said he knew he wanted to go greek and liked the men who were interviewing with him for AEPi.

“I think there are definitely going to be challenges,” Millberg said. “We have a lot of work that we have to do, but that means that the challenges I’m going to face personally are definitely going to be worth it in the long run.”

For now, members are recruiting the last founding fathers, participating in new member education events and finalizing all the steps for an official return.

“IU’s social world, it’s a fast track. We were here three years ago, but we’re gone now,” Langer said. “One of the hardest things is probably going to be getting that name back out there.”

If all goes as planned, they’ll return to the house on North Jordan next fall.

“We can’t wait to see just how great this group is going to be,” Bock said. “And for the future, what big role and important, contributing role, it will play in the IFC and Bloomington community.”