The Lion`s Mane - Alpha Epsilon Pi Delta Rho

The Lion’s Mane
Alpha Epsilon Pi - Delta Rho
January 6, 2011
Volume 16, Issue 1
T 2 4 P h i l a n t h r o p i c Te n n i s To u r n a m e n t
both brothers and Drexel students
played late into the night and the
following day. At many points
throughout the event, there were
even more Drexel students than AEPi
brothers. For the entire 24 hour
In This Issue:
T24 Philanthropic
Tennis
Tournament
1
Service Award
2
Master’s Corner
2
and event planner Jared Hurwich
Keeping Our
Graduates Close
3
stayed for the total 24 hours!
Selecting the Finest
3
A Perspective
Through the Ages
4-5
Pictures
6
duration, Alpha Epsilon Pi had at least
2 brothers playing tennis. Brothers
Stephen Rosenblatt, Michael Shinbrot
An event like this is successful because
From Left to Right: Jared Hurwich, Grant Woldoff, Stephen
Rosenblatt and Michael Shinbrot, standing in front of the
community. Brothers were sponsored
either per hour or as a total donation
regardless of time played. In addition,
By Jared Hurwich
In its second year, Alpha Epsilon Pi’s major annual
philanthropic event, T24, continued the tradition of
raising money all while having a great time! The
“T” stands for tennis and the “24” stands for the
24 hour duration during which Alpha Epsilon Pi
brothers and members of the Drexel community
play a tennis tournament.
This year, T24 was held at the Drexel Armory due
to its size, central location on campus and because
by doing it inside we could play rain or shine. In
addition, this year’s tournament benefitted Keshet,
a program that supports Jewish children with
developmental issues.
The event kicked off at 7:00 PM on October 2
of the tremendous generosity of the
nd
with a strong showing of Alpha Epsilon Pi brothers.
The NBC 10 News crew was even set to cover
the opening!
donations were collected at the door
of the event. A doubles tournament
was hosted on October 3rd to raise
more funds and to crown a Drexel
doubles tennis team. Once all of the
numbers were calculated, T24 raised
over $2,500, a great increase over last
year! In addition, Ed’s Buffalo Wings
Recent Engagements
Jonothan Chodosh
to Carly Feldman
Brian Saunders to
and Pizza donated $1,000 in pizza,
Rebecca Braverman
wings, and various prizes for T24
participants.
Bernard Lieberman
T24 was an all around success. Due to
it being so early in the academic year,
T24 helped out significantly with
establishing AEPi’s name on campus as
well as helping out greatly with Fall
rush. Next year promises to be even
bigger and better!
Thanks to a strong push in the local community,
1
to Sherrie Swayne
Marriages
Evan Epstein to
Amanda Schussler
A E P i W i n s S e r v i c e Aw a r d
By Kevin Semless
This year, AEPi-Delta Rho was honored
for its commitment to The Jewish Relief
Agency (JRA) at the 10th Annual JRA
Awards Banquet. JRA comes together
once a month to pack and deliver monthly food packages to Jewish families in need
throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Every month, Delta Rho goes to the
agency to pack cars and buses full of boxes. We don't let anything stop us, whether it's hot, cold, raining, snowing, or even Brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity acceptduring our winter break. We never miss ing the JRA service award
a JRA!
Our efforts did not go unrecognized this
year as we won a "Young Jewish Leaders"
award at the JRA Awards Banquet. The
brothers of AEPi were offered free entry
into the $150 per person event hosted at
The Philadelphia Please Touch Museum
on November 17th, 2010. We received
this honor, which was also signed by the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Member, Josh Shapiro, in recognition of
our service to the Jewish community over
these past years.
Master’s Corner
By Stephen Rosenblatt
holiday programs to interacting with incoming freshman, AEPi has been a constant presence in aiding Hillel’s goal of
creating a better Jewish life on campus. I
have personally reached out and held
discussions about the future of our two
programs and how we can work together
to benefit both the Drexel community
and the surrounding Jewish area.
Fall term 2010 was a great time to be
Master of Delta Rho. The term got off to
a great start with many of our brothers,
ranging from seniors to returning sophomores, who came to help Drexel’s new
freshman move in. It is not only a fun experience meeting the freshman, but it also
gets us a great head start on rush.
Every year our partnership with Hillel
stays strong through the continued work
of brothers who come to events and run
for positions on Hillel board. With
Drexel’s past advisor, Jody Peskin, stepping down to pursue non-profit work,
Hillel of Philadelphia sent three new individuals to Drexel: Michael Cabot, Caitlin
Scmidheiser and Rabbi Isabel de Konick.
With these new faces, Delta Rho assisted
in any way possible to create a healthy
transition for both Hillel and Delta Rho.
When they moved from the hole-in-thewall office at Creese to their new more
spacious office in the Intercultural Center,
Fall term is easily the busiest term of the
year for Delta Rho, but when our entire
chapter pulls together, anything is possible. By utilizing all of the resources we
have at our disposal, we were able to
have one of the most successful Fall terms
we have ever had in our 16 year history.
We excelled in the areas of Rush, programming and most of all our brotherMaster Stephen Rosenblatt
hood. I am looking forward to a fun Winter term of Conclaves and preparing to
hand over the reins to the next Master of
AEPi was there picking through boxes and
Delta Rho.
helped lifting couches. When they needed
volunteers to help with the early fall programming, AEPi was there. From the high
2
Keeping Our Graduates Close
always very closely contested, but every-
were able to hear about what our alumni
one always has a great time.
have been up to and for them to see how
the chapter and Drexel has changed since
Our Fall pledges, the Alpha Upsilons, had
the opportunity to meet the alumni as
well and hear about their past experiences of pledging and brotherhood during
the game and barbeque after. Following
Sweethearts Sarah Marino and Natalie Au pictured
with Alumni Brett Fisher at the Alumni BBQ
By Scott Sugarman
Every term, we have the opportunity to
reunite with our alumni during Founder’s
Day weekend and hear about the past of
Delta Rho. Our alumni came out to Fairmount Park for our yearly Alumni vs.
Undergrads football game. The game is
the game, we gathered at the house for
good food and good times with our fel-
their time as Undergraduates. Like always,
there were great conversations and awesome times. After the barbecue, many of
the Alumni stuck around for the Eagles
game as well.
Our alumni barbecue and football game is
always a fun event and an opportunity to
hear about the alumni experiences in DelThe barbecue was a great chance to just
ta Rho and what they think of the chapter
relax with old friends and brothers and
today. Being the alumni chair was a great
catch up. Every brother is different and
opportunity for me to work with the
not all brothers are able to stay as close
alumni and undergrads to plan this once
to the chapter as they would like to upon
quarterly event that brings us all together
graduation. The alumni event is always fun
as a chapter and further strengthens our
to take the opportunity to chat with old
bonds.
friends and even make new ones. We
low alumni, brothers, and pledges.
Selecting the Finest
By Steven Graber
Brotherhood Dinner during which time
chapter as a whole to discuss the rush
the chapter got to know all of the prospective members.
events, and to get our name out on campus.
Many times during Rush, Greek organiza-
All of the brothers helped with rush by
have been Fall Rush Chairman and helped
tions will work together to make better
wearing our letters around campus, hang-
guide the chapter during this time.
and more successful events in order to
help each other out. This year we
ing up flyers, and attending the rush
events. The guys who came out to our
worked with the sisters of Alpha Sigma
house during rush were greeted by a loyal
Fall Rush is one of the most important
parts of our year and is integral to our
success. This year I was lucky enough to
Fall Rush was something that I had always
aspired to be in charge of, and even with
some difficulties along the way, we were
able to make it a very successful rush period. This Fall Delta Rho gave out 23 bids
Alpha and Delta Phi Epsilon. Both sorori- brotherhood eager to get to know them
ties came out in full force and made these better.
events amazing.
We have a fantastic pledge class right now
and I am confident they will become great
brothers at the conclusion of their pledge
Greek organization, and although one
person may be in charge, a successful rush period.
to prospective members and got 22 pledg- Rush is the lifeblood of any successful
es for Delta Rho’s Alpha Upsilon pledge
class.
We had eight formal events for Fall Rush
is the work of the whole chapter.
including Quizzo, Eagles Games, Jeopardy, I met weekly over the summer not only
Dodgeball, Lazer Tag, Volleyball, and a
with my committee but also with the
3
Perspectives Throughout the Ages
The Young
By Andrew Blinn
the house, my mind was pretty much set
When I first arrived at Drexel, I was noth- on rushing Alpha Epsilon Pi.
thrilled to be offered a bid.
ing but a freshman trying to adjust to a
After “Night on the Row”, my interest in
I accepted my bid without question and
began the pledge process as a member of
new city, not knowing people and trying
to make friends. Before arriving, I knew I
the Alpha Epsilon Pi brotherhood sky-
the Alpha Upsilon pledge class. Pledging
rocketed. In high school, I did not have
many Jewish friends, and I was sick of be-
has been amazing and extremely fun. The
one thing that my pledge brothers and I
wanted to join a fraternity; it was just a
matter of choosing the right one for me. I ing known as the Jewish kid in the group,
went to Drexel’s “Night on the Row”, an After talking and hanging out with most of
event geared towards introducing freshthe brothers at rush events, I got a strong
man to the benefits of Greek Life, and
sense of what the fraternity is all about;
found my way to the house of Alpha Epsi- brotherhood. It’s not about hazing and
have learned is that we are only as strong
as our weakest link, and we must work
together if we are all to become initiated
into the brotherhood. We are a pledge
lon Pi. I was greeted immediately after
humiliation, or anything even close; it is
class of one. Working with and helping
each other will be essential to completing
walking in the door, and was instantly
offered a tour of the house. After leaving
simply about brotherhood and friendship.
the pledge process.
I attended most rush events and was
The Up and Coming
By Grant Woldoff
When I first came to Drexel during new
student orientation, I had no intention of
ever joining a fraternity. With all of the
of the older brothers of the fraternity.
isn’t just about preparing for your career.
The past two years have gone faster than
I could have ever imagined, and so far it’s
It’s also about preparing you for life. Creating bonds and friendships can be much
been more than an incredible experience.
more valuable than finding the value of
negative stereotypes that they had, I
couldn’t even imagine that Greek life
As a freshman, I often found myself looking up to the older brothers, and not just
would be something for me. Then an up-
because of my height. I saw a ton of lead-
per classmen came up to me (wearing
letters of course) and we started to talk.
ers who did some incredible things. I aspired to one day become a leader and
on the executive board, and now as one
see what’s really important. Life at college
“x”, The friends, no, the brothers that I
surround my life with makes my college
experience better than I could have ever
dreamed.
One question that the younger guys alHe just so happened to be a brother of
help influence people like those who influ- ways ask the older ones is “What does
brotherhood mean to you?”. That quesAEPi. After meeting him and other broth- enced me. As days, weeks, and months
ers, I started to reconsider going Greek.
rolled by, I feel that myself along with my tion has many different answers, interpreAfter going to many rush events and
peers started to take on that responsibil- tations and even some great stories. But
when prompted to answer that very queseventually receiving a bid, it was not even ity of being those who are looked up to.
tion, it’s easy for me to say that brothera question whether to accept in hopes of I’ve even seen some of the younger guys
hood to me is being around a great group
eventually becoming a brother.
take their steps into becoming a leader.
of guys that have made my college experiFast-forward two years through pledging, As this brotherhood continues to grow
ence that best it could possibly be.
life as a new member, one and a half years and expand, it can sometimes be hard to
4
Perspectives Throughout the Ages
The Well Established
By Alex Mandel
As I enter the beginning of my junior year
at college, it is very nostalgic to look back
ifying and meaningful as holding a service
rience I had. It is a different perspective to
position in our chapter.
watch the newer members take responsibility for running the chapter. The young-
Now that time has passed. As my college
at everything I accomplished and experi-
career approaches its twilight, it is time to
enced at my first three years at AEPi.
take a step back and look at what is really
important. AEPi built my confidence. It
er guys have really stepped up to make
this year our best year ever.
I still have a year and a half left in the fraternity before I graduate. I plan on doing
year (Alpha Lambda, Fall 2007), At first I
Taking on positions, working with others my best to instill what I learned to the
was shy around the chapter, I didn’t take
younger generation and leave my mark on
towards the common goal of a better
on any responsibilities or positions until
chapter, and sharing the ups and downs of the current undergrads so they have the
the Lieutenant Master at the time, Shaw
same experience I had. As the years go by
college with a group of close friends deLevin (current Past Master) encouraged
fined my first years in AEPi. It was one of and the students come and go, we most
me to take on a position. Planning my first
always remember that no job, girl, or
the most rewarding experiences of my
event as philanthropy chair gave me my
award will take the place of strong brothlife.
first bit of confidence as a leader. Over
erhood. As always, it is a great time to be
the next two years I would continue to
Today is not about taking on more rein Delta Rho.
take on positions and responsibilities, fisponsibilities or leading new positions.
I pledged the fall term of my freshmen
gave me direction and a belief in myself.
nally becoming Lieutenant Master for the Now it is about passing the torch and
2009-2010 year. Nothing has been as grat- allowing others the same rewarding expe-
The Elder
By Shaw Levin
From the first day after being dropped off
until the day we put on our robes – college is about opportunity. There are no
parents in the dorms to tell us to go to
sleep, no one to cook our meals and no
good group of guys and a connection to
even the trips to New Orleans and Vegas.
my Jewish roots. As the years have gone
by the brothers proved themselves to be
The friendships made over the years are
the most important thing I left school with
my most valuable asset and gave me an
and will be with me the longest. This sum-
edge most students can’t imagine.
mer has already seen two weddings (with
more to come, Mazel Tov to Saunders
We all take classes to help pre-
one to do our laundry. There isn’t even
pare us for a job – but the fraternity does
anyone telling us to go to class. We are
free to make our own mistakes and we
so much more. Thanks to the older
brothers who put on resume and inter-
are responsible for learning from them.
view sessions I always had my pick of co-
Amazingly, most of us survive and come
ops from Lockheed to Siemens to
out better off. We make friends and men- Blackrock and SIG. The leadership positors, acquire new skills and gain a new
tions in the chapter offered experience
perspective on the world.
and responsibility that has been invaluable
to me even after graduation.
In the midst of all these opportunities, where does AEPi fit? As a recent
The best part about my experi-
grad it is clear to me that AEPi stands out ence as an undergrad was not the job
as the best among all of them. It wasn’t so prep or the tutoring. It wasn’t being
obvious at first – the fraternity was just a
taught Hebrew for my Bar Mitzvah or
5
and to Chodosh) and it’s my honor to be
such close friends with these amazing people.
So what’s the next step? I’ve gotten so much from the fraternity, it is now
my turn to try to give something back.
One of my favorite activities is mentoring
and advising the current undergrad brothers and continuing to create programs for
our area alumni. However I’m doing it, I’ll
be doing it with my brothers. Five years
was a great start – but as we all know –
AEPi is a commitment for a lifetime.
Some Pictures from the Term
6