History

Ohio University, the first land-grant college in the United States, and the first university in the Northwest Territory, was chartered by the Ohio General Assembly in 1804. At this state-supported public institution, the first fraternity to appear was Beta Theta Pi in 1841.

Predominantly Jewish chapters of Phi Epsilon Pi and Phi Sigma Delta were chartered in 1933 and 1948 respectively, but later died. Sigma Alpha Mu also had a brief existence in the 1960's. Omicron Upsilon stemmed from a group that was founded by Michael Fishel and Mark Hersh in the spring term of 1977, and in May of that year approached several fraternities about petitioning. After hearing from Zeta Beta Tau, Sigma Alpha Mu, and Alpha Epsilon Pi, and after a visit by Chapter Service Director Gary Anderson, the group became the Omicron Upsilon colony of Alpha Epsilon Pi.

In the fall of 1977, a house was obtained at 32 North College Avenue in the fraternity area of Athens, Ohio. The University granted the rapidly-growing colony permission for installation, which took place May 13, 1978 in the Baker Student Center. At that time, the chapter numbered 23 actives and pledges.

Listed as charter members were Michael Fishel, Mark Hersh, Joel Robins, Steven Nichol, Robert Lloyd, Ricky Sherman, Mitchell Mouallem, Zachery Simon, Michael Levison, Michael Abramson, Keith Rhodes, and Evan Brown. The charter was presented by Supreme Exchequer Irving Axelrod to Master Steve Nichol. The invocation was given by Rabbi Louis Rieser (Beta Iota '70), Michael Levison acted as master of ceremonies, and the keynote address was delivered by Carla Hirschfeld, Fraternity-Sorority Advisor at Ohio University. Also speaking were Executive Secretary Sidney Dunn, Regional Governor Barry Schwartz, and Chapter Advisor Joseph Berman (Theta Deuteron '65). Chapter Consultant Javier Rey (Phi Gamma '77) also attended.

Throughout the 1980's and early 1990's, the Omicron Upsilon chapter of AEPi thrived on the Ohio University Campus. It became one of the most recognized fraternities on campus, and the brothers were known for their high academic standing and social presence.

In 1997, due to an incident beyond the control of AEPi or the Omicron Upsilon chapter, the chapter was expelled from Ohio University. After an appeal to the University, the ruling was reduced to a four year suspension from campus, and a fifth year of probation.

The fraternity would have easily disappeared from the Ohio campus if it were not for the efforts of Robert Bressler and Matt Greenberg, who shouldered the burden of keeping the fraternity alive and planning for the future. In the fall of 1998, they began the efforts of reorganizing the Omicron Upsilon chapter into a bigger and bolder chapter. With the help of David Weismark, Jonathan Greenberg, Seth Grossman, Daniel Wolf, Adam Shane, Scott Zimmerman, Phil Sigal and Aaron Schwartz, AEPi was off and running again at Ohio University.

Though the chapter was not recognized by the University, it began to grow throughout the next two years. By the fall of 2000, the chapter had 20 brothers actively involved in the fraternity, with 6 pledges. Also, Ohio University once again recognized the presence of Alpha Epsilon Pi on campus. With AEPi back "on campus", the chapter once again participated in such activities as Homecoming, Inter Fraternal Counsel and intramural sports. This is only the start of what is yet to come from the Omicron Upsilon chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi.

Attention OU AEPi Alumni!!!
The active brothers need your help with AEPi History. Please email us any information that could help with our local history.
Thank You.