After multiple decades-apart pushes to establish a chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) on Dickinson’s campus, the fraternity has at last materialized. While AEPi is based on Jewish principles, the Rho Delta Associate Chapter, the Dickinson chapter of AEPi, explicitly states that it is “non-discriminatory and open to all who are willing to espouse its purpose and values regardless of their particular faith tradition.”
In conversation with President Dan Gonçalves ’26, Vice President Max Rimler ’26, and member Oliver Iyer ’25, it became clear how difficult the process of chapter establishment was.
Past attempts to introduce new Greek Life organizations at Dickinson in1967 and 2010 were unsuccessful. In a 2007 article, The Dickinsonian reported that “The Enrollment and Student Life Committee (ESLC) place[d] a moratorium on the consideration of new fraternities and sororities as President William Durden contemplates how large of a role Greek life should play on campus.” It is significant that AEPi has emerged now and it may signal a hopeful future for other Greek Life organizations hoping to establish themselves on campus.
Gonçalves began his journey as an engagement intern at the Asbell Center under Rabbi Marley Weiner. He noted that male attendance at Asbell events was often low, and for him, creating friendship within the community was a promising solution. In the fall of 2023, Dickinson told Gonçalves that that there was no existing process for Greek Life expansion, and that he would need evidence of student interest for a chance at chapter establishment.
Gonçalves continued his pursuit of community in a club under the Asbell Center called “Achim.” In the spring of 2024, Dickinson sent out a survey gauging student interest in the expansion of Greek Life. Responses were evidently encouraging, and Gonçalveswas soon informed that the school was working on an expansion policy.
On Nov. 7, the 111th anniversary of the founding of AEPi, the request for establishment was approved. Campus Life agreed to accept a new fraternity on campus, with the particular help from Assistant Director for Campus Activities Sophie Bisbal.
According to Gonçalves, the primary values of AEPi center around community, friendship and brotherhood. AEPi prioritizes active philanthropy efforts and being a safe space on campus.
The fraternity’s prospects are looking bright. Rimler looks towards the future, motivated by the question, “What do we want to see when we come back ten years after graduation?” Gonçalves is similarly thinking about the big picture. He emphasized, “As the first Greek letter organization to come back in a while, we’re trying to do this right, and we are so excited for the positive change we can bring to the Dickinson community.”
