Spring of 1999 saw the addition of a new face to the Interfraternity Council at the College of Charleston. That year, the Chi Omicron colony of Alpha Epsilon Pi was given approval at one of the South's premier public universities. Founding Master Daniel Simon had a vision of Jewish men congregating together in a Greek system. The founding fathers were a rough and tumble group with politicians, hippies, and everything in between. Initiated on a road trip to Georgia Tech, these men were entrusted with the future of AEPi. The College, recognizing that there was something special about this group of men, fostered the growth of the colony through the next semester.
The Alpha pledge class welcomed two future masters and a group of dedicated and diverse Jewish students. The next spring, the Beta pledge class, while small, was no less important to the future of the chapter. The following fall, a much larger Gamma pledge class brought another diverse crop into the fledgling colony. The founding fathers soon graduated entrusting the future of the chapter to a new generation of men. In an exciting event the Delta pledge class was initiated by Supreme Exchequer Gary Anderson in the solemn decades-old ritual.
Later that evening, the piece of paper years in the making arrived with Supreme Master Jon Pierce. In Arnold Hall of the Jewish Studies Center, the Chi Omicron Chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity became official and permanent at the College of Charleston. Nearly 90 people looked on as brothers, national officers, and friends sang Gold and Blue. The years of work were all worth it.
In Spring 2005, Chi Omicron held its first ever philanthropy event, a Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament, and successfully raised $1,000 for the Ethiopian Jewish Community. In Fall 2007, Chi Omicron held its first annual “Splash Bash”, raising over $1,500 for the Ronald McDonald House. The 2nd Annual “Splash Bash” was held Fall 2008 and was again a great success.
From 2006 to the present, the Chi Omicron chapter has seen tremendous growth. The past few pledge classes have substantially increased the size of the chapter. From 2006 to the present Chi Omcron went from 9 active brothers to 42 active brothers. This past Fall the Rho pledge class was the chapter's largest pledge class ever with 13 initiates.
2009 has been a good year for the Chi Omicron Chapter. First, in April 2009 the chapter received word that it would be awarded an on-campus Fraternity House for the 2009-2010 school year. In addition, following the Alpha Epsilon Pi National Convention in Las Vegas, Chi Omicron was informed that it would host the 2010 Southeast Regional Conclave.
History in the making, Chi Omicron is excited about the past, present, and future of the chapter. With honesty, faith, perseverance, humility, and mutual helpfulness as our guideposts, our example to the Greek system will maintain for decades to come.