THE EMORY AEPI INCIDENT
During the early morning hours of Sunday, October 5, 2014, swastikas were spray-painted on the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house at Emory University. The fraternity is nationally Jewish, so it was clear that the attacker meant to intimidate the Jewish students living inside the house, as well as the rest of Emory's Jewish community. The crime was committed on the weekend of Yom Kippur, one of the most sacred Jewish holidays. A quote from the fraternity brothers provides an accurate summary of how they felt:
"The prejudiced individuals who conducted this outrageous offense succeeded in the intentions of making us feel unwelcomed, ostracized, and unsafe in this ”home” we call Emory University. This egregious act has not only impacted our fraternity brothers but there is no doubt that it has also distressed and frightened the entire Emory community."
Although the act was deplorable, the response from the Emory community, as well as from the national AEPi organization, was strong and united. Emory President James Wagner and Dean of Campus Life Ajay Nair expressed how intolerable these acts were, and AEPi chapters from all over the United States provided an outpouring of support to their brothers at Emory. The FBI was put on the case, but no one has been found guilty yet.
"The prejudiced individuals who conducted this outrageous offense succeeded in the intentions of making us feel unwelcomed, ostracized, and unsafe in this ”home” we call Emory University. This egregious act has not only impacted our fraternity brothers but there is no doubt that it has also distressed and frightened the entire Emory community."
Although the act was deplorable, the response from the Emory community, as well as from the national AEPi organization, was strong and united. Emory President James Wagner and Dean of Campus Life Ajay Nair expressed how intolerable these acts were, and AEPi chapters from all over the United States provided an outpouring of support to their brothers at Emory. The FBI was put on the case, but no one has been found guilty yet.