As every Rowan student knows, our campus is getting bigger and bigger every day. With that, more students are eager to rush a sorority or fraternity, and find a group of friends that they can call family. That’s what Stephanie Rubin was looking for when she transferred to Rowan. She found her home in Fall of 2014 when she pledged Alpha Epsilon Phi, or AEPhi, and is now their latest President. With the pledge season underway, Steph looks forward to keeping AEPhi’s sisterhood strong, and making her senior year at Rowan her best one yet.
1. What are your duties as president of AEPhi?
As the president of AEPhi, some of the responsibilities I have are to: have the general supervision over the chapter, executive positions, and chair positions by leading through ritual and example, preside at all meetings, abide by all policies and by-laws, maintain regular contact with advisers and specialists from our National as well as Rowan’s Greek Affairs office, arrange, oversee, and conduct elections and officer transitions, review, sign, and submit required forms and reports in a timely manner, educate our chapter on all national and local policies, represent our chapter externally through service, philanthropy, and many other events, attend conventions, promote academic excellence, and most importantly, keep it interesting!
2. What made you want to join a sorority, and AEPhi in particular?
I wanted to join a sorority to be involved in something larger than myself and to participate in an organization where I could do service as well as expand leadership opportunities. I particularly wanted to be a part of AEPhi because of the instant connection I felt with these women. AEPhi really made me feel right at home. Although it gave me all the things above, it also gave more much more than I expected. It has given me a family, endless opportunities, and the greatest memories I could ask for.
3. What are you looking forward as AEPhi’s newest president?
Making all of our chapter’s goals happen! We have so many great ideas that are being pursued for recruitment, philanthropy, sister activities, ways to benefit our GPA, and many more that we have already accomplished but are looking forward to keep improving in all aspects.
4. What would you tell students who are skeptical about sororities?
You cannot believe that everything you see on television or hear about on the news, happens everywhere. Greek life at Rowan proves all these stereotypes wrong. AEPhi believes in our sisterhood and wants every women to experience the amazing opportunity it has given us and to share it and keep it going. AEPhi is a life long sisterhood and friendship that benefits each person individually in a positive way. Being in AEPhi means there are endless opportunities for you including: networking for jobs with alumnae, leadership roles, volunteering through service and philanthropy events and local foundations that you specifically want to fundraise for, improving your academics by having a required minimum GPA and study hours, and the sisters you will always have as well as all the other people you meet along the way.
5. What advice would you give to students who are rushing this semester?
The most important advice I would like to suggest to any woman who wants to rush this semester is to be yourself! Sometimes it’s difficult figuring out which sorority you want to rush for at first, but be open minded and do your best to meet as many sisters as possible in all of the organizations. You will know where you feel most comfortable and you should stick to your gut, even if your friends want to join a different sorority than you. You can still be friends with girls in other organizations and be involved in other activities on and off campus, so don’t think otherwise! I want to wish everyone the best of luck in their journey to find their home away from home no matter where you chose to go. Joining Greek life was the best decision I’ve ever made at college and I wish you all the same positive experience that AEPhi has brought to me.