Most students who arrive at the University hope to find their niche. A new fraternity on campus aims to offer that niche to Jewish students.
Sigma Alpha Mu is a predominately Jewish fraternity, the third of its kind to make a home at LSU.
“LSU hasn’t had a Jewish fraternity on campus in a while,” said chapter President Jeff Lahasky, biological sciences sophomore.
Zeta Beta Tau, the first Jewish fraternity was on campus from 1909 to 1989. The second, Alpha Epsilon Pi, was here from 1938 to 1972.
Lahasky said he and his friends decided to start a Jewish fraternity before they decided where to go to college.
They were thinking about going to other schools that already had Jewish fraternities but changed their minds and decided to start their own at LSU, Lahasky said.
“We wanted a fraternity for Jewish students at LSU so they didn’t feel like they had to go to other schools,” Lahasky said.
Kyle Goldich, marketing sophomore, co-founded Sigma Alpha Mu with Lahasky.
Goldich said he and Lahasky recruited friends and spread the word by contacting synagogues around the Southeast.
Lahasky and his friends contacted the Sigma Alpha Mu national office and began working with them and the University office.
They received recognition for working toward their charter in October 2004 when only eight students were in the fraternity — all Jewish.
The fraternity that started with two recruits now has 20 actives, and members are confident they will gain the remaining necessary new members during spring rush, Goldich said.
The chapter is talking about leasing the Sigma Nu house, said Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs and associate dean of students.
Yoni Platt, a chemistry freshman who is Jewish, said Sigma Alpha Mu helped him feel like he belonged at the University.
“I have something in common with a lot of the members,” Platt said.
Platt also said Sigma Alpha Mu is a bit smaller, which helps the group feel closer.
Lahasky emphasized only about half of the current members are Jewish, though the fraternity is known as a predominately Jewish organization.
“The ratio is about 50-50,” Lahasky said. “We will try to keep it that way.”
Sigma Alpha Mu presents good opportunities for non-Jewish students as well as those with Jewish backgrounds, Goldich said.
“Every fraternity has a reputation, but Sigma Alpha Mu is brand-new,” Goldich said. “Its members can mold it into whatever they want.”