Fraternity granted request to hang symbol on door

Three weeks after Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity was initially denied its request to place a Mezuzah-a Jewish religious symbol containing text from the Torah-on the doorpost of its section, Vice President Janet Dickerson announced Tuesday that the University has decided to reverse its decision.

University administrators originally turned down AEPi's request on the grounds that the fraternity already had a bench and sign that adequately identified the group. Following the University's decision, AEPi filed an appeal, and at the request of Rabbi Joe Blair, director of the University's Hillel Jewish Organization, Sue Wasiolek, assistant vice president of student affairs, organized a meeting of various administrators and three AEPi students to further review the fraternity's request.

"One of the things we were upset about were the reasons for the [first decision] and that was one of the reasons we appealed," said engineering sophomore Neil Berlin, vice president of AEPi. "The administration made a decision without knowing all of the facts."

Berlin, one of the fraternity members present at the meeting, said the discussion focused on the feelings of independent students who live in the section as well as the possibility of the University being forced to remove the Mezuzah if the AEPi section were to move from its current location. Dickerson was unavailable Wednesday as of press time for comment.

Another component of the University's decision included a careful inspection of the fraternity section's doorway. Following the examination, it was determined that the placement of a Mezuzah "did not have major facility implications," Wasiolek said. The symbol's small size contributed to that decision, Blair and Ruderman said. Both Wasiolek and Dean of Student Development Barbara Baker, who also attended the meeting, agreed that the University's original ruling was partly because the fraternity's presentation of a clay Mezuzah to the committee was not an accurate representation of what would actually be placed on the section's doorway.

Blair said he believes the original decision was based upon "a lack of knowledge of the significance of this religious artifact." A Mezuzah contains scripture from Deuteronomy, including the commandment that specific prayers and commandments be placed on the doorposts of one's dwelling, he said.

Blair said he was satisfied with both the manner in which the issue was reviewed and the University's final decision. "I'm happy to be in an environment that Duke is providing where religious expression is encouraged," he said.

Berlin said that the Mezuzah will be placed on the fraternity's doorpost before the end of this semester.