For more than eighty-five years, since its founding in 1907, the Cosmopolitan Club at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has served students of many nations and also the wider community. The Club was formed by students and faculty of the University of Illinois seeking to accelerate social and intellectual intercourse between American and foreign students, avowedly working to avoid segregation into national cliques. In its early days, the Club was distinguished by offering a place of fellowship and residence for minorities whose welcome socially on the campus was sometimes one of indifference, if not hostility. Indeed, among its founding members were an immigrant from Russia, Abraham Epstein, who was only a few weeks in the county; and the son of the world- renowned Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.
The
Cosmopolitan Club, now the A. Epstein International Center, has been at
various times a Fraternity and a Club, affiliated, because of University
requirements, with either the Inter-Fraternity Council or the Men's Independent
Association, respectively. The Club's frequent changes in affiliation
between these two organizations were a result of its dissatisfaction with
their objectives. Since the University dropped this requirement, the Club
is no longer affiliated with either organization.
The Cosmopolitan Club has been located at 307 East John Street since 1969. Prior to that time, the Club had been located at 605 East Daniel Street (1923-1961) and 405 East Daniel Street (1907-1922). The Cosmopolitan Club house underwent major renovations during 1991. Brothers Raymond and Sidney Epstein of Chicago provided generous assistance in this renovation work in memory of their father, Abraham Epstein. The elder Mr. Epstein, who came to the U.S. from Russia, was one of the earliest residents (from 1907 through 1911) of the first Cosmopolitan Club house. In his honor, the renovated Cosmopolitan Club house has been named the A. Epstein International Center. Abraham Epstein's portrait hangs in a prominent and honored place in the Cosmo living room.
Sid Epstein continues in his role as benefactor to the Club. When in Champaign, Sid stops by the house to visit with residents and the Executive Director, Andrea Shields. This is always a very special occasion.
Residents and visitors alike speak of the warm, friendly, and family-like atmosphere of the Cosmopolitan Club house. Come experience these feelings for yourself at one of the Cosmopolitan Club's international dinners or coffee hours.