About ATO - Eta Psi

   Alpha Tau Omega was founded on principles known only to leaders of the world. Our ideas are unlike any other fraternity, in that we are based upon Christian principles quoting the Alpha and the Omega. Our hopes are to bind men together in a brotherhood based upon eternal and immutable principles. The aim is to bring all men, the world over, to stand and contend for the supremacy of good over evil no matter your race or creed.

   Alpha Tau Omega was founded in 1865 at the Virginia Military Institute. It began with three men: Otis Allan Glazebrook, Erskine Mayo Ross and Alfred Marshall and today is over 200,000 strong. Alpha Tau Omega is currently the leader in opening new chapters across the United States.

   Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity to develop a leadership program known as LeaderShape. Today LeaderShape is the country's premier leadership development program to college students and young professionals.

   With 244 Alumni, the Eta Psi Chapter of the University of West Florida has been established since 1972, over 35 years of campus presence. Since we have won seven greek weeks, held the highest GPA among campus fraternities and won numerous leadership and community service awards.

   Among campus activities we currently hold IFC President and Student Coordinator of New Student Orientation. In this passed spring we received an award for Community Service.

ATO Facts and Firsts

Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity founded after the Civil War.

Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity founded on a set of new ideals, and not in response to or opposition of another fraternity.

Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity founded as a national organization, not a local or sectional fellowship.

Alpha Tau Omega became the first fraternity to be incorporated.

The chapter at Sewanee was the first fraternity in the South to have a house or lodge.

Oregon Alpha Sigma became the first chapter of any fraternity in the Northwest.

Alpha Tau Omega was a charter member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference.

Thomas Arkle Clark, the first initiate of the Gamma Zeta chapter at the University of Illinois , was the nation’s first college dean of men.

 

Indiana Delta Alpha implemented "Help Week" replacing "Hell Week" in 1950 setting a fraternal precedent that is still in effect today.

Newsweek announced Alpha Tau Omega as the leader of "The Top Ten of Fraternity Row."

Alpha Tau Omega was a founding member of the Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group.

Alpha Tau Omega was the first to sponsor co-educational leadership development programming.

Alpha Tau Omega was the first national fraternity to start a chapter free of alcohol and tobacco on fraternity property.

Alpha Tau Omega became the first fraternity online with the ATO Forum on CompuServe.

Alpha Tau Omega in 1986 founded the LeaderShape Institute, considered the country’s premier leadership development program available for college students and young professionals.

Alpha Tau Omega was the first fraternity to establish a success initiative with ATO Roadshow.

Alpha Tau Omega is the first fraternity to have a staff member in charge of its spiritual and ritual initiative.