Alpha Tau Omega

Alpha Tau Omega
ΑΤΩ
FoundedSeptember 11, 1865; 159 years ago (1865-09-11)
Virginia Military Institute
TypeSocial
Affiliation
StatusActive
ScopeUnited States
Mottoπι εψιλον πι
SloganLove & Respect
Colors  Azure Blue and   Old Gold
Flag
FlowerWhite Tea Rose
PublicationThe Palm
Chapters125
Colonies4
Members7,000[1] collegiate
229,000+[1] lifetime
NicknamesATO, Alpha Tau, Tau
Headquarters333 N. Alabama Street
Suite 220

Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
Websitewww.ato.org

Alpha Tau Omega (ΑΤΩ), commonly known as ATO, is an American social fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1865 by Otis Allan Glazebrook. The fraternity has around 250 active and inactive chapters and colonies in the United States and has initiated more than 229,000 members.[1] VMI Cadets are no longer associated with the fraternity. In 1885, the VMI Board of Visitors ruled that cadets could no longer join fraternities based on the belief that allegiance to a fraternal group undermined the cohesiveness of and loyalty to the Corps of Cadets.[2]

Alpha Tau Omega represents one-third of the Lexington Triad, along with Kappa Alpha Order and Sigma Nu. The Fraternity does not have chapters or affiliations outside the United States. The fraternity's non-profit organization is The ATO Foundation, which provides scholarships to its members.

  1. ^ a b c Where Can I Join? JoinATO.com - accessed February 2, 2015
  2. ^ "VMI History and Records FAQ - VMI Archives - Virginia Military Institute". www.vmi.edu. Retrieved 18 March 2018.