Leadership
Here at Alpha Tau Omega we offer all members and initiates the opportunity
to get involved in the decisions of the fraternity. We encourage and strongly
suggest all
to
take
up leadership opportunities within the University, Greek system, and community.
We work with all members and initiates to get them motivated in leading and teach
leadership skills that is so needed in the real world. Every member and initiate
has a good idea and we want to hear it and give the idea a chance to become reality.
Academics
At Alpha Tau Omega we value our academics as well as our social pleasures.
Our Pledge Program has a large emphasis on academics, which continues into
membership. We have an extensive Scholarship Program designed to help ATO's
graduate with
high GPAs. For pledges, our study program involves mandatory study hours each
week, as well as small study groups that meet together for the mandatory
hours.
These groups ensure that each student doesn't become overwhelmed by the freedom
college brings, and is meant to help new students with their study habits.
Many
members, who are not required to participate in the study hours, choose to
join the groups and be involved in the study hours to keep themselves on
track and
help their study habits. Nationwide, studies show that college students who
join the Greek system are more likely to graduate and hold a higher average
GPA than non-Greek students.
Philanthropy
Part of being in a Fraternity is giving back to the community. All members
and pledges are required to complete a certain number of hours each semester.
These
hours are easy to accomplish thanks to the variety of events that take place
on the campus each semester. Our chapter just recently helped the American
Cancer
Society and the Student-Alumni Relations Board put on the first annual University
of Idaho Relay For Life, a charity event that helps to raise money to fight
cancer. In addition, our chapter also hosts an annual event each year called
Tin Canner. Tin Canner originally started as the "Tin Can Dance" in
the 1940s (original date unknown) during World War II to help the war effort.
Throughout the year the chapter would save every old can and then at the end
of the year it was donated. Now, we still save every can (all 80,000 of
them
or so) until the end of the year, but we string them up across the front of
the house and then donate the money collected from the recycling to a charity.
Social
There is a time for work and a time for play, and we at the Delta Tau Chapter
realize the need for both. We have an extensive social calendar which includes
many annual events, such as Tin Canner, Founder's Day, and trips to places
like Canada and Seattle, as well as a variety of social functions, exchanges
with Sororities, and events with other Fraternities.
Hazing
Alpha Tau Omega is a non-hazing Fraternity. We believe that hazing is counterproductive
to our brotherhood and every other principle that our Fraternity was founded
upon and stands for today.
Brotherhood
At Alpha Tau Omega we believe brotherhood is the most important and valuable
aspect of Greek Life. We have a variety of brotherhood events, at least
one
every month. This idea of brotherhood extends to the new initiates
of Alpha Tau Omega, as we want to start building that life long friendship
right away. To phrase is a different way, friendship is great but brotherhood
lasts forever.