National History

Founded September 11, 1865, at Richmond, Virginia, by three Confederate Civil War cadets/soldiers named Otis Allan Glazebrook, Alfred Marshall and Erskine Mayo Ross, who hoped to bind up the Nation's wounds by establishing a "peace society."

Over 195,000 initiates in every state in the Nation and around the world.

More than 140 Chapters in 46 States, with over 6,500 undergraduate members.

The first Fraternity in the Nation to abolish hazing and other pre-initiation activities and institute in their place a positive membership education program.

In the Top 10 of national fraternities in number of initiates and number of chapters.

Recognized as a leader in the Greek-letter world through the establishment of "The LeaderShape® Institute," which teaches college-age students, both male and female, the art of leadership

Supports scholastic endeavors through the awarding of numerous national scholarships through the Alpha Tau Omega Foundation.

Numerous business, government, religious and sports leaders in its membership, including 8 members of Congress, Len Dawson, Art Linkletter, Jack Kemp, and the CEO's of 14 of Fortune's 100 top companies.

Local History

Established as colony in 1972. Granted a National Charter as Theta Zeta Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and installed on November 10, 1973.

From 1979 to current, our Chapter was recognized 13 times for overall excellence by our National Fraternity by the awarding True Merit Award, which recognizes the top chapters of ATO in the Nation. We have also been nationally recognized 8 times for our outstanding record with our Social Service Program, once for the Best Public Relations Program in the Nation, once for Most Outstanding Undergraduate Member and four times for our excellence in Programming.

Our Chapter stresses a positive membership education program.  During the semester of your pledgeship, constructive and educational activities and events are combined with social, scholastic and service-oriented programs.  There is no hazing:  not only doesn't it make any sense, it's illegal.

But everything is not always books and studies.  Social activities are planned and executed at times that do not conflict with studies.  Functions, date parties, formals, date dashes, exchange dinners and other parties are scheduled throughout the year.

Athletics are stressed but not mandated.  Team and individual sports programs at Southern Illinois University are unlike any in the Nation--and ATO participates in them all!   We one the Interfraternity Council Sports Championship 9 out of a possible 15 years, and the Chapter has more than one team entering in several events. 

Community and social service is important to ATO, both locally and nationally.  We are service-oriented.  From sponsoring our Swim-a-thon  to volunteering at a school; from raising money for "The Make-A-Wish Foundation," to Keeping Carbondale Clean--ATO's are there.  Not only is there a tremendous amount of self-satisfaction, but the closeness and camaraderie is phenomenal.

The simplest explanation for the Chapter's triumph is one word--EXCELLENCE. Excellence in our pledges, in our actives, in our officers, in our alumni, in our brotherhood, in our every endeavor has been the Chapter's common denominator. As one founder put it: "Work hard, play hard, and shoot for number one. Be the best in everything that you do". It is this desire for excellence that has made the Chapter what it is today.

Needless to say, the Theta Zeta Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at Southern Illinois University is proud of our heritage, accomplishments, relative position of excellence at SIU and what the future has in store for us.  But we need good, dedicated, caring, energetic people for the future.  We welcome you to Theta Zeta!