Founded September 11, 1865, at Richmond, Virginia, by Otis Allan Glazebrook, Erskine Mayo Ross and Alfred Marshall, three Confederate Civil War cadets/soldiers who hoped to bind up the Nation's wounds by establishing a peace society.
Over 187,000 total initiates and 140,000 living alumni in every state in the Nation and around the world.
More than 145 Chapters and Colonies in 46 States, with over 6,000 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.
Tenth-largest fraternity in number of initiates and tenth largest in 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 chief executive officers of 14 of Fortune's 100.
Locally:
Established as an colony (Kappa Tau Colony) in 1965. Granted a National Charter as Zeta Chi Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity and installed May 7 and 8th, 1966.
The Chapter House, owned by our House Corporation, was constructed in 1994. After leaving the original 210 Westwood Drive house, three more houses were our home. After the tragic fire in 1991 at the 202 South Bonner house claimed the life of Brother Trent Kerr, the chapter came full circle and just before its 30th anniversary, moved into a new house built on the site of the first house at 210 Westwood.
In 2002 - 2003, our Chapter was recognized for overall excellence by our National Fraternity by the
awarding of True Merit Award Honorable Mention, which recognizes the top chapters of ATO in the nation.
That same year, we were awarded the Recruitment Advantage award by our National Fraternity and the Brotherhood Award by Louisiana Tech University.
During the quarter of your pledgeship, constructive and educational activities and events are combined with social, scholastic and service-oriented programs. There is no hazing: it just doesn't make sense, and it's illegal.
The Chapter stresses a drug-free environment. Illegal drugs are not tolerated in the Chapter House. Again, not just bad judgement, but also illegal.
Grades and involvement are very important. The Chapter has its own Trent Kerr Memorial Scholarship along with eligibility for National Fraternity scholarships. If you get good grades and are involved, you get the rewards.
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, exchanges with sororities, and other parties are scheduled throughout the year.
Intramural sports/athletics are stressed but not mandated. Team and individual sports programs at Louisiana Tech University are unlike any in the nation, and ATO participates in them all!
Community and social service is important to ATO, both locally and nationally. We are service-oriented. We sponsor one or more community or national fundraising events each year. When the community calls, ATO is there. Not only are there a tremendous amount of self-satisfaction, but the closeness and camaraderie is phenomenal.
Homecoming is a great time of the year, and we actively participate in campus and brotherhood/alumni activities.
Our annual spring party, Hurricane, is always a blast with actives, pledges, and alumni from all over coming to enjoy a day of crawfish, music, water slide, and more.
The Chapter House houses 14 men in 7 two-man rooms. Each is wired for broadband Internet access. Members can live in the house after attaining 30 credit hours and must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA.
The Housing Contract (Alumni Organization administers our mortgage) provides for twelve monthly payments of $2500 which provides for rent, utilities, Internet, and house insurance. Pledge dues are $50/month while Active dues are $89/month ($65 if living in-house). Twice yearly each active member is billed around $175 from the National Fraternity for dues and liability insurance.
During the first year of membership, you will pay a $50 pledge fee and a $150 initiation fee. The one in the pledge class who has the highest GPA of the quarter in which one will be initiated, the $150 initiation fee will be paid by the chapter
Even though the Chapter House is one of the newest on campus, the costs to live here are lower than most of the fraternities at Louisiana Tech.
Chapter members are as diverse in their backgrounds as you can imagine. They come from every part of Louisiana and
several other states. Every college at LTU is represented, and there is bound to be somebody in the Chapter who has taken that course that you are having trouble with! The Chapter prides itself on closeness and brotherhood, so there is no way you can get lost in the crowd. The Fall Pledge Class will number 20 or more and the Spring Pledge Class will be 10 or more; and both will be as diverse as the Chapter. Upon completion of your membership education program and approval by a vote of the Chapter members, initiation is held in the between December and January for Fall pledges and normally by the end of the school year for Spring pledges.
Needless to say, Zeta Chi Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at Louisiana Tech University is proud of our
heritage, accomplishments, relative position of excellence at LTU and what the future has in store for us. We are looking for good, dedicated, caring, energetic people for the future. We welcome your questions and comments.
Our Chapter House address is 210 Westwood Drive, Ruston, Louisiana 71270. Feel free to contact Jacob Lindley, President, at (985) 373-2014 or Blaze Aldrich, Rush Chairman at (337) 397-0895 . The Chapter's Web Site is www.atozetachi.com. Also, check out our National Fraternity Recruitment Website at www.JoinATO.org.
Nationally: 