# Omicron Alpha Tau

Omicron Alpha Tau (ΟΑΤ) was an historically Jewish fraternity founded in 1912. It merged with Tau Delta Phi in 1934.

## History

Omicron Alpha Tau was founded at Cornell University in the Spring of 1912. Its founders were Benjamin Brickman, James Castelle, Jack Grossman, Abraham Haibloom, Jules Jokel, Joseph Seidlin, and Nat Shiren. At the time, the founders had no intention of forming a national Greek letter fraternity. Omicron Alpha Tau remained a local fraternity until 1915 when David Browman founded a second chapter at the Columbia University College of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City.
Growth continued throughout New York, extending to eastern and southern schools. Its first Midwest chapter was established in 1924 at Valparaiso University. The fraternity became an international organization in 1927 with the formation of the Rho chapter at McGill University in Montreal. Additional Midwestern chapters were also established at the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, also in 1927. Upsilon chapter was formed in 1928 at Marquette University; this may have been the last chapter formed; Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities notes "at least eighteen chapters were installed", ending its list with Upsilon. However, the 1930 edition of The Illio yearbook notes there were 21 chapters .
The fraternity held its ninth convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 28, 1935, with the Marquette chapter as host.
Baird's Manual notes that several chapters died during the Great Depression, predicating national dissolution. In 1934, Tau Delta Phi absorbed the chapters at Rutgers University, New York University, Marquette, and Cornell. The chapter at Syracuse University was absorbed by Phi Epsilon Pi. The chapter at the University of Pennsylvania merged into Phi Beta Delta.

## Symbols and traditions

The fraternity's colors were orange and blue. Its flower was the goldenrod.
Omicron Alpha Tau was particularly known for their houses having adherence to traditional Jewish dietary laws. Several chapters maintained kosher kitchens. At Cornell, it was known as "the most Jewish of fraternities."$^{:79}$
One of the songs of the fraternity was "Onward Our O.A.T.":
   Onward our O.A.T. Forever onward greater to be, For with the Orange and Blue Leading sons ever true We fear no adversity. Lead us, Oh, Orange and Blue Oh lead us on to honor you, For where'er your sons may be, We shall always fight for thee, Oh, Onward Our O.A.T.
The fraternity's magazine, as of 1923, was called the OAT Digest and was distributed monthly. Later, the magazine's name was changed to The Oath and was issued three times a year.

## Chapters

The chapters of Omicron Alpha Tau include:
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | 1912–1934 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | Merged (ΤΔΦ) |
| Beta | 1915–1925 | Columbia University College of Dental and Oral Surgery | New York, New York | Consolidated |
| Gamma | 1916–1927 | Columbia University | New York, New York | Inactive |
| Delta | 1916–1918 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Epsilon | 1919–1934 | New York University | New York, New York | Merged (ΤΔΦ) |
| Zeta | 1920–1930 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, New York | Merged (ΦΕΠ) |
| Iota | 1921–19xx ? | Harvard University | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Inactive |
| Theta | 1922–19xx ? | Lafayette College | Easton, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Kappa | 1922–19xx ? | University of Connecticut | Storrs, Connecticut | Inactive |
| Lambda | 1922–1934 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Merged (ΦΒΔ) |
| Mu | 1922–19xx ? | Fordham University | New York, New York | Inactive |
| Nu | 1924–1930 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, Indiana | Inactive |
| Xi | 1925–19xx ? | University of Buffalo | Buffalo, New York | Inactive |
| Omicron | 1927–19xx ? | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Inactive |
| Pi | 1927–1932 | University of Illinois | Urbana, Illinois | Inactive |
| Rho | 1927–1934 | McGill University | Montreal, Quebec | Inactive |
| Sigma | 1927–19xx | University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois | Inactive |
| Eta | 1927–1934 | Rutgers University | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Merged (ΤΔΦ) |
| Tau | 1928–1932 | George Washington University | Washington, D.C. | Inactive |
| Upsilon | 1928–1934 | Marquette University | Marquette, Wisconsin | Inactive |
* ↑ Became the Tau Beta chapter of Tau Delta Phi.
* ↑ Baird's Manual says this chapter started in 1913.
* ↑ In 1925, Beta chapter consolidated with Gamma chapter, which was formed the following year, also at Columbia.
* ↑ Gamma chapter was dormant by 1927 or earlier.
* ↑ Delta chapter was dormant by 1918 or earlier.
* ↑ Absorbed by the Gamma chapter of Tau Delta Phi.
* ↑ May have been absorbed in 1930 by the Chi chapter of Phi Epsilon Pi. Baird's records are unclear.
* ↑ Joined the Eta chapter of Phi Beta Delta, which later merged with Pi Lambda Phi.
* ↑ The Almanac notes the formation of this chapter in 1917, but listed in order as if it was created in 1927. This appears to be a typo; needs confirmation, perhaps with a check of the yearbooks.
* ↑ Originally formed in 1925 as the Evergreen Club (local). It became the Tau Gamma chapter of Tau Delta Phi.
* ↑ Originally formed in 1927 as Sigma Beta Tau (local). The name similarity with the non-sectarian national of that same name appears to have been coincidental.
* ↑ One reference noted that Upsilon chapter became a Tau Delta Phi chapter but this is not supported by the Baird's Manual. This appears to have been an error; the Marquette chapter met its demise in the same year as other chapters merged and the national ceased operations.

## Notable members

* David Sarnoff (Honorary), businessman