Omicron Alpha Tau (ΟΑΤ) was an historically Jewish fraternity founded in 1912. It merged with
Tau Delta Phi in 1934.[1][2][3]
History
Omicron Alpha Tau was founded at Cornell University in the Spring of 1912. No intention at this time was made to forming a Greek Letter Fraternity which would develop into a national. Founders were Joseph Seidlin, James Castelle, Jack Grossman, Benjamin Brickman, Nat Shiren, Jules Jokel, Abraham Haibloom.
The fraternity remained a local fraternity until 1915 when David Browman founded a second chapter at the College of Dental and Oral Surgery of New York.[a]
Growth continued through New York, extending to eastern and southern schools. Its first Midwest chapter was established in 1924 at
Valparaiso. An international branch at
McGill in Montreal was established in 1927 as Rho chapter, with additional Midwestern chapters established at
Illinois and
Chicago, also in 1927. The
Marquette chapter was formed in 1928 as the Fraternity's Upsilon chapter. This Marquette unit may have been the last chapter formed; Baird's notes "at least 18 chapters were installed", ending its list with Upsilon, but the 1930 edition of The Illio notes there were 21 chapters as of its publication.[4]
Baird's notes that several chapters died in the early
Depression, predicating national dissolution. In 1934,
Tau Delta Phi absorbed the chapters at Rutgers, NYU, Marquette and Cornell. The chapter at Syracuse was absorbed by
Phi Epsilon Pi and the chapter at the University of Pennsylvania by
Phi Beta Delta.[5]
Symbolism and traditions
The colors of the Fraternity were orange and blue.[6]
Omicron Alpha Tau was particularly known for their houses having adherence to traditional
Jewish dietary laws. Several chapters maintained kosher kitchens. It was known at Cornell as "the most Jewish of fraternities."[3]: 79
One of the songs of the Fraternity was "Onward Our O.A.T.":[6]
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.
Magazine
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 issued three times a year.
^May have been absorbed in 1930 by the slightly older 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 Baird's Manual Online Archive notes formation of this chapter in 1917, but listed in order as if it was created in 1927. This appears to be a typo in Baird's; needs confirmation, perhaps with a check of the yearbooks.
^Originally formed in 1925 as the Evergreen Club (local).
^One reference noted Upsilon chapter became a Tau Delta Phi chapter, but this is not supported by Baird's. 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.
^Originally formed in 1927 as Sigma Beta Tau (local). Name similarity with the non-sectarian national of that same name appears to have been coincidental.