The Legacy of Alpha Tau Omega

Maya Dickerson - News and Opinion Editor

Since 1947, the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (ATO) has been a central part of Monmouth College. Members participate in sports on campus, excel academically, and much more. This past week, Monmouth College announced that ATO Headquarters was shutting down its Epsilon Nu chapter. The decision was based on a decline in membership, causing financial strain on members and issues filling necessary leadership roles.

Isaac Guadarrama ’26, the most recent president of ATO, learned the chapter was being shut down during a routine meeting during Homecoming Week. Following the meeting, Guadarrama spoke to Cullen Marshall, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Student Engagement, their chapter advisor, and Dean Orgazolek regarding the decision.

“I did not know what to think,” said Guadarrama. “It took me a few days to process and really kind of format my own opinion on what happened.”

ATO has been an important part of Guadarrama’s college career, having joined in the fall of 2022. “I joined because when I came early for football, I started hanging out with a few of the brothers,” said Guadarrama. “I just felt connected and like I had a place to go, especially being away from home for the first time. I felt like I could be as comfortable as I was at home.”

The fraternity brought comfort to its members, and many memories and learning experiences. As a whole, the chapter worked as a team to carry out everyday tasks. “My favorite part of being in the chapter was being able to have shared goals with everyone because we were all working toward the same thing,” said Guadarrama. “That in itself built a sense of community. We were a small chapter to begin with so that brought us closer together.”

Being a part of a fraternal brotherhood like ATO creates a special bond, which Guadarrama experienced first-hand this weekend with alumni visiting for homecoming.

“This past weekend really showed me that ATO is for a lifetime,” said Guadarrama. “There was an overwhelming amount of support that was shown to me and the other brothers this weekend. It showed me that this was not just a loss for us, but a loss for alumni and the Greek community.”

ATO’s legacy will live on through its current members, which will undergo alumni status. Brothers can wear their letters and support their fraternity, providing a long-lasting sense of community.