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. 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.

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.

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.

Symbolism and traditions
The colors of the Fraternity were orange and blue.

The Fraternity's 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. It was known at Cornell as "the most Jewish of fraternities."

One of the songs of the Fraternity was "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.

Conventions

 * 9th - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - April 28, 1935

Honorary members

 * David Sarnoff

Chapters
The Chapters of Omicron Alpha Tau include: