“Establishing better school spirit, helping the progressiveness of Arkansas State College, (On January 17, 1967, the institution became Arkansas State University and from this point forward will be referred to as ASU, AState or Arkansas State) and bringing another national fraternity to the campus,” were the ideas outlined in the original constitution as the purpose for founding the group that is known today as the Eta Gamma Chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
On November 2, 1964, eight young men founded the group which has been known by three different names during its rapid maturation process. The first name chosen for the organization was Arkadians, a combination of Arkansas and Indians, the mascot of the university at the time the Arkadians were founded. The first slate of officers was elected on November 9, 1964 and the initial constitution was adopted at that time.
The first Arkadian president was David Vines and under his leadership the new social group gained recognition by the AState administration. Activities that followed campus recognition of the Arkadians included the initiation of the AState basketball banquet (a Colony sponsored event that officially tipped off the “cage,” season) followed by a service project for the Salvation Army, an informal drop-in for the group by Chi Omega sorority and the sponsoring of a campus dance after a basketball game.
The Arkadians first rush party was held on February 5, 1965, during its first participation “formal rush,” resulting in a 16-member pledge class. The Arkadians continued to progress and on December 8, 1965 the Arkadians were recognized by the university administration as a local fraternity desiring a national affiliation. Initially, admission to the Sigma Chi fraternity was sought and to show desire to join that national organization, the Arkadians changed their name to Chi Sigma, local (the reverse of the organization the Arkadians were then seeking to join).
Under its new Greek name, the local chapter began to flourish, with the biggest achievement being the acquisition of the campus’ very first fraternity house, located on north Caraway Road. The local chapter continued to progress until it became acquainted with Father Jack Symonds (Father Jack) of Memphis, Tennessee, who introduced Chi Sigma to Alpha Tau Omega. Chi Sigma and Father Jack maintained close ties during the next few months until Father Jack arranged a visit to AState by the Worthy Grand Chief (Stewart Daniels) and High Council Chairman (Gil Brandon) of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
After that meeting, correspondence between Chi Sigma, Father Jack and the ATO national headquarters increased significantly and on April 11, 1967, the local organization was granted Alpha Tau Omega colony status accompanied by a public announcement of the chapter’s new affiliation. The new colony published an 8-page newsletter that received special mention at the COC in the summer of 1967, followed by its best semester, scholastically, since its founding.