ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. HISTORY
On December 4th 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated was founded on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The seven founders, also known as the Seven Jewels, founded the fraternity and based it on the aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. These jewels are Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle, and Vertner Woodson Tandy.
Alpha Phi Alpha grew over time in order to establish their Beta Chapter at Howard University in 1907 thus making it the first Black Greek Letter Organization among historically black colleges. Alpha served as an initial step forward for BGLO's and began the domino affect for the remaining 8 black greek letters organizations in the National Panhellenic Council. Alpha has also expanded internationally with its first international chapter at the University of Toronto in 1908. Since then chapters have been chartered in South Korea, London, Africa, Germany, and the Caribbean.
Alphamen worldwide have dedicated their lives to the helping their community and bettering themselves as men. Programs such as Project Alpha and Go-To-High-School, Go-To-College have been established by the fraternity in order to leave a positive impact on this world. Some historical members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. are figures like W.E.B. Du Bois, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jesse Owens.
TAU OMICRON HISTORY
In June of 1992, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. formally accepted Davidson’s bid to have a chapter of the fraternity. On October 5, representatives met with spokesmen of the national organization to lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Sigma Tau Chapter. However, there were not enough individuals interested in joining the organization for the charter process to move forward.
A renewed interest in bringing an NPHC fraternity to Davidson, led to the chartering of 909th house of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Tau Omicron Chapter on November 1, 2003. Since it's chartering, the Tau Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated has stood in honor and prestige. From its first line of initiates (G.E.N.E.S.I.S 8) on the members of this honored chapter have made positive impacts on both the Davidson College community and the world around them.
Since its’ inception on Davidson’s campus, the Tau Omicron Chapter has been recognized for its’ brotherhood, academic achievement, and service to the community. Despite fears that this chapter would not be sustainable, the brothers of Tau Omicron have transcended these expectations by gaining recognition for their achievements by the Davidson Community and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In 2005, the chapter was recognized as fraternity of the year at Davidson College. Tau Omicron received the honor of being named ANCA Chapter of the year as well as holding the highest GPA in the state of North Carolina in 2011 and 2012. Tau Omicron has also won the Charles H. Wesley award in accordance with the Beta Nu Lambda chapter at the district level in 2022 and 2023.
During the 2023 - 2024 academic school year Tau Omicron celebrates its 20-year anniversary since its revolutionary chartering on Davidson College's campus. Tau Omicron stands at the forefront for collegiate Black Greek life at Davidson and continues to live by Alphas aims of manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. The future for our chapter is bright and will continue to move onward and upward towards the light. Today, in 2023, we continue to uphold the virtues of Alpha in all that we do.