Nearly three years ago, a lot on University Boulevard became free, and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity was selected from a number of fraternities to build a new house on this land. Since that time, plans were made, approval from the Board of Trustees was sought and ground was broken on the new fraternity house.
Members of ATO said they waited with much anticipation for the completion of the house, and as they returned to Tuscaloosa for another school year, the new house was ready and waiting for them.
The new house holds bedrooms for 42 members, a dining room capable of accommodating 150 people and a large courtyard. There is also a house director suite, and they no longer have community bathrooms.
“Everyone is thrilled to be in the new house,” ATO President Mark Foley said. “It is a blessing to have such wonderful alumni that support our chapter. While I recognize that the house may be in a more conspicuous location, I think our recruitment efforts have been outstanding because of the caliber of men represented in our chapter.
“Last April, the Beta Delta chapter of Alpha Tau Omega received the NIC Award of Distinction, given to only four fraternities in the nation,” Foley said. “Though the new house has caused a renewed excitement, our chapter has always had a sense of pride in the values we embody. We look forward to another great fall on campus.”
In addition to the new ATO house, there are also plans to expand sorority row. Many sororities looked into building new houses, but Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta and Delta Delta Delta eventually made the cut.
With Delta Gamma joining the UA greek system this year, the sorority will be building a new house as well. The ADPi, Alpha Gam, Tri Delt, and DG houses all await expected completion by January 2012.
Mia Bass, a member of ADPi, said the sorority needs a new house.
“We are sad to leave our house here, but many of the rooms in our current house have to be multipurpose,” Bass said. “Our dining room doubles as a study room and our chapter room. In the new house, we will have separate rooms for these needs. It’s a pretty big size difference, too. “
The house is currently 17,000 square feet, and the new house will be 37,000 square feet, she said.
As a member of Alpha Gam sorority, Lucy Newton is looking forward to having a new house.
“I’m very excited about being able to fit all of our new members comfortably in the new house,” Newton said. “It will be about two times as big as our current house, and we will be able to get rid of the sleeping porches.”
The addition of the Delta Gamma sorority has allowed more women to be involved in the greek community, which has in turn expanded the greek system even more. DG welcomed 221 new members from twenty-four states last month.
The sorority also broke ground on a 34,800 square foot house in July that will house sixty members once it is completed.
