A fraternity resurrected

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By

A University of Maryland fraternity that had been disbanded because of persistent complaints about rowdiness and drunkenness among its members has reformed itself and has won a national award for community service.

The College Park campus's Epsilon Gamma chapter of Alpha Tau Omega this month was awarded the 2005 North American Interfraternity Conference Award of Distinction, which recognizes academic excellence and outstanding contributions to the community.

"Our chapter is unique because, rather than reflect the typical fraternity image of affluent white males you see in the media, we reflect the diversity of the university as a whole," said Stephen Chuk, the fraternity's philanthropy chairman. "We have people from many different backgrounds and religions."

The award marks a turnaround for the Epsilon Gamma chapter, which after more than 60 years at College Park was shut down in 1993 by the fraternity's national leadership for rowdiness.

A cadre of alumni and undergraduates worked for five years to resurrect the chapter.

Joshua Jones -- one of the "re-founding fathers" -- recalled the difficulties he faced as a sophomore trying to salvage the fraternity.

"There was no manual or instruction booklet," he said. "It was mostly just trial and error. We had to learn from mistakes. It was a challenge, but we did it."

Among the biggest changes was that alcohol is no longer permitted in the fraternity house.

Mr. Jones said Epsilon Gamma was one of the first chapters in the Greek system to make such a change.

Its members also became involved in helping charities and performing community service.