ATO under investigation
The fraternity could lose its recognition at MU.
Nov. 28, 2006
Members of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity caused more than $10,000 worth of damage to a Lake of the Ozarks resort on the weekend of Nov. 12-13. The fraternity agreed to pay for the damages and no arrests were made.
Jake Drake, owner of the Lakeside Resort, said he would not press charges as long as the fraternity paid for the damages within a week.
"Chairs and entire dining room tables were thrown in the lake," Drake said in a Nov. 16 issue of the Columbia Missourian. "Coffee pots, dishes. They were even able to get a golf cart and tried to drive it over a lake retaining wall."
Drake was not available for comment Monday.
ATO Chief Executive Wynn Smiley said the national chapter is penalizing the individuals involved rather than the fraternity as a whole.
"The damage was done by a handful of upperclassmen, not the group as a whole," Smiley said. "These individuals are going through the judicial process and will most likely be expelled from ATO."
ATO's Board of Trustees will make the final decision about how each individual is dealt with.
Smiley said that according to his knowledge, the members responsible for the damages have already paid Drake back.
One hundred twenty members of ATO stayed in the Lakeside Resort, which had housed the fraternity in years past.
Smiley said the national chapter did not sanction the event, though "many individuals from the chapter were there."
Greek Life Director Janna Basler said Greek Life is in the middle of an investigation of ATO. A judicial hearing will be held before the end of semester. If found in violation of Greek Life policies, ATO could be given sanctions ranging from a minimum of a written notice to a maximum penalty of ATO's loss of recognition as an MU fraternity.
Smiley said ATO's national chapter is working with MU to figure out how to deal with the fraternity as a whole. No penalties or sanctions have been placed on MU's ATO chapter thus far by either MU or the national chapter.
"We are speaking with the university to figure out what will happen to the chapter," Smiley said. "Ultimately, the individuals are going to take the punishment."
Interfraternity Council Spokesman Matt Sokoloff said IFC is backing Greek Life's investigation of ATO.
"Typically Greek Life handles all situations dealing with the M-Book," Sokoloff said. "Following Greek Life's investigation, IFC will look into whether ATO violated any IFC policy."
IFC also issued a news release criticizing the members of ATO who did not live up to IFC's values of scholarship, leadership, service and brotherhood.
"It's unfortunate that the actions of a few individuals of an individual chapter can temporarily tarnish the reputation of one of the best Greek communities in the country," the release stated.
ATO President Patrick McHargue was not available for comment.
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