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At this time, Tau was known as an honorary professional education and
social service fraternity. The Brotherhood met weekly (the day varied
radically). Its purpose was “to assemble those who have had training
under the Scout Oath and Law, to develop friendship, leadership, character,
citizenship, and good college spirit.”
Tau’s first Grand Master (President), William G. Perry, led eighteen
members to quickly establish the Chapter as a leader of service at the
University of Florida, then an all male school of six hundred students
and only nine registered fraternities. All nineteen men were Eagle Scouts,
as prerequisite for membership.
In the early years (1931 – 1950) Tau Chapter enjoyed tremendous
notoriety on campus. With membership open to any former Scout, Tau Chapter
assisted Florida Blue Key in producing Gator Growl and operated a book
exchange. When the University enrollment dropped below 560 students during
WWII, Tau was one of few organizations to stay active (with one member)!
After the war, U.F. became co-ed, and with a new interest in universities,
Tau quickly gained strength.
In 1932, Tau hosted a Scout Jamboree in the fall, where they awarded
a medal to the high school boy in Florida who was the “best in
scholarship, leadership, and other qualities.” In March of 1933,
Tau was once again active in the Scouting Movement. Scout executives
from Georgia and Florida attended a three-day Scout Executive Seminar
designed “to aid the intellectual and cultural development of the
men professionally engaged in the Scout Movement.” Among those
in attendance were U.F. President, John J. Tigert, Arts and Sciences
Dean W.h. Wilson, and Associate Professor of English, Winston A. Little.
In the 1930’s, Tau helped Florida Blue Key with Homecoming. Tau
Chapter members charged townspeople money at intramural boxing matches,
and thus it helped finance Gator Growl. In addition, Tau members parked
cars of all 10,000 attending Gator Growl, and acted as ushers at Gator
Growl in other years.
In January 1939, Tau advisor, Dr. H.H. Germond, was elected to the
Executive Council of Alpha Phi Omega’s National Organization.
In 1946, Tau Chapter held its first King Ugly (precursor to Ugly Man
on Campus or U.M.O.C.) contest to benefit the Red Cross. Organizations
would sponsor candidates, and student would cast votes donating pennies
for the “Ugliest” candidate. Proceeds went to a different
philanthropy every year.
The Chapter organized and produced the first student run radio show,
a nightly variety program on WGGG called “Variety Spotlight.” Other
service projects included an infirmary visitation service, conducting
information polls for the university, and the conducting of campus tours
for new students, visitors, and alumni. The Chapter also conducted alumni
registration boots at Homecoming.
In 1952 membership became open to any male student. In 1955, the Chapter
was the sponsor of a German child through Save the Children Foundation.
In 1956, Tau manned information booths for orientation and registration.
During the 1950’s, cooperation with Florida Blue Key faltered
and the Chapter suffered from a lack of adult supervision. Few records
remain of our activities, although we do know that the Chapter opened
a Lost-and-Found Booth (1959 – 1963) raising money for scholarships.
Sometime around 1960, the Chapter began to change. We don’t have
definite records, but apparently Tau had become a political stepping
stone to Blue Key and Student Government. Several of Tau’s presidents
at this time were also presidents of Blue Key and Student Body Presidents.
Sometime after 1962, the Brothers realized that the Chapter had lost
sight of the purpose of Alpha Phi Omega, and they deactivated the Chapter.
First Reactivation: (1968 – 1970)
In 1968, Andy Klien worked with the regional representatives to resurrect
Tau Chapter. The nineteen Pledges of P.C. Beta Lambda were initiated
on May 26, with Andy as President. During this period, the Chapter did
a lot of work for the campus. The Pledge Class began the project of manning
the information booth at “the gate” (presumably the one near
Tigert). Also at this time, Tau Chapter had a Little Sister program.
The Little Sisters, or “Phyettes” as they were called, assisted
with some of the Chapter’s projects. Despite the success of the
Fraternity at this time, the Chapter became inactive again by 1970. The
reason this time was a lack in membership. Part of this failure can be
credited to the unpopularity of fraternities of this time.
Second Reactivation: (1974 – Present)
In 1973, Tim Cannon began corresponding with the National Office with
the hope of reactivating Tau Chapter. Tim had heard about Alpha Phi Omega
by working with Brothers from another Chapter at a Boy Scout summer camp.
In December of 1973, the reactivating Pledge Class was formed. Tau was
once again a reality when the fourteen reactivations were initiated as
Brothers on March 1, 1974. Rho Mu Chapter at Belmont Abbey College provided
the ritual team and Josiah Frank presented the Charter. The Brothers
chose to start the numbering of pledge class back to number one (thus
Beta Nu is both P.C. 1 and P.C. 61). The members of Pledge Class Beta
Nu (Pledge Class 1 since 2nd reactivation) are: | 
