Omega Tau Sigma (ΩΤΣ) is an international veterinary medicine professional fraternity. It formed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1906.

Omega Tau Sigma
ΩΤΣ
Founded1906; 118 years ago (1906)
University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
Former AffiliationPFA
StatusActive
EmphasisVeterinary Medicine
ScopeInternational
Colors  Maroon and   Navy blue
FlowerWhite carnation
JewelPearl
PublicationShroud
Chapters14
HeadquartersOmega Tau Sigma
PO Box 876

Ithaca, New York 14851-0876
United States
Websitewww.omegatausigma.org

History

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Omega Tau Sigma was founded by several students in veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1906. Its purpose is to encourage and foster "the development of well-rounded, ethical veterinarians and through them creates a better profession based on friendship, cooperation, and respect for their fellow professional."[1] Its charter members were Howard H. Curtis, Gerrit P. Judd, William A. Haines, Frank E. Lentz, E. A. Parker Jr., and George A. Schwartz.[2]

It soon opened additional chapters at other colleges of veterinary medicine.[2] In 1911, Beta chapter was established at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University in Ithaca and Gamma at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.[2][3] The fraternity went international in 1914 with the chartering of Delta chapter at Ontario Veterinary College on the campus of University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario.[2][3] It eventually spread to fifteen veterinary schools in the United States along with the branch in Canada.

The first meeting of its governing body, the Grand Chapter, was held on April 1, 1911, in Philadelphia.[3] Today, the Grand Chapter meets annually in October.

Omega Tau Sigma was previously affiliated with the Professional Fraternity Association. The Gamma chapter went coed in 1982.[2]

Symbols

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The Omega Tau Sigma coat of arms was developed by the Beta chapter in 1924.[4] It features a navy blue shield with insignia, letters, and other elements in gold.[4] The animal kingdom is represented by a lion and ram on the left and right of the shield, respectively.[4] Behind the shield are a crossed sword and spear, representing the tools veterinarians use to defend the animal kingdom.[4] The crest is a helmet with plumes, representing a sign of high royalty.[4]

The fraternity's badge is a diamond-shaped yellow gold pin with a black diamond in the center that bares the Greek letters ΩΤΣ.[4] Its pledge pin is a circular-shaped with a small square inside a larger square on a black background.[4] The fraternity's recognition pin consists of the Greek letters ΩΤΣ.[4]

The colors of Omega Tau Sigma are maroon and navy blue.[3][4] The fraternity adopted the white carnation as its flower on April 29, 1949; the choice came from the Zeta chapter's annual White Carnation Ball.[4] Its jewel is the pearl.[3] Its publication is called Shroud.[3]

Chapter houses

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The Alpha chapter purchased a house at 237 S. 41st Street in Philadelphia in 1947.[2] Alpha purchased a larger chapter house in 1963 at 4013 Pine Street.[2]

Beta chapter purchased a house at 413 Dryden Road in Ithaca in 1912.[2] In 1938, the Alumni Corporation of Beta Chapter of OTS was formed and purchased a new Beta chapter house at 200 Willard Way.[2] The chapter house was remodeled in 1956 and 1994.[2]

In March 1947, Gamma chapter purchased a house at 115 Fourteenth Avenue in Columbus.[2] Gamma purchased a new chapter house at 4673 North Kenny Road in 1974.[2]

Delta chapter acquired a chapter house at 51 Dundas Road in 1955, with the assistance of the OTS Holding Company.[2] In 1966, Delta built a new two-story house at 349 Gordon Street in Guelph, Ontario for $150,000.[2] The 1,500 square feet (140 m2) can house 32 brothers, in addition to providing meeting spaces.[2]

The Zeta Club purchased a house for the Zeta chapter in 1945.[2] In 1958, the club built a new chapter house for $100,000 on West Thach Street.[2] After the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine moved, the Zeta Club acquired property to build a new house.[2] In 1993, the Thatch Street chapter house was sold to FarmHouse.[2] The new chapter house was built for $300,000 in 1995.[2]

In 1950, the Eta chapter acquired its house at 1363 S. Milledge Avenue in Athens in 1950.[2] Later, Eta purchased a new chapter house at 1690 S. Lumpkin, followed by a house at 205 Burnett Street in 1985.[2]

Theta chapter has a house on Oregon Street in Urbana.[2] Kappa chapter purchased its chapter house at 158 Hyland in Ames in 1985 that provides accommodations for seventeen members.[2]

Chapters

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Following is a list of chapters of Omega Tau Sigma.[3][2] Active chapters are in bold, inactive chapters in italics.

Chapter Charter date

and range

Institution Location Status References
Alpha 1906–1918, 1928–19xx ? University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Inactive [a]
Beta March 31, 1911 New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University Ithaca, New York Active
Gamma November 25, 1911 Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Columbus, Ohio Active
Delta 1914 Ontario Veterinary College Guelph, Ontario Active
Epsilon George Washington University College of Veterinary Medicine Washington, D.C. Never chartered [b]
Zeta March 26, 1940 Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Auburn, Alabama Active
Eta October 18, 1948 University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Athens, Georgia Active
Theta April 14, 1956 University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Urbana, Illinois Active
Iota December 20, 1958 Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine Stillwater, Oklahoma Active
Kappa May 22, 1965 Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Ames, Iowa Active
Lambda Spring 1985 Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Blacksburg, Virginia Active
Mu 1986–1989 University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Columbia, Missouri Inactive
Nu September 12, 1987 Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences College Station, Texas Active
Xi February 1990 Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine West Lafayette, Indiana Active [5]
Omicron January 5, 1991 Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine East Lansing, Michigan Active
Pi March 30, 1996 Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine Tuskegee, Alabama Active
Rho October 22, 2016 Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine Glendale, Arizona Active

Notes

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  1. ^ Chapter went inactive due to the lack of veterinary students during World War I.
  2. ^ Epsilon chapter was proposed, and its constitution was drawn up in 1918. However, GWU dropped its Veterinary School before the chapter was chartered.

See also

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Notable members

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  • Greg J. Harrison, Kappa, veterinarian noted for having established the first all-bird clinic in the United States

References

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  1. ^ "Welcome!". Omega Tau Sigma. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y National History: Chapter History. Omega Tau Sigma. Accessed January 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. V-29–30. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Grand Council". Omega Tau Sigma. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  5. ^ Celebrating a Continuum of Excellence: Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1959-2009. Purdue University Press. 2009. pp. 49–. ISBN 978-1-55753-543-6.