The Beginning
The beginning of Beta Tau Omega dates back to the fall of 1994 when principal founder Cesar Suguitan learned of a possible Asian-Interest sorority starting at Texas A&M. Seeing the cultural limitations of student organizations and the influence of the Greek system, he began inquiring about Asian-Interest Fraternities.
Cesar and a group of Asian students from A&M — including Michael Hoang, Bo Chang, Chong Yi, and Amnaj Phonephrachanh — initially explored joining an existing national fraternity. After a semester of pledgeship, however, the founders realized that the ideals of leadership, integrity, and promoting Asian awareness were not apparent within those chapters.
Upon realizing this, the founders terminated their pledgeship and set forth on a new beginning.
A New Brotherhood
With their knowledge of the Greek system, the twelve founding members began their own brotherhood of Asian leaders: Beta Tau Omega. During the summer of 1995, led by President Michael Hoang, the founding class laid the foundation for BTO — a foundation built upon the principles of leadership, integrity, and brotherhood.
Their goal was to bring prominence to the Asian community at a predominantly white institution, to break down the barriers between Asians of different backgrounds, and to develop leadership within the Asian community. The diversity of cultures in Pacific-Rim countries had created a separation between Asians of different backgrounds. Beta Tau Omega was created to bridge those divides.
The Twelve Founders
A Pillar of the Community
For over three decades, Beta Tau Omega has brought together hundreds of young men from diverse backgrounds. The fraternity has become a pillar of the Asian American community at Texas A&M and remains one of the few continuously recognized Asian-Interest Fraternities in Texas since its founding.
Per Unitatem Vis — "Strength Through Unity"
Purposes of the Fraternity
- 01 Encourage academic achievement
- 02 Promote brotherhood among men
- 03 Promote social interaction among people
- 04 Provide philanthropy for worthy causes
- 05 Promote a sense of belonging
- 06 Develop individual skills and leadership abilities in young men
- 07 Promote interaction among people of different ethnic heritage
- 08 Develop a sense of identity of Asian American men on campus
- 09 Provide insight into Asian American culture for people of non-Asian descent
- 10 Develop each individual member to his fullest potential