On January 2, 1897, at Bernard College in New York, Alpha Omicron Pi was founded. Four insightful women named Stella George Stern Perry, Helen St. Clair Mullan, Elizabeth Heywood Wyman, and Jessie Wallace Hughan saw the need for a women's fraternity that brought unity by individuality, and formed this wonderful group. Since that time, the purpose of Alpha Omicron Pi has remained the same, however, its vision has expanded to thousands of college women throughout the United States and Canada. In this expansion, our chapter, Tau Omicron, found its beginning.

In the fall of 1965, two women transferred to UTM, Carolyn Hartman, from Ole Miss, and Ann Yarbro from Vanderbilt. These women were the foundation on which Tau Omicron was built. They joined with other AOII's enrolled on campus to petition for the formation of a chapter.

They received help from the Lambuth chapter (Omega Omicron) in putting on their first rush. After completing rush with only two members, twenty-seven pledges became founding members of what would be Tau Omicron. After consulting with Nationals and UTM, they established a colony. The colony would fulfill their obligations and be officially established as a chapter on March 26, 1966. In keeping with all Tennessee chapters of AOII, UTM's new chapter held the Greek letter Omicron in its chapter name, dubbing it Tau Omicron for its sub-motto, "Together for One." Edith Tanner (mother of Tennessee Legislator John Tanner), an alumni of Omicron Chapter (U. of Tennessee-Knoxville) from Union City, assisted in the colonization. Linda Green served as the first Colony President and Ginger Thornton the first Chapter President. Dr. Polly Glover was a faculty member initiated to be the first Chapter Advisor. Dr. Julia Austin was also an associate member and Dean of Women, and was the second Chapter Advisor.

The first fall AOII was on campus, we won the sorority division for Homecoming Float. Tau Omicron won many national and campus awards within the first ten years at UTM, thus starting a tradition of excellence which we strive to maintain today. In addition, AOII won eleven of the first fifteen All-Sing and retired the All-Sing trophy in 1976, only ten years after colonization.