The Mu Iota chapter of Alpha Tau Omega was established at the University of Kentucky on February 22, 1909 by Paul R. Hickock of Ohio Beta Mu, and Robert W. Bingham of North Carolina Alpha Eta. The name Mu Iota came from the Mu Iota local fraternity which was absorbed by Alpha Tau Omega. Mu Iotas were also known as "midnight imps" because of their midnight activities. The chapter name, which is out of the regular alphabetical succession, was granted on petition by Worthy Grand Chief Hickock.
 

The chapter's first house was located at 239 S. Limestone. This house still stands today. The present house's construction was started on January 18, 1959 and occupied on September 1, 1959. The new house was dedicated on November 15, 1959 in conjunction with the chapter's 50th anniversary.
 

In the early 1960's, Alpha Tau Omega grew in a prosperous period, but in the late 1960's and 1970's the situation was not so bright. During the fall of 1968, a coed died at the hospital after being at an ATΩ fall rush party. Even though the medical examiner stated the cause of death was due to a combination of diet pills and a heart condition, the newspapers were quick to point the blame at ATΩ. Many pledges were told by their parents to go anywhere but ATΩ, leaving the fraternity with 6, instead of 30 pledges. Things continued to decline around ATΩ, both in numbers and in morale. During Christmas 1969, the gas was mistakenly cut off to the house and many of the pipes burst leaving the house without heat or a kitchen. Faced with a deteriorating house, a $22,000 debt, and declining membership, the active chapter voted to give up the charter and allow the foreclosure of the house.
 

This could have been the end of the Mu Iota chapter, but it was not meant to be. The fighting spirit that has always been a part of Alpha Tau Omega shined again as a group of pledges and actives refused to give up. This spirited initiative caught the attention of Bob Blakeman, Lloyd Mahan, and the University of Kentucky. A plan to save the chapter was formulated and brother Mahan personally signed a $12,000 bank note for the chapter. For the next five years, the brothers made great sacrifices to pay off the $22,000 debt that they had incurred. The sacrifices paid off and Alpha Tau Omega was again saved.
 

As if on a rollercoaster, Mu Iota again climbed in membership and morale. However, in the early 1980's, trouble again struck in the form of fire. A small fire in a second floor bedroom in 1983 and a larger fire in 1988 combined with poor finacial management accumulated to create another crisis. The 1988 fire showed that the house was in need of extensive changes to bring it up to fire code. This created a huge financial strain on the chapter, but has left us with a safer house and a stronger brotherhood.