A fraternity is making its way back to Western after a 34-year absence.

Alpha Tau Omega fraternity will return to campus in fall 2010, said Gary Wiser, coordinator of student activities.

ATO was the first fraternity at Western to lose its national charter in 1976 for lack of organization and membership, according to a November 1976 Herald article.

Matt Arnold, director of member advancement at ATO’s national headquarters, said the Western chapter left campus because members struggled with recruitment.

He said many ATO alumni live in the Bowling Green area, and they’re pushing for a revival of the fraternity at Western.

Carl Dukate, Western ATO alum, said he’s excited for the Western chapter to return. He said he would help with the rebuilding process any way he could.

Dukate said he wants to make sure young men have the same great experience he did with ATO.

He was elected president of ATO’s local alumni chapter, the Zeta Omega chapter, last weekend.

Any ATO alumnus who graduated from Western can join the alumni chapter, he said. The ATO national chapter will vote to initiate the Western alumni chapter on Nov. 17.

Dukate said the next step for the collegiate ATO’s return will be recruiting to build up the chapter.

After two or three semesters of rebuilding, the fraternity will be inducted into the national chapter in about 2012, he said.