Alpha Pi Omega: The First Sorority For Native American Women

While more than 60 percent of American high schoolers go on to college, only 17 percent of American Indian students do. Those who do enroll often have a tough time coping with a lack of connectiveness and social isolation. That's why 25 years ago, a group of young native women decided to claim their space in one of the most traditional social organizations in higher education - Greek life. Alpha Pi Omega is the first sorority for Native American women.

Guests:

Christina Theodorou - Tribal Liaison with Maximus and one of the founders of Alpha Pi Omega.

Elizabeth Alexander - Student at Oklahoma State University and the president of the OSU chapter of Alpha Pi Omega. 

Later in the show…

There was a lot going on in 1969 - young people full of revolutionary fire and passion led the Civil Rights and anti-war movements movements. That same year one of nation’s most elite universities became the site of another kind of revolution. Yale University, whose centuries-old traditions were designed for male students opened, its doors to women students. What happened after they arrived is the compelling history depicted in the new book, Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy league Giant. It’s our December selection for “Bookmarked” The Under the Radar Book Club.

**Yale Needs Women is available for purchase in bookstores and online now.

Guests:

Anne Gardiner Perkins - Yale class of '81, Author of Yale Needs Women

Connie Royster - Class of '72, enrolled at Yale as a transfer student from Wheaton College.

Dahlia Rudavsky - Class of '72, enrolled at Yale as a freshmen and graduate of Newton South High School in Greater Boston.

Shirley Daniels - Class of '72, enrolled as a transfer student from Boston’s Simmons College.