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.