[15382] in APO-L
Re: all males
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (William B. Rugh)
Fri Nov 8 14:40:45 1996
Date: Fri, 8 Nov 1996 14:37:17 -0500
Reply-To: "William B. Rugh" <wbrugh@BRIGHT.NET>
From: "William B. Rugh" <wbrugh@BRIGHT.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
Thomas W. Strong Jr. wrote a good description of the events leading up
to our going co-ed. However, he was unaware of many events lesading up
to 1976.
At my first Convention in 1966, there were efforts to recognize a female
auxiliary named Phyettes. Many of us thought that if we accept women
into APO it ought to be as full/equal members or not t all. By 1970
there was a seroius effort to pass legislation making the Fraternity
coed. Some chapters began admitting women (illegally) years before
Title IX was passed.
The 1974 Convention was the first to deal with the Title IX question.
That Convention passed Affiliate Membership (Sisters). Second-class
membership didn't have long to live - just 2 years. Some chapters
actually had women affiliates/auxiliaries (Sisters) and women as full
members (Brothers).
The votes were all VERY close and we came close to losing MANY chapters.
Combined with the financial toubles of the 1970s, people today don't
realize how close we came to losing APO. It was an interesting time to
be on the National Board!
Bill Rugh
