USD could open its first historically-Indigenous sorority, if enough students want it

There’s potential for the University of South Dakota to welcome a new sorority chapter onto its campus in the coming years.

Alpha Pi Omega, the country’s oldest Indigenous Greek letter organization, could open doors on campus if enough students express interest, according to a flier circulated on social media last week promoting an informational session held on campus Oct. 13 in the student union.

APO is a sisterhood of Indigenous women who are committed to each other, communities, tribes, families, academic excellence and self-empowerment, according to the flier. Its philanthropic cause is the National Indian Education Association.

Hanna Delange, a spokesperson for USD, said nothing has been solidified yet with the sorority’s plans, but confirmed the informational session took place as a chance for students to learn about the potential organization.

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Brooke Poppe, director of sorority and fraternity life on USD’s campus, said while there is no current timeline to open the sorority, the plan moving forward is on hold until there is enough student interest. It takes five or more students to start any student organization on campus.

When or if Poppe receives a list of interested students, USD can move forward with the APO national organization in the expansion process. Poppe said her office hopes to have that potential list together by the end of the semester.

USD currently has four sororities: Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi. It also has seven fraternities: Beta Theta Pi, Delta Tau Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Tau Kappa Epsilon.

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Delange noted that USD’s interest in the APO sorority ties in with the opening of the Native American Living and Learning Community on campus, both as ways to help enroll and retain more of South Dakota’s Indigenous students.

As part of the LLC, students attend weekly programming on campus such as film screening, dinner with Native staff and faculty, and presentations from Native alumni or speakers, Delange said. The LLC has 36 participants this year from at least 14 tribes and six states.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: USD weighing future Alpha Pi Omega sorority on campus