Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In honor of his non-violent campaign against racism, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. He was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
It is also the day upon which Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was founded at Howard University. This weekend, this plaque was dedicated at Howard University in celebration of the 110th anniversary of the founding.
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Forty years ago today, on January 15, 1978, two Chi Omegas were murdered in the chapter house at Florida State University. Serial killer Ted Bundy killed Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, and nearly killed two others who were left with serious injuries. Chapter member Diane McCain played a role in Bundy’s conviction. When I wrote about this back in April, a reader of this blog, who is also a Chi Omega, emailed me to tell me that she was Bundy’s law school study partner at the University of Utah in 1974-75. Years later, she met true-crime author Ann Rule, and she realized that in addition to both having known Bundy, they were Chi Omega sisters. Rule wrote The Stranger Beside Me about Bundy. Those events four decades ago touched the lives of all of the women of that chapter as well as their families and friends. May time ease their wounds.
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In case you missed it……..
Kudos to these Temple Sorority women for confronting the meanness. The comments sound ridiculous when read aloud. Yet, many people take those anonymous comments seriously.
Stacy Tasman Stahl, the woman who started the campaign feature on The Ellen Show is a Pi Beta Phi alumna from the University of Florida chapter.
The Longhairs who pitched their company on Shark Tank last night are Sigma Nu alumni. Their new business partner Mark Cuban is a Pi Lambda Phi.
https://blog.thelonghairs.us/the-longhairs-on-shark-tank/
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Condolences to the family and friends of sportscaster extraordinaire Keith Jackson, a 1952 initiate of Alpha Tau Omega Washington State University chapter. He died at the age of 89 on January 12, 2018.
Condolences, too, to Alpha Kappa Alpha upon the loss of Bernice I. Sumlin.
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And if you made it this far, I want to recommend a documentary available on Netflix and likely other places as well. It’s the Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened by Lonny Price. It tells the story of Beta Theta Pi Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. In 1981, the play closed after 52 previews and 16 performances. Price was one of the stars of the production. The cast album was recorded the day after the play closed.Among the songs which were written for the score but have been recorded by many other artists are Not a Day Goes By, Good Thing Going, Old Friends, and Our Time.
There is a scene where some of the cast members visit the theater where the play was performed. It reminds me of the way alums look when going back to a chapter house after decades away.
