In 1925 at a college in Easton Pennsylvania a World War I veteran by the name of Frank Reed Horton founded the Fraternity of Alpha Phi Omega on the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America, originally a scouting background was necessary to join but this was removed in 1967. As more women began to attend college there was interest in joining the organization, with women being granted affiliate status, forming "auxiliary groups" to participate in events, joining by lying about gender or name, and the formation of a sister sorority. In 1976 among much arguments the fraternity bylaws were changed to allow women to officially join. When this amendment was passed the Fraternity was on the decline, afterwards it experienced explosive growth and Alpha Phi Omega is now the Largest non-Greek fraternity in the United States, having surpassed the Police Force in 2015. When the amendment was passed there was concern that allowing women to join would undermine the core ideals of the Fraternity, but these fears were baseless. Does all this sound familiar? It should, this is exactly the problems, solutions, and arguments surrounding the recent decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow girls to join their organization at all levels and groups. With the exception that the Boy Scouts are doing so by segregating boys and girls in separate cub scout packs and 11-17 scout troops. This decision was made NOT at the urging of liberal outcry, but rather as a response to declining membership rates, as well as complaints from parents about daughters not having their needs met by the Girl Scouts.
