Students 'Challenged' to Help Incarcerated Women

Chris Howell NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- Oklahoma is number one in the nation for incarcerating Women.  This grim statistic was the starting point for teams from 4 universities who participated in the Social Innovation Challenge held at the University of Tulsa today.  Videos made by the groups of students were viewed, discussed and judged in an effort to ultimately reduce the numbers of women in Oklahoma prisons.

"There needs to be something done about it," said TU student Emily Cooper.  "It's starting right here with students from all over the state of Oklahoma, just being creative and forming ideas to help these women."

The students shared their videos as well as ideas for helping women in prison and their families as well.

"The Social Innovation Challenge was a chance for students to get activated to an issue that is plaguing our state," said TU Associate Professor of Marketing Charles Wood.  "Let's get some student energy and ideas activated to this and maybe find some good things to build upon."

"It's an Oklahoma problem and I'm very excited that students are involved because they're going to be our next generation of leaders," said Laura Pitman from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.