Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Stand Against Exclusivity (Ban Fraternities, Allow Sororities at Harvard)
The Harvard Crimson ^ | 9/26 | THE CRIMSON EDITORIAL

Posted on 09/29/2017 1:10:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway

The faculty committee’s recommendation is right on final clubs, but reservations about the process and implementation need to be kept in mind

This past July, a faculty committee released a preliminary report recommending that the College ban students from joining all fraternities, sororities, and similar exclusionary social organizations. The policy would extend to co-ed organizations, and it would replace the existing penalties on members of unrecognized single-gender social organizations.

We support this recommendation, and we urge University President Drew G. Faust to do so as well. It importantly expands the discourse beyond issues of gender inequality and sexual assault to the role exclusionary social organizations play in perpetuating outdated notions of elitism, classism, and exclusivity on campus. The report rightfully highlights how these organizations impact students’ sense of belonging at Harvard, especially those who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Given the serious influence of final clubs on the daily social life of Harvard undergraduates, we see this recommendation as necessary.

However, our support does not come without reservations about the process. The composition of the committee is primarily faculty members, and they may not be close enough to student life. Although their input is welcome, the weight of the decision should rest with deans and administrators who are trained to have student social life under their purview. Moreover, as we have opined in the past, we wish it was possible for administrators to better distinguish male final clubs and sororities. If the committee seeks to combat exclusivity and foster belonging, arguably sororities can provide a supportive role by giving women a social space on campus.

Most importantly, however, although we commend the report’s emphasis on issues of belonging, Harvard has been unclear about the direction it seeks to take on social groups. While the existing penalties seek to reform such groups by promoting gender inclusivity, the new recommendations argue that the exclusivity that social groups promote merits a ban in itself, and reform is not enough. This lack of direction was particularly apparent in Crimson reporting that revealed that only seven of the 27-person committee voted in favor of the social club ban. The plurality of the group—12 members in total—voted to simply form a new committee on social groups. Given the significant impact these policies will have on the future of social life at Harvard, more clarity and transparency about the decision-making process is necessary.

Other considerations must be also taken into account should Harvard decide to implement this recommendation. Without the events that social groups provide, Harvard must commit to increasing the budget for student social life and creating better physical social spaces. Beyond Harvard social events, student organizations will continue to play a critical role in organizing social spaces for students on campus. Harvard must ensure that student organizations do not further perpetuate exclusivity in the way that exclusionary social groups have by mandating membership policies and social events that are accessible to all undergraduates.

Harvard must also look to comparable schools for better models of student social life. While the committee examined Williams College and Bowdoin College as schools that have successfully banned social groups, schools like Yale—yes, Yale—could be a better example of how Harvard might deal with its larger student body. Opening more accessible, designated party spaces similar to Yale’s nightclub, Toad’s, could foster a stronger sense of inclusion and belonging for all students.

The faculty committee is right to focus on issues of exclusivity and belonging on campus. We hope that President Faust makes a decision largely aligning with what they have recommended. Above all, we hope we can move forward in promoting an inclusive social life for all students, regardless of background.


TOPICS: Education; Hobbies; Society
KEYWORDS: fraternities; harvard; sororities

1 posted on 09/29/2017 1:10:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Fraternities, as exclusive social organizations, are likely in their final days. I don’t see todays leftists that run universities tolerating their presence much longer. When it happens, they’ll go quickly.


2 posted on 09/29/2017 1:14:58 PM PDT by Drew68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Drew68

That’s OK. Leftist-run universities are likely in their final days as well.

The days when parents willingly let their children bury themselves in crippling debt to subsidize the “edjukayshun” of BLM are drawing to a close.


3 posted on 09/29/2017 1:26:37 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (<img src="http://i.imgur.com/WukZwJP.gif" width=800>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

So with free speech nearly dead the next target is the destruction of free association.

Time for CW2.


4 posted on 09/29/2017 1:27:31 PM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Harvard must commit to increasing the budget for student social life and creating better physical social spaces. Beyond Harvard social events, student organizations will continue to play a critical role in organizing social spaces for students on campus.

and then the author goes on to recommend Harvard have a nightclub.

I'm sorry, but I thought that the more expensive institutions were for learning a upper income bracket marketable life skill, not 'social organizing' and 'party spaces'?

5 posted on 09/29/2017 2:08:02 PM PDT by blueplum ( "...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Liberty = “free association”, and is contrary to mandated association as in an attempt at social engineering. There is no true Liberty when free association - which also means free to not associate, is not honored.

College student clubs should not be restricted by who is and is not in them, for any reason, and that is not to say that behavior - drugs, violence, drunken brawls, ect., should not be part of rules that get clubs in trouble.


6 posted on 09/29/2017 2:55:36 PM PDT by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I was a “frat boy” at the University of Michigan in the 70’s. At that time, the university pretty much had a “hands off” policy toward the Greek system. They provided office space for the Pan-Hellenic council, played some minor role in organizing intramural sports, and some other things like that. They were certainly not inspecting frat houses, monitoring parties, etc. I thought it was a good system. Our house was our own, we freely associated with each other, and basically our affairs were none their business. Now, it seems they can “ban” them. I suppose if they provided housing or something, they would have leverage, but how they can legally keep people from getting together under the banner of a few Greek letters is beyond me.
7 posted on 09/29/2017 3:44:03 PM PDT by beef (Who Killed Kennewick Man?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

They once tried the same thing at Faber College.


8 posted on 09/29/2017 4:04:01 PM PDT by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

They’re saying that single gender groups are bad and should be banned, but that there should be an exemption for women’s single gender groups, making the ban only on men’s single gender groups.


9 posted on 09/29/2017 4:15:54 PM PDT by Architect of Avalon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Lord Of The Flies.

L


10 posted on 09/29/2017 4:17:14 PM PDT by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Architect of Paradise

And how about black fraternities ?


11 posted on 09/29/2017 5:10:09 PM PDT by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: NativeSon

The Racially Exclusionary Centers - labeled Cultural Centers - that exist on most university campuses will continue.


12 posted on 09/29/2017 5:31:38 PM PDT by Architect of Avalon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson