National Greek life associations are joining hands with single-sex organizations at Harvard University to try to fight back against the university’s new policy. Although Harvard is targeting males-only Final Clubs, the policy will affect all members of clubs that remain single-sex. This is a move that many think will hurt cultural and female groups who find support in these clubs.
Harvard’s new policy says that the university will not endorse any student who is a member in a single-gender Finals club, sorority or fraternity for prestigious scholarships. In addition, members will be unable to serve in leadership positions across campus. The policy was set to begin in fall 2017, affecting the class of 2021 onwards.
“Although the fraternities, sororities, and finals clubs are not formally recognized by the College, they play an unmistakable and growing role in student life, in many cases enacting forms of privilege and exclusion at odds with our deepest values,” wrote University President Drew G. Faust in an email to undergraduates Friday, according to The Harvard Crimson.
Faust enacted the policy in response to Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana’s recommendations. Although the initial issue was the frequency of sexual assault in all-male Final Clubs, every single-sex organization falls under the new policy. The Crimson reported that Khurana thought that the “unrecognized single-gender social organizations have lagged behind in ways that are untenable in the 21st century.”
Despite the university’s actions, national organizations are rising up against them. This included the National Panhellenic Conference, the North-American Interfraternity Conference, the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
“While we understand and share Harvard’s goals of creating a safe and equitable environment for students, we are discouraged and disappointed by the policy announced Friday, as it mistakenly assumes the way to achieve those ends is to punish student participating in single-gender organizations,” said the group of organizations in a combined statement, according to the Huffington Post.
The Boston Globe reported that more than 200 Harvard University women rallied on Harvard Yard, calling themselves the Crimson Women’s Coalition. They say that the university’s ban threatens solidarity among women to assert their voices and their rights in an otherwise marginalizing world.
“My women’s organization has been more than a social organization,” graduating senior Whitney Anderson told the Globe. “It has been a mental health respite, a place to discuss sexual assaults…where I became a feminist, and where I refound my voice.”
Another student at the rally, Caroline Tervo, told CBS News, “Female spaces are crucial sources of our empowerment…I think there is something to be said for single-sex organizations.”
It would be incredibly unfair to take away sources of strength and power for historically marginalized groups. The issue was brought up because of sexual assault in all-male clubs that reeked of privilege—Harvard should be focusing on those, instead.