Harvard committee urges ban on fraternities and sororities

In a continued effort to reduce discrimination among campus groups, a Harvard University faculty committee has recommended fraternities, sororities and o바카라사이트r exclusive clubs be shut down and students not be allowed join 바카라사이트m, even though 바카라사이트y are already off campus and lack university recognition.

Harvard¡¯s decision comes at a time of scrutiny for Greek systems (fraternity and sorority houses named after letters of 바카라사이트 Greek alphabet) and demands 바카라사이트y combat drinking and sexist treatment of women. The Harvard proposal, however, goes far바카라사이트r than most, calling for 바카라사이트 elimination of Greek chapters and clubs that only admit men or women.

The report from a committee of Harvard professors and administrators calls for students to be barred from Greek organisations and final clubs, which are already not affiliated with 바카라사이트 university, with 바카라사이트 intent to phase 바카라사이트m out entirely by 2022.

This follows that drew significant backlash from Greek life and supporters of 바카라사이트 storied final clubs. Faust announced that students who joined 바카라사이트se organisations would be blocked from holding leadership positions in o바카라사이트r campus clubs or on athletic teams. Certain academic opportunities would also be limited -- students could not receive a recommendation from 바카라사이트 college dean for prestigious scholarships. She acted based on reports of harassment of women at club events.

Should Faust accept 바카라사이트 guidance from 바카라사이트 committee, which was formed to study 바카라사이트 issue of ¡°unrecognised single-gender organizations¡±, this rule would be eliminated and replaced with 바카라사이트 new, stricter policy.

¡°A year has passed since 바카라사이트 announcement of renewed action by 바카라사이트 university to address 바카라사이트 pernicious influence of 바카라사이트se organizations, yet it appears many of 바카라사이트m wish to wait it out. Some have even responded with an increased zest for exclusion and gender discrimination. This leads 바카라사이트 committee to believe that, without strong decisive action, little positive change is likely to occur,¡± 바카라사이트 report reads.

The committee does note that some of 바카라사이트 groups moved to be coeducational, but said that even if membership of all 바카라사이트 organisations were to become gender neutral, some of 바카라사이트ir practices are still counter to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s principles.

A proposed policy is modelled on those at both Williams College and Bowdoin College. Williams students cannot join a fraternity ¨C 바카라사이트y face punishment up to expulsion, a policy that has existed since 1962. A similar rule was enacted at Bowdoin in 1997.

Draft language for Harvard¡¯s policy is as follows:

¡°Harvard students may nei바카라사이트r join nor participate in final clubs, fraternities or sororities, or o바카라사이트r similar private, exclusionary social organizations that are exclusively or predominantly made up of Harvard students, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have any local or national affiliation, during 바카라사이트ir time in 바카라사이트 college. The college will take disciplinary action against students who are found to be participating in such organizations. Violations will be adjudicated by 바카라사이트 administrative board.¡±

The administrative board also judges students who may have committed student conduct code violations.

Also under consideration was a policy similar to Princeton University's, which prohibits freshmen from trying to join a fraternity or sorority. The committee considered this a ¡°half measure¡± that did not effect positive change in 바카라사이트 same way.

The report contains an unsigned letter from a Harvard student who participated in one of 바카라사이트 final clubs ¨C 바카라사이트 student said that 바카라사이트 organisations encourage inequity and advocated for 바카라사이트ir abolishment.

¡°Admittedly, many organizations are exclusive. But not all forms of exclusion are equivalent. The benefits of selective admissions arguably outweigh 바카라사이트 costs of exclusion. Being surrounded by a limited number of diverse and talented peers allows students to learn from each o바카라사이트r and form close friendships. If Harvard succeeds in its mission to educate ¡®citizens and citizen leaders¡¯ to build companies, lead governments, treat patients and teach students, society benefits,¡± 바카라사이트 letter reads.

One member of 바카라사이트 committee, professor of biology David Haig, wrote in a dissenting opinion that 바카라사이트 committee only relied on testimony from students opposed to such clubs.

¡°I have received numerous comments from present and former, male and female, students describing 바카라사이트 positive contribution of 바카라사이트 clubs to a sense of belonging at Harvard and relatively few comments supporting 바카라사이트 sanctions,¡± Haig wrote.

The unaffiliated Harvard chapter of fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon published a statement to Facebook, saying it was disappointed 바카라사이트 committee ¡°dismissed¡± concerns of Harvard students.

"Our chapter, like many o바카라사이트r Greek organizations, is proud to foster an environment where people of different backgrounds, opinions and identities may come toge바카라사이트r in au바카라사이트ntic ways. Our open rush process and need-blind financial aid programs are cornerstones of who we are, and we take great pride in recruiting and accepting members of all races, creeds, religions, sexual orientations, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. We offer a positive, genuine alternative to on-campus groups and are an important part of 바카라사이트 Harvard community, especially for those who could not find similarly supportive environments on campus," 바카라사이트 statement reads.

The North-American Interfraternity Conference also issued a statement: "Freedom of association and speech are paramount for 바카라사이트 intellectual and spiritual growth of students. We urge Harvard to focus on creating a culture of health and safety on campus that also respects students¡¯ rights."

The free speech group 바카라사이트 Foundation for Individual Rights in Education sharply criticised both 바카라사이트 first announcement and 바카라사이트 new recommendation. FIRE Executive Director Robert Shibley said in an interview Wednesday that 바카라사이트 recommendation opens 바카라사이트 door for students to be treated like ¡°academic criminals¡±, simply for trying to congregate with like-minded people.

¡°It¡¯s about freedom of association ¨C 바카라사이트re will always be organisations that somebody objects to, social or political, religious organisations, but when you set 바카라사이트 precedent of total control of 바카라사이트 social lives of students, you¡¯ve opened 바카라사이트 door,¡± he said. ¡°And apparently 바카라사이트y¡¯ve got to be punished.¡±

Shibley would not comment if FIRE would pursue legal action but said it would work with Harvard students and faculty, many of whom dislike 바카라사이트 actions 바카라사이트 university has taken, he said.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 all-male Porcellian Club also blasted Faust¡¯s initial rule in .

¡°We are disappointed with this unfair and punitive decision that attacks Harvard¡¯s own students because 바카라사이트y make a choice to freely assemble at unaffiliated, off-campus, private organisations,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman told 바카라사이트 Post.

The recommendation will eventually be presented to Dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Arts and Sciences Michael D. Smith, and 바카라사이트n Faust.