Harvard newspaper doesn't want a 4th sorority
 

The editorial staff of The Crimson makes sweeping generalizations with no evidence to back it up.

For example, "Even though two of Harvard’s three current sororities are in the process of purchasing real estate in and around Harvard Square, that space will never be used to provide the tight-knit sense of community that naturally comes from shared living arrangements."

What does that even mean? The editors somehow know that having a chapter house won't provide community? Even though community comes naturally from having a chapter house?

I think they make some good points about the gender divisions in the Harvard community, but that is a broader conversation, and fixing that is not the aim of the sororities.

The author of the article references Pledged like it's a credible source. Between that and the traditional discord of the student paper and Greek Life at any university, I would take this with a Rocky Mountain sized grain of salt.

LOL

As if I wasn't already in disagreement with the premise of the article, citing "Pledged" completely lost me.

Is Title IX really the reason Harvard doesn't recognize these organizations? Aren't these people supposed to be at the vanguard of intelligence?

In an unrelated note, many schools have reported their largest ever numbers of PNMs this year, including my own University - I wonder what's causing this trend.

One question: I didn't know that NPC orgs would colonize on campuses where they aren't recognized by the university. Apparently I was mistaken. Anyone know of other examples.

I really wish the writer of that article had the guts to attach their name to it, rather than hiding behind "The Crimson Staff" as a byline.

Add to that the author's flubbing of Title IX and what it requires.

Proof that ignorance can survive even an Ivy League education.

Unless I am mistaken, Harvard will not recognize any organization which is a chapter of a larger organization.

In short, Harvard's stance (reading between the lines) is that it won't allow an organization which would divide a student's financial loyalty after graduation.

It's sad that the Crimson doesn't see that it's about the money and not social equity or anything of the sort.

DBB, the property being purchased won't be "shared living arrangements" because they'll only be used as lodges, not student housing. Everybody lives in the dorms.

This isn't right. Harvard recognizes many groups that are chapters of larger organizations -- Hillel, Amnesty International, College Republicans, etc. etc. However, all those organizations are not selective and they accept any undergraduate as a member. What they resist is (1) groups where outsiders are perceived to have a say in membership decisions and (2) single-gender groups.

I don't know if anyone has tried to start an Alpha Phi Omega chapter there, but it would be an interesting test case. My guess is that they would recognize it.
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I'm not familiar with such an arrangement. Are there other campuses that have this model? I thought even campuses with smaller lodges typically had a few women living there, usually officers.

In any case, thanks for the info. It was woefully unclear in the editorial.

From the Harvard Student Organization Handbook:


Local autonomy of the organization. The criterion for local autonomy shall be whether the College organization makes all policy decisions without obligation to any parent organization, national chapter, or charter.

From: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do...icb.page365169

My chapter has a lodge with no housing. Everyone either lives in the dorms or off-campus. Three other sororities on campus have full houses, and one is completely unhoused.

So, it's like a living room and kitchen?

Not really. We have a formal meeting room and a chapter meeting room on the top floor, and then a kitchen, an office, and living space on the bottom floor. And then 3 bathrooms. It's a house, just without bedrooms.

That's kinda cool. I could see how this would be really appealing to some women, because not everyone wants to live in a chapter house, but not having a space at all is a bummer, too.