Hasty Pudding Club Members Vote to Admit Women, Faculty

Members of the Hasty Pudding Club voted by a three-to-two margin this week to grant membership to women, Faculty members, and administrators.

Henry J.S. Cheever '73, president of the club, said last night that the club's financial problems were partly responsible for the decision to hold the vote, but that "the real reason is that we're a University-wide organization and should admit people from all areas of the University."

Cheever said that the club has operated at a small deficit for the last few years, but that he expects the club to "more than break even" next year with the aid of dues from women and Faculty members.

By the terms of the ballot, women will have full memberships in the club at $80 a year dues, starting this Spring. He said that Faculty and administrators will be associate members, paying $50 a year dues.

Cheever stressed that the figure for associate members' dues is tentative, and could be reduced in the cases of junior faculty who could not otherwise afford to join the club.

The number of women admitted to the club this Spring will be relatively small, Cheever said. He added that women have always been allowed in the club as guests of members.

Cheever said that there was "pretty solid opposition" to admitting women among some members of the club. He said that he does not expect anyone to resign from the club as a result of the vote.

The club admitted only undergraduates until two years ago, when it decided to grant memberships to graduate students.

Jonathan Bowie '73, vice president of the club, said last night that Hasty Pudding has been moving in the direction of admitting women for the last two years. "We feel that that's the future of the Hasty Pudding Club," he said.

Cheever added that he hopes President Bok will join the club this spring.