Final Clubs Hold Parties On Harvard-Owned Land

More than a year after they were ordered to sever ties with the College, Harvard's nine all-male final clubs continue to rent space from the University, students and officials said yesterday.

In the first three months of this academic year, several of the exclusive organizations have used the Holyoke Center penthouse, Ticknor Lounge in Boylston Hall, and the Hasty Pudding Club for official final club functions.

However, Harvard officials say the University will soon tighten its disaffiliation policy with the all-male clubs.

"Harvard certainly ought to enforce its policy and not rent to final clubs," said Gina Cattalini '87, president of the Radcliffe Union of Students.

Harvard Real Estate (HRE) probably will cease renting its Holyoke Center penthouse to the final clubs for parties, Dianne M. Dyslin, who books such rentals, said yesterday.

"We most likely will not continue to rent to them in the future," Dyslin said. "We apparently had discussed this two years ago when the clubs were disaffiliated."

The penthouse is available for rental to any Harvard affiliate, Dyslin said, adding that the students in the final clubs are affiliated with the University, although the clubs are not. The penthouse had been the site of about five final club parties a year, she said, including at least one party this fall.

"Most of the final clubs use that place a lot," said a member of the Porcellian Club who asked not to be identified.

Porc Pigs-out at Ticknor

The Porcellian Club held a party in Ticknor Lounge in Boylston Hall from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. after The Game two weeks ago.

"Without my knowledge, the club did use it," said Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

Most bookings of College facilities go through the dean of students office, but use of Ticknor Lounge is handled independently.

"I just assumed it was a Harvard-Yale post-Game party for alumni," said Renie Jackson, who supervises Ticknor. She said that Boston attorney Arnold W. Hunnewell '50 booked the room in June, and it wasn't until Ocotober that she found out the party was Porcellian-sponsored.

But Hunnewell said he didn't know anything about the post-Game party. "I froze to death and went home," he said.

"It was done through the club," said PorcellianTreasurer Reade E. Griffith '87. "It was a partyfor the Porcellian Club and anybody who wasinvited."

"I didn't know anything about this club,"Jackson said. "I didn't even know the Porc was ano-go as far as renting."

Harvard severed ties to the final clubs in thespring of 1984 because they refused to admitwomen. One year later the seven-man Corporationadopted an anti-discrimination policy.

"The principle of not discriminating againstindividuals on the basis of race, color, sex,sexual orientation, religion, age, national orethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status,or disability unrelated to job or course of studyrequirements is consistent with the purpose of auniversity and the law," the policy reads."Harvard expects that those with whom it dealswill comply with all applicableanti-discrimination laws."

Punching at the Pudding

The Delphic, A.D., Owl and Porcellian Clubshave all held parties or dinners this term at theHasty Pudding, said Angela L. Padilla '87,president of the Pudding. Harvard purchased theHasty Pudding this summer for $1 million, bailingthe theater out of debt, and the University nowleases the property to the Pudding.

Final clubs often hold functions at thePudding, Padilla said. "They're just like anyoneelse renting it out," she said. The Pudding hasalso rented to Wellesley sororities and the Gayand Lesbian Student Association, Padilla said.

"It's capitalism," she said. "It's a legaltransaction where they rent out the space likeanyone else."

Epps said he didn't know whether theHarvard-owned, Pudding-leased clubhouse isconstrained by University policy. "I'm muchclearer about our own facilities," he said.

The coed Hasty Pudding Club earlier this termrenewed an old policy of giving honorarymemberships to all final club presidents. It hasalso remained the site where prospective finalclub members accept membership into the clubs.

New members delivered letters of acceptance toclub presidents at the Pudding last Mondaymorning. "It's tradition," Padilla said. "It's acouple of hours one morning a year."CrimsonJ. Carter VincentThe Hasty Pudding Club