WAC Officials Stand By Prank Allegations

Officials of Women Appealing for Change (WAC), a group challenging the final clubs' exclusion of female members, are refusing to retract allegations that the Delphic Club was responsible for a prank played on their organization.

Last month, WAC co-chairs Frances B. Walton '94 and Emily Buxton '94 were interviewed by two individuals posing as reporters from the Harvard Independent. In a letter to The Crimson, they accused initiates of the final club of being behind the prank.

After the letter was published, Delphic President Zachary T. Cooper '94 personally guaranteed that the "reporters" were not affiliated in any way with the Delphic Club.

In a statement given to The Crimson, WAC co-chair Frances B. Walton '94 said that the organization "officially acknowledges the Delphic Club's guarantee."

"However," Walton added, "we cannot retract our previous statement because it remains fact that a Delphic Club member informed a co-chair that the initiates responsible for the prank were Delphic Club members."

WAC co-chair Emily Buxton '94 told the Crimson last month that she heard a member of the Delphic Club say the alleged reporters were Delphic initiates.

In a statement issued to The Crimson by Delphic punch chair Cesar R. Conde '95, the club said that in addition to a retraction, a public apology from WAC and its co-chairs would be appreciated.

WAC has made no such apology.

In her statement, Walton defended her decision to go public with allegations about the specious interview. She said WAC "merely wanted to responded to an incident and thought it worthy of public attention."

Walton said confusion on the part of members of both WAC and the Delphic had created the controversy.

"We never intended, as the actual letter illustates, to implicate anyone," said Walton, referring to her letter to The Crimson. WAC has "no interest in publicizing the names of those involved."

In its effort to encourage final clubs to admitwomen, WAC has termed their movement a "friendlyboycott," and the group has attempted to avoidhostility between itself and the final clubs.

However, Walton said, "The fact remains thatthe incident was perpetrated by a final club, andis indicative of certain attitudes the clubscondone.

In its effort to encourage final clubs to admitwomen, WAC has termed their movement a "friendlyboycott," and the group has attempted to avoidhostility between itself and the final clubs.

However, Walton said, "The fact remains thatthe incident was perpetrated by a final club, andis indicative of certain attitudes the clubscondone.