Spotlight on Frats Renewed

Two days after undergraduate members of the Kappa Eta chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity announced they are renting a house for the club, the president of the largest underground sorority chapter at the College said that student interest and membership in Greek societies is on the rise at Harvard.

Although it is difficult to determine how many fraternities and sororities exist at the College because of their underground status, a number of students said yesterday they believe there are two sororities currently operating at the College--Theta and Delta Gamma--and one fraternity, Sigma Chi.

Theta reportedly had 65 members at the end of last year and Sigma Chi currently has 33 student members.

Many fraternity and sorority members expressed optimism about the future of their chapters.

L. Elaine Chestney '98, president of the Zeta-Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, said she would like the chapter to get its own house and gain official recognition from the University.

Zeta-Xi members are currently considering plans to advertise in The Crimson and poster around campus for their upcoming rush. The group is also discussing with Sigma Chi the possibility of renting meeting space at the fraternity's house.

But Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said last night that participants in the activities of fraternities and sororities on campus will face the opposition of the College administration, particularly those students electing to live in Greek houses.

"I'm not at all happy with the current plan to have these students live at the [Sigma Chi] house so you can expect us to use persuasion and other means to keep students from living in such places," he said.

He said he has some ideas to regulate Greek organizations specifically.

Marco B. Simons '97, an executive of the Undergraduate Council, said that although the council last year worked out an agreement allowing undergraduate groups not recognized by the College to reserve meeting space and poster on campus, he thinks the administration would still ban fraternities and sororities from doing so.

Simons noted that all groups not adhering to the University's non-discrimination policy, including single-sex organizations, are not permitted to meet and advertise on campus.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote in an e-mail that he is concerned about the Greek situation but would not comment further.

Greek Societies and Final Clubs

The administration has the same views and restrictions for Greek societies and final clubs, according to Epps.

Epps called both types of clubs "a detriment to higher education."

But the members of final clubs and Greek organizations believe their groups are quite different.

According to Jon D. Doolittle '97, president of the Kappa Eta chapter of Sigma Chi, the chapter is often inaccurately compared to final clubs.

Final clubs are strictly social organizations designed for their members' enjoyment, while the fraternity chapter is "an award-winning community service organization," Doolittle said.

The chapter last year was one of seven recipients of the Cambridge School Volunteers, Inc. Mack J. Davis II Award for Extraordinary Service to the Cambridge Public Schools.

Doolittle said that although the chapter makes it a point to have some non-alcoholic social events, its reputation is hurt by the stereotype of rowdy fraternities.

"We would love to help Harvard understand this but I think the administration understands their perceptions of fraternities in general [and doesn't] understand our chapter," he said.

Last spring, then-acting Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley, adhering to University policy, barred the chapter from sponsoring a charity concert for Children's Miracle Network. The concert was held in Sanders Theater in February. Although Sigma Chi organized it, Harvard Glee Club Lite was the official sponsor, Doolittle said.

But the College's restrictions on Greek societies and final clubs may actually give the groups more freedom, according to Chestney, the Theta chapter president.

If the College owned the society's house, it would be able to regulate the parties inside it, she said.

And although the organizations are not allowed to poster on campus, Doolittle said undergraduate interest in the chapter is growing.

Chestney said, however, she does not want or expect the Greek system to dominate the social life at Harvard. She said she does not think her chapter will ever surpass 100 members.

There are eight final clubs, with about 350 members total.

Members of final clubs interviewed last night expressed ambivalence about the growth of Greek life at Harvard.

Donald W. Young '96-'97, a member of a final club, said he is excited to see the increased Greek presence because he thinks it will add to the social life at Harvard. "God knows we need the help," he said.

But Colbert H. Cannon '97, a member of the Porcellian, said he is not sure he wants to see Greek organizations recognized by the University. He said he feels those clubs dominate campus social life in a way final clubs do not, citing the fact that Greek members live in their fraternity and sorority houses

He said he has some ideas to regulate Greek organizations specifically.

Marco B. Simons '97, an executive of the Undergraduate Council, said that although the council last year worked out an agreement allowing undergraduate groups not recognized by the College to reserve meeting space and poster on campus, he thinks the administration would still ban fraternities and sororities from doing so.

Simons noted that all groups not adhering to the University's non-discrimination policy, including single-sex organizations, are not permitted to meet and advertise on campus.

Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote in an e-mail that he is concerned about the Greek situation but would not comment further.

Greek Societies and Final Clubs

The administration has the same views and restrictions for Greek societies and final clubs, according to Epps.

Epps called both types of clubs "a detriment to higher education."

But the members of final clubs and Greek organizations believe their groups are quite different.

According to Jon D. Doolittle '97, president of the Kappa Eta chapter of Sigma Chi, the chapter is often inaccurately compared to final clubs.

Final clubs are strictly social organizations designed for their members' enjoyment, while the fraternity chapter is "an award-winning community service organization," Doolittle said.

The chapter last year was one of seven recipients of the Cambridge School Volunteers, Inc. Mack J. Davis II Award for Extraordinary Service to the Cambridge Public Schools.

Doolittle said that although the chapter makes it a point to have some non-alcoholic social events, its reputation is hurt by the stereotype of rowdy fraternities.

"We would love to help Harvard understand this but I think the administration understands their perceptions of fraternities in general [and doesn't] understand our chapter," he said.

Last spring, then-acting Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley, adhering to University policy, barred the chapter from sponsoring a charity concert for Children's Miracle Network. The concert was held in Sanders Theater in February. Although Sigma Chi organized it, Harvard Glee Club Lite was the official sponsor, Doolittle said.

But the College's restrictions on Greek societies and final clubs may actually give the groups more freedom, according to Chestney, the Theta chapter president.

If the College owned the society's house, it would be able to regulate the parties inside it, she said.

And although the organizations are not allowed to poster on campus, Doolittle said undergraduate interest in the chapter is growing.

Chestney said, however, she does not want or expect the Greek system to dominate the social life at Harvard. She said she does not think her chapter will ever surpass 100 members.

There are eight final clubs, with about 350 members total.

Members of final clubs interviewed last night expressed ambivalence about the growth of Greek life at Harvard.

Donald W. Young '96-'97, a member of a final club, said he is excited to see the increased Greek presence because he thinks it will add to the social life at Harvard. "God knows we need the help," he said.

But Colbert H. Cannon '97, a member of the Porcellian, said he is not sure he wants to see Greek organizations recognized by the University. He said he feels those clubs dominate campus social life in a way final clubs do not, citing the fact that Greek members live in their fraternity and sorority houses