There is a controversy surrounding a suggestion that appeared as part of a sexual assault study conduct by a Harvard task force that would bar students from joining its all-male final clubs. Such exclusive clubs are denounced as perpetuating a “harmful sexual culture.” Notably, these are private all-male organizations with no relationship with the university but the task force suggests that it could dictate such associations for its students. The report focuses on all-male rather than all-female clubs. These clubs are characterized as having “men in positions of power engaging with women on unequal and too often on very sexual terms.” While it is not clear what support this “idea” for possible action has garnered at the school, conservative publications have said that there have already been threats about disciplinary actions for students associating with such clubs. It is important to note that this does not appear to be the thrust of the report (which is linked below), which suggests a wide range of remedial and preventive measures. The main concern is an appendix associated with the task force, available here. One of the ideas is “Either don’t allow simultaneous membership in Final Clubs and College enrollment; or allow Clubs to transition to all-gender inclusion with equal gender membership and leadership.”
The suggestion of a ban on “simultaneous membership in final clubs and college enrollment” is unnerving for many. The suggestion is that clubs may be put on lists to allow the school to “provisionally register[ing] all-gender clubs for monitoring” and “requir[ing] they have ongoing sexual assault education and assigned sober bystanders at social events.”
The task force added “Students understand that Harvard’s centuries-long history as a predominantly white male institution creates an imprint on their educational experience, but they expect to see progress moving forward.”
The task force added that statistics support the notion that sexual assaults are more likely with members of the all-male clubs.
Witnesses reportedly said that Stephanie Khurana, a task force member and one of the campus dorm heads threatened to seek expulsion for students who joined the clubs subject to expulsion.
It is unclear what Harvard would do with its various women-only clubs. The statements from the task force were directed at male-only clubs. The report says “Cultures that reflect male control and exclusivity encourage the marginalization of women and assumptions about sexual entitlement.”
We have been discussing the rapid decline of free speech rights at universities and colleges in this country. This report reflects a similar attack on associational rights. If the university wants to ban all exclusive clubs and organizations, including all-female organizations, and force diversity among memberships, it would have a more principled positions to advance. However, it is problematic to characterize all-male clubs as raw example of male domination while accepting all-female clubs as examples of empowerment. Ironically, we discussed a few years ago how Harvard had no difficulty in excluding males from work out facility to guarantee women-only programs. These moves reflect an abandonment of long-standing efforts to achieve gender and racial equality. Instead, the new movement seeks to selectively fight segregation in some areas while embracing it in other areas.
I have serious qualms about colleges dictating what organizations are acceptable for students, particularly organization not associated or funded by the university. Should students also be disciplined for being a patron at restaurants deemed sexist like Hooters or strip clubs? If students are to be punished for their associations that “reflect male control and exclusivity,” then what is the distinction when those students regularly go to businesses deemed to have the same sexist profile?
The use of university authority to force students to adhere to mandated values or approved associations is deeply troubling. I have no problem with advocates calling for male students to avoid such clubs and to discourage female students from attending parties at the clubs. However, in the end, these are adult students who should be allowed to make their own choices, even if the task force deems them bad choices. In the name of gender equality, such moves eviscerate values of free speech and association.
Once again, this suggestion was in an appendix and many of the findings of the task force are insightful and useful. However, given the comprehensive attack on free speech on our campuses, the suggestion of such a rule is unnerving for many.
What do you think?
Here is the report: Sexual Assault Task Force
Well Riesling: The thread was about Harvard and it dwindled up and then beyond the low level of Harvard.
Squeeky: I would ad the h letter to the word sit in the line about sit up their faces.
What happened to this thread?
@Elmer Fudd
I heard it differently. . .Because a Knight laying flat on his back in all that armor was pretty helpless.
Weight For The Waggin’???
A Short Poem by Squeeky Fromm
In days of old, when Knights were bold,
And Wenches had no graces. . .
They’d throw them down,
Upon the ground
And sit upon their faces!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Paul: There is a town in North Carolina which was founded back in the days of British rule as “Kingston”. Sometime after the Revolutionary War they removed the letter g and it is now Kinston. Well, there are generations of women in Kinston who are born without the g spot and this is spoken of often. Another aspect is that everyone is “kin” to one another and it is common to have marriages between first cousins. When Kinston lost the g spot is a topic which Harvard needs to consider.
It brings up that old poem which Squeeky will like:
In days of old when knights were bold
And rubbers weren’t invented.
They tied a sock around the cock
And babies were prevented.
–Arnold Palmer
But they were just talking about chickens, not humans.
Elmer writes, “”In days of old when knights were bold
And rubbers weren’t invented.
They tied a sock around the cock
And babies were prevented.”
No wonder they say Arnold Palmer did more for golf than other player.
So when is Yale going to get around to ensuring that women, African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Italians are admitted to the Skull and Bones secret society?
The way to stop this particular tussie is to throw into the mix the fact that the “all male” clubs are comprised of bent members. That will stir things up. Gay rights and all that apCray on the ouYeah.
@Elmer Fudd
Loved that poem!!!
How long before some male at Harvard starts a Nude Swimming Club, which will of course be open to women!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Men in college who know how to do one finger gspot exams are quite popular with women.
Elmer Fudd – there is some study that prove the g-spot does not exist.
I feel bad for women being so weak they can’t survive without these types of measures. How long will it be before boys are forced to take estrogen pills?
Jim22 – boys will be forced to take estrogen pills when women are forced to have prostate exams.
Nick has it right. These kinds of stories are why we have Trump.
The infantilization of college students is very sad. I have good memories of making many mistakes when I was in college, and learning quite a bit from them.
Once again I feel so warm, fuzzy, and secure inside just knowing the Wise Ones are overseeing our private affairs! What would we lost sheep do without them?
If we allow the KKK to freely associate, then we should allow misogynist clubs. Perhaps Harvard is in anticipation of an endowment from somebody who doesn’t like men’s clubs?
Wait until they hear from their alums. That will stop this ticky tack crapola.
“Oh! CANaDA!
And liberals are mystified how a demagogue running against insane PC may very well be our next President.
“Freedom of association?!? We don’t need no stinking freedom of association!” Harvard
“A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep.” Saul Bellows
There is an old saying:
Harvard and Yale…
Slicked up in lard and chasing tail.
It don’t matter if people care..
Their shit dont stink and they curl their hair.
It’s not going to work. It’s ironic because people are becoming even more defiant of authority based on traditional institutions. Harvard will be under a big spotlight, and social media will rage and ridicule. Also, many, many women’s groups will protest this paternalistic favoritism. Sure, the pundits will talk about the “useful public debate” blah, blah. But it will do nothing except accelerate Harvard’s decline into irrelevancy.
The way to Hell is not a road but a pothole on I 70 into which one should not step into or drive over. Harvard is in the pothole with its hands on the fringe, wondering whether to let go. I say let em go to Hell. All those snotty itShay don’t stink people stink the world up as it now stands.
I am always uncomfortable with this kind of broad brush banning of associations, There is an old saying: The road to hell is paved by good intentions.