The most dramatic change at the Harvard Club in recent years was the decision in 1972 to admit women as full members. The club has not been too popular with Radcliffe alumnae, however, and even now less than 10 percent of its 4500 members are women.

Members of the club are enthusiastic-about women's presence, though. "We didn't used to think so, but it's all been for the good. They make the place much more attractive." James R. Reynolds '23 says.

Vitali uses one recent incident to illustrate the women's reception at the club. He describes the reaction when a woman member brought her baby into the dining room. "The baby started to cry and at the first wail all the members turned around and stared in complete silence. Then when the baby cried again, they let out a big cheer," he says.

"The newest change in membership policy, instituted just last year, was the extension of membership to undergraduates. Close to 150 undergraduates have enrolled as members of the harvard club for the reduced fee of $25.

Keith W. Cooper '83, one of the undergraduates who took advantage of the offer, is enthusiastic about his membership. "Basically I like to go down to use the Jacuzzi room and sit around semi-naked with a beer in my hand and watch T.V." Cooper says.

No matter how much the club changes, some aspects of the club's tradition will always stay the same. "Have you ever seen the dining room with the five-story-high ceilings?" asks David McCord '21. "There's grandeur in that room. That's the problem these days: there isn't any more grandeur. But you can still find it in that room."