The Undergraduate Council voted last night to fund a senior's discrimination complaint against the Fly Club but rejected a statement of moral support for her cause.

The council deliberated on two separate proposals. The first stated support for the complaint filed by Lisa J. Schkolnick '88 and called on the nine all-male final clubs to admit women. The second offered $250 to reimburse her attorney, who is not charging Schkolnick a fee, for postage, xeroxing and long-distance telephone calls.

Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz, who was invited by Council Secretary Frank E. Lockwood '89 to address the council in support of Schkolnik, said, "This is really a historic crossroads."

Dershowitz said Harvard final clubs serve as the "minor leagues" for adult all-male clubs. "Where did they learn that it's more comfortable to be with only males, to be with only Christians, to be with only whites," he asked. "They learned it at Harvard."

"The time has come for Harvard students to declare that this is wrong," Dershowitz said.

But the council balked on issuing a statement of principle against the final clubs after several council members argued that the council should not take political stands.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Evan J. Mandery '89 said it was entirely appropriate for the council to consider political issues. Mandery withheld his opinion on the two measures and abstained from both votes.

But Thomas D. Warren '88 said, "The people in this room were not elected as political representatives. If this is a legal issue,...then I believe the legal system should handle the issue, not the student government at Harvard."

Warren, a member of the Phoenix Club, said that since the University severed formal ties with the clubs more than the three years ago, the practices of the clubs are outside the council's jurisdiction.

"I don't think we should start now being irresponsibly activist," said Gregory R. Schwartz '89, who said he was punched but declined membership in a club.

Of the 41 council members eligible to be in final clubs, five, or 12 percent, are members, according to a Crimson survey conducted yesterday.

But Theodore Liazos '89 urged the council to be brave and pass the resolution against the clubs' practices. "There are a number of people here tonight who want us to be timid," he said, criticizing those who spoke against the resolution.

Lockwood, who authored both resolutions, argued for the council members to represent their constituencies and fight for a united campus community. "The question is, `is this council going to be a voice for the student body [by] standing up to oppose sexism and racism?'" he said.

Former Council Chairman and Owl Club member Richard S. Eisert '88 attempted to downplay the significance of the clubs' all-male rules. "There are a lot of all-female opportunities available at Harvard," he said, adding that Radcliffe offered women opportunities unavailable to men.

The debate also focused on what some members called the possible negative consequences of mandated co-ed clubs.