The social scene on campus, long anchored by traditional outlets like student hosted parties, area bars and the nine all-male final clubs has taken a new twist in recent years.

Since 1985, five fraternities--three in the last two years--have secured national recognition and begun all-male groups at Harvard, with members trying to bolster their social lives while pursuing the elusive sense of "brotherhood."

And although there are only 165 total members of campus fraternities--including the recently formed five and two Black fraternities which are older--these groups are making their presence felt. In short, their existence is both an indictment of the house-based social structure of Harvard and another step away from equality of opportunity among the sexes in social resources here.

"Fraternities seem to meet a need among some students for a more active social life," says Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III.

And members say they do meet this need for some, despite the disadvantages of lacking houses on campus, being at a University that does not recognize their activities and among a student body that is somewhat hostile to their single-sex nature.

"We throw mixers with sororities from other colleges, or we do things in other houses at other colleges," says Rudy D. Torrijos III '93, former president of Sigma Alpha Mu--called "Sammy."

"Sometimes we rent out space for parties," Torrijos says.

Still, fraternities cannot ignore an important fact: Harvard officials do not want them around.

Since the University insists that student groups make all policy decisions without following direction from any parent organization, the fraternities are forced underground.

Without the benefit of University facilities, the frats have to focus their activities off campus--in night clubs, with affiliated fraternities at other campuses, or with sororities at other campuses.

Of course, the fraternities are often forced to use the most basic of means in Harvard partying--having functions in students' rooms.

"We make do with what we have," says Adam D. Taxin '93, historian of Zeta Psi.

While these room parties lack institutional feel and are often mistaken for standard student hosted parties, fraternities get a taste of the real "Animal House" experience by travelling to neighboring campuses.

"We take part in social events between our school and others," says the president of Zeta Psi, who asked not to be named.

Due to their underground status, however, fraternities are unable to organize widely-known activities, and thus end up serving a small segment of the population.