"It would have taken a lot of pressure off the other clubs," he says. "If the Fly had gone co-ed, it would have been easier for other clubs to say--now [women] have a place to be a member so we can take it off our agenda."
The Fly is the only club that has even come close to admitting women, he says.
"The Fly was the closest club in terms of the members' sentiments," the punchmaster says. "No other club was even coming close to that kind of sentiment. Some have by-laws that make it practically impossible to go co-ed."
He says he thinks the Fly made "a major mistake in publicizing their internal processes."
"Before you make a decision, it is never a good idea to drag their political processes through the press," he says. "it's more likely that it would have passed if it had not received such attention. Those people came under ridicule from friends and from other clubs."
"And there were some whispers that said--I hope it will ruin the club," he adds.
'Who Knows?'
Sarah E. Winters '95, co-chair of Women Appealing for Change (WAC), says she believes the change in club leadership made a big difference in the vote.
"Last year's officers were very much in favor [of female members]," she says. "The presidents have a way of pushing their agendas. [Last year's Fly President] Scott Logan was vocal about wanting it."
Logan refused to comment for this story.
Winters says she thinks this year's junior class members strongly influenced the change in vote.
"I think the composition of the vote was such--if it was unanimous last year and not this--it was this year's juniors that made the difference," she says.
Fly officials emphasize that the door is not closed to the possibility of admitting women. A statement issued by the club after last month's vote said the Fly "will continue the dialogue and establish a recommended decision-making process for the future."
What that means for the future is uncertain. But what is clear is that the best opportunity for a final club to turn co-ed has been missed.
Doug Sears '69, president of the interclub graduate council, says: "If that's what [Fly members] want, maybe this year, maybe next year--who knows?