Douglas W. Sears '69, who is chair of theInterclub Council, says for the last five years,the Bee's leadership has been invited toparticipate in council meetings.

The Interclub Council, the final club'sgraduate board which sets club-wide policies,includes one representative of each final club.The Council meets three or four times each years,Sears says. Membership in the council would putthe Bee on equal footing with the male finalclubs.

Sears says "the Bee members have never chosento be bound by those terms set by the InterclubCouncil"--a condition of membership.

One Council regulation prohibits members of oneclub to enter any other than the designated guestrooms when visiting another club.

Sears says he believes this has prevented theBee from joining the Council. "That's notsomething the Bee members would like," he says."The women in the club aren't willing to say thatthey won't go to the Delphic or the Phoenix. Theydon't want their life at the College to berestricted in that way."

A Hive to Call Home

While Hoermann--who was recently electedpresident--says she is still unsure whether theclub will actively search for a building in thecoming year, Sears says the club has always heldup having its own building as a goal.

"The Bee Club has always tried to raise fundswith that in mind," says Sears, adding that twoyears ago the Bee sponsored a fundraiser at theHarvard Club of Boston, under the direction ofthen-Bee president Lipson.

Lipson describes the club's efforts to acquirea building during her term as "ongoing andpersistent."

"Every year it's a new push," she says, addingthat in her years with Bee, "there were momentswhen we thought it was in our hands."

But While Lipson says the organization oftenpinpointed specific buildings in the Square thatcould serve as a club site, those efforts allfailed.

"Everyone [at our fundraiser] was extremelyreceptive, but they needed to see more before theygave money," Lipson says.

Bee alumni, Radcliffe alumni, final clubs andfinal club alumni from whom donations weresolicited wanted proof that the Bee would outlastits failed predecessors, she says.

While several members of the Bee say they feelthat only a building would give them a sense oflegitimacy, Sears says acquiring a building maynot be a realistic possibility.

"We've always tried to help them understandwhat goes into running a club. We've tried toexplain to them that being a landlord is no fun atall," says Sears, adding that the InterclubCouncil has always been supportive of the Beesince its founding.