On the heels of the A.D. final club's decision to close its doors to non-members, two other final clubs--the Owl and the Delphic--have taken steps to restrict access to their buildings, final club members said yesterday.
The Owl decided last week at a biannual policy meeting of the graduate board and several students to temporarily restrict non-members from the premises for the month, while it debates whether to bar non-members permanently.
Currently, the club allows women and guests of members not affiliated with Harvard to access most of the club on weekends. During that time, male Harvard non-members can enter a small portion of the building.
At the Delphic, besides enforcing existing rules more stringently, open parties will no longer be permitted--though members will be allowed to bring two guests, one of whom must be a female, said Obiora "Bo" I. Menkiti '99, the Delphic librarian.
The decisions come in the wake of the A.D.'s Jan. 20 announcement, which barred non-members from entering the building except for luncheons and other traditional events that have taken place at the club for many years.
Undergraduate members of the Owl will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss a possible permanent policy change. Most students in the Owl said they prefer to keep the club open to non-members.
Owl graduate president John W. Boynton '88 said the graduate board decided to take action because it thinks final clubs are increasingly becoming a center of social life in the wake of randomization and a crackdown on alcohol use in the Houses.
"It's a cumulative number of experiences over the past years that have necessitated review as the clubs take on more responsibility," he said.
Menkiti said the Delphic's decision was prompted by concern about accidents or property destruction, although he added that the Delphic's "With the possibility of litigation it'sridiculous to accept the liability risk," Menkitisaid. Both changes in policy are still tentative. TheDelphic's graduate board will review its newpolicy in three months, and members of the Owlwill discuss its policies at the Fridaymeeting--though a final decision will not be madeuntil later. "We have a temporary policy, but it is notpermanent," Boynton said. "We will make a finaldecision, but this Friday is not that date." Undergraduate members of the Owl said they hopethe club does not bar non-members permanently. "I'm against [the policy change] personally.The purpose of the club is another social outlet,"said Owl member Benjamin M. Green '00. Owl member Brian F. Shaughnessy '01 said hebelieves the members' objections will have somesway with the graduate board, which will determinethe final choice. "We do have a say," Shaughnessy said. "But ifthey disagree with us, they will have their way.They support us with their money." Mankiti said he also does not welcome theDelphic's new policy even if he understands thereasons for it. "While I'm not excited it's going to change, Ithink it is to be expected and it is reasonable." Reverend Douglas W. Sears '69, executivedirector of the Inter-Club Council, said he isunsure of the specifics of the Owl policydiscussion. "I've heard rumors," he said. "I think it willbe interesting to see what develops." Sears said he views the possibility of policychanges as a call back to the original ideals offinal clubs. "Clubs have always been clubs for themembers--not necessarily party spots for others,"he said. "A club is a place for friends to gathermore quietly. It's a return to the originalintentions." A.D. president John H. Heller '99 said hesupports the new policies because he thinks theywill help maintain the integrity of the clubs andprotect the members. Although Shaughnessy was unaware of the policychange before he joined the club and disagreeswith it, he said he would have become an Owlmember anyway. "I really like the guys in the club. That's whyI joined," he said. "But [changing the policy]would be a mistake."
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