Administrators say they have recognized theunfavorable position the graduate boards havefound themselves in and have emphasized the risksof maintaining open door policies.

"I am sure that some alumni officers havebecome unwilling to run the risk that a drunkenstudent or guest might fall down a flight ofstairs and cause financial ruin to the alumni andtheir families," Dean of the College Harry R.Lewis '68 wrote in an e-mail message.

According to Lewis, Parties thrown by finalclubs "have been the source of a number ofproblems."

Although the College administration does notofficially recognize the final clubs due to theirgender-exclusive membership policies, it maintainsan interest in the functions they organize, Lewiswrote.

Specifically, College officials say thegraduate boards of the final clubs are puttingthemselves at risk by inviting nonmembers into theclubs for events at which alcohol is provided toguests.

"The College administration has no control overany of [the final clubs]," Lewis wrote, "but wehave been pointing out to the alumni officers [ofthe final clubs] their responsibilities andpotential liabilities."

Associate Dean for the House System Thomas A.Dingman '67 agrees that the burden ofresponsibility may have caused the clubs graduateboards to finally take steps towards limiting orbanning club guests.

"Some of the graduate boards have realizedthat, gee, we can be liable," he says.

"They may well have realized that the liabilitythat controls the ascertaining of age andprovision of alcohol has not been so great," headds.

Beyond the liability and financial issues,Heller says The Crimson and other campuspublications are responsible for much of theclubs' negative public persona and have led totheir current shrinking status.

He cites opinion pieces in The Crimson, like arecent one relating a story of a 16-year-old girlin the club, as sources of misconceptions of thefinal clubs.

When graduates read these letters, they becamemore disturbed by the current state of the clubs,he says.

Searching for Solutions

Heller says the graduate boards of all of theclubs have been talking about measures toalleviate risk and protect history and traditionfor a while.

The A.D. had even experimented with otherpossibilities, Heller says.