"We've tried a large number of things," hesays. "We've tried limiting guests. It all comesback in our face."

Sears says he spoke to Dean of Students ArchieC. Epps III numerous times about getting Harvardpolice officers to the clubs to regulate crowds.Because the College refuses to recognize theclubs, Epps would not grant the request.

According to Epps, a College policy allowsHarvard Police to respond to emergency calls atfinal clubs, but the police may not be put onregular detail outside the clubs.

Another alternative to closing club doors thathas been considered in the past is making clubsco-ed, which would prevent them form violatingCollege gender equity policies.

"In various clubs there have always been peoplewho want to let in women, but usually the peoplepushing the issue just want notoriety for beingthe one who pushed for women as members," Searssays.

In September 1993, the undergraduate members ofthe Fly voted unanimously to admit women. Thegraduate boards agreed with their decision, butthen asked that they repeat the vote before the1994 fall punch season.

And in the second vote, the measure failed.

A few months ago, the issue found new life inthe Phoenix S.K. club when undergraduates held avote to admit women.

According to former Phoenix member Gregory R.Halpern '99, the vote was close but did not pass.

"It didn't do as well as we hoped it would,"Halpern says. "A few people gave impassioned pleasthat, 'I don't want this to get in the way of usgetting trashed together."

Halpern was so disgusted by the behavior andopinions of his fellow members, he decided hisonly recourse was to leave the club.

"Morally people agreed with me and that's why Idropped out," Halpern says.

This type of answer to a problem with all malesocial groups is not one unique to Harvard.

The recent decision at Dartmouth College, whichhas ended the school's popular single-sex Greeksystem, has prompted student protest and revealeda divided campus opinion of what a healthy sociallife is.

Dingman says he supports the Dartmouthadministration's decision to eliminate allgender-exclusive organizations. However, hecautions, simply eradicating the institutionalsexism of fraternities and sororities may notsolve a deeper, psychological problem.