Although Harvard’s Greek leaders say that increased awareness of the recruitment process may have contributed to the recent spike in rush numbers, they are unable to pin down a single reason why Greek life has increased so dramatically.

“Naturally it’s the way these things go,” said President of Harvard’s Kappa Alpha Theta chapter Ellis A. Bowen ’12. “As more people join, more people hear about it.”

For some, Greek life fills a void in a social scene described by students as catering to and dominated by male final clubs.

“There aren’t that many organizations specifically for females to get together and be a group,” said Harleen K. Gambhir ’14.

There are currently eight male final clubs on Harvard’s campus, all of which own spaces to socialize and are often the hub of the party scene on a given weekend night.

Sorority members say that amid a culture dominated by male social clubs, sororities offer a welcome escape to the bonds of sisterhood.

“There are a lot more social options for males than there are for females,” Phillip J. Morris ’12, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, said earlier this year. “With a lot fewer female final clubs on campus, it makes more people willing to branch out to Greek organizations.”

Morris said that the fraternities face a different situation because they “compete” with male final clubs.

“Our rush process is 100 percent open and inviting to everyone,” Huang says. “That’s one of the biggest differences between us and final clubs.”

COLLEGE RECOGNITION

Harvard has not formally recognized sororities, fraternities, and final clubs since 1984 when the College revoked official status due to the gender-discriminatory recruitment policies of the social organizations.

Suzy M. Nelson, dean of student life, said that the gender discrimination issue—as well as sorority and fraternity ties to national organizations—make it unlikely that Greek life will be recognized in the near future.

“Students are free to affiliate as they choose,” Nelson said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that Harvard is going to recognize every type of club or social organization that exists.”

Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds said that if Greek organizations want to gain official recognition, they will have to approach the administration.

“We would not initiate the contact,” she said.