Social Group Sanctions
Amid Student Lobbying, U.S. Senator Pressures Bacow on Sanctions
Senator Michael K. Braun wrote that he hopes Harvard “reconsiders” its sanctions on single-gender social organizations in an open letter to the University earlier this month, writing that the policy constitutes a “senseless decision” that is “harming” students.
In Final Legal Push, Harvard Defends Motions to Dismiss Sanctions Complaints
Harvard filed documents Friday defending its motions to dismiss state and federal lawsuits alleging the College’s policies on single-gender social organizations are discriminatory.
Alleging Sex Discrimination, Greek Organizations Insist Courts Must Hear Social Group Lawsuits
Plaintiffs in the social group lawsuits rejected Harvard’s Feb. 8 motions to dismiss their state and federal complaints and asserted the legal merits of their arguments in Friday court filings.
Dean of Students Lauds Gender-Neutral Social Club Recruitment
Dean of Students Katherine G. O’Dair said in a Tuesday interview that College administrators are “encouraged” by “strong student interest” in social organizations that recently adopted gender-neutral membership policies in accordance with College regulations.
Khurana Pleased With Recognized Social Organization Transition Progress
Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana said in a Friday interview he is “pleased” with the recent progress students have made in transitioning their social organizations into compliance with the College’s social groups policies.
Experts Say Sanctions Lawsuits Are Unlikely to be Immediately Dismissed
Lawyers for the University filed two motions to dismiss the suits — one in state and the other in federal court — Friday evening. But according to analysts, Harvard’s arguments are unlikely to convince the judges to throw out the cases right away.
Harvard Argues Suits Challenging Social Group Sanctions Should Be Dismissed
Lawyers for Harvard argued that state and federal judges should dismiss a pair of ongoing lawsuits alleging the College’s social group sanctions are discriminatory Friday evening.
Safe from Sanctions, Hundreds Recruit for Gender-Neutral Social Clubs
The number of students who expressed interest in the social clubs — all former sororities that went gender-neutral in the past year to avoid Harvard’s social group sanctions — marks an approximately fourfold increase from historically low turnout for sorority recruitment in spring 2018. Online registration for the joint recruitment closed Friday.
Federal Judge Will Deny Student Plaintiffs Anonymity If Sanctions Lawsuit Proceeds
Three unidentified College students who are suing Harvard over its social group sanctions in federal court will not be allowed to remain anonymous if the case proceeds beyond a motion to dismiss, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Exempt from Harvard’s Sanctions, Four Former Sororities Hold Joint Recruitment
Touting their exemption from the College’s sanctions against single-gender social organizations, four former sororities have partnered to sponsor a joint recruitment process for new members during the spring semester.
Greek Groups Are Suing Harvard Over Its Sanctions. Here’s What Happens Next.
Experts and lawyers say a pair of lawsuits challenging Harvard’s sanctions could prompt a protracted — and pricey — legal battle in the months or years ahead.
Asked About Sanctions Suits, Khurana Prefers Statements Over Direct Answers
Asked about the sanctions lawsuits in an interview Friday, Khurana at least five times repeated almost verbatim parts of a previous statement issued by Harvard spokesperson Rachael Dane.
Bacow Says Harvard Ready to Face Recent Flurry of Lawsuits
Harvard is currently facing a plethora of lawsuits, some against its admissions policies and some challenging its single-gender social group sanctions.
'Plowing New Ground’: Experts Say Harvard Sanctions Suits Employ Unusual Legal Arguments
The pair of lawsuits challenging Harvard’s sanctions rely on unusual and in some cases far-fetched legal arguments — but it is too early to know whether the complaints will be successful, experts say.
Alpha Phi Returns to Campus, Joins Lawsuit Opposing Sanctions
Harvard’s chapter of sorority Alpha Phi — which shuttered in response to the College’s sanctions — is back in business and joining a lawsuit against Harvard.
David Russcol
David A. Russcol, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in the state suit, hand-delivered the complaint to the Suffolk County Superior Court Monday.
Lawsuit Press Conference 1
Rebecca J. Ramos '17 speaks at a press conference concerning the lawsuit facing Harvard regarding the sanctions on social clubs.
Sororities, Fraternities Nationwide Declare Support for Lawsuit Challenging Harvard’s Sanctions
Scores of fraternities and sororities nationwide declared their support for a pair of lawsuits filed against the University Monday.
Social Groups Sue Harvard Over Sanctions
A group of fraternities, sororities, and students is suing Harvard over its social group sanctions, alleging the penalties are discriminatory, coercive, and unconstitutional.
Female-Focused Undergraduate Group Muse Launches on Campus
The Muse, a new female-focused undergraduate group, is looking to fill in “a lack of female supportive environments” at Harvard by offering self-growth and social programming for female-identifying College students.
Bill That Could Endanger Harvard's Sanctions Won’t Pass, Experts Say — Particularly After Blue Wave
A bill that could jeopardize Harvard’s social group sanctions will almost certainly fail to pass before the end of this congressional term, experts say. The fact Democrats may regain the majority in November only makes things worse.
A Bill Forbidding Social Group Sanctions Probably Doesn’t Affect Harvard. One Advocacy Group Wants to Change That.
Opponents of the sanctions have long hoped to force Harvard to choose between its sanctions and millions of dollars in federal funding. Now, they’re one step closer to making that happen.
Khurana 'In Dialogue' With Some Remaining Single-Gender Groups About Going Co-Ed
Aministrators are “in dialogue” with some of the few single-gender social groups left on campus about the possibility of going gender-neutral and thus avoiding Harvard's sanctions, Khurana said in an interview last Thursday.