Final Clubs Are OK

Mr. Grossman's recent article, "Think Hard", concerning the moral implications of joining the final clubs, is unfair in that he uses false information in trying to blame the problems of society on such clubs. Rather than attempt to construct a realistic argument against their existence, he has adopted a radical, emotionally-fired argument blaming them for "the fires of prejudice and aristocratic elitism" which exist in American society.

He fails to realise that all club members are very much a part of the Harvard community. Many are on financial aid and "are working full-time to compensate for the inadequacies of financial aid," plus they are of varying backrounds, religious and race. They partake in all the same activities as do "normal" Harvard students. Just because they wish to be a part of a club for equally varying reasons, does not mean that they are resigning their participation in this community. Rather it means, they have also expressed a desire to enjoy the friendship and camaradarie with a small group of males (thereby actually increasing such participation). This hardly means, as Mr. Grossman states, that they are anti-egalitarian, aristocratic and anti-community, to believe this is to be very native indeed. The clubs are not a statement, as he is led to believe, rather they are facilities for a small group of friends who simply enjoy each others' company, at times. To label such desires for close fraternal friendship as being totally morally backwards, is wrong, and to use it as a scapegoat for the ills of society is inexcusable. When I joined a club, I was not expressing a desire to become socially elitist. When I joined a club, I was not going against my moral principles and those of my friends (non-club members). I am a foreign student, a Catholic and on financial aid. As a strong supporter of human rights, I am neither sexist nor racist. I would consider myself the average club member, and one who enjoys being a club member. Mr. Grossman's arguments are untrue and highly slanderous. Francis A. Evers '87