Finalizing Policy

PSST. PSST. HELLO? You officially cut ties to the nine all-male final clubs on campus, more than one year ago. It has been revealed recently, however, that Harvard Real Estate has continued to rent space in Holyoke Center for use by the final clubs--space that is formally available only to Harvard affiliates. Such a practice is not so much blatant hypocrisy as it is a comment on how wide the gap between concerns of the administration and those of students can become. For many students the question of Harvard's ties to final clubs was an important issue. Apparently, for the administration, the decision did not register high on the Richter scale of social change.

The clubs have made use of the Holyoke Center penthouse for parties about five times in the past year, at least once this fall. In addition, the Porcellian Club rented out Ticknor Lounge in Boylston Hall for a party after The Game last month by an alumnus who did not use the club's name. The students who are members of clubs are of course affiliates of the University; the clubs, however, are not. It is understandable that the halls of administration buildings were not abuzz last year with the news of the decision to cut ties to the clubs. But at least those administrators who oversee facilities for use by Harvard affiliates could have been informed of the new policy.