A major change is coming to the secretive and exclusive clubs that have operated on the Harvard University campus for more than 100 years.
The university announced Friday that students who join male-or-female-only clubs won't be able to hold leadership positions in official campus groups or sports teams.
This also impacts fraternities, sororities and final clubs, as Harvard tries to regulate and change this part of the culture.
Freshman Kenneth Palmer has no plans to join one of these historically male-dominated groups, but says he understands why the university is now trying to distance itself.
"Just the exclusivity that is everywhere on campus is just magnified in these places," Palmer said.
"For us to make progress on this shared endeavor, we must address deeply rooted gender attitudes, and the related issues of sexual misconduct," the univeristy's president said in an email.
This comes in response to a university-wide report linking some of these clubs to an increase in sexual assaults on women. However, junior Olivia Campbell says her experience at Harvard has not been dominated by the feel of an all-boys network.
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"I don’t feel that personally, but everyone’s experience is different," she said.
The sweeping changes will take effect in 2017, for the class of 2021. School leaders say procedures for implementing the new policies are in the works, that the college will work with these groups to become more inclusive, and that the process will be closely watched.
Students will still be able to join these exclusive organizations and be in good academic standing, but Palmer believes the recommendations are also about Harvard protecting its brand and reputation.
"I think it's a problem that's not necessarily unique to Harvard, but really, really powerful here," he said.
