A campus women's group plastered the Yard with posters aimed at raising awareness on campus about final clubs after an article appeared in the January issue of Perspective, the campus liberal monthly, detailing alleged paid sexual acts at the A.D. final club.
The Radcliffe Women's Action Coalition (RADWAC), a task force under the auspices of the Radcliffe Union of Students, put up posters which parodied the clubs with such phrases as "Swat the Fly" and "Support Your Local Bastion of Classist Patriarchal Elitism."
RADWAC members said the posters were mainly aimed at first-year women and sophomore men who may not be aware of the "dangers" of the clubs.
Sigma Chi on the Rise
This year has also seen the Kappa Eta chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity establish itself as a legitimate institution in the Harvard community, despite its underground status.
The College administration views Greek societies and final clubs in the same light. Epps called both types of organizations "a detriment to higher education."
The fraternity and other Greek societies are not officially recognized by the College.
The societies--which, as single-sex organizations, violate the University's non-discrimination policy--are also not permitted to reserve meeting space and poster on campus.
But Sigma Chi found a permanent space for its members last September, renting the former Pi Eta Speaker's Club house at 45 Mt. Auburn St.
Epps described the fraternity's decision to rent the house as an "unfortunate development."
"I'm not at all happy with the current plan to have these students live at the [Sigma Chi] house, so you can expect us to use persuasion and other means to keep students from living in such places," he said.
But members of final clubs and Greek organizations are quick to point out what they believe are fundamental differences between the two types of groups.
Sigma Chi members point in particular to their commitment to public service.
The chapter last year received the Mack I. Davis II Award for extraordinary service to the Cambridge Public Schools, which was awarded to only seven individuals and organizations.
The chapter has also privately sponsored the Miracle Jam charity a capella concert for the Children's Miracle Network for the last two years.
College administrators barred the chapter from officially sponsoring the Sanders Theatre concert, citing University restrictions against the fraternity.
Although the a capella groups were listed as the concerts' official sponsors, Sigma Chi members organized the event and sat as a group in the front row dressed in jacket and tie.
Harvard's Sigma Chi chapter has sought recognition from the College, but members say its reputation is hurt by the stereotype of rowdy fraternities.
"Trouble always follows those fraternities," Epps said last September. "I don't know why Harvard students would want to start up an organization that other universities are trying to get rid of."