that the Pudding does not have is a shop," Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote yesterday in an e-mail message.

And the Pudding building is not in great shape. Illingworth said the building needs heat, electrical and plumbing work, and must also be made handicapped accessible.

Administrators said the Theatricals, Pitches and Kroks will be able to continue to use the facility. The social club, however, would have to change its punch selection process for choosing members and dues paying policy to comply with College rules for recognized student groups and remain in the building.

Illingworth said he has had conversations with the student leaders of the social club and hopes to work with them on their plans for the future.

"They can go in different directions. I can easily see them becoming a recognized student group if they [changed some things]," he said. "They could remain a social club, and that would be fine too."

William B. Decherd '01, membership coordinator for the Pudding, said he was initially disappointed when he heard the news, but then had a change of heart.

"I trust that the University will take this opportunity to create a first-class facility. For an undergraduate, this cannot be anything but exciting news," said Decherd, who is also a Crimson editor. "The officers of the Pudding club see this as a great opportunity to re-evaluate our position on campus," he said.

The Theatricals portion of the Pudding technically complies with the College's policy forbidding recognized student groups from discriminating on the basis of gender, though only men are allowed to act on the Pudding stage. Women are involved in all other aspects of the Theatricals' productions and hence the group retains its recognized status.

"We have never construed the particular artistic form of the Hasty Pudding shows as in violation of the College's policies against single-sex

organizations, given that the organization does not prohibit women from joining and participating in other ways," Lewis wrote. "This has been considered before and is not changed by these new arrangements."

Illingworth said he would like to see his office and the Theatricals "work out something to continue the tradition."

He did say he could imagine talking about women on the stage, but said it was "much too soon to know for sure."

"We told the Theatricals that we are going to continue to offer them space. We don't want them to be anymore shocked than they already are, but [women on the stage] will be open to discussion for the community," Illingworth said.

Sarah A. Knight '00, who was president of Theatricals for this year's production of The Jewel of Denial , said the company was surprised to hear of the announcement.

Knight said the Theatricals' policy about women on the stage, "seems to be no different than the Harvard Glee Club or the Radcliffe Chorus."