Illingworth says that out of respect for the 100 plus year tradition of the Hasty Pudding Social Club he would like to find a way for the group--which currently selects it members through a "punch" process--to stay in the building after the College has renovated the space.

The social club is still holding parties with alcohol in the now College owned building and will continue to do so throughout the academic year, says William B. Decherd '01.

"The administration basically told us that while we're working out a solution this year we can continue to operate in the building. It's just a matter of now informing the College when we have events" Decherd says.

It is unclear how the social club might structure the content of a merit based comp, the type the College permits.

But Decherd says "Our goal is to reach a resolution by the end of the year."

"If they could come up with a fair comp, they could be approved as a Harvard organization," Illingworth says, and could continue to use a renovated Pudding building for club events.

"At this point, we're in continuing discussions with the University about the possibility of remaining as a student organization," says Decherd. "If that doesn't work out, then we'll look at our other options."

The social club has enough capital to look into renting space for its events, Decherd says, or even to consider buying its own property.