Harvard University’s Kappa Sigma fraternity is altering its membership requirements to become a co-ed social club. The official change leaves behind its single-gender, Greek fraternity history in a move to be more inclusive and progressive towards the social construct of gender.
The group declared they have dissociated themselves from their national association and developed a new, more progressive identity. The club has even decided to go a step further and rename their group altogether, putting aside Kappa Sigma and now designating the club simply as “KS.”
The detachment by the social group was presumed to be due to Harvard’s new policy that castigates members of social clubs at the ivy-league university. On the contrary, however, members of the group state that this change was not due to the university’s new policy, but instead in an attempt to pursue diversity.
“Irrespective of the proposed sanctions and unilateral decision-making of the university, we do not believe that gender should preclude students from joining an organization that simply values character, camaraderie, and diverse social experiences,” KS expressed to The Crimson.
As stated by The Crimson, “students who join single-gender final clubs, fraternities, and sororities are ineligible for several post-graduate scholarships and fellowships, and from holding leadership positions in student groups and varsity sports teams.”
The group also stated they will initiate an “open recruitment process” for prospective members of their now-reformed club this year.
Both Kappa Sigma as well as the University’s administration share the same notion of what is the best and most benevolent direction for social gatherings on the campus. They believe their efforts to broaden accessibility into social groups would lead to fewer students feeling offended, excluded, or as if they didn’t have a place of belonging.
Little do these students know, they are already attending the highest ranked and most distinguished university in the entire country. And it’s baffling to some that young people can join a prestigious and exclusive university, but not a prestigious or exclusive club.
