Harvard will drop policy targeting all-male ‘final clubs'

Article here. Excerpt:

'Harvard said Monday that it will no longer enforce a ban on single-gender social clubs, after concluding that the prohibition would likely not withstand a legal challenge from a group of fraternities and sororities who had asked a federal judge just hours earlier to halt the policy.

The policy bars Harvard students who are members of unrecognized single-sex social organizations from holding leadership positions in recognized student organizations and athletic teams. It also bars members of the groups from receiving college administered fellowships.

“Harvard is fairer and better when a student’s gender does not stand as a barrier to social opportunities while in college or inhibit students’ access to alumni networks that can help enable opportunities later in life,” Harvard president Lawrence S. Bacow said in a message to the Harvard community.'