Letters to the Editor

Women at the 'Street'

Prospect Avenue was once a bastion of beer and boys. Some things never change.

But they should.

While four of the 11 eating clubs elected female presidents this semester, the threat of sexual harassment continues to be a problem for some female club members. Too often, the atmosphere of the 'Street' perpetuates a culture of abuse rather than one of respect. We commend the current club officers, as well as those of recent years, for their efforts to curb incidents of sexual harassment at the 'Street.' We also congratulate the newly elected female officers, and are pleased that they have chosen to play an active role in their clubs' leadership.

At some establishments on the 'Street,' however, beer and boys still dominate. While it is true that men at some clubs have been more accepting of female candidates and officers, at other clubs, women have been intimidated by the 'Street's tradition of male leadership and have avoided officer positions in the past.

Some of the responsibilities of officership — such as the necessary interaction with belligerent undergraduates each weekend and the variable safety risks associated with living at eating clubs — have deterred many women from pursuing an office. Special efforts should be made to assuage women's fears about being officers. Former female club officers can be instrumental in this recruitment effort. In clubs where the elected officer corps is predominantly male, every effort should be made to include female representation in appointed positions.

Of course, increasing the percentage of female officers will not eliminate the problem of gender inequality at the 'Street.' Sexual harassment is a campus-wide issue that is often exacerbated at Prospect Avenue in the presence of alcohol. Electing female officers is a first step toward increasing education and awareness about this problem.

Many instances of sexual harassment go unreported. Whereas in the past, women have hesitated to report acts of sexual impropriety to their male officers, they may be more likely to voice their concerns to officers of the same gender.

As more women break through their clubs' traditional all-male hierarchies and encourage female members to report incidents of hostility, they will engender a more open dialogue about sexual harassment. Providing a comfortable social environment at the 'Street' for both sexes will benefit the entire campus community. There is room on Prospect for more than just beer and boys.