Our right to sisterhood is in jeopardy!

Kappa Delta stands in support of a group of sororities, fraternities and students who filed a pair of lawsuits challenging Harvard’s sanctions policy that punishes students who join off-campus, single-sex social organizations. Even though we do not have a chapter at this specific school, it is critical that we stand together to protect all members’ rights to shape their own leadership and social paths.

Single-sex women’s organizations like Kappa Delta offer more than 5 million women on more than 670 college campuses and in communities nationwide a supportive environment to excel academically, develop leadership skills, succeed in the workplace and serve their communities. I can’t imagine the person I would be without my sorority experience.

Before Harvard announced its policy, one in four undergraduates belonged to sororities, fraternities or all women’s or all-men’s final clubs — opportunities protected by Title IX and the First Amendment. Starting this fall, members of these organizations are, in a word, blacklisted — stripped of opportunities to hold leadership roles in Harvard organizations and athletic teams, and to obtain post-graduate fellowships and scholarships influenced or controlled by Harvard.

The impact on women’s organizations has been devastating. Almost all of the all-women’s sororities and final clubs at Harvard have either closed or had to renounce their proud status as women’s groups and commit to admitting men. After membership soared to record highs in recent years, Harvard has erased empowering women’s organizations designed to create opportunities, resources and sustainable networks built by women for women.

We can’t sit back and allow Harvard to set a precedent that could be followed by others. This policy blatantly infringes on the rights of Harvard students.

We need you! Sign the petition and share our social media posts to add your voice to the support as we STAND UP TO HARVARD. Kappa Delta’s network of more than 267,000 collegians and alumnae can make a difference! Learn more at www.standuptoharvard.org.

Tricia Ruma Spence
National President