Harvard University Repeals Discriminatory Policy - Message from Sigma Chi Grand Consul
In 2016, Harvard University announced a policy that would unfairly punish their students who chose to join off-campus, unrecognized, single-sex organizations. Sigma Chi's Kappa Eta chapter was chartered in 1992 and has never been affiliated with the university. As a result of the policy implementation, members of single-sex organizations like Sigma Chi who are enrolled at Harvard would be barred from holding leadership positions in recognized student organizations and on athletic teams, as well as from receiving college-administered fellowships. Simply put, those students would be unfairly and illegally punished because they chose to associate with other men of character who, like them, desired to become a better man through personal development in a peer-mentoring model centered on principles and values. The sanctioning policy implemented by Harvard was as unprecedented as it was unjust.
The Sigma Chi International Fraternity was founded on June 28, 1855. When our Founders pinned the badge on their chest, they agreed that they would defend any member of their brotherhood who was maligned by others and that principle remains true today. In December 2018, Sigma Chi International Fraternity joined with several other men's and women's organizations whose members were unfairly harmed by Harvard's sanctions policy by filing litigation in federal court, alleging that Harvard's actions constituted illegal discrimination on the basis of sex. After a little more than 18 months, Harvard yesterday relented and agreed that their policy was unfairly discriminatory and announced a full repeal of that policy — resulting in a historic victory for the rights of Greek-letter men and women everywhere.
Sigma Chi has been a leading participant in all aspects of the litigation, ranging from financial to philosophical — but we also have many interfraternal friends and leaders to thank as well, most notably the North American Interfraternity Conference and its CEO, Jud Horras (Beta Theta Pi) and others such as Kevin O'Neill (Lambda Chi Alpha) and Cindy Stellhorn (Kappa Alpha Theta). Sigma Chi's Executive Committee authorized the Fraternity to take this historic action following a summer 2018 meeting under the leadership of 70th Grand Consul Tommy Geddings, SOUTH CAROLINA 1985. Appointed to lead the Fraternity's efforts were 68th Grand Consul Michael Greenberg, ILLINOIS WESLEYAN 1982, and Executive Director Michael Church, ILLINOIS 2005. Their admirable efforts have been critical to the success we can now celebrate, and I am grateful for their voluminous contributions in this regard.
This outcome brings immediate relief to the Harvard chapter, but also puts other institutions that would think of doing the same to their students on notice: You must respect the Constitutional rights of your students and you can't require them to check those rights at the gates of your campus.
Above all, our undergraduate men of past and present at Harvard are to be commended for their courage and commitment. They stood their ground, even in the face of appalling intimidation by their own campus administrators, and it is their resolve that has made any success here possible. Our young brothers were ostracized on their campus day in and day out, and their fear was real. Even so, they stood firm and gave us the opportunity to fight for them. We are all indebted to the men of the Kappa Eta chapter.
To our brothers everywhere: Know that Sigma Chi continues to lead the interfraternal efforts to secure legislative solutions that will ensure no other institution tries something similar. Significant Sig and Congressman Ruben Gallego, HARVARD 2003, who serves Arizona's 7th Congressional District, has introduced the Collegiate Freedom of Association Act (CFAA) in the House of Representatives. Among other tenets, the legislation prohibits any institution that accepts federal funding from taking any adverse action against their students on the basis that they choose to associate with others of their same sex. Thanks to Brother Gallego's efforts, the legislation has been included in the House Education and Workforce Committee's College Affordability Act (CAA), which is now awaiting a floor vote, where it is expected to pass, before being turned over to the Senate.
Sigma Chi's efforts demonstrate our commitment to standing up for the rights of our brothers, and for Greek-letter men and women everywhere. There has never been a time when society needs leaders as much as it does right now. Sigma Chi has produced generations of men who have led their communities — big and small — through transformative efforts. Sigma Chi is needed now more than ever, and our firm resolve is that we will not relent on promoting and defending the value proposition that Sigma Chi can bring to a young man's life so our members can fulfill the mission and vision of our great Fraternity.
Guard Well,
Steven Schuyler, ARIZONA 1979
71st Grand Consul Sigma Chi International Fraternity