Fraternities at Wesleyan are ordered to become coed

Updated
Wesleyan Fraternities Ordered to Become Coed
Wesleyan Fraternities Ordered to Become Coed

When we think of fraternities, let's be honest ... we think of this:

"The Deltas, what a great bunch of guys." (Video via Universal Pictures / "Animal House")

And maybe this ...

"We're going streaking!" (Video via DreamWorks Distribution / "Old School")

Well, bye-bye, boys-only clubs. Within three years, fraternities at Connecticut's Wesleyan University are required to let the ladies in.

News 12 Connecticut: "The move follows the decision earlier this month to close Beta Theta Pi fraternity, that house, after a woman fell from a third-story window."

WFSB: "But the school says the changes are not because of one specific incident."

In fact, the school had a lot of incidents, especially with Beta Theta Pi, says The New York Times. And very, very serious ones at that.

"In 2010, administrators banned students from socializing in 'houses or property owned, leased or operated by private societies that are not recognized by the university' - specifically, the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. ... The next semester a student was raped at the Beta Theta Pi house."

And in April, hundreds of students, alumni and faculty signed "A Call to Action" urging the university to end all-male fraternities.

Wesleyan University doesn't have any residential sororities, but it does have two residential fraternities that will be affected by the change.

This video includes an image from Peter Bond / CC BY NC SA 2.0.
Wesleyan University formally announced on its website that its residential fraternities must all admit women as members and residents:

"The trustees and administration recognize that residential fraternities have contributed greatly to Wesleyan over a long period of time, but we also believe they must change to continue to benefit their members and the larger campus community," Joshua Boger, the chairman of Wesleyan's board of trustees, and Michael S. Roth, the university's president, wrote in a statement released on Monday. "Women as well as men must be full members and well represented in the body and leadership of the organization."

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