Radcliffe Students Organize A 'Non-Exclusive' Social Club

About 50 female undergraduates attended a picnic in the Radcliffe Yard yesterday to help organize a women's social club planned since last fall by four students.

The society, which hopes to begin operation this fall, will function as a social center for Radcliffe students and facilitate contacts with faculty and alumnae, according to one organizer, Felicia A Eckstein '84

Nonexclusive

Despite past attempts to form club-like organizations at Radcliffe, Eckstein says the new group will be unique in that it would be "totally unselective and nonexclusive" for anyone willing to pay membership dues of approximately $150.

Radcliffe officials have supported plans for the club, although they stress they would not support an exclusive organization like the mens' final clubs. Radcliffe Associate Dean Philippa A. Bovet last week called it "something a large number of students could enjoy and should have access to."

Nothing New

But Radcliffe Union of Students President Elizabeth Young '85 sees the organization as a "mini, less restrictive finals club," she said last week.

Young said that present groups already fulfill the social needs of Radcliffe students, adding that the energy used to create a club "might be better spent in organizations already in existence."

Young cited the Women's Clearinghouse and RUS itself as examples of resources already available.

Julie L. Muss '85, another organizer, says the new organization would be different from these two groups because it would have no "political or feminist overtones."

The group has tentatively received space in the basement of basement Center for next falt.

The club has also received support from alumnae and will meet with two graduates on Tuesday who have expressed a desire to start such an organization in past years. Louise J. Harpman '86, one of the organizers, said yesterday.

Allyson A Gonzalez '85, who was at yesterday's picnic, said the group may be small but could succeed with the enthusiastic, interested" people presently involved.

Bovet forecasted that the organization will be successful because of the work of the "energetic and committed" students.