Owl, Fox Final Clubs Convene Meetings To Discuss Members-Only Restrictions

The chain reaction sparked by the A.D. final club's Jan. 20 decision to close its doors to non-members continued last weekend as the Owl and Fox final clubs held meetings to discuss similar policy changes.

The undergraduate members of the Owl club convened Friday to talk with Owl graduate board president John W. Boynton '88.

The Owl has instituted a temporary policy barring non-members from the club for the month of February, while members debate making such a change on a permanent basis.

Members said Friday's discussion centered around the temporary ban.

"People understood why," said Owl member Benjamin M. Green '00. "All of the clubs have recognized what happened at the A.D. and they're reevaluating. But I don't think it's going to be permanent."

At the Fox club undergraduate board elections Sunday night, discussion turned to the recent policy changes, said Fox member Andrew L. Perito '01.

"[Fox president Dustin J. Denunzio '99] related an incident that occurred over break where destruction occurred [at the Owl]," he said. "It had to do with some guys coming in when the club was closed. Some were non-members."

Perito said Denunzio told the Fox members the incident was "one of the primary factors" in the Owl's temporary policy change. Several Owl members acknowledged that the incident did occur.

They added that the destruction of property was not the impetus for the policy review.

"Although it did play a role, that was not the only reason," said Owl member Brian F. Shaughnessy '01.

At their meeting, members of the Fox decided they would not have to change their rules on guest access, reasoning that their current policies were different than those previously followed by the A.D., Delphic and Owl clubs.

"We have more respect for our club. We follow the rules," Perito said. "There's no reason to go down the road these other clubs have followed."