[20379] in APO-L
APO's Policy Toward Single-Gender Chapters
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Michael Leahy)
Mon Mar 29 18:11:49 1999
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 18:09:55 -0500
Reply-To: Michael Leahy <leahym@GVSU.EDU>
From: Michael Leahy <leahym@GVSU.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
I've been following the current debate at a distance, and have seen some
strong arguments on both sides of the issue. At the most recent
convention, I served as an advisor to the Membership and Extension
Reference Committee. I thought it might be helpful to publish the text of
the resolution adopted by the Convention delegates.
In years past, we debated this topic long and hard, partly because there
was never a clear, coherent statement of what the "Gentlemen's Agreement"
really said, nor was it published where everyone could access it. The
reference committee worked very hard to put into writing the concepts most
people felt comprised "The Gentlemen's Agreement". When the Convention
delegates adopted the resolution restated below, it became the fraternity's
official policy statement concerning the gender makeup of chapters and
extension groups, and replaced "The Gentlemen's Agreement".
Now, we can debate the merits of this policy.
In L, F & S,
--Michael
Resolved, the National Membership and Extension Committee examined the
feasibility, necessity, and implementation of programs designed to
stabilize and encourage the growth of newly chartered or rechartered
Chapters, to be reported to the 2000 National Convention.
Whereas, it is in the best interests of our Fraternity to encourage the
formation and maintenance of strong Chapters committed to our three
cardinal principles,
Whereas, by vote of the 1976 National Convention, the supreme authority
of this Fraternity, membership was opened to all students who are in
fellowship of the principles of Alpha Phi Omega and the Boy Scouts of
America as embodied in the Scout Oath and Law,
Whereas, the same Convention resolved that the Fraternity in no way
intends to permit any Chapter to be in violation of the civil rights of
any person,
Whereas, the Fraternity's policy, as established by the National Board
of Directors, is that membership shall be open to all students and
should be representative of the student body of the host institution,
Whereas, the 1998 National Convention wishes to clarify and affirm the
membership policy of this Fraternity with regard to single-gender
Chapters,
Therefore, be it resolved that
1. Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity reaffirms that its
membership is open to all students,
2. The Fraternity continues to encourage all Chapters and petitioning
groups to open their membership to all students,
3. All Chapters and petitioning groups have the right to choose their
own members using objective and open membership policies that are
consistent with the Fraternity's governing documents, the rules of
the host institutions that they serve, and the traditions of that
Chapter, if any,
4. Single-gender Chapters chartered before the 1976 National
Convention may remain single-gender Chapters unless they become
inactive or coeducational,
5. All Petitioning Groups seeking to charter or re-charter will be
and remain co-educational,
6. Although we believe our program of Leadership, Friendship, and
Service is unique at collegiate institutions, we recognize it is
both a privilege and an obligation to serve, not an entitlement,
and
7. The Fraternity should continue to cooperate with other
organizations with similar guiding principles.
Michael Leahy leahym@gvsu.edu
Advisor, GVSU APO Prospect Group
Region VI Leadership Devel Coord home 616-394-5042
1106 E 12th St office 616-895-3095
Holland, Michigan 49423-3811 fax 616-895-3889
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy. --Martin Luther King Jr.
