Appendix V. Policy on the Selection of Members in Living Groups, 1969

The Board of Trustees, April 19, 1969

I. All of the national fraternities at Lafayette College have no discriminatory clauses in their constitutions. The Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees in 1962 stated “The fundamental principle which the Board supports is that Lafayette College fraternity members shall have complete freedom of choice in selecting members.” It is the established policy of Lafayette College that all living groups in the College now have and shall continue to have complete freedom of choice in selecting members without regard to race, color, creed, or nationality.

II. It is also the policy of Lafayette College that in the pledging or initiation of new members, each living group in the College shall adopt and establish its own procedures, as long as they do not conflict with College regulations. These procedures shall have the objectives of including those persons preferred by most of the members rather than excluding those unacceptable to a few. Such procedures which require a unanimous or near unanimous vote for pledging or initiating new members are unacceptable.

III. In adopting and establishing its own procedures for the pledging and initiation of new members each living group in the College shall do so solely by vote of its active undergraduate members.

IV. The Board of Trustees urges each of the fraternities and other living groups whose procedures are not in conformity to these resolutions to adopt and establish its own procedures which will conform to these resolutions. On or after January 1, 1970 the Board will review the action taken by the fraternities and living groups.

Minutes of the Board of Trustees April 19, 1969. p. 2135-2136