(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, is cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that would protect college students and their rights to join single-sex organizations.
S. 1225, or the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act, includes fraternities, sororities or off-campus clubs, saying those organizations would not face punishment or discrimination from their schools.
Gallego said he can’t imagine his college experience without his fraternity brothers.
“As a first-generation student in a completely new environment, having a strong community to lean on was essential,” said Gallego, a Harvard University graduate, in a news release.
“I’m proud to support this bill to protect students’ access to Greek life, since no student should be penalized for finding a home away from home,” the first-time U.S. senator said.
U.S. Sen. Jim Banks is cosponsoring the Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act. The Indiana Republican said students across the country should be free to form and join single-sex organizations without fear of retaliation.
“This bill protects students’ freedom to associate, uphold tradition and choose the communities they want to be a part of,” said Banks.
Protections in the act apply to both officially recognized and unrecognized student groups or organizations. The senators said schools or universities can still “take action in cases of misconduct or harm” as long as it is not solely because a group/organization is single sex. Meanwhile, faculty members would be free to speak on or do research on the topic.
The press release from Banks and Gallego states that, in 2016, Harvard put into place a policy that penalized students for joining single-sex organizations, “effectively blacklisting members of fraternities and sororities unless they went co-ed.” According to the senators, the policy “barred students” in women’s- or men’s-only groups from serving in leadership roles on campus, varsity captaincies and key scholarship endorsements.
Harvard later withdrew the policy, but Dean Rakesh Khurana said he still believed gender discrimination undermines the values of the Harvard community.
“Our decision to institute the Unrecognized Single-Gender Social Organizations (USGSO) policy in 2016 stemmed from a belief that our community is strongest when opportunities to engage and thrive are available to all students, and from the conviction that no one should be excluded from fully participating in College life because of their gender,” wrote Khurana.
The Freedom of Association in Higher Education Act was referred to the Senate Committee on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on April 1.
A companion measure in the House was introduced by Rep Erin Houchin, R-Indiana.
“The North American Interfraternity Conference commends Senators Banks and Gallego for their commitment to protecting students’ rights to association on college campuses,” said Jud Horras, CEO of North American Interfraternity Conference, in a press release. “Their leadership ensures that college men can continue to shape their futures and foster communities that enrich their educational experience.”
