Secret societies open doors to gender equality

The secret organizations Michigamua and Adara, traditionally single-sex senior honor societies, are opening their doors to members of the opposite sex in compliance with University requests for equal opportunities for male and female students.

Single-sex membership in the two societies has long been taboo at the University. In the late 1970s, Michigamua, restricted to male students since 1902, was challenged to include women.

Women's groups used Title IX, the law that restricts gender segregation in publicly funded organizations, to argue the inclusion of women in Michigamua. In response, Michigamua members created the Tower Society, an umbrella organization that includes Adara, the all-female honor society.

Adara officially became a campus organization in January 1980.

The honor societies have been contemplating the single-sex issues since November but did not declare their co-ed status until recently, after papers had been filed about the change with the dean of students.

Associate Dean of Students Frank Cienciola refused to comment on the organization's status change.

"One (factor) was the administration told us we would no longer receive University support," said an Adara member, who asked that her name not be used. She added that the society will change its name to Phoenix to reflect the inclusion of men into the group.

Group members felt being part of the all-female Adara was special, the Adara member said, but added that members realized their experience with the honor society could be just as special if it were co-educational.

"Phoenix will maintain some values and traditions of Adara but will have no affiliation with Michigamua or the Tower Society," she said.

Although the Tower Society is the umbrella group for the all-male Michigamua and the all-female Adara, University officials said it defies the Title IX doctrine because having one male sub-group and one female sub-group does not create a solution to the single-sex problem, as many members thought it might.

Both Michigamua and Adara sent letters yesterday to alumni to announce the decision.

A Michigamua member who did not want his name used said the organization has spent the last eight months exploring its role at the University and the options laid out for them: become co-ed or lose affiliation with the University.

"We came up with what we feel like is the right decision," he said. "We have decided to initiate women into our group, so that for the first time since women were admitted into the University we can say that we are a group that represents all aspects of the University of Michigan."

Michigamua will retain its name.

The 25 original Michigamua members founded the society with the help of former University President James Angell and chose subsequent members based on leadership roles and involvement in campus activities. Adara, created 78 years later, also held its members to high standards of community and campus leadership.

04-15-99