My position is a little different. I refuse to join any club that has any restrictions on membership, except perhaps payment of club dues, or adoption of an ethical code or standard.

So for example, I joined the Society of Physics Students even though I was not a physicist, or even a physics major. I was accepted by the Sports Car Club even though I drove a VW. The Chess Club would have accepted me even if I didn't know how to play the game. All student organizations at USF were, by University regulation, open to all students--except fraternities and sororities.

I believe we all have the human and constitutional right to associate with whomever we please, and we also have the right to not associate with those with whom we do not want to. But I have the right, and I believe, the obligation, not to participate in groups that feel that way.

The USF fraternities and sororities I remember from almost 40 years ago restricted their membership, that is, you asked to join after being sponsored by a member, you had to pass a "rush" or "pledge" procedure that involved silly public humiliation rituals and private initiation and secret hazing ceremonies. Presumably, this was to demonstrate that the applicant was a "good sport". My opinion was that it forced the pledge to become complicit in that humiliation, and gave him the right to inflict it on others once he or she was accepted. Its a lot like membership in a street gang, another kind of exclusive adolescent band. Admittance was determined by vote of the membership. It was rumored (Greeks never publicized their admission requirements) that even one dissenting vote was sufficient to blackball an applicant. Tough luck if you weren't "cool" enough.

But like I said, that was four decades ago, and I never engaged in the program myself. Things may be different now.