Harvard is once again in the spotlight for their plan to punish male-only social clubs on campus, now that it appears the rules won't apply equally to women's clubs. The all-female Seneca Organization will become "gender neutral," as is required, but the compliance will have little significance as it doesn't mean the club will actually have to admit men, according to The Harvard Crimson.

As long as the group removes gender requirements from their charter and bylaws, it can "continue to operate as it always has," Associate Dean of Student Life David R. Friedrich assured club members in an email.

"Like Women in Business or Latinas Unidas, although men may apply, our membership can be made up wholly of women without incurring the sanctions of the administration's new policy," Avni Nahar and Fran F. Swanson, undergraduate co-presidents, reiterated in an email. They also said their mission would remain unchanged.

Friedrich defended the assurance based on Senenca's 501(c)(3) status which apparently separates it from social clubs. "While we will not comment on private conversations with individual organizations, we understand from the Seneca that they have a specific and clearly articulated purpose that qualifies them for 501(c)(3) status."

Heat Street noted, however, that the policy doesn't seem to have any such exemptions.

Attorney Harvey A. Silveraget, who has been "retained to consult" at least one group opposing the rules took issue with the exemption, which he called "a very convenient carve-out."

Spokesperson Rachel Dane also denied that the group was receiving special treatment, which was echoed by Nahar, with regards to women's clubs. "As I see it, we are completely complying with the administration’s demands by going gender neutral and anticipating to consider every applicant of any gender the same way they would consider an applicant who’s female identified," she said. "I don’t really see us as doing anything that’s different or out of line from what would be expected from other women’s organizations, and I would hope that other women’s organizations would be able to do as we have and receive the exact same treatment."

Nahar has not yet decided if the group will seek official recognition.