The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools Club, in St. James’ Square has voted against broadening membership to women by removing gender as an application criterion.
The entrance to the East India Club on St James' Park.
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The club, which only accepts applications from “gentlemen 18 years or older” supported by a male referee, held an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 14th of November in which 66% of attendants voted in favour of accepting women.
Requiring a 75% majority, the new constitution did not pass.
In 2021, voting saw 74% in favour of broadening membership, losing by less than 23 votes.
Ben Sherry, a member of the club’s Youth Membership Committee, is leaving after the result. He says the vote “won’t be revisited for another five years now. It’s pretty set in stone”.
The 2021 vote resulted in a major decrease in membership and Mr Sherry anticipates the same for this year.
He claimed that those voting against the change thought that broadening the membership criterion “would cost the club culture”.
Mr Sherry disagrees, stating that women’s membership would “allow us to get reinvolved with institutions that have stopped using us because we’re a male only club”, such as the Rugby Union Committee.
Founded in 1866 for officers of the East India Company, the club has since broadened its membership by partnering with similar establishments.
But, as its website states, the club is still “only available to gentlemen”.
The East India Club’s bylaws state that women are welcome as guests of members / Ellie Tutt for City News
Mr Sherry is also part of the club’s rowing team which “got some women involved to cox [the] boats” when faced with a lack of male coxes.
He said, “it’s unreasonable to expect them to keep doing it.
“If they wanted to join, they couldn’t”.
Women can enter the clubhouse as guests of members. The club also possesses a list of “honorary ladies”.
When approached for comment, The East India Club said the vote was a “private matter”.
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HeadlineEast India Club Votes Against Women’s Membership
Short HeadlineEast India Club members vote against women's membership
StandfirstThe East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools Club, in St. James’ Square has voted against broadening membership to women by removing gender as an application criterion.
The club, which only accepts applications from “gentlemen 18 years or older” supported by a male referee, held an Extraordinary General Meeting on the 14th of November in which 66% of attendants voted in favour of accepting women.
Requiring a 75% majority, the new constitution did not pass.
In 2021, voting saw 74% in favour of broadening membership, losing by less than 23 votes.
Ben Sherry, a member of the club’s Youth Membership Committee, is leaving after the result. He says the vote “won’t be revisited for another five years now. It’s pretty set in stone”.
The 2021 vote resulted in a major decrease in membership and Mr Sherry anticipates the same for this year.
He claimed that those voting against the change thought that broadening the membership criterion “would cost the club culture”.
Mr Sherry disagrees, stating that women’s membership would “allow us to get reinvolved with institutions that have stopped using us because we’re a male only club”, such as the Rugby Union Committee.
Founded in 1866 for officers of the East India Company, the club has since broadened its membership by partnering with similar establishments.
But, as its website states, the club is still “only available to gentlemen”.
The East India Club’s bylaws state that women are welcome as guests of members / Ellie Tutt for City News
Mr Sherry is also part of the club’s rowing team which “got some women involved to cox [the] boats” when faced with a lack of male coxes.
He said, “it’s unreasonable to expect them to keep doing it.
“If they wanted to join, they couldn’t”.
Women can enter the clubhouse as guests of members. The club also possesses a list of “honorary ladies”.
When approached for comment, The East India Club said the vote was a “private matter”.
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