The Ivy clubs of New York, which were once the pinnacle of status, are now dwindling in membership. Recently, Neil Mehta wrote an article for the Wall Street Journal, “Exclusive Ivy League Social Clubs Are Desperate for Members,” where he explored the shortage of younger alumni at these clubs. It’s gotten so bad that some have started to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, and worse, after nearly 160 years, the Princeton club closed its doors in 2021. The one outlier is the oldest and ultra-wealthy Harvard club, which stands strong with a growing membership.
What does this mean, and why aren’t Ivy graduates taking advantage of these historic and prestigious clubs?
Mehta offers, “the clubs have fallen out of fashion.” Strict dress codes in stodgy atmospheres is generally unappealing to modern college graduates, especially when clubs with contemporary and lighter vibes have gained popularity in recent years. Alternative social clubs offer a viable club model for the Ivies, so to combat the significant loss in membership, the Ivy clubs have begun implementing strategies to appeal to a younger demographic. These include opening membership to non-Ivy graduates, reducing rates for young alumni, and establishing a less formal dress code (a technique that Yale has mastered since 1999 with casual Fridays).
The trend across these clubs shows just how crucial it is to adapt to the 21st century. The Ivy League still carries significant power and influence, but it must stay current. Long-time board members are often opposed to change, but in order to rejuvenate these clubs, they need to be open to modern culture. It isn’t 1950 anymore, so clinging to that time isn’t effective to reel in new members. At the same time, these monumental clubs shouldn’t outright toss their storied history that makes them so special in favor of appearing hip. The best solution is to blend old and new, creating spaces that foster connections across generations.
That’s exactly what we’re doing at Crew Dog, and obviously, young people are catching on. We cherish the aesthetics of the 20th century Ivy League, but we also enjoy the modern lifestyle. Mixing these two ostensibly contrasting vibes has proven to be a massive hit. There’s hope after all for these historic Ivy clubs to restore them to glory once more.