Amen bro...
The word is said RESPECT

This is odd, and difficult to work through. I have not articulated my opinion, as the subject confuses me quite a bit. It is very important in America to be open to, and accommodating to a diverse group of cultures, races, and genders. But what do we do when accommodating one of the cultures requires us to be sexist or racist? We can embrace the traditional culture of the American south by allowing the display of the confederate flag, but still say racism is wrong and slavery is illegal - even though the confederate culture is racist and could not continue to fully function in their traditional ways without slavery. When embracing a culture, should we also embrace that cultures racism and/or sexism? Can we embrace Islamic culture and still say that sexism is wrong? - can we embrace Islamic culture, then turn around and say to these women that they should not be pressured to feel uncomfortable in the presence of men? Can we really accept that if a white protestant man tells his wife that she can not speak to, or be seen by other men – then he is being sexist and wrong, and infringing on the rights of his wife; but if a Muslim man says the same thing to his wife, we must respect their culture and accept their sexism?

It is SO inappropriate for us to be rolling back reforms in our own culture to accommodate the backwardness of Muslims. In the name of "mutual respect"? What a joke. A sad one. But it's just Harvard, so no harm done. Harvard has been on the forefront of this kind of moral ambiguity for decades.

Good comment, Bill. You said it more politely than I have the patience to, these days.

I'm not Muslim, but I'd welcome an opportunity to work out without being subjected to gawking by passerby. There is a fine line between sexism and privacy, but I feel that Harvard has it right. Our society somehow condones staring at attractive women, and I'm sick of feeling like a freak because I happen to fit our society's ideal of physical beauty through no fault of my own. Like Japan's female-only subway cars, which allow women to commute without being groped, I'd welcome an opportunity to exercise without being drooled on.

I think it's great! Women-only gyms exist here in NZ and at the swimming pool centre, certain times are reserved for women (requested by Muslim women) and this allows women, regardless of religious beliefs, to come and swim minus feeling as though men are rating them from 1 to 10.

I'm not Muslim, but I'd welcome an opportunity to work out without being subjected to gawking by passerby. There is a fine line between sexism and privacy, but I feel that Harvard has it right. Our society somehow condones staring at attractive women, and I'm sick of feeling like a freak because I happen to fit our society's ideal of physical beauty through no fault of my own.

And women don't stare? lol. I go to the gym every other day, and I've had to figure out what times I can go when the gym isn't full of lonely divorcées. It was fun being followed around from station to station by women giving me "sexy" looks for a while, but I started getting uncomfortable after a while. Particularly when they traveled in groups and whispered to each other while gawking at me. Is it my fault that I'm a fairly attractive divorced man of a certain age who stays in good shape? But I just go to the gym now when the young and hip crowd is there, and the problem is solved.

If you really can't find any work-arounds for the unwelcome attention you receive, wc, we do have female-only gyms here in the US. My mother goes to "Curves" with her friends.

I assume the Gyms at Harvard are for students and access is included with tuition costs. If that's the case, then segregating the gyms for part of the day is not an acceptable answer. They should have gyms that are exclusive to both men and women, 24/7. Or they should have gyms that are male/female only, and gyms that are co-ed, to accommodate all preferences. Because a lot of people, both male and female, actually do use gyms specifically because they WANT to see and be seen by the opposite sex.

Like Japan's female-only subway cars, which allow women to commute without being groped, I'd welcome an opportunity to exercise without being drooled on.

Well, this isn't Japan. If that as a problem in the US, I would suggest that perverts should be arrested and prosecuted, until men learn to behave themselves in public. I don't think "female only" mass transit is an appropriate solution. That implies that men groping women is normal behavior, that women can choose to opt out of if they wish to. It's not normal behavior. It's sexual assault. But I'm not Japanese, so it's not my business what they do.

I didn't expect Japan's women-only cars would be mentioned here :-) I use it everyday not because I prefer not to be gazed (luckily I don't have that attractive look ;-) but because it's less crowded (half the population cannot be on) and there is no risk of being groped (perverts do not look the face or shape). I think it was welcomed by some men, too, because not only perverts, but a number of innocent men have been arrested for groping on train. But this is nothing to do with one's religious belief, and cannot be argued with the case of this gym. My lunch break is over. Have to get back work!

Next will be:
Voleyball Court
Basketball Court
Tennis Court
Swimming pool
Track
ETC.....

They will not use these places of secerary to continue the Jihad

It's Okay Harvard knows best, We the Sheepol are just intolerent

Well said Dan!!!

I have to agree that if there are several gyms available, perhaps it would have been more acceptable to have gyms designated as single sex...along with some that would take both. I don't feel that Harvard has taken a step backward in trying to accomodate these women, but certainly other options like those mentioned should be more than reasonable.

Are other women allow during this time or is it only Muslim women?

If all Women are allow it should not be a problem,and adheres to what is already a very commom practice of allowing specific times for Women to utilize facilites with out the presents of men, but to allow for only ONE of HUNDREDS of religions is going over board in accomadating this particular group of people.

Restricting use of a gym that is paid for by ones tuition is not acceptable. Those gyms should be shared by everyone attending the school, including muslims. Muslims are and should be allowed to enter the gym covered if they choose (free of harassment) due to their religous beliefs. They should not enjoy exclusive use of the gym which everyone pays for. It is also unfair to place the inconvenience for their beliefs on men attending the school and it's wrong for them to be denied access to a college gym which they support. It's discrimination actually. This does nothing but send the wrong message in an age where we supposedly value de-segragation. I hope Harvard changes the policy at the end of the semester.