Reply to Multi-generation Princeton double-legacy. DC doesn't want to go there...help

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]9:54's post is accurate.  What's left unsaid is that reason no one is "left out" is because there is space at the sign-in/lottery clubs for any students who don't get a bid from one of the selective clubs that require you to go through "Bicker," where the club members assess whether you meet their social criteria.

That has elements in common with fraternities and sororities at some schools, but it has a disproportionately negative effect on Princeton's reputation because many of the selective clubs are very snooty, and students who are smart enough to get into Princeton may not want to attend a school where Biff and Muffy from St.Paul's and Andover can hose them in a very public way.  The "Bicker" process has a sordid history, which includes a "Dirty Bicker" episode years ago where every student who was denied a bid was Jewish.  And yet, because many alumni are devoted to their old clubs, the otherwise liberal administration at Princeton leaves this hoary system intact, even though they know it discourages many bright kids from applying to or attending the school.

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I agree bicker has a sorted history, but I don't think that is terribly relevant today when things are wildly different.  (I wouldn't have gotten in to Princeton during that era, and if I had a would have been rejected during the Dirty Bicker you mentioned.). Lots of people, myself included, didn't want to hang out with Muffy or Buffy, but that means I simply didn't go to or try to join the couple of clubs that had that reputation.  Even most of the bicker clubs aren't really like that, never mind the sign-in clubs.

Lastly, I think you are too dismissive about how the sign in clubs effect the overall eating club experience.  Your post could be read to imply that most people at sign in clubs are refugees who were rejected by bicker clubs.  That isn't true.  A very large number of people choose to join the sign in clubs in the first instance, because they liked those clubs best and/or didn't want to do bicker.  I would bet more people choose to sign in than bicker, but I can't quote you numbers.

I believe the fact that huge numbers of people can and do join eating clubs without ever having to rush should be enough so that the fact that there are some rush clubs - just like there are selective clubs at virtually every institution- should not be a reason to avoid Princeton.[/quote]

I agree that most who pick sign-in clubs prefer them to the Bicker clubs. My point is that they will accommodate kids who get turned down by the selective clubs. If all the clubs on the Street acted like Cottage or Ivy, I'm not sure that would be the case.

Not am I personally advocating that prospective students avoid Princeton because of its selective clubs. I'm simply acknowledging that their continued existence clearly is a negative factor for some high school students considering their options.

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