<p>
[quote]
Students were given the choice to play dirty charades, similar to the game at Cap, in which they mimicked different sexual positions and acts.
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</p>
<p>Sounds fun ... although it's obvious why this would be such a put off for some prospective applicants.</p>
<p>Sounds so disgusting, shallow, and pointless to me. Only Ivy Club's bicker is tolerable. </p>
<p>Guess this is the dark side of Princeton.</p>
<p>Eh, there are plenty of sign up Eating Clubs also.</p>
<p>The same article Kjoodles cites states: "At the beginning of Bicker we were told that all events were optional and to get to know the members," said one Cottage bickeree. "If at any time we felt uncomfortable or didn't want to participate, it wouldn't be held against us."</p>
<p>ummm hmmm</p>
<p>See: "The Stress of Bicker Often Takes Its Toll" (Princetonian, 2.7.06)</p>
<p>I think the administration is to be commended for its efforts to rid Princeton of this anachronistic social structure. </p>
<p>When the University is in a position to offer attractive alternatives for meals on campus, it can end the subsidies paid to these unattractive vestiges of a way of life - involving elitism, snobbery, and not a little ethnic and racial bigotry - of which the remaining symbols should be extirpated, root and branch.</p>
<p>Please. Bicker is only as stressful as people make it (which is in the rare cases in which it is stressful, exaggerated). I hardly think bicker is the "dark side" of Princeton. People play dirty charades (which is tame in comparison to many of the other things that go on in college, Princeton or otherwise) outside of bicker, and as aparent5 said, the events are all optional. They're more of icebreakers than do-this-or-get-hosed.</p>
<p>@ Byerly</p>
<p>I visited Princeton a loooong time ago, when I was very young, and although my cousin attended Princeton, I can't claim that I know much about eating clubs. I've heard many different things about them: some argue that they represent elitism, snobbishness, etc. while others say that these claims are completely inaccurate and unfounded. So I guess I would have to find out for myself.</p>
<p>However, I have two observations concerning your post. First, I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that you're not applying to Princeton nor are you a P'ton alum; consequently, do you think that your views could perhaps be biased or at least based on hearsay? Secondly, I find it interesting that you denounce ethnic and racial "bigotry" while at the same time proning total intolerance ("extirpated root and branch") of eating clubs, which you believe are archaic. Isn't that biogtry too (in this case, bigots being partisans of the eradication of eating clubs)?</p>
<p>If it makes me a bigot to go against racism and elitism, then a bigot I'll be.</p>
<p>i know the post wasnt directed at me, but it had to be said</p>
<p>all I meant to say was that Byerly seemed a little extreme in his condemnation of eating clubs, which might not be as racist as he portrays them to be... I was wondering if he had first-hand experience of eating clubs or if he was speaking out of spite for some conception he had of them.</p>
<p>believe me, I too am far from being racist; I just found that Byerly was being a little extreme in his condemnation of a form of extremism, which is paradoxical.</p>
<p>BTW, I don't mean to "bicker" over this :-)</p>
<p>The current day picture is a far cry from the "eating club" scene of 15 years ago, when the sexism and racism was apparent (at least statistically.)</p>
<p>But it is clear that the administration now has a strategy in place to marginalize - if not eliminate - the "eating clubs", and I believe this strategy will, if it succeeds, make Princeton a better place.</p>
<p>I think what the article stated isn't the typical experience of every bickeree. Besides- as cautious pointed out- there are lots of Non-bicker clubs and they're going to introduce 4-year college systems so the experience of just 5 bicker clubs shouldn't impact to negatively to prospective applicants.</p>
<p>Having said all that- I still reckon eating clubs are sexy :p</p>
<p>I think joining an eating club would be a great experience, and it doesn't have to be stressful.</p>
<p>I still think Eating Clubs are dumb.</p>
<p>"The same article Kjoodles cites states: "At the beginning of Bicker we were told that all events were optional and to get to know the members," said one Cottage bickeree. "If at any time we felt uncomfortable or didn't want to participate, it wouldn't be held against us.""</p>
<p>From time I have spent (a couple weeks visiting, im not a student) I can definitely tell you that this statement is not accurate.</p>
<ol>
<li> No one who doesn't want to do these ice breakers needs to do anything. Most of the bicker clubs are already attracting more students than they know what to do with.</li>
<li> If anyone thinks "dirty charades" are the "dark side" of ANY college or university (aside from Oral Roberts, maybe, though I highly doubt it) is likely to be surprised when they arrive on campus. Read "Joe College," written by a Yale alum and set there.</li>
</ol>