<p>freshman perspective:</p>
<p>From</a> the playground to Princeton - The Daily Princetonian</p>
<p>Eating Clubs are elitist in the same way that frats and sororities are. Unlike most frats/soroties, many of the eating clubs are open to anyone, space permitted. </p>
<p>I don't even plan on joining an eating club. Take it from someone who is ACTUALLY AT PRINCETON. I don't feel left out of the social scene at all. They are elitist only to those who already view them that way.</p>
<p>You do realize that this is an opinion piece, meaning it's one person's opinion. I've maybe gone to the eating clubs twice and once was for a concert. If the eating clubs suddenly disappeared, I don't think I would notice.</p>
<p>wow this kid just now realized that eating clubs and final clubs are elitist? what was he expecting when coming to the Ivy League, all down-to-earth kids?</p>
<p>1)westsidewolf1989 ur sooo wrong for assuming that the ivy league is full of pretentious d-bags...we're not in like the 1940s where there were white-collared, biggoted, people - its the 21st century and i hope there arent ivy league alumni reading what you just wrote because although there definetly are pretentious dbags they are in NO WAY the majority of the ivyleague pop. 2)BUT, and i cant stress this enough, i definetly DO THINK that SOME of the eating clubs at princeton are EXTREMMEELY PRETENTIOUS--like to the point where its sickening. I talked to a student at princeton and he told me that there are uniforms (i kno...<em>*) required for the clubs and there is a price to join some of these clubs....and by price i mean like alot of money. so...</em><em>shrug</em>...thats whats really turning me off about princeton...idk</p>
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I talked to a student at princeton and he told me that there are uniforms (i kno...<em>*) required for the clubs and there is a price to join some of these clubs....and by price i mean like alot of money. so...</em><em>shrug</em>...thats whats really turning me off about princeton...idk
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<p>Okay, I wasn't really going to post here, but I need to step in and clear up this misconception. </p>
<p>First of all, that student at Princeton is completely, totally wrong. The only times when eating clubs have 'uniforms' are at 1. Lawnparties (and even then, completely unnecessary. You can wear casual clothes if you want), and 2. Houseparties/formals (and who doesn't wear formal clothing to formals?). There's no 'uniform' policy at any of the clubs--that's just absurd.</p>
<p>Secondly, you're not correctly understanding the idea of the eating clubs if the idea of paying dues strikes you as elitist. Remember, first of all, that eating clubs are providers of food. Just as you pay the University in your first two years for your dining hall plan, you pay the eating clubs for providing you a place to eat. But, you might argue, the eating clubs cost more! It's true--the eating clubs cost more. But this isn't an issue for two reasons. First of all, Princeton recognizes that the eating clubs are a popular option for upperclassmen, and awards more financial aid to juniors and seniors. That is, when they calculate your financial aid, they assume that your board will be $1500 (I think) more than when you're an underclassmen. So, unless you're in a particularly expensive club, you won't be paying any more as a junior/senior than you will as a freshman/sophomore. And even if you're in one of these more expensive clubs, the extra cost isn't prohibitively expensive--maybe $1000 at the VERY most. Also keep in mind that this extra cost is in many ways justified. The eating clubs don't just serve as dining halls; they serve social functions (throwing parties and member functions), and also have resources that the dining halls don't have (computer clusters, libraries, food and drinks almost all the time (that is, you can walk into your club at almost any hour and grab snacks and drinks), game rooms, TV rooms, etc.). </p>
<p>Now, I don't mean to say that the eating clubs are right for everyone. That's certainly not true, and explains why a good number of students go independent, draw back into the residential colleges, or join a co-op. But condemning them so quickly as 'elitist,' especially based on the opinion of a freshman who's been here less than 3 months, seems a bit quick to judge.
I came in hating the eating clubs, like many on CC. I can count the number of times I went out to the Street freshman year on one hand--and two of those times were AI (Alcohol Initiative) events where they had ice cream/cider instead of beer. I tried to change my attitude freshman year, and now I'm having a great time in Terrace, one of the sign-in clubs. I've met a lot of new people in Terrace--some of my best friends now, actually--and the bands here are absolutely terrific (don't believe me? Check out A</a> List of Shows At Terrace Club, Princeton, NJ - UlfMagneticsWiki)</p>
<p>I don't think the eating clubs are perfect--they can be elitist at times--but they're certainly not as bad as most here make them out to be. They're not for everyone, but you shouldn't judge them until you really experience them...</p>
<p>thats why i said "all down to earth kids" buddy. i understand that the ivy league isn't full of prententious people, but there is a good chance of finding people like that there, usually a lot better than most universities.</p>
<p>I don't see why you think that. There are pretentious and elitist people at every school, from community college to Princeton. I haven't felt that it's any worse here than I've seen elsewhere, and don't really know why that would be the case, unless you equate accomplishments (and wealth, really) with those qualities.</p>
<p>Regarding the topic, I have no intention of going to the eating clubs, but I know that it wouldn't be an issue if I wanted to start going. Definitely an overblown issue, I think.</p>
<p>Michelle Obama was not in an eating club, and I think we can all agree she is the most powerful Princeton alum right now.</p>
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Michelle Obama was not in an eating club, and I think we can all agree she is the most powerful Princeton alum right now.
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<p>Well I think we all know why she wasn't in an eating club. Read her thesis.</p>
<p>The most powerful? Really? I'd go with David Petraeus, myself.</p>
<p>Only people who do not go to Princeton would ever generalize the eating clubs as pretentious and elitist. In fact, if anyone really thinks that then pm me next time you come to Princeton and not only will I give you a tour of my club, you can also stay for lunch/dinner and you'll see the difference between your conception of Princeton and what is reality.</p>
<p>Eating clubs are elitist.</p>
<p>Mad props to you.</p>
<p>I love how the author of an article decrying the eating clubs as being elitist is a member of a sorority.</p>