<p>I went to Princeton last weekend for a swim team recruiting trip. A lot of the team goes to Cloister Inn eating club. I think its a good thing. This one was not particarly focused on drinking although there was some. The food was a lot better than the cafeteria places. Im not sure, but it seems like anyone could join a majority of the clubs so I dont see what the problem is.</p>
<p>But it was drinking, not eating, that got them in trouble!</p>
<p>It doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. Eating clubs are the past; four year colleges are the future, but the two will exist together for a very long time, and the strongest eating clubs may continue indefinitely or morph into something else.</p>
<p>and harvard's "final clubs" are in the op-eds today.</p>
<hr>
<p>The Isis Crisis</p>
<p>The exposure of the clubs punch book displays the elitist nature of the final club scene</p>
<p>Published On Monday, October 24, 2005 3:24 AM</p>
<p>By THE CRIMSON STAFF</p>
<p>An inescapable facet of Harvard undergraduate life is the oft-ridiculed, yet ever-alluring world of final clubs. Though no longer endorsed by the College, these select institutions still dominate, in the view of many, much of Harvards social life, and in doing so perpetuate artificial social distinctions and gender inequality. </p>
<p>Last week, it was discovered that the punch book of the Isis Club, a female final club, was accessible in the public domain, and, predictably, many curious Harvard students accessed this sensitive information. A punch book contains comments about every current punch (the students who wish to join the club) and, as one could imagine, the comments are rarely based on any sort of merit. The Isis book is rife with vapid and positive evaluations, as well as harsh critiques based on punches accessories, shrill vocal tones, social faux pas, and dating infidelities. </p>
<p>Those even tangentially aware of the punch process understand that by walking into a punch event students are subjecting themselves to withering social scrutiny. The arbitrary judgments are generally based on a two-minute introduction to a current member, who knows that he or she is in a position of power. Based on little more information than a name, House, and concentrationand a guess as to their socioeconomic statuscurrent members must make a decision on a punchs worthiness by the next cut meeting. </p>
<p>Given that they know that they are playing a precarious popularity gameone that is undeniably based on social, economic, or otherwise arbitrary standardswhy do hundreds of students subject themselves to such capricious, often humiliating, selection processes? </p>
<p>Final clubsmale and femaleare immensely attractive because they embody the wealth and prestige of gentlemans Harvard, its (historically white and male) elitism. In addition to the promise of generous post-graduate alumni connections and a sense of belonging on this sometimes isolating campus, these social clubs offer spacious settings for social events. Students seek refuge in final clubs and other exclusive social organizations where they are granted space, conveniently in the form of mansions. </p>
<p>Partially as a result of this sorry state of affairs, final clubs are able to perpetuate clichéd social distinctions and concentrate influence over Harvards social life in the hands of a small number of (male) hands. Even when a female club has an event, it is almost always hosted by a male social club. For example, when Isis members held a meeting Friday night at which the issue of the e-mails was discussed, they gathered at the Fox, an all-male final club. </p>
<p>Yet, even if we did witness an increase in allocated student space, it is doubtful that these bastions of snobbery would disappear. As long as people want to get in, final clubs will maintain their air of exclusivity and, therefore, their perceived place atop Harvards social hierarchy. The burden of erasing this unfounded distinction and undermining this skewed power dynamic rests with Harvard studentsonly if we stop treating the clubs as prestigious, stop eagerly waiting outside their doors, and stop anxiously punching, will the clubs cease to dominate the Colleges social landscape. </p>
<p>Ultimately, the punch process brings out the worst in everyone involvedpunches desperate for acceptance, snide insiders gossiping about dating infidelities, and gleeful critics seizing on any opportunity to condemn the clubs. And after the punch process is over, those who did not get in can bitterly rage against the institution while those who did sit smugly satisfied, confirmed in their sense of superiority. </p>
<p>In short, the Isis punch book has simply confirmed what we already knew about the unfortunate nature of Harvards elite social scene. It is certainly regrettable that the current Isis punch members are serving as the casualties of that which is endemic to the final club scene at large. But this tangible piece of snootiness serves as a reminder that these clubs institutionalize a brand of distinction that is altogether unimpressive. </p>
<p>
Though no longer endorsed by the College, these select institutions still dominate, in the view of many, much of Harvards social life, and in doing so perpetuate artificial social distinctions and gender inequality.
<p>
Scottie's chronic efforts to compare the dominant role the "Eating Clubs" play with respect to social life at Princeton *with the impact of the miniscule and relatively low-profile "secret societies" at Yale or "final clubs" * at Harvard are highly dishonest and utterly without merit, as he well knows.
</p>
<p> even if Scottie knew, the Harvard Crimson does not seem to know yet </p>
<p>
Those even tangentially aware of the punch process understand that by walking into a punch event students are subjecting themselves to withering social scrutiny. The arbitrary judgments are generally based on a two-minute introduction to a current member, who knows that he or she is in a position of power. Based on little more information than a name, House, and concentrationand a guess as to their socioeconomic statuscurrent members must make a decision on a punchs worthiness by the next cut meeting.
</p>
<p>Sounds as if even the most selective bicker clubs at P undertake more of an effort to assess the social fit of the aspirants. At least ** gender ** inequality is something largely confined to historic realms at P.</p>
<p>
why do ** hundreds ** of students subject themselves to such capricious, often humiliating, selection processes?
</p>
<p>hundreds (Harvard Crimson) or miniscule (Byerly) ?</p>
<p>To the matter: obviously, the notion that Harvard draws intelligent people with a rather egalitarian bend while Princeton attracts intelligent people with a rather elitist bend is questionable. Rather the Isis debate sheds some light on the fact that social selectivity is far from being abhorred at H. It is really this dishonest myth (that H was a more egalitarian place) that seems to be utterly without merit.</p>