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“Eating Clubs”

Throwback time! The Ink proudly presents Old Nassau, our weekly walk down the orange-and-black tiled memory lane. We get it already. Princeton’s old. We love to flaunt our legends, lore, and ridiculous traditions like cane spree, our school song, and the more-than-slightly uncomfortable hand motions that accompany it. But who doesn’t love looking at baby pictures?

Each week, we’ll be showcasing some of Princeton’s baby photos with the help of the photo archive at Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, so you can laugh at how different (or eerily similar) Princeton was back in the day.

FIRST INSTALLMENT:

bicker (v): To prostrate oneself before the members of one of Princeton’s selective Eating Clubs, for the purpose of gaining admission.  To do so, the goal of moving up the social hierarchy must be held as a higher priority than dignity. 

1954, unidentified club: Bickerin’ in style.  Trenchcoats (note the popped collar) are a bicker must.

Photo courtesy of Princeton University Archive


1888, Cannon Club: Nice hats, guys!

Photo courtesy of Princeton University Archive

 

Date unknown, Colonial: Unclear what is going on here.

Photo Courtesy of Princeton University Archives

 

1995, Terrace: Yes, this seems right.

Photo Courtesy of Princeton University Archives

 

1897, unidentified club: 116 years later, some things never change.

Courtesy of Princeton University Archive

Citation: Bicker; undated; Historical Photograph Collection, Campus Life Series, Box SP13, Box MP151; Princeton University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Over the next few weeks, and in no particular order, The Ink will be taking you on a journey down Prospect Ave., colloquially known as The Street . Check back for 21Qs with all eleven eating club presidents.

TERRACE PRESIDENT DIMITRIS PAPACONSTANTINOU HATES SHOWERS, LOVES HAIR DYE, LOATHES 2-YEAR OLD BUFFOONS, AND SWEARS BY TERRACE 4TH COURSE.

Name: Dimitris Papaconstantinou
Hometown: Athens, Greece
Major: Philosophy
Club and Residential College Affiliation:  Terrace F. Club; Rockefeller

What did you do this past summer? Worked at a law-firm in Singapore, visited Greece and helped renovate TFC.

Who’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real or fictional? At tie between Jeff Nunokawa and Kwame Appiah (and Stanley Jordan).

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in Princeton? Every meal at Terrace is like a blissful melody to my stomach. (Thanks Olin. Thanks Ben. Thanks 4th Course)

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day? Everything every other college student does, always grateful for the amazing people I get to interact with, sharing in Food and Love and appreciation for our shared mother.

Favorite spot in Terrace. The newly remade pool-room (also known as the Willard Room).

What club did you think you’d be in as a freshman and why? Terrace, because it was the only place on campus that felt like home.

What is your greatest guilty pleasure? P. Adams Sitney.

If you could change one thing about Princeton, what would it be? More people with green, pink, blue and orange hair. (Yes, I just read Joshua Katz’s article and I love it).

What’s hanging above your desk and/or bed? Curtains.

What is your biggest fear? Any and all fundamentalists.

Favorite class you’ve taken? I’d have to say my junior seminar on Freedom and Responsibility.

What’s your drink? Masticha. Good Greek drink.

What’s your personal anthem? Hard Rock Hallelujah by Lordi. Quality stuff right there.

Who is your mortal enemy? Showers.

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Lawnparties is an excuse for Princetonians to break out their preppiest possessions and drink champagne to live music on the lawns of mansions, fulfilling every stereotype the University has to offer.

Ladies this year rivaled the classiest of Kentucky Derby attendees with bright dresses and oversized hats, and the men, outside the realms of TI’s “sun’s out guns out” attitude, sported a palette of pastel button-downs. Below are a few of Sunday’s best-dressed:

Lawnparties

Lawnparties

Lawnparties

Lawnparties

Filed under the header “Social Questions” on the endless source of high school angst known as College Confidential, one prospective member of the class of 2016 is dying to understand the complex social fabric and intersectional identities at Princeton. Sorry, what I meant to say was this:

cc pton prefrosh1

Yes, I believe he identified himself as of the “polo and top siders” clan. (To his credit, he seems to have done his research on “feeder” groups.)

So what we’ve got here just to recap is: a preppy, “Ivy-oriented” prefrosh who wants to either sail or row crew. Oh, and he’s trying to decide between ECO and ORFE.

But perhaps the best part is this forum member’s response:

cc response ivy

What can we say? It takes a lot of mental faculties, J. Crew ensembles, and blue blood to get schwasted. F. Scotty would know (even though he was in Cottage).

Photo credit: cannondialelm.com

All of the eating clubs will be up and running for Lawnparties this weekend – all except Cannon Dial Elm Club, whose long-awaited return has been getting just a little longer since its first planned reopening in the spring of 2008.

But, slowly yet surely, Cannon is prepping for its revival (and praying it will be more Casino Royale than Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). Graduate board chair Warren Crane ’62 said they are currently working on the ten residence rooms on the club’s fourth floor, and expect to finish all renovations this fall.

While the club has been getting a makeover, the graduate board has been pouring over applications from the first crop of prospective Cannonites (Cannonians? Cannoners?) and interviewing bicker committee candidates.

In characteristic Cannon fashion, it’s an ongoing process with an uncertain end date, but the 10-20 sophomores ultimately chosen will have the responsibility of selecting Cannon’s first class out of 189 applicants. If they hit the graduate board’s stated target of 110 members, Cannon’s acceptance rate would be between 60% and 65%, about even with Tower’s numbers from last spring. Only Cap & Gown was more selective.

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HERE’S OUR SECOND TOUR DE PROSPECT 21Q: CLOISTER PRESIDENT AND USG SOCIAL CHAIR JAKE SALLY FIGHTS NAZI ZOMBIES, SAVES SENTIMENTAL NOTES, IS NOT A FAN OF VOMIT

Name: Jake Sally
Hometown: Denver, Co
Major: English
Club and Residential College Affiliation: Cloister Inn & Whitman College

What are you doing this summer?
Working for the production company Georgeville Entertainment and the record label Interscope Records.

Who’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real or fictional?
Osei Wilks, his wisdom is boundless and he knows The Goalie’s true identity.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in Princeton?
Nothing beats Cloister Brunch when you’re *ahem* tired on Sunday morning.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day?
Rage with Club Soccer, respond to emails and fight Nazi zombies.

Favorite spot in Cloister?
3rd Floor couch, it’s just a cloud covered in leather.

What club did you think you’d be in as a freshman and why?
I was in a club—Club Soccer.

What is your greatest guilty pleasure?
I like to play match-maker.

If you could change one thing about Princeton, what would it be?
I’d leave the weather machine on all year.

What’s hanging above your desk and/or bed?
Notes and letters from my family and friends, even the random ones on napkins and such. It’s good reading material when those precept readings are bogging me down.

What is your biggest fear?
Fear itself.

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So as we pass summer’s halfway point, most Princetonians are busy saving African villages, traipsing around Russia, exploring Zen Buddhism in Japan, selling their souls to JP Morgan, etc. The usual. But for those who are starting to feel homesick for good Ol’ Nassau, fret not! Over the next few weeks, The Ink will be taking you on a trip down your favorite Street. Check back for 21Qs with all ten eating club presidents.

TOWER‘S JOEY BARNETT LOVES BOLLYWOOD, TAKES AN ACADEMIC APPROACH TO NEWMAN’S DAY, AND STILL DOESN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT HIS CLUB’S SONGS MEAN

Name: Joey Barnett
Hometown: Tulare, CA
Major: Anthropology w/ South Asian Studies Certificate
Club and Residential College Affiliation: Tower/Rocky

What are you doing this summer?
I’m living in Bombay, doing thesis research on Hindi cinema hall viewership styles, production, and marketing tailored to different generations and backgrounds. In other words, I’m watching movies and attempting to hobknob with film producers.

Who’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real or fictional?
PJ Das!

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in Princeton?
Every meal I’ve ever had at Frist at around 2am.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day?
I make lists of the things I should do that day and then eventually cross out the current day to write in the next.

Favorite spot in Tower?
Green Room–it’s where I take my best naps, and tend to inexplicably find myself waking up after a night out.

What club did you think you’d be in as a freshman and why?
Whichever one they showed in the brochures with people wearing pastel colors and having champagne brunches outside. Oh, wait.

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Screen shot 2011-04-03 at 9.46.04

The lights were on at Cannon Club today, another sign this year’s revival attempt is the real deal. That or it’s haunted. Given the epic Cannon lore (see G. 3.), I’d say it’s a toss-up.

Thanks to Mary Balzer ’13 for the photo.

The scene: Wednesday, 12:30 pm, outside of Frist.

The crimes: Assaulting passerby’s with ‘toilet paper,’ false advertising, and generating general mayhem.

The perpetrator: Chou Chou ’13

Your not-so-friendly neighborhood TP distributor

Your not-so-friendly neighborhood TP distributor

People mingling outside of Frist on Wednesday were surprised when one student began setting up his table just under the North arches, arranging a display of rolled up paper pyramid-style. He began chucking the paper at bystanders, yelling, “Free toilet paper! You look like you want some free toilet paper!” And, off to the side, “Sir, madam, may I interest you in some toilet paper?”

When asked about his behavior, Chou explained, “The university is giving out free toilet paper! It’s double ply, just the way we want it!”

When pressed for more details, Chou glanced side to side, and muttered, “I can’t say that much. The people making me do this, well … let’s just say it starts with a ‘T’ and ends in an ‘-errace.’”

The perpetrator remained on scene for 30 minutes.

Experts believe the bizarre event was one of a series of pranks associated with eating club initiations; rumors abound of other students distributing Spanx and cigarettes throughout the week. Keep your eyes peeled for additional offerings happening today!

The piece de resistance? "Hey! Is that Daily Pr - ... could it be?!"

The pièce de résistance? "Hey! Is that Daily Pr - ... could it be?!"

Another bicker season has come and gone, leaving a trail of PrincetonFMLs in its wake. But have you ever wondered: what were eating clubs like back in the day? Could you have joined Key and Seal Club? And where were all the chicks?

For our wistful alumni and amusement-seeking readers, look no further:

(all photos courtesy of  fineanddandyshop.com):

Members of Cannon Club (1949); sausagefest

Members of Cannon Club (1949), i.e. sausage-fest

Playing pool at Quad (1956) now features 3x more beer

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TipassesFive months ago, the Eating Club Task Force released a 23-page report on relations between the University and eating clubs. The report included several recommendations about the clubs’ selection processes, costs, and alcohol policies.

At today’s CPUC meeting, Vice President Robert Durkee discussed the Task Force’s plan to implement these recommendations. The Task Force also released a progess report, which summarizes the steps it’s taken toward these recommendations.

Below are some highlights. In May the Task Force recommended that the University:

  • more fully and fairly describe the clubs in admissions materials and events.” According to the progress report, this year’s Admissions viewbook has a “much improved” description of the clubs. Check out the website description here.
  • provide Alcohol Initiative funding on days other than Thursday and Saturday.” After making this recommendation to President Tilghman, she agreed to lift this restriction so groups can receive A.I. funding on other nights.
  • consider a re-establishment of a campus pub.” This suggestion has received attention from the ACC, USG, GSG. A small group will meet this year to assess its feasibility.
  • continue to provide wireless access and snow removal for the clubs.Because there’s no better way to break down a 100-year-old tradition than by leaving it unplugged and snowed in.

Scheeler

This is Martin, ICC President

THOUGHTS of CHEESE and BATHING CONSUME NEW INTERCLUB COUNCIL PRESIDENT MARTIN SCHEELER ’11

Name: Martin Scheeler
Age: 21
Major: Physics
Hometown: Summit, NJ
Eating club/residential college/affiliation: Tower

Who’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real or fictional?
Jack Donaghy: ideas man, silver fox.

What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in Princeton?
As much as it may resemble a drug front, Carousel makes some mean cheese fries.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day?
I spend most of the day thinking about when I’m going to be able to shower, and then I shower.

What is your greatest guilty pleasure?
Cheese. Like, seriously, I’m all about cheese.

What’s the last student performance you saw?
Company, directed by Dave Holtz ’10.

Do you know all the words to Old Nassau?
No. I’m not allowed to sing.

The hand gestures to Old Nassau: creepy or awesome?
Oh, super creepy for sure.

What do you hate most about Princeton?
You know when you’re sitting somewhere doing work, and you smell/hear someone eating a full meal or something in the same room, but the room is decidedly a non-food room? THAT. That is the worst.

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