I escaped from Princeton on Friday night. With my thesis turned in, I was raring to hang out, dance and throw back a few drinks. But the pre-frosh had arrived, and with them, new regulations to dictate Princeton's social scene.
Many of the eating clubs decided to go dry or members only over the weekend. The decisions were made in attempt to be responsible and protect the clubs and their presidents from the legal repercussions of having 18-year-old high school seniors sneaking into their taprooms and ending up at McCosh Health Center.
I don't know whether the University "strongly suggested" that the clubs take such action, or whether the clubs decided to independently. Either way, pre-frosh weekend stifled the post-thesis outlet for many students who wanted to enjoy their expensive clubs freely. We can expect the same state of affairs today and tomorrow, as the next batch of students arrives.
A number of seniors decided to travel to Penn, where "spring fling" was in full swing. The weekend was much like Houseparties at Princeton. The smell of barbeque wafted through the air; students were decked in pastels and sunglasses; mimosas were flowing before noon; bands were playing in the quad; and most of all, students had an excuse to stay out of the library over the weekend.
It also happened to be the first in a series of Penn Preview days. Just like Princeton's pre-frosh weekend, Penn ushers in its newly accepted students to tour the campus, hear from professors and find out what life at college is really like. The big difference between the two university previews is that Penn's organizations and administration do not seem to censor its party scene.
The front stoops of upperclassman houses were over flowing with merry students and cold beverages. Beer pong tables dominated the front lawns of many frat houses, and students cheered as their friends faced off in competition. Music reverberated out of open front doors, and people were dancing in the daylight. Best of all, students were smiling. Though the pre-frosh were not invited to partake in the festivities for various legal reasons - namely underage drinking - they were able to see a fun college party in its true colors.
But it was Greek fun. The G-word seems to make many Princeton administrators twinge with ideas of exclusion, elitism and binge drinking. I openly admit that there are many downsides to exclusive social organizations. But at the end of the day, we are all social beings who like to organize. We self-select our friends through the classes we take, the music we listen to and the clubs we join, whether they are a cappella groups, eating clubs or comedy troupes.
Princeton's Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students website lists dozens of recognized student organizations. One example is a group called Headbangers Inc., whose purpose is to create "a cohesive and supportive heavy metal and hard rock community on campus." Such a club merits recognition on Princeton's campus if there are enough students who want to organize around its mission.
Yet nowhere on the ODUS website is there a listing of Greek organizations. Princeton even sends out letters to incoming freshmen urging them not to join these organizations. I received a letter in 2004 strongly discouraging me from joining a sorority so that I could expand my circle of friends and experiences, and "not prematurely narrow them," according to the administration.
The University similarly remains "independent" from the eating clubs under law but seems to exert influence over club policies on certain weekends when hundreds of high schoolers are frolicking around Princeton's campus.
In contrast, Penn's Office of Student Life works much more closely with fraternities and sororities. Its website lists the 21 main Greek organizations present at Penn, and there's even an Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs that takes responsibility for coordinating and overseeing Greek life.
I am not advocating that Princeton should start funding or promoting the Greek organizations on campus or eating clubs. Rather, Princeton should at least recognize these organizations and the positive impact they can have on our campus' social scene and community service involvement. Maybe constructive involvement could also mitigate the negative aspects of these institutions, such as unregulated hazing and questionable bicker practices.
Trying to discourage students from joining Greek organizations or limiting the Street party scene during pre-frosh weekends could give the Class of 2012 a distorted view of the various ways that students can have fun at Princeton, and we owe future Princetonians an honest picture.
Regina Lee is an associate editor for news emerita. She can be reached at reginal@princeton.edu.
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