The troubling nature of this phenomenon was emphasized by the nine nostalgic letters written by current seniors to their freshman selves published in The Daily Princetonian on Thursday, May 1. Almost all the letters touched on the importance of friendship, but not in the way that you might think. They argued that friends, and students more generally, are such a great resource because they expose us to different ideas and force us to challenge our own core values. But at Princeton, this resource is largely left untapped. Though undergraduates may be highly social, it seems as though we are very averse to engaging in the challenging discussions that Princeton's diversity should engender.
Take the recent 1876 Debate Prize tournament as an example. Considering that students can win up to $4,000, it is curious that only 40 students tried out. Most students, even those who will soon be working late nights and weekends just to make a few extra bucks, will not even think about debating another student despite the large cash incentive.
This phenomenon is intensified by a number of factors. The admission process benefits students who are likeable by requesting favorable recommendations from teachers. Disagreeing with a teacher's core values is likely to yield neither positive feelings nor a positive recommendation. To a certain extent, therefore, Princeton is asking prospective students to learn how to ingratiate themselves with their superiors. Put another way, the admission process favors those who tactfully avoid discussing sensitive topics.
Another explanation is that the constant griping about the "massive workload" leads to a mentality that takes an economical view of social time. Students feel so pressured that when they do have free time, they don't want to spend it arguing with others.
Most of all, I fear that students do not mix enough with people truly different from themselves. As is true of most of society, many students at Princeton associate with self-selecting organizations and institutions that are likely to attract like-minded people. For example, two of the biggest organizations on campus are the College Republicans and the College Democrats.
By contrast, ties developed through organizations that do not self-select, such as the zee-group and Community Action or Outdoor Action groups, are some of the most important at the University. These institutions provide opportunities to interact with classmates in a setting not determined by self-selection. As a result, students are likely to meet people with whom they will have fundamental disagreements.
The administration and USG should work together to find ways to expand opportunities for students to meet in such settings. One way to do this may be to build clubs around relatively superficial commonalities. The Redheads Society springs to mind as one example, though some of my redheaded friends would insist that this distinction goes to the heart of their being. Perhaps the school should organize yearly meetings for students from a particular state or region of the country. I already know from meeting a few people from my home state, the great state of Maryland, that there are a diverse set of beliefs and practices represented in this group.
As I have already noted, this is not enough. Students not only need to meet students different from themselves, but they need to talk about their differences. Nassau Hall and 204 Frist Campus Center should work together to explore ways of encouraging debate. Money, similar in amount to that provided for the 1876 Debate Prize, should be awarded to students groups that encourage less formal, year-round opportunities for discussion. These groups should not simply invite a professor to give a lecture on a topic and then ask him or her questions; that is what class time is for. Discussion needs to be occurring among students. Some of the recent events that featured professors moderating student discussions relating to the presidential election are good examples of initiatives that should be encouraged and expanded.
While the seniors' letters were informative, most of all they were also uplifting. They speak to the best of Princeton, a university filled with unique experiences and a diverse set of students from which to learn. I only hope that, when I graduate, I will have taken advantage of it all.
Adam Bradlow is a freshman and a member of Wilson College from Potomac, Md. He can be reached at abradlow@princeton.edu.
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