On 'Sophomore Week'

What I would propose is a week-long event for these types of students that coincides with the Interclub Council’s “Sophomore Week.” Now, I’m not saying that organizations, such as USG, should send out individual surveys and find a way to spoil each and every one of us. But I do believe that more attention should be given to the Princeton students who are interested in the non-traditional routes of independent or co-op living. One of the events could be an open forum with independent/co-op students during which these students would talk about why they chose this dining option instead of an eating club, the pros and cons of joining and the truth behind common misconceptions. Another event could be something quirky like holding short cooking classes, during which co-op members would show how to make dishes that don’t take much time — since we all are short on time — but are delicious and filling! And, of course, we must not forget tours of places where independent/co-op students would eat and mixers where prospective members could meet members.

Many Princeton students don’t frequent the clubs. The reasons range from a lack of interest in drinking and partying to an aversion to going out in general. Because of this, many choose to go independent/co-op. But should we fault them for this decision? I would argue that we already have by not making more concessions to the students who want to choose a non-traditional route for dining purposes.

A lack of information about independent options could perhaps cause students to feel neglected since their interests are not being taken into consideration. Students who may have been happy choosing the independent/co-op option could feel forced into an eating club because of the lack of information available. And even if these students still decide to go ahead with the aforementioned option, there still needs to be some sort of smooth transition in the form of events and information sessions. Now, granted, going independent or co-op does not call for as much preparation when compared to Bicker and avoids trepidation that can come with the process. Perhaps this is why the ICC chose to create “Sophomore Week,” since choosing an eating club requires an elimination process that may seem intimidating since you can only choose one club to bicker. Thus, one must naturally think long and hard about his or her decision.

The Interclub Council did a wonderful job with securing the opportunity for countless sophomores to actually explore all of the eating clubs. But in order for “Sophomore Week” to truly to be “Sophomore Week,” we must include the other sophomores in new social engagements that allow them to explore other dining options. We must not ignore their interests just because they do not align with the most popular choice of Princeton: the Street. Let us not make these students feel ignored and unimportant in the eyes of those who work endlessly to make Princeton a better place for students of all backgrounds.

Morgan Jerkins is a sophomore from Williamstown, NJ. She can be reached at mjerkins@princeton.edu.