All 10 eating clubs hosted members of the Class of 2015 for a series of meals this week as a part of “Taste of Prospect,” an event designed to increase freshmen’s familiarity with Prospect Street. The initiative was coordinated by the USG and the Interclub Council.
Freshmen signed up for eating club meals through an email sent out over Fall Break. They were then randomly assigned to specific eating clubs based on their availabilities and those of the clubs as well as dietary concerns, according to U-Councilor Elektra Alivisatos ’14.
“Some freshmen requested clubs, but we ignored those clubs,” she said.
The initiative had formerly been conducted by the USG and clubs, but was abandoned for the past four years because nobody chose to take the project on, USG president Michael Yaroshefsky ’12 said in an email.
Former U-Councilor Sarah Cornfeld ’11 advocated for the return of the program before graduating last year and later passed on the project to Alivisatos. With the support of the USG and her “right-hand man” U-Councilor Cameron Henneberg ’14, Alivisatos arranged for meals at the eating clubs for about 400 freshmen, she explained.
The program, unlike those of previous years, attracted both a high number of freshmen and all 10 active eating clubs. According to Alivisatos, this change occurred because both parties benefited from the program.
“I think, as a club ... this is a great way to reach out to freshmen,” Alivisatos said. “And I think everyone can identify with being a freshman and not knowing much about the Street.”
The program, she said, helps the freshmen see the eating clubs as what they are — eating clubs — and allows them to meet members and see who the people of each club really are.
She added that many of the benefits of the eating clubs are not visible on Thursday and Saturday nights, and that getting to know members is different from the “party” scene.
Yaroshefsky expressed similar sentiments, noting that the program provided the opportunity for freshmen to experience what eating clubs are really about.
“The eating clubs are an important part of Princeton, and we felt it was important that freshmen experience the clubs at dinnertime as members do,” he said in an email.
The program has the support of President Shirley Tilghman, who is subsidizing the program through the President’s Fund.
“Each club is given the resources it needs to pay for the number of meals it provides,” she said in an email.
Tilghman explained that was inspired to help fund the program by its founder Tracey Dowling ’05, who was “concerned that freshmen were either intimidated by the clubs or had the impression that the only thing they sponsored were Thursday and Saturday night parties.” Dowling is a former president of Colonial Club.
Alivisatos said she was pleased with how many freshmen demonstrated interest in the program.
“I would say that [400] was a very high number,” she said, “Especially because they were sent out during fall break. We had a lot of positive feedback ... I definitely think it was worth it.”
Many freshmen agreed that it was a positive experience.
“It was nice to be able to eat there and talk with different members,” said Jean Choi ’15, who ate at Cloister through the program.
Yaroshefsky said he hoped that future USG administrations choose to run this project each year.
“It’s one of those projects that every class should get a taste of, not just one every four years,” he said.
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