Clubs go dry for pre-frosh weekend

Nine out of the 11 eating clubs will not be on tap Saturday night when prospective students visit the campus. This is the first year potential freshmen will be staying Friday through Sunday, according to Inter-Club Council advisor Alice Teti '00. In previous years, they were hosted during the week.

Teti said she advised the clubs to go off tap "out of a concern that if the 'Street' were to be open, the pre-frosh would seek entrance to the clubs. These additional people would be a strain on the clubs' security."

"I consider this to be a high risk situation, and the clubs have agreed that the best way to minimize the risk is not to serve alcohol on Saturday night," she said in an e-mail.

All but two clubs — Quadrangle Club and Colonial Club — will be participating. Both Colonial and Quad have previously planned events that will be limited "strictly" to members, ICC president Cindy Drakeman '02 said.

There have been alcohol-related incidents involving prospective students in past years, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Marianne Waterbury said in an e-mail.

"Almost every year, an incident will come to our attention regarding a prospective student getting intoxicated either at the clubs or in someone's room and that is a serious concern for us," she said. "Since they are not yet Princeton students they cannot be treated at McCosh and are generally sent to the [Princeton] Medical Center."

Drakeman said that though the clubs will not be serving alcohol Saturday, they cannot prevent all prospective students from drinking because alcohol is available elsewhere on campus.

Waterbury said disciplinary actions will be taken if necessary. "If the source of the alcohol can be identified — such as the host in a dormitory room — disciplinary measures are taken," she said. "It is harder to identify a server in a club since it could be just about anyone.

"The club officers are informed, however, that there is an allegation that a violation may have occurred in their club," she added.

The decision by the clubs not to serve alcohol comes on the heels of the Borough Council's decision to table a possible alcohol ordinance until next fall.

Drakeman said, "This is a good chance to show the Borough that we're trying to be responsible.

"We're trying to show that we're taking it seriously," she added.

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Teti explained the clubs took the initiative to go off tap. "The clubs have not been pressured by the University to take this step, but it is one which University administrators, including Dean Hargadon and Vice President Dickerson, have said is helpful and mature," she said.

Dickerson said, "I have told the leaders of the ICC that I am pleased about their decision, as it will make the experience of our visiting prospective students less complicated, as having the clubs off tap reduces the risks associated with underage drinking and serving underage drinkers. We want our guests to have a healthy, safe, appealing experience."

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Sandy Silverman said that because prospective students are underage, "being at a party where alcohol is served is not appropriate."

There will be an information session at Charter Club and an open house at the clubs for the high school students to allow them to see the role the 'Street' plays in campus social life.

Many clubs are participating in other events this weekend, including Communiversity and Take Back the Night, Teti said. Members of Cloister Inn — among others — will also be volunteering at the Zurich World Cup of Rowing this weekend.