OWL, club heads discuss the gender issues of Bicker

In an effort to address the sexual environment at the 'Street,' the Organization of Women Leaders is working with eating club officers to discuss gender concerns during the Bicker process.

"We want to start a dialogue about inappropriate Bicker activities that create an unhealthy environment," OWL president Nancy Ippolito '03 said. "This is a concern we have and are trying to address by working with the [Inter-Club Council] and Bicker clubs."

The eating clubs have also been working on their own to create a healthy and safe atmosphere at the 'Street,' said Dan Hantman '03, the ICC chair.

In the past, some eating clubs have appointed female liaisons to address gender concerns during the Bicker process. In addition, club officers will meet next week with sexual health advisers from McCosh Health Center for a series of dinner discussions about sexual behavior.

OWL hopes to expand the female liaison program to make the liaisons more visible at all the clubs.

Though no official proposal has been presented to the ICC or individual clubs, OWL has asked Bicker clubs to avoid "activities that create an unequal balance of power" — specifically the removal of clothing, the acting of sexual scenarios or the questioning of students' sexual behavior, said Jessica Brondo '04, who will succeed Ippolito as president in the fall.

Both groups say the discussion has been positive, and Ippolito said club officers have been cooperative and receptive.

"I agree with OWL's goals," said Rob Neely '03, Ivy Club president, in an e-mail, "and I hope we can work together to find the best way to ensure a safe environment for both sexes."

Cap & Gown Club president Matt Groh '03 also said OWL's concerns and suggestions were very informative.

"It's good to reinforce them and stay on top of these sorts of things in hopes of preventing future incidents," he said.

Hantman said he is "looking to create a better social situation" and emphasized that the new officers have only been running the clubs for eight weeks.

Ippolito said she has made this the primary issue on her agenda during her last few weeks as OWL president and will continue to work on it as a senior.

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"This project is something OWL officers are interested in as a whole," she said. "But it's also something I plan on spending the rest of my time here addressing."

OWL began to address the issue after female students approached the organization's officers with concerns about the Bicker process earlier this year, Ippolito said.

She emphasized, however, that not all women on campus have concerns about the environment at the 'Street.'

"OWL is not pretending to represent all of the views of women at Princeton," she said, "and we're not saying that all of the women at Princeton see this as a problem."