Reverse Bicker?

Reverse Bicker: the stakes are high and they've got everyone to lose.

You're a sophomore, and you have no idea what an eating club is. You've never set foot in one, but have a vague notion of these big houses on Prospect Avenue. Or maybe you are dying to get into Tower. You relish the chance to meet, to see and be seen.

Either way, this article is for you. It will help you figure out where you're trying to go, help you maximize your chances of getting there, and help you feel comfortable with the choice.

It's time to take this decision of where to eat into your own hands and out of the hands of strangers only a few months older than you and in reality no wiser or cooler (Okay, so not completely out of their hands, but since you ranked then you always have a second choice and you can blame number 6, your adventuresome spirit, if you don't get in and congratulate yourself for your openmindedness).

It's time for Reverse Bicker . . .

Who do you think is cool? Who do you want to know? This is your chance to figure it out. It's mystifyingly simple, and as easy as sliding down a slide in Candyland. 1. Take out your facebook (or your roommate's/ neighbor's). It's time to rank the clubs. 2. 1 point for the juniors you know in each club. If they're not fortunate enough to have already made your acquaintance, too bad for them. They'll get a second chance at sophomore dinners. 3. Disregard seniors; they have already begun to forget why they thought bicker/sign-in was fun. They are getting jobs. The main reason, though, is you won't be eating with them next year. 4. Subtract 1 point for each member you wish you'd never met. 5. Add an extra point for each person you would like to know better. 6. Add five points for curiosity about any club. Hey, open-mindedness never hurt anyone. 7. Add two points to each club that a good sophomore friend of yours plans to join. 8. Tabulate and enjoy stress-free (decision made!) finals... except forwell, the finals. You also have a decent backup if plan A falls through.

Ironically, I never joined a club, and only went to one sophomore dinner. If I'd thought of it back then, I would have reverse bickered for sure. Note that you can use the same techniques to weigh going independent or joining a coop. So here are my stats, in case you are curious about this lifestyle: 5: highest number of different clubs I have been to in one week this year (yes, you can maintain friendships with people across the board). It takes effort to keep up with people no matter what you decide, though, which contributes to the underlying principle of reverse bicker you end up with more of your friends in the same place and that equals less effort. 1: number of times a week I cooked as a member of Brown coop last year. 4: number of times I cooked total in the Henry kitchen this fall as an independent (if you want to be independent and actually cook), go Spelman! Or you'll be on the "Restaurant plan." 1: number of times it occurred to me to bicker as a Sophomore. I didn't give the idea a chance. I've never really liked the idea of people telling me what I can and can't do. I knew I wasn't ready for other people to make that kind of decision for me (hence, Reverse Bicker!).

Now, I think it would've been fun to go to one sophomore dinner at each club, just to meet people and get a different experience. I have since met people who shatter the stereotype of pretty much every club, so head out with an open mind.

Good luck with your search, and remember, in the end it's just food. And friends. Just like your first two years. The admissions office already did all the grunt work of picking people they thought were interesting. In fact, they were so excited about the applicants they wished they could admit more! Rachel Linton is an Art major from Florence, Al. She can be reached at rlinton@princeton.edu.