Dissecting the Princeton population: the undercover nerd

Princeton is full of nerds, and there is nothing we can do about it. In fact, the University atmosphere seems to encourage it. They should say it on the admissions brochure: "If you're a nerd, come to Princeton." No, not the Unix-cluster nerds that you sometimes see shielding themselves from natural light, but the "real" nerds of Princeton University, the hidden nerds that make up the vast majority of students on campus. The ones who look perfectly normal on the outside but engage in at least one classically "nerdy" pastime. More or less everyone on the campus is incognito in one form or another. While it is possible that it might be just be my circle of friends (If so, please write and tell me so I can escape), but in my experience almost everyone at least contributes to a more accepting atmosphere of things that were considered "nerdy" in high school. If you don't believe me, just think about the things that people can discuss here that you couldn't discuss in high school. Allow me to cite some of the more obvious cases:

The most prolific nerd pastime on this campus is without a doubt an interest in "Star Trek: The Next Generation." While people might not dress up like characters on Halloween (now that I think of it, some might), it is pretty easy to have an open discussion about "Star Trek" at Princeton. If the subject is brought up, even in the middle of a bicker club (I've only seen it in Tower), it is astounding how many people's eyes light up as they understand the breadth of nerdish acceptance. Most gave up actively watching the show years ago, but at the very least people tolerate it as a valid conversation piece, even if they don't join in. Even if they might not have broached the subject themselves, undercover nerds can safely smile and say, "Yeah, I watched that" to each other. Exchanging knowing glances with fellow undercover nerds is surprisingly satisfying, even years after high school ended.

However, there is a limit to the allowances afforded us, an unspoken rule of how far the level of nerdiness can go. The price of nerd acceptance is a certain level of tact. For example, one does not generally talk about "Star Trek" or "Lord of the Rings" at the WaWa, or in any other public place. There is a level of secrecy that must accompany the acceptance, and so I continue to pretend not to hear my roommate in the train station telling me about how he "fragged" everyone at Halo last night. The reasoning is something like this: If you allow nerdiness to seep too far into your public life, you will quickly allow it to overcome your entire being. Soon you will find yourself socially awkward and easy to pick out, a "facebook all-star" for everyone to ridicule. Most of those which cross the threshold are never to be seen again, busy whittling down their days with LAN parties at the E-Quad. Luckily, most I have known here have avoided that fate.

Because of this constant danger, it's also easy to tell when you must back away from a nerdly pursuit. When my roommate openly mocked my enjoyment of an online game, I knew it was time to put an abrupt halt to playing it. However, other undercover nerds are quick to forgive such trespasses. The fact that the pretty girl next to you can laugh about an online game but also confess she reads fantasy novels (in private, another indication of the secretiveness of it all) is heartening indeed. Once again, the most important rule for the true undercover nerd is never letting your preferences get out of hand — for example, to let it affect your speech or normal interactions with people not doing nerdy things. It is essential that each true hidden nerd try to dress well and blend in completely until he or she knows the "coast is clear." Even nerds (especially undercover nerds) must keep up appearances.

I probably broke every unspoken rule in the book by writing this piece, but it is really inconsequential to me. Princeton has been educating undercover (and not-so-undercover) nerds for hundreds of years, and will continue to do long after I am gone. I couldn't imagine a University that is not accepting of socially competent, well-dressed, hidden nerds such as my friends and me. In fact, I probably won't have to: While our batch of undercover nerds is soon to graduate, the latest just arrived. They will be free to discuss "Star Trek," anime, or whatever their little nerd-hearts desire — as long as they don't let it get out of hand. So is the creed of the undercover — or, should I say, the Princeton — nerd.

David Sillers is a politics major from Potomac, Md.