Why I chose Bicker: Searching for a new social experience

For sophomores, spring semester requires many decisions. One of them is whether, and how, to join an eating club.

"There are so many choices to make as a sophomore — I'm deciding between four different majors and trying to figure out whether I should be an alternate RA next year or study abroad instead," Catherine Chou '06 said.

"Bicker seems like an added excitement, an added stress, and one of those choices that could really affect your time at Princeton."

Chou chose to bicker Tower Club, one of Prospect Avenue's 11 eating clubs.

The Bicker process varies as some clubs require bickerees to undergo a series of interviews, while others involve games and parties.

Sophomores must weigh various club characteristics, including food, membership and location, when choosing one to join.

Chou was particularly impressed with the food and "friendly and hospitable" members at Tower Club, two factors that influenced her decision to bicker. She made a "pact" with her roommate from last year to bicker Tower together.

"Most of our other friends are signing into Quad or Colonial. We're kind of the rebels of the group, and our friends make sure we know it."

Though the Bicker process can be intimidating, Chou said she believes one of its benefits is the opportunity to meet new people. "I'm actually a pretty shy person in group situations. Bickering is something that plays completely against my personality type which is why I want to take a chance and see what it's like," Chou said.

Like many sophomores, Chou was nervous going into the bicker process, but planned to keep an open mind.

"Everyone I've talked to in Tower says that the bickering process is relaxed and enjoyable and that you're not forced to do anything that will make you feel uncomfortable. I'm still pretty nervous, but willing to give it a shot."

Held during the first week of classes, Bicker often causes many scheduling conflicts for sophomores. Chou's class commitments and traveling schedule caused her to miss two of the five Bicker sessions at Tower.

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"I'm not that confident about my chances, but I'm trying not to take the process too seriously and to still get something out of it even if I don't get a bid," she said.

"There are so many great people bickering that it's going to be really hard to say who will or won't get in."

So, why do sophomores take on the added stress and anxiety of the bicker process? For Chou, Bicker is just an opportunity to meet new people that could potentially affect her college experience.

"I think getting a bid would affect my time at Princeton mainly by expanding my social circle, since most of my friends right now live in my residential college," she said.

"I'm hoping that membership in an eating club will allow me to meet people with very diverse interests with different ideas about college and life afterwards."