Just playing into the stereotype

Ivy Club members were treated to an exclusive fashion event Thursday [at] Ralph Lauren: "It's comical, I would say," Ivy member Brandon Parry '06 said. "It's fairly obvious...Ivy [has] a reputation of, whether it's fair or not, exclusivity and elitism, and we're having an event at Ralph Lauren ... When I got the email about this, I was incredulous. We're really playing into the stereotype." — The Daily Princetonian, Nov. 11, 2005

Taking the hint from Ralph Lauren's recent efforts to court Ivy Club customers, a number of additional Princeton-area businesses have been reaching out to other campus groups whose stereotypes, fair or not, render them apparently amenable to local merchandise.

On Sunday, regular attendees of the Center for Jewish Life were treated to an exclusive wine tasting at the nearby Manischewitz winery.

"We have been wanting to develop a relationship with members of the Princeton University community for some time now," said Manischewitz spokesperson and local mashgiach Matt Zoball. "As we believe Jews are most likely to patronize our products, this seemed like a great way to prove we're no concord-grape-Kiddush-wine one-shtick-pony. We also have an entire array of tasty rums, peach cream cordials and scotches."

CJL patrons were also offered a "sneak peak" at Manischewitz's upcoming line of kosher-for-Passover sangrias.

The student group was serenaded by a live Klezmer band and offered a goodie bag filled with such delectables as the Seinfeld season five DVD and gefilte-fish-flavored Bubble Yum ©.

While most of the students were pleased with the day's events and gifts, others protested the "slanderous sociological implications" of the gala.

"This is just so insensitive," complained Meg Illa '07. "Clearly the community sees CJL patrons, whether it's fair or not, as primarily Jewish. When I first saw the email about this, I was incredulous. Just because we've got the word 'Jewish' emblazoned on a sign in front of our building doesn't mean we're all Semites. We're really playing into the stereotype. Gd."

Then, on Tuesday evening, Jay's Cycles of 249 Nassau Street held an exclusive bicycle showroom event for residents of Forbes College, to similar cheers and protestations.

Forbes residents were treated to Gatorade, served in a unique bike helmet display, and to the music of a hired string quartet playing such cycling favorites as "Bicycle Built for Two" and the "Easy Rider" theme song.

"We too have been trying to reach out to potential consumers from the Princeton University community," said company spokesperson Al Terrane. "When we heard that Forbes residents have the farthest distance to travel to classes, we knew it was time to show our appreciation for their business."

Most of the club members, who were also awarded seventy-percent discounts on Lance Armstrong Mail Order Blood Transfusion© gift cards, greatly enjoyed the party. But a few were indignant.

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"I am so offended by this event," said Fara Way '08. "It's fairly obvious Forbes has a reputation, whether deserved or not, for being the greatest distance from campus. But the fact that all the other dorms are closer to the center of campus does not mean all Forbesians are necessarily further away. When I got the email about this, I was incredulous. We're really playing into the stereotype."

Members of Ivy Club have extended their genuine empathy and support to these Princeton students suffering from such hurtful stereotyping by fellow community members and businesses. "Yeah, I can totally relate to this type of trauma," Ivy Club member Roman B. Numeral XIV '06 said. "I mean, Ralph Lauren and the rest of the world are so slanderous and quick to judge. The facts that Ivy members, for example, are served by immigrant waiters at meals and can blackball unsuspecting bickerees are no way of assessing how elitist and exclusive, respectively, we are."

And in response to a severe 'Prince' letter to the editor several days ago questioning the club's awareness of the outside world, Numeral said, "Of course we're aware there's a war going on. Duh. How else would we know which politicians' kids to let into our club if we didn't follow current events?" Catherine Rampell is an anthropology major from Palm Beach, Fla. She can be reached at crampell@princeton.edu.