Regarding Ralph Lauren and the Ivy Club
Regarding 'Leters to the Editor' (Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005):
On behalf of the Ivy Club, we would like to respond to the letter written by professors Miguel Centeno and Fred Hitz because we believe their criticism of the club to be fundamentally unfounded.
First, it should be mentioned that the event in question was in no way organized by the Ivy Club. Rather, we were told that the store was making an effort to reach out to University students and was going to continue to offer discounts to various groups. Moreover, Ivy did not ask the 'Prince' to cover the event, nor did we think it was appropriate "front-page news."
With regard to the professors' remarks doubting our club's willingness to donate "a few dollars" to Hurricane Katrina victims, if either had checked into the matter before making their allegations, they might have learned that this fall the members of our club raised over $4,000 for the Red Cross's Hurricane Katrina Relief effort, more than any other eating club and, at the time, any other student organization on campus. In addition, members of our club have been consistently honored with Princeton's highest awards for service projects for their work with the United Nations, Habitat for Humanity and Oxfam.
Furthermore, we firmly believe their injunctive to our membership to remember that there is "a war on" to be a complete non-sequitur. There are things that university students participate in all the time, such as the recent Homecoming festivities, that are no doubt incongruous with the fact that there are soldiers our own age fighting overseas. Activities that understandably seem frivolous when juxtaposed with combat are a part of civilian life, especially life on a university campus.
More than anything else though, we would like to point out that members of the Ivy club are currently serving in Iraq. Moreover, current members of our club who participate in ROTC and Marine Officer Candidate School face the very real possibility of serving in Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming years. To be sure, these members are more than aware that there is indeed "a war on." To suggest otherwise is extremely disrespectful of the selflessness and dedication of many members of the Ivy Club.
The Ivy Club Officers
I'd like to thank Matt Davis for his hilarious article on Ralph Lauren's efforts to "foster a relationship with University students" in Ivy Club. The next time one of my non-Princetonian friends asks me if there is truth in certain Princeton stereotypes, I'll know exactly where to point them. I only wish I had been invited to a "private shopping event" during my time at Princeton. It would have been a great oppurtunity to have my wardrobe homogenized and my personality thoroughly branded. Hip! Hip! Ralph! Ralph! Ralph! Lauren! Lauren! Lauren! Shirts! Shirts! Shirts! Boots! Boots! Boots! Bah! Pol-Oh! Pol-Oh! Pol-Oh!
Matt Foulger '05
Economic affirmative action illogical
Regarding 'The value of economic affirmative action' (Wednesday, November 16, 2005):
At the core of LaFemina's column is the assumption that students of poor economic backgrounds are imbued with rich cultural experiences and values that are somehow missing in students of affluent economic backgrounds, and that these affluent students, because they have money, are culturally homogenous and are not of much value to the cultural landscape of the University. This is simply not the case; there is no correlation between the contribution to heterogeneity a student can bring to the University and the amount of money in his or her parents' bank account. It is certainly possible for a wealthy student to bring a rich and unique cultural view to Princeton, and for a financially challenged student to add little cultural value. Because these two ideas are independent, there is no reason to think that the needier a student is the more s/he can contribute to University in a cultural sense.
Alex Kandabarow '08
Hunger Banquet sends wrong message
Regarding 'Lobster, steak and plain white rice' (Tuesday, November 15, 2005):
This article gave me an unsettling feeling in my stomach. As a person who ate "plain white rice" for many years in the parlance of the article (I ate chicken bones and rotten vegetables tossed away by local grocers), I must admit I felt uneasy about how the SVC chose to raise awareness of this matter. For one, I am not sure how much awareness is really brought to the problem, and surely empathy is not on the menu as participants know that after the meal they can resume with their regular lives. I certainly didn't have the option of walking away from the "plain white rice" dinner when I was growing up in poverty. Secondly, one of the hardships of eating "plain white rice" is the loss of dignity that cannot be captured in a smug gesture. Although the event was rooted in good intentions, as a person with a perspective growing up in poverty I found it condescending and bordering on mocking, especially given that this is the same school that hosted Ralph Lauren at an eating club several days earlier.
Finally, a question to ask the university: Given the universal support by all sides to help people from impoverished backgrounds to succeed, why has Princeton (and other universities for that matter) not switched to affirmative action that is income-based? This is a real step to alleviate hunger and poverty: Educated people don't need the affluent to feel sorry for them; they can eat whatever they like.
Kai Chan GS
A modest proposal ...
Regarding 'Tilghman asks for arts advice' (Tuesday, November 15, 2005):
There is a simple problem with Princeton getting more artists: good art must involve suffering. Princeton, sadly, faces a suffering gap with its peer schools.
Princeton students are too well-cared for. There are clubs to cater to your dining and social needs, deans to protect you from the slings and arrows of outrageous academic fortune, outstanding academics to fawn over you. How are you supposed to produce Guernica out of that?
Now, look at a place like Yale. Beatings, thefts, sexual assaults. After a semester there you're probably sculpting and writing operas during lunch (in between pummelings by local hooligans trying to steal your pen/paper/clay).
But, my friends, there is a solution. If we just rent a van, drive up to Yale, grab the five scariest looking people we can find, bring them back and set them loose on campus, we may be able to make some headway. The way forward has been shown to us. Let us seize the opportunity.
Zachary Goldstein '05
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