RCAs comfort hosed advisees

As bicker clubs picked up newly accepted sophomores on Friday with noisy chants and generous dollops of shaving cream, other students whose bicker attempts were not so favorably received found far less enjoyment in the weekend's events.

Anticipating the possibility of such emotional trauma — as well as the more physical risks that can accompany Bicker, pickups and Initiations, such as sexual assault — residential colleges increased efforts this year to inform sophomores about eating options and address their concerns during and after the bicker process.

"Clearly, last year's Bicker was a disgrace and certainly dangerous in certain respects," said Mathey College Master Antoine Kahn GS '75. Accusations of sexual assault accompanied Bicker, pickups and Initiations last year, while some students complained about noise levels around campus during pickups.

This year, the University and eating club officers discussed methods for more orderly bicker club pickups, reaching a deal in which officers promised that they would finish pickups before 5 p.m. and keep any alcohol off campus.

The increased emphasis in residential colleges on Bicker also focused on preventing and addressing physical harm that can occur during the week, including sexual assault, Wilson College Assistant Master Leslie Hinkson GS said.

"There was this idea that there was an increased risk of sexual assault [during Bicker], when there was increased alcohol content and group nudity," Hinkson said.

"It wasn't just based on last year's bicker process," Hinkson said, referring to the impetus for focusing on assault prevention. "I think there has been more awareness for sexual assault on campus, more motivation to keep safe."

RCAs in Mathey were also available every day of bicker week to address the concerns of students unsatisfied with Bicker, Kahn said. Rockefeller College provided similar opportunities, Rocky RCA William McEachern '08 said, but added that his advisees came to him only in regard to questions about the bicker process.

"Throughout this week we had RCAs on call in case there were any sophomores who needed someone to talk to," he said. "[But] I really haven't had anybody come to me with impending concerns during Bicker."

Though Rocky and Mathey were the only colleges that assigned RCAs to be on call during bicker week, Butler and Wilson also sponsored events arranged by RCAs to inform their advisees about eating options and give them an opportunity to discuss their experiences.

"There was a general acknowledgement by Wilson College that this week was a tough time for sophomores," said Marie Beylin '07, a Wilson RCA. Beylin held a bagel study break Friday morning to comfort Bickerees who had just been hosed.

The Wilson staff encouraged RCAs to hold study breaks before and after Bicker, Hinkson said.

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Additionally, prior to bicker week, Rocky, Mathey and Wilson sponsored informational sessions with representatives from eating clubs and other campus eating options. In Wilson, RCAs held a meeting in which representatives from all the bicker clubs, four of the sign-in clubs, an independent and someone who was joining a four-year residential college spoke, Beylin said.

For most students whose bicker experience turned out unfavorably, their first source of solace was not their RCA.

James Yan '09, who bickered Tower but was not accepted, said he attended a study break the Friday morning of pickups before finding out he had been hosed. But after he got the news, he said, he went elsewhere for consolation.

"Most of the time I would just talk to a friend first," he said.