Charter’s new sign-in system rewards points to sophomores

Under the new system, sophomores interested in joining the club participate in social events hosted by Charter, earning points based on attendance to increase their chance of gaining membership during the formal sign-in period, which occurs before the start of the spring semester. Each sophomore has also been permitted to eat two meals per month at Charter to accumulate points.

Incoming club president Daniel Fletcher ’12 stressed that the new system is “absolutely not moving towards any sort of Bicker system,” adding that it is “completely objective.”

“The point system determines whether you get in, and it doesn’t depend on any sort of subjective system,” Fletcher explained. “There’s no blackballing, no shady deals like third-floor Bicker. It’s purely a numerical game.”

Current and prospective members noted that the system attracts sophomores who seem to be truly interested in the club.

“The beauty of the new sign-in system is that it self-selects for people who will be active within the club without the politics of Bicker or the randomness of the old sign-in system,” said Nick McAfee ’13, who has attended nearly all of the sophomore events.

Ming Lu ’12, the technology chair of Charter, explained in an e-mail that “the new sign-in system is also good for the future of the club, since more enthusiastic members will mean more people who will eventually want to run or apply for officer positions.”

McAfee noted that the system has encouraged him to attend events where he learned more about the club. He also said that it makes him feel secure about his membership prospects.

“I was unsure whether I was going to join Charter when I began attending events, but after meeting more people and going to Charter more often, I not only am sure that I want to be a Charter member, but also that I have a very high chance of getting in based on the number of points I have accumulated,” he said.

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Other sophomores who have attended Charter’s events said they have had positive experiences at the club, noting the benefit of meeting current members.

“I’ve gone to a few of the events and had many meals at Charter,” Yuan Chen ’13 said in an e-mail. “It’s been a pretty positive experience and I’ve had a lot of fun. The food is great and the people are really cool.”

James Badwick ’13, who attended events with other friends who are planning to join the club, said in an e-mail that the events have helped him meet a “good number” of current club members as well as prospective members.

“Overall I’d have to say that the sophomore events have been enjoyable and that I’m looking forward to joining the club,” he said.

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Turnout at the sophomore events “has been great,” Fletcher said. He noted that more than 30 sophomores attended the Monday Night Football event on Dec. 6 and close to 100 went to the “Fraturday” party on Dec. 4.

The club will host several more events in January and will continue to offer sophomore meals.

“We’re having loads of events over reading period, since we figure that’s when sophomores will make that last push to accumulate points and we want to accommodate that,” Fletcher explained.