Editorial: On the SCUWL report

Certainly, not all of the committee’s recommendations will effect a significant change in campus life. For example, the committee proposed that professors encourage more female undergraduates in their academic studies and their pursuit of leadership positions. While we agree in principle, the proposal itself seems a little vague. Other suggestions, such as the proposal that Princeton reduce the size of its classes and precepts, seem only tangentially related to women’s leadership.

The committee did, however, make three substantial proposals. First, it suggested that Princeton redesign the freshman orientation program to include more input from and contact with upperclassmen. The increased participation of older students, the committee reasoned, would provide a particular benefit to women, who require more support from older peers before they will pursue leadership positions. Orientation is especially important because the committee found that a student’s first few weeks on campus play a particularly large role at Princeton in shaping that student’s entire experience here. Because upperclassmen have gone through freshman year at Princeton themselves, they will likely know better than administrators what kind of information would be most useful to provide. Furthermore, the stronger relationships formed between upperclass and underclass students would benefit all those involved.

Second, the committee suggested the introduction of a “Re-Orientation” program after fall break to build on the activities of freshman orientation. Whereas orientation occurs when freshmen are completely unfamiliar with campus, Re-Orientation would give freshmen the opportunity to seek advice about issues that may arise as they become accustomed to Princeton. While it would be counterproductive to make such a program mandatory, Re-Orientation would provide a good opportunity to ascertain how freshmen are adapting to Princeton and to provide additional support and information if they require it.

Finally, the committee proposed a mentoring system for women undergraduates that would provide women with access to peer advisers, who could provide guidance on leadership-related issues, through the Residential Colleges. We endorse the general idea of a mentorship program but reject the committee’s suggestion that it be restricted to women at its inception. Although some research indicates that women stand to benefit more from this sort of program, surely men would derive some benefit from it. We should not deny men access to a resource from which they might profit.

We do note that the committee’s report devoted relatively little attention to the ways in which certain other factors — socioeconomic status, for example, or international origin — may exacerbate the difficulties particular groups of women face in attaining leadership positions, and we suspect that the committee’s plan would benefit from more consideration of how general policies might be tailored to address those groups. Nonetheless, the recommendations made in the report would be beneficial and should be adopted.