The majority of upperclassmen at Princeton University take their meals in one of ten eating clubs, which are private organizations resembling both dining halls and social houses. Princeton University, located in Princeton, New Jersey, is the fifth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. ...

History

Fraternities and secret societies were banned from Princeton from the middle of the nineteenth century until the 1980's - except for the debating societies, the American Whig Society and the Cliosophic Society, which had been founded at Princeton before the American Revolution. The American Revolution is the series of events, ideas, and changes that resulted in the political separation of thirteen colonies in North America from the British Empire and the creation of the United States of America. ...

Eating clubs arose from dining societies, in which Princeton students gathered to take meals at a common table. These, often with whimsical names, rarely lasted longer than a few years, disappearing when their founders graduated.

Towards the end of the 19th century the eating clubs began to recruit new members as old ones left, and to lease or buy permanent facilities. The new clubs (along with other new extracurricular activities) gradually eroded the central role that Whig and Clio played in undergraduate student life. The decline in popularity and energy of the secret societies led to their merger into the American Whig-Cliosophic Society. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The American Whig-Cliosophic Society (short form: Whig-Clio) is the oldest college political, literary, and debating society in continual existence in the world. ...

Ivy Club was the first of the permanent eating clubs. It was followed shortly after by University Cottage Club. The Ivy Club, founded in 1879, was the first eating club at Princeton University. ...

Current status

As of the beginning of 2005, Princeton undergraduates had their choice of ten eating clubs. Five clubs, namely University Cottage Club, Cap and Gown Club, The Ivy Club, Tiger Inn, and Princeton Tower Club are selective and choose their members through a process called bicker (which is detailed later in this article). Cap and Gown Club is a selective eating club at Princeton University. ... The Ivy Club, founded in 1879, was the first eating club at Princeton University. ... Tiger Inn is one of the eleven active eating clubs at Princeton University and one of the five selective clubs; membership is awarded after successful completion of a process called Bicker. ... Princeton Tower Club is one of the eleven eating clubs at Princeton University, and is one of five clubs to select its members through a selective bicker process. ...

Five clubs, Cloister Inn, Princeton Charter Club, Colonial Club, Quadrangle Club, and Terrace Club, are non-selective. These clubs' members are chosen through a sign-in process and lottery. Cloister Inn is one of the undergraduate eating clubs at Princeton University. ... The Princeton Charter Club is one of Princeton Universitys eleven eating clubs. ... Colonial Club Colonial Club is one of the ten current eating clubs of Princeton University. ... Quadrangle Club, often abbreviated to Quad is one of the ten eating clubs at Princeton University. ... Terrace Club is one of the ten current eating clubs at Princeton University. ...

Each club occupies a large mansion on Prospect Avenue, with the exception of Terrace Club, which is just around the corner on Washington Road. This area is known to students simply as "The Street," and is alive with music, and various themed parties most Thursday and Saturday nights. Friday nights find clubs opening their doors only to members and tend to be a bit more low-key. Annual events include Initiations, where new sophomore recruits are introduced to club life; Lawnparties, in which clubs hire bands to play outdoors on the Sunday before fall classes begin; Winter Formals, which take place on the last Saturday before winter break; and Houseparties, a three-day festival at the end of spring term involving a Friday night formal, champagne brunch on Saturday morning, a Saturday night semiformal, and another round of Lawnparties on Sunday afternoon. Prospect Avenue is the street in Princeton, New Jersey on which ten of the eleven eating clubs at Princeton University are located. ...

A total of 20 eating clubs have existed since Ivy Club opened in 1879, though never more than 18 at any one time. Many of the eating clubs have fallen on hard times and closed their doors or merged with others. The now-defunct eating clubs include Cannon Club, Elm Club, Key and Seal Club, Dial Lodge, Arch Club, Gateway Club, Court Club, Arbor Inn, and Prospect Club. The most recent to close was Campus Club, which shut down in 2005. Dial, Elm, and Cannon Clubs merged to form DEC Club, which operated from 1990 to 1998. Campus Club is one of the undergraduate eating clubs at Princeton University. ...

The eating clubs remain one of the more unique eating options for students at any University. While each club has a different flavor and character all clubs succeed at providing their members and indeed all students with a comfortable and relaxing environment to study, eat, and simply relax with their friends.

Bicker

The five selective eating clubs pick new members in a process called "bicker."

In its current incarnation, bicker begins each spring during the week following intersession break, when interested sophomores come to the club they would like to join. What follows can vary widely by club, from staid interviews conducted by club members to raucous games designed to foster competition among potential inductees. Following two or three evenings of this, the current club membership selects new members in closed sessions, the conduct of which varies from club to club. The clubs initiate their new members the following weekend.

Additionally, some bicker clubs conduct a smaller "Fall Bicker" for third and fourth year students.

External links

• [1], Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library page on the clubs. Provides a history and list of materials in the library.
• [2], the University's list of links to the eating clubs' websites

• A Princeton Companion page on the clubs.