The Daily Princetonian
Thursday february 4, 2016
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Bicker in Retrospect
PAGES DESIGNED BY HARRISON BLACKMAN :: STREET EDITOR
This week, Street Editor HARRISON BLACKMAN considers the history of bicker, the process of admitting new members at selective eating clubs. A glance back at the ‘Prince’ archives reveals bicker’s fascinating and often controversial history. Evolving from a five-week process to the weeklong, co-ed system present today, bicker has seen high and low points over the past century.
JUNE 6, 1958 MARCH 3, 1914
An anonymous column published in the ‘Prince’ criticizes the bicker reforms put in place in 1914 - “accomplish[ing] the impossible” - reducing bicker from an astounding five weeks to the modern, single week system.
APRIL 17, 1916
This column from 1916 observes that the topics of most bicker sessions amount to two things: “athletics and sex.” While athletics are interesting, the columnist observes, “sex is a world old problem which probably will remain unsolved for some time.”
This entry for the Class of ‘62 freshmen dictionary explains bicker in a frank way.
MARCH 5, 1953
These cartoons express the nervouseness of a bickeree (above image) and what is named “Mr. Bicker at Work” (below image).
JUNE 6, 1969
Bicker loses popularity as sign-in clubs surge in popularity, causing this ‘Prince’ writer to herald bicker on its “deathbed.” Perhaps to the surprise of the article’s author, bicker would prove to survive this low point.
FEB. 3, 1976
This article cites the lack of African-American participation in bicker at the time a result of blacks not wanting to be alienated from the University’s black community, as well as the traditional “whitness” of the clubs.
JULY 25, 1975
This freshman issue from 1975 outlines many of the reasons students bicker today -dining superior to that of “Commons” [modern day Rocky-Mathey dining halls] and an organized social life.
FEB. 5, 1981
In this curious example of invistagative journalism, Stona Fitch ‘ 83 describes his experience bickering the five selective clubs. In Fitch’s terms,“Bicker divides the campus into yet anothe set of factions: those who bicker-and those who don’t.”
FEB. 4, 1991
Coed bicker begins at Tiger Inn, the last eating club to admit women, doubling the number of candidates at the club.
OCT. 5, 1998
This article heralds the successful launch of dry fall bicker at Cap and Ivy, building on a trend to separate bicker from alcohol consumption.
The Daily Princetonian
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Thursday february 4, 2016
IN DEFENSE OF NO SNOW DAYS DANIELLE TAYLOR Associate Street Editor
W
e thought winter would never come. But then it did. This Intersession, winter came with a vengeance — and serendipitously, there was not a snow day in sight. The forecast for Winter Storm Jonas was announced during the last week of fall finals, alerting students to the first heavy snow of the school year and forcing Floridians, such as myself, to quickly book flights back home before the storm ar-
rived. It came during the one week in which there are no classes — not that the University gives a lot of snow days to begin with. When southern states like Georgia get an inch of snow, everything shuts down, while Princeton students bundle up and try to make it to their 9 a.m. classes by traversing the frozen gothic tundra that used to be known as Princeton University. Now, while most students would complain about having class when Princeton resembles Elsa’s ice palace from “Frozen,”
there are quite a few benefits in regard to Princeton’s lack of snow days. 1. Blizzards offer their own brand of workout routine: survival. Was your New Year’s resolution to be more fit and go to the gym? Now you can get a workout without having to use any machinery or, even worse, run. Instead, you can work out your mind and body as you contemplate every single step that you take to avoid slipping on ice, bruising your pride and bottom. Navigating campus like Bear Grylls, you work out your legs as you take careful quick steps around icy patches, or perform your best version of a grand jeté over a muddy puddle (making you wonder if you should audition for Princeton University Ballet). 2. Get closer with friends. A lot closer, e.g., “penguin huddle.” Not having snow days allows you to get closer to your fellow students, both mentally and physically. The usual chatter of a morning walk is silenced as students trudge through the ice and snow in solidarity, wonder-
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ing what it is like at Stanford right now. In those moments, there is no separation between students; we are all one force trying to overcome the terrain. Also, as we try our best to walk only in the snow and stay away from ice, we feel really close to our fellow students as we literally walk in their footprints and follow them closely, to the point when body heat is almost shared between a pair. Sometimes even a group of students can be seen huddling for warmth in the manner of emperor penguins, famous for their miraculous tap-dancing abilities — and marching to Morgan Freeman’s golden voice.
the subjects will be delighted, making repeated calls of “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” and will even venture to play in the snow. Those happy days will, sadly, not last for long. By the third day of below-freezing conditions, the subjects will come to the conclusion that snow is just ice. Ice that is falling on your face and into your eyes. And when ice forms on the ground? The frustration is quite apparent on the subjects’ faces, especially when they encounter black ice. Now, next year, when they are warned that winter is coming and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros face civil war, they will feel an appropriate sense of anticipation and horror.
3. Blizzards at Princeton offer, unsurprisingly, research opportunities. Remember to get IRB approval! The first couple days after heavy snow are great to perform psychological experiments. The subject? New students from tropical or subtropical regions. It feels like you are watching a documentary on PBS that starts out with the subjects leaving their natural habitat of a heated room to investigate the cold white stuff in the air and on the ground. For the first day,
In conclusion: It’s for the best, and rightfully part of a comprehensive liberal-arts education. In sum, the University truly has our best interest at heart when we are forced to face a white abyss of ice to make it to our lectures, labs, precepts and independent work. It’s just another opportunity Princeton offers its students: the experience of a new Ice Age. It may have been fleeting, perhaps, but it was nonetheless a shocker for the students from the sun belt.
UNFAMILIAR STREET
Picadilly Road, London, England VICTORIA SCOTT Senior Writer
“Unfamiliar Street” is a travel series in which we introduce you to streets from all around the world, far from the well-trod gravel of Prospect Avenue. et’s jet across the pond to one of the most famous streets in London: Piccadilly. All right, maybe this street is not so unfamiliar if you know the famous roads of London, have played British monopoly or listened to the song “Good Life” by OneRepublic where the road is referenced within the first thirty-five seconds of the song. However, unless you’re staying at the Ritz Hotel in London or trying to catch the tube from either Green Park station or Piccadilly Circus station, chances are you don’t know that much about Piccadilly. Don’t make the rookie mistake of confusing Piccadilly Road with Piccadilly Circus. As the names might suggest, the first is a straight line and the latter is a circle. Piccadilly Circus is a round, plaza-like space that connects Piccadilly Road and Regent Street. Named after the piccadills, stiff lace col lars that Robert Baker sold on the street in the 1600s, Piccadilly, located in the borough of the City of Westminster, is now surrounded by other wel lknow n locations, including Hyde Park and May fair. Piccadilly ranks w ith other famous London streets, such as Baker Street where the fictional character Sherlock
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Holmes resided, and Abbey Road, associated w ith the Beatles and their hit album of the same name. If you start at Hyde Park Corner and look to the right you’l l see an impressive stone monument, the Wellington Arch. The Wellington Arch is a hollow victor y arch w ith three f loors of exhibits commemorating the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon. If you continue walking east you’l l notice that one side of the street is busy w ith people walking in and out of beautifully designed buildings. The other side of the street is relatively quiet w ith no buildings because it hugs Green Park. Before crossing the street to Green Park, a Royal Park of London, note that the Brits drive on the other side of the road and remember to look left (and right for good measure) . There is much to explore in Green Park, but we w ill stay on Piccadilly for now. If you continue walking east you w il l begin to see plent y of business people descending below ground to the Green Park tube station. Ever y time I visit London, this tube station is my starting and stopping point for exploring the city. The London Underground is the cleaner, friendlier, more efficient version of New York City’s subway system. Ever y
morning during my stay, I bought a cup of tea from the nearest cafe and hopped on the tube at Green Park to any of the 270 stations around London. A two minute walk from the Green Park tube station takes you to The Royal Academy of Arts, part of the Burlington House, a private mansion now open to the public. The intricate stone architecture now serves as a center to enjoy and appreciate the visual arts through exhibitions, education, debates and other events open to the public. I went to the Jean-Etienne Liotard exhibition which
closed on Jan. 31. Starting Jan. 30, however, and lasting until April 20 2016 is Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, an exhibition to explore to the role of gardens in the evolution of art. Just across the street from the Royal Academy is Fortnum and Mason, the most famous shop on Piccadilly, founded in 1707 by William Fortnum and Hugh Mason. Fortnum and Mason used to be an elite grocery shop until it was converted to an upmarket department store selling everything from luxury teas to kitchen appliances. In Fortnum and Mason, I sat
at The Parlour for a glass of champagne and croissants. When The Parlour is closed, you can go to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon on the fourth f loor where you can enjoy a spot of afternoon tea. Piccadilly is one of London’s principal shopping streets with many famous shops and hotels, including the Ritz and Park Lane Hotels. With its beautiful architecture both old and modern, buildings that have stood since the 18th century such as Fortnum and Mason and newer buildings, Piccadilly serves as a reminder of London’s rich histor y.
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WRITE FOR STREET features, theater, dance, essays, music, art, fashion, humor, health.
For more information, email us at: streeteditors@gmail.com
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Thursday february 4, 2016
PERFORMANCES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH PUC CATHERINE WANG Staff Writer
P
rinceton University Concerts may be soon approaching its 125th anniversary, but its new concert series nicknamed “PUC125” is all about trying something innovative and experimental that breaks away from the traditional classical concert format. PUC is short for Performances Up Close, as the series presents an opportunity for the audience to sit on the stage with the performers. Six PUC125 concerts are scheduled for the 2015-16 school year, with performers ranging from an accordion player to a Renaissance vocal ensemble. Feedback for the first three concerts has been extremely positive as audience members have praised the unique presentation and setting. Another reason for its popularity among Princeton students is its abridged format. As a one-hour concert at either 6 p.m. or 9 p.m., it offers the perfect study break. The fourth concert featuring the Ébène String Quartet is scheduled for Mar. 9. PUC125 was initially conceived as an experiment that would break down the perceived barriers of formal concert settings which are used in the Thursday night Concert Classics Series, Princeton University Concerts’ longest running series. Currently, this series is in its 122nd season. “One of the biggest [barriers] was that when you’re sitting in a concert hall and you’re staring up at a stage… you do feel a certain distance, like a psychological curtain between the performer and the audience,” Director Marna Seltzer said. “So the first thing we wanted to do was remove that and make people feel like they’re really a part of the process.” PUC125 also manages to overcome a given audience member’s discomfort of not having any prior musical knowledge. “People think there are unwritten rules to being in a concert hall... They feel like they have to have some prior knowledge before they listen to an event, which isn’t the case, but people feel that,” Seltzer explained. “What I believe is that when you take away that barrier and you just put the artist on the same level as the audience and you ask the artist to talk to the audience and tell them not only about the pieces that they’re playing but a little bit about themselves and their background...it draws people in.”
The main challenge of creating PUC125 is being able to redefine the space so that 200 audience members can sit on the stage and still feel like the experience is intimate and unique. However, moving the audience closer into a circle around the artist and having the artists interact with them creates an immensely different experience according to Marketing and Outreach Manager, Darya Koltunyuk ’15. “You see almost to an uncomfortable COURTESY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CONCERTS extent the sweat and emotion behind the This past fall, pianist David Greilsammer played works by Domenico Scarlatti and John Cage. music,” Koltunyuk said. “It becomes a very intimate experience, and talking with the audiing out how it all works,” Seltzer said. concerts we ask people to fill out a ence members afterwards they often “People wouldn’t leave the stage, they comment card and many people are say that they’ve never experienced were fascinated by what had hapreally into continuing the conversamusic like that – it’s like listening to a pened.” tion,” Koltunyuk said. “It’s amazing live performance in your living room, PUC125 has also enabled Princeton to go to a classical concert and see that which is how I would describe it.” University Concerts to bring in art80 percent of the audience are stuOne particularly memorable perforists that they have never been able to dents. I think that’s something that mance happened in December when before. I’ve dreamt about so it’s something a pianist named David Greilsammer “The programming on the Thursthat’s very exciting for us that we presented an unusual program which day night series is just a little more hope will continue.” combined sonatas by Domenico Scartraditional, and we have to invite artAlthough the PUC125 experiment latti and John Cage. ists who not only can capture the athas been a resounding success, Direc“Those are completely different tention of close to 1000 people but tor Seltzer still has more plans for tonal worlds and he sits on a swivel who are that far along in their caimprovement next year. chair in between the two and literreers,” Seltzer explained. “This allows “We need to see this series as our ally just plays one, throws the music us to present younger artists and prolaboratory and be more experimental off, turns around and starts playing grams that are a little more off beat than we already have been. What we the other one,” Seltzer said. “He disand eclectic.” did this year was that we took certain covered connections between the two These eclectic artists are also introbarriers away from the traditional composers that no other person would ducing many different genres of muconcert format,” Seltzer said. “Now have.” sic to the audience, which varies from we’re looking for artists who are reJohn Cage’s music requires preparaccordion music to atonal music, and ally open-minded and pretty much ing the piano by placing objects on students have taken well to it. game for anything, with some dream or between the strings in a way that “We’re trying to make it a conversain the back of their mind that hasn’t changes the sound of the piano, and tion about what the future of classical been realized, to participate in these thanks to the PUC125 concept, audimusic should be like. After all of our performances,” she added. ence members were able to walk up to the piano and see exactly how the piano was altered for the performance -- something they would not have been able to do in a traditional concert setting. “It was so cool to see people gathered around the piano, looking inside, check-
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Gallicantus, a Renaissance vocal ensemble, opened the “Performances Up Close” series.
The Daily Princetonian
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“The Vagina Monologues” to showcase female experience ANGELA WANG
T
monologue called “Angry Vagina,” a relatively comedic piece. “It’s been a different experience,” Ibekwe said. “I haven’t actually been around a femaledominated group or environment since I played varsity lacrosse in high school.” Ibekwe is a dancer and a stepper, and belongs to a predominantly male friend group at Princeton. “I’m putting myself in a situation that I haven’t been in a while, and it’s nice to be with other women who think about the same things,” Ibekwe said. Like many of the actresses, the directors are new to their roles, and like all performances there are some obstacles to overcome. When asked about her concerns for the show, Robbins expressed a need to publicize. “The first challenge is to publicize it and make sure we are bringing in a new audience,” Robbins said. To achieve crossover appeal, the directors and producers have invited many fraternities and male sports teams to come see the show, and have asked each actor to bring at least one male friend to the performance. “Men should support women on campus by coming to the show,” Robbins said. “I think they will find it funny and they will find it moving and will hopefully learn something.” “The most difficult part, which is simultaneously the most reward-
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ing part, is the material of the show,” Cohen said. “The script is both inspiring and devastating to read, rehearse and feel the range of female experience.” Cohen performed the opening piece “Hair” herself two years ago. It’s a story where a husband cheats on his wife because she refuses to shave her pubic area, creating a simultaneously hilarious yet serious dramatic situation. According to Cohen, the transition from being on stage to directing the show is a step up by a large order of magnitude. “I think the change from going from actor to director is like going from being a piece of glass to a whole mosaic,” Cohen said.
Melanie Ho ’18, a co-producer of the play, emphasized how ticket sales will be donated to Womenspace, a local organization dedicated to preventing domestic and sexual violence. “All the money we raised will be donated to Womenspace, which is another reason to get your ticket and come to the show!” Ho said. In addition to the show’s charitable mission, SHARE peers will host a Q&A session after the show ends. In between monologues, statistics from the 2015 “We Speak” survey on sexual assault at Princeton will be displayed on a screen. “This way, the audience is not just charged to learn about the female experience in theory, but on more immediate, sobering terms,” Cohen said. With passionate directors and producers, a diverse cast on stage, special guests appearing each night, SHARE peers providing more information and hopefully a great turnout in the audience, “The Vagina Monologues” is aimed at stimulating conversation about feminism and gender equality on campus. “You will laugh, you will love our characters, and you will learn about the simultaneity of womanhood,” Cohen said. COURTESY OF OLIVIA ADECHIE
headlines you didn’t read this week DAILY PRINCETONIAN STAFF
CLASSES TO STUDENTS, “JONAS
MANY
: THE IMA X 4D
WINTER EXPERIENCE” AMONG
THEM
Historical Society of Princeton opens farm, reenacts historic Princeton agri-“culture”
USG to initiate hoverboard share program, work on telling fewer Nickelback jokes for Lawnparties
TOP TEN Intersession Activities Snowed in.
2 4 6 8 10
Netflix and “chill” — with snow. Snow shoveling.
Watching “The Shining” on Netflix, becoming paranoid.
HEADLINERS AND HEADSHAKERS THIRD WINTERSESSION OFFERS
STREET’S
1 3 5 7 9
Staff Writer
he vagina becomes a site for women’s empowerment and individuality among women,” Olivia Robbins ’16 said, in reference to the play she is co-directing with Azza Cohen ’16, Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” Ensler, the play’s author, interviewed over 200 women about the female experience and compiled them into her 1996 play. An annual show at Princeton, “The Vagina Monologues” will be performed Feb. 11-13 in Theatre Intime. Princeton’s version of “The Vagina Monologues” consists of several monologues based on and adapted from Ensler’s script. Normally each monologue features one person, but some have two or three people involved. “[The play] offers some, and certainly not all, narratives of womanhood – what it’s like to have a vagina,” Robbins added. Both Cohen and Robbins, the play’s directors, are directing for the first time and many of the cast members have never acted before. However, the majority are not strangers to the stage, since many have previous experience in dance and music. “There’s an amazing energy to acting on stage for the first time, and a pure, raw evocation that I am so proud of our actors for creating and sustaining,” Cohen said, in an email statement. Take Dominique Ibekwe ’16 for example: an actress with no previous acting experience, Ibekwe will perform a
Thursday february 4, 2016
RIKES CAMPUS UPDATED: SNOWSTORM ST HOOL THE ONE WEEK WITHOUT SC
Princeton town to make Unicycle Master Plan with Schwinn input
First round sign-in ends, ICC not releasing numbers but the truth is out there
Looking at Snapchats from warm locales. Wishing you could leave your house.
Looking at Facebook photos from South Africa. All shoveling and no play make Jack a dull boy. REDRUM. “Here’s Johnny!!”
CAMPUS PICKS THEATER LEWIS CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS SOPHOCLES’ “ELEKTRA” Mathews Acting Studio, 185 Nassau Friday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m..
Watch one of the world’s oldest and greatest plays in a Lewis Center senior performance that breathes new life into a tale of revenge and familial tragedy. Evelyn Giovine ’16 will perform the title character with direction from Alexandru Mihail, co-sponsored by the Lewis Center for the Arts and the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies. See this play this weekend and next.
READING CWR LECTURER DISCUSSES DEBUT NOVEL Princeton Public Library Common Room Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Next Tuesday, Idra Novey will read and talk about her debut novel, “Ways to Disappear.” Novey is a lecturer in Literary Translation for the Creative Writing department, and has published several books of poetry. Stop by her reading/book signing to celebrate the launch of her first novel! Even more reason to do so if you’ve never been to the Princeton Public Library — it’s easily one of the best public libraries in the country.
DANCE SYMPOH PRESENTS “FLOOR DISPLAY 4” Wilson Black Box Theater Saturday, 6 p.m. This Saturday, Sympoh will hold its annual winter breakdancing competition, “Floor Display 4,” from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Top breakdancers from throughout the area will battle, tournament-style, to DJ Kanton’s great beats for a cash prize. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with a $10 entry fee, but feel free to just watch — it’s free with PUID.
OPEN HOUSE BAC SPRING AUDITIONS Dillon Gym Multi-Purpose Room Sunday, 2 p.m.
Princeton’s premier hip-hop dance company, BAC, is holding auditions this Sunday. BAC aims to diversify Princeton through various styles of hip-hop, both technical and cultural. If you loved their past show, “The Motive,” and you’re interested in joining the purple family, go to the Dillon MPR from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. No dance experience required!
OPEN HOUSE WILDCATS OPEN HOUSE Bloomberg Hall 053 Friday, 10 p.m.
Back from their fall break tour to Portugal, the Wildcats, one of Princeton’s all-female a capella groups, is holding an open house this Friday from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Auditions are from Sunday, Feb. 7 to Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Interested freshmen and sophomore girls can sign up for auditions on a WASS calendar.