eating clubs...any opinions?

[system]

<p>

@Harvard Crimson on the Final Clubs:

Though no longer endorsed by the College, these select institutions still dominate, in the view of many, much of Harvard’s social life, and in doing so perpetuate artificial social distinctions and gender inequality.

<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=509316[/url]”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=509316&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

@Byerly on the comparison of Final and Eating Clubs:

Scottie’s chronic efforts to compare the dominant role the “Eating Clubs” play with respect to social life at Princeton **with the impact of the miniscule and relatively low-profile “secret societies” at Yale or “final clubs” ** at Harvard are highly dishonest and utterly without merit, as he well knows.

</p>

<p>… even if Scottie knew, the Harvard Crimson does not seem to know yet…</p>

<p>

@Harvard Crimson on the Final Clubs:

Those even tangentially aware of the punch process understand that by walking into a punch event students are subjecting themselves to withering social scrutiny. The arbitrary judgments are generally based on a two-minute introduction to a current member, who knows that he or she is in a position of power. Based on little more information than a name, House, and concentration—and a guess as to their socioeconomic status—current members must make a decision on a punch’s worthiness by the next “cut meeting.”

</p>

<p>Sounds as if even the most “selective” bicker clubs at P undertake more of an effort to assess the “social fit” of the aspirants. At least ** gender ** inequality is something largely confined to historic realms at P.</p>

<p>

@Harvard Crimson on the Final Clubs:

… why do ** hundreds ** of students subject themselves to such capricious, often humiliating, selection processes?

</p>

<p>“hundreds” (Harvard Crimson) or “miniscule” (Byerly) ?</p>

<p>To the matter: obviously, the notion that Harvard draws intelligent people with a rather egalitarian bend while Princeton attracts intelligent people with a rather elitist bend is questionable. Rather the Isis debate sheds some light on the fact that social selectivity is far from being abhorred at H. It is really this “dishonest” myth (that H was a more egalitarian place) that seems to be “utterly without merit”.</p>