Connect to Cap News from the Board Chair Tom Fleming ’69
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NEWSLETTER | Spring 2017 Cap and Gown Club Connect to Cap News from the Board Chair Tom Fleming ’69 Dear Cap Members, Relationship with Princeton University As Chair of Cap and Gown and the We also have the opportunity, particularly through the GICC, to Graduate Inter Club Council (GICC) work with an incredibly talented and dedicated group of people I have been fortunate to participate throughout the University administration. in substantial positive shifts in the Commitment to Safety and Security relationship between Princeton University and the Eating Clubs over We are all aware that in a litigious society with a legal drinking age the past 8 years. of 21, bad things happen to good people on college campuses. We are not so naïve as to think we have eliminated risk, but the In the spring of 2009, President Shirley Tilghman initiated the close partnership of the ICC (Interclub Council), with the GICC, formation of a Task Force on the Relationship Between the ODUS (Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Services), and the University and Eating Clubs. Last month the GICC presentation Title IX and SHARE counseling services has resulted in street- to the University Board of Trustees recapped progress that has wide policies, practices, and training that keep all students safer. been made as shown in the timeline on page 2. Recent Meeting with Princeton University Trustees If you keep up with news about fraternal organizations at other colleges and universities, you know that we are fortunate at Here are highlights from the GICC presentation to Princeton Princeton, and at Cap, that we have been able to cultivate a University Trustees on April 8th. very different, and more positive social experience, and mutual respect between our undergraduate members and the grad • The Interclub Group Insurance Program provides annual boards of the clubs. training for the officers of the 10 clubs that participate in the program in addition to providing strong cost-effective coverage. So why are we fortunate at Princeton, and more particularly at • The Community Service Interclub Council hosted the 4th Cap and Gown? annual community-wide Princeton TruckFest fundraiser on Coeducation April 29th. This event has donated $80,000 in the past 3 years to local charities. At Cap, we can proudly recall being in the forefront of bringing • The University upgraded the Internet service and WIFI in all 11 women into the clubs when coeducation began in 1970. It has clubs over the past year. This was a major operation that was now been 25 years since three of our neighbors went kicking completely managed and paid for by the University. and screaming in the same direction after expending significant amounts of money on legal fees to oppose the inevitable. Harvard • The Princeton Prospect Foundation has established a newly is uncomfortably facing the issue now with its Finals Clubs. designated Princeton Eating Club Historic District that will be listed on the New Jersey and National Registers, and will be Relationship with Undergraduate Members commemorated with a beautiful book to be published this fall (for sale in time for the holidays). Those of us who work with the clubs have the privilege and satisfaction of working closely with a new group of dedicated and We cannot rest on past accomplishments. Looking forward, we capable undergraduate leaders who we see when they return for presented issues that, if not addressed, could negatively impact club events including board meetings years after graduation. the existence of the club system in the future. We made the following points: News from the Board Chair • The clubs are a tremendous asset for • The physical condition of the club and our New Club-University Princeton because of the community they finances are in excellent shape. With over Initiatives Since the provide and the safety they promote from $6 million invested in our facility over the last Task Force Report their ideal campus location. ten years, the club has never been more on the Clubs • The increasing diversity on campus, functional and better maintained. Thanks particularly with more students from to our successful Capital Campaign that 2012 New process to coordinate disadvantaged backgrounds in combination concluded in 2011, we completed our recent admissions for all clubs with the strategic plan of the University calling improvements to the club debt free. for another four-year college, necessitates • The support of our alumni members ensures 2013 PrincetonEatingClubs.org, the continuing evolution of the clubs. our continued strength. We are building a a new website about the Cap Endowment thanks to our generous • Unintended consequences of well- cllubs, launched intentioned University policies particularly alumni who want to ensure the club’s financial security for the long run. 2014 in the area of financial aid are incentivizing 1st Princeton TruckFest students to drop clubs, the most expensive • We are planning one more exceptional annual fundraiser launched social option, for financial reasons. This puts addition to the club — a Garden Room. We by community service pressure on all clubs, but more particularly are in the final stages of seeking a zoning chairs of the clubs on open clubs, who have not enjoyed the variance to create a garden room and 2015 strong alumni support of the selective clubs. underground storage area on the west side Formation of Community Service ICC • Successfully meeting our goals requires that of the club, which will respond to critical both selective clubs and open clubs thrive. needs and add a beautiful new space for 2015 everyday use, and expanded dining space ICC commitment to street- • The GICC called for a joint University/club for our large events. wide best practices and effort to examine these issues in depth with training the goal of better integrating the club system Many Thanks for Your Support for Cap! 2016 with residential colleges and reducing the We just celebrated Cap and Gown’s 125th Formation of P-Cubed incentive for students on financial aid to go Interclub Insurance Group Anniversary, but we must always be looking independent. forward. With your continuing generosity, Cap ICC Conference on The GICC, in cooperation with the ICC, Inclusion/Diversity can and will continue to positively impact the looks forward to a continuing dialogue with undergraduate experience of our members and ICC Financial Aid Survey the University on these and other important the broader Princeton University community. University/Club Service matters. Agreement Please take the time to send in a donation to Looking Ahead to Cap’s Future Upgraded Internet/WIFI for the Annual Fund — an envelope is enclosed for all clubs your convenience. This year’s campaign closes Cap is in a strong position to provide leadership 2017 on June 30th. I hope you’ll return for Reunions as we move forward: All selective clubs now when we’ll be hosting our annual Open House participate in multi-club • Cap and Gown is the most popular club on after the P-rade on June 3rd. bicker the Street. During February club admissions, See you at the club! Increased ICC coordination significantly more sophomores were with USG interested in joining Cap and Gown than any other club. Cap and Gown membership Learn more about the Task reflects the diversity and impressive talents of Force on the Clubs and today’s students. Tom Fleming ’69 download the report here: Graduate Board Chair princeton.edu/edtf 2 609.258.0799 I [email protected] The Club Scene Dear Cap Alumni, The semi-formal was a success with great feedback from old and new members so My name is Jade Williams, and I am serving we hope for even more special events in as the undergraduate president of Cap the future. for this next year. I am extremely grateful to hold the position and want to thank my In addition to fun nights where we are fellow members for their support. After open to the street, Cap has plenty of transitioning immediately into my duties social events available to the membership and responsibilities, I’ve come to learn what during the week. Annie is compiling a a demanding job it is. Thankfully, I have spring social calendar as we prepare for had the continued assistance of the senior our bigger events such as House Parties in officers in helping our corps transition, as May. Meanwhile, we continue to have our well as the guidance of our Club Steward, weekly events such as Movie Night or Fire Dennis Normile and the Graduate Board in Fridays where members are encouraged to taking care of Cap’s day-to-day activities. stay and hang out in the club. Our goal is to make new members feel immediately a This past February, 258 bickerees registered part of the Cap family through a combination of Cap daily life and to bicker Cap, a huge increase from 174 the previous year. The unique member nights. bicker process, including games and interviews, went smoothly thanks to the facilitation of our senior bicker chair Chad Nuckols Cap continues to remain innovative and an active part of campus ’17. Even with the increase in the number of bickerees, senior culture as shown by our sustainability chairs and their efforts to treasurer Chris Piller ’17 helped redesign the Cap bicker website reduce waste while researching additional sustainable practices. to ensure fair discussions. Adopting new initiatives in the club also align with the University’s great attention to environmentally friendly practices. Outside Cap welcomed 91 new sophomores from the class of 2019 and of the club, Cap is preparing for Truckfest with the help of our added 5 new juniors to the class of 2018. After the club finalized community service chairs Vilma Jiminez ’18 and Anyssa Chebbi its decisions, the senior officers “picked up” all the new bickerees ’18.