100%

The document that 605 out of 788 Princeton sophomores had signed last fall had been an undisguised ultimatum. Unless the entire sophomore class got invitations to join one of the university's 17 select upperclassmen's eating clubs, the 605 pledged that they themselves would join no clubs at all (TIME, Dec. 19). As Princetonians knew, such a boycott, if carried through, might be the beginning of the end for the clubs.

As the annual "bicker" (rushing) period drew near last month, President Harold W. Dodds stepped in with a suggestion. Why not set up an 18th club, so that the 10% or 15% usually passed over would be sure to have a place to go? The Graduate Interclub Committee endorsed the idea; so did the trustees. But not the undergraduates. Warned the Daily Princetonian: the 18th club might only become a "garbage can" for "undesirables." The paper took a campus survey, reported three out of five students opposed. President Dodds abandoned his scheme.

As the bicker began, sophomores and clubmen watched & waited. Early last week a few sophomores still seemed left without bids; it looked as if the 100 percenters would have to carry out their threat. Then the Undergraduate Interclub Committee held an emergency meeting. Next morning the campus got the word: Princeton's eating clubs had decided to extend their bids to all sophomores who wanted to join. Sighed President Dodds: "[A] happy outcome."

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