To the Editor:

I appreciated the article about Clifford Zink’s book, The Eating Clubs of Princeton [“Book About Princeton’s Eating Clubs Details Architecture and Preservation,” page 5, Dec. 6]. The book illustrates the beautiful architecture of the Princeton University campus and describes the interesting stories around 16 unique entities, many over 100 years old. While the University now owns six of the lots, some with the original structures, 11 still operate as private clubs drawing members from Princeton’s undergraduate community.

Without any burden on our town’s schools or garbage collection services, 10 of the clubs pay property taxes that total over $665,000/year. Through diligent partnership with the University and TIPS training of the undergraduate officers, the clubs endeavor to be “good neighbors” and, in recent years, have required minimal intervention from the police as well.

Doug Rubin

Secretary of the Graduate Board, Charter Club