Students are invited to submit papers, projects, or original research for the enjoyment of the CMC community below. Participants and their topics will be selected by a committee of student representatives for uniqueness, interest, and quality. We are looking for interesting arguments on any topic — politics, culture, CMC, etc — and although the content will vary greatly, the form will remain constant: each participant will have 10 minutes, a projector, and a podium.

Presentation skills will be valued equally alongside content. At the end of the event, the audience will be asked to rank the speakers on their interest and persuasiveness, and while everyone will get a token of our appreciation, the winner will get a special prize: Ath VIP Status, including a head table spot at Mitt Romney and your name on the wall. More details regarding the prizes to come.

To get you thinking, here are some ideas (although not necessarily good ones) from our own Carl Peaslee: “Will NASCAR be the sport of the future?” “Who is the bigger nuclear threat, Iran or North Korea?” “Is Ford a better investment than Toyota?” “What does Twilight have to do with the recession?” “How is Star Wars the perfect metaphor for the Obama administration?”

Enter to present your idea using the form below, and be sure to sign up at the Ath for the dinner. Check out who else is going and invite your friends on facebook.

P.S. Everyone who steps up and applies will get a (very CMC) surprise gift.

The same night, the Pitzer Student Senate was throwing their biggest party of the year up on their campus. They brought in a great mash-up group, Super Mash Bros, which cost them $5,000. There were some other expenses and the whole party was probably close to $10,000. I’m sure it was a lot of fun. I wish I could have been there.

A few weeks before the Pitzer party, ASCMC got an e-mail from one of the organizers of the party. In the e-mail, the girl, a Pitzer freshman, asked ASCMC to help fund the party. After a few more e-mails, the same girl came to request money from the ASCMC Senate. The ASCMC Senate wound up giving $200 to the party (the Senate budget is ~$10k for the whole year and receives a few similar requests a week). Andrew Cosentino added another $300 from his SAC fund, bringing the total contributed from ASCMC to Pitzer to $500.

To put this in perspective, $500 is a substantial amount for ASCMC to contribute to Pitzer for a party that relatively few CMCers would actually attend. Pitzer has given ASCMC less than $1,000 this year and we gave them $750-1,000 for Kohoutek alone.The Super Mash Bros contribution of $500 was given based on the premise that CMC students would not be charged or turned away from the event. We didn’t anticipate many students going to the Pitzer party over the Wedding Party, but we wanted to make sure students had another option anyway.

The day of the party, some organizers of the party at Pitzer contacted ASCMC again. They wanted more money — the party had gone over budget and they would be in debt by over $2,000. They asked for another $500 from multiple people within ASCMC.

When they unexpectedly called me, I was changing into my suit before hurrying back to help set up the Wedding Party an hour before the dinner started. I was rushed, stressed, and wearing 48 hours of Las Vegas (what a week). The conversation went something like this:

Pitzer Girl: Hey, this is *****, we need $500 more for the Pitzer party tonight.
Me (confused): Uh, who told you to call me?
Pitzer Girl: Andrew said he couldn’t give any more money from his fund so we’re calling you for $500 more.
Me: …but we gave you $500 total. The party is tonight. It’s not reasonable for us to make a split judgment for $500 more right now, I’m sorry.
Pitzer Girl: If we don’t get $500 more from ASCMC, we won’t let CMCers in. Or we’ll charge them at the door.
Pause.
Me: …Oh?
Pitzer Girl: Yeah sorry, that’s the way it is.
Me: Alright then.
Pitzer Girl: ?
Me: We don’t negotiate with terrorists.

Epilogue: We took back the initial $500 commitment and married some people instead. Pitzer charged CMC students $5 each. Few CMCers showed up. Definitely not 100. They would have been better off with our $500 had they cooperated. (And I’m reminded of my Game Theory midterm…)

This account of the story is obviously supposed to make me and ASCMC sound cooler than we really are, but let’s ignore that. The real point is, Pitzer really tried to extort ASCMC. Not cool, Pitzer. If we weren’t like the America of the Claremont Colleges Consortium (or like Rome when Romans were super chill and running the world) and sly econ wizards (interesting fact: 11/18 of ASCMC’s Board are econ majors), we might have just given into Pitzer’s demands. But not on our wedding day. Not in America.

*Props to Andrew Cosentino ‘11 for coming up with the idea for the Wedding Party and executing it beautifully. Also credit to Ben Kraus ‘11 and the rest of ASCMC for help with planning and execution. I sincerely hope ASCMC’s next Board of Directors makes even bigger moves.

The first part is what happens when you take the number of words Professor Brock Blomberg says on the March 5th Mixtape, multiply it by where you would find the maximum of -x^2+102x+52, then subtract the number of Grammy Awards Lupe Fiasco has won, multiplied by the approximate number of decades B.o.B. has lived. Order of operations apply. Look to the north.

But it’s all in the second part, which was made popular in the 1980s by Eddie and further popularized by artists such as OutKast and Ludacris.

The first person gets two passes. The second person gets one.

A full list of candidates is available on our election page, where the title of each position is linked to a page with the statements from the candidates.

Dorm Affairs Chair (SAC): Nico Brancolini, Alexander Reichert

Nico Brancolini, CMC ‘11

Hey everyone. My name is Nico Brancolini. I am a junior from Bloomington, Indiana. I transferred to CMC my sophomore year from the GWU in Washington D.C. I would love to be the Dorm Affairs Chair. I have been a Dorm President every semester I have been here. In that capacity I have helped plan a number of TNCs and larger events like last year’s Masquerade Party and the Haunted House. I am organized, efficient and meticulous—all traits I see as essential to this position. If elected I would focus on more inter-dorm events—campus-wide capture the flag tournaments and Beer Olympics— and try to bring back some more traditional parties like the infamous Jello-Wrestling Party. I would also try to breathe new life into TNCs. Instead of the standard themes I would use ones like a “Seven Deadly Sins” party, a “Gatsby Party,” with a roaring 20s theme or an “Around the World Party” where dorm rooms would be serving the national beverage of various countries. I would be happy to hear campus-wide input for these and other events and would do everything in my power to provide an exciting and varied collegiate experience.

Alexander Reichert, CMC ‘11

Complacency – Smug satisfaction with the status quo.

As a Junior I have used my three years here to take advantage of all that CMC has to offer; from the social scene to the reading room I have embraced the motto of “Work Hard, Play Hard” to the absolute fullest. I love this place for what it is, yet I would like the opportunity to make it that much better. I fear that we have reached a level of complacency in our social scene and as your DAC I will work to break from the status quo. It is a problem that TNC’s can only be distinguished by the quad they are thrown in. It is also a problem that we say we take advantage of this great consortium’s benefits, yet at the same time have walled ourselves out of the 5C’s social scene spotlight. But most importantly, we cannot let the opinions and wishes of the silent majority at this school to continue to be drowned out by the highly vocal minority. A DAC must be able to hold events that do not solely focus around drinking but are enjoyable for all, such as regular comedy shows on Friday nights or local musicians playing sets on Sunday afternoons. It is time we demanded more creativity, more memorable events, and more locations (like this weekend’s Wedding Party). Let’s work together to enhance the level of parties here on this campus, bring back our social scene superiority at the 5Cs, and get away from an exclusively alcohol centric mentality. My drive and ideas, coupled with your critiques and input, will make for truly wonderful year.

Social Activities Chair (SAC): Matt Richardson, Seth Winterroth

Matt Richardson, CMC ‘12

Dearest CMCers,

Apparently when Will Farrell attended USC he flooded his frat house, and transformed it into a battleground for mock Viking warfare. Legendary. While I don’t see this party theme going over very well with Mr. Nauls (ehh, I’ll look into it) – I do intend on introducing some fresh and legendary party themes to both CMC and the 5C’s that we can certainly talk about for years to come. Here’s just one look at the kind of creative and unique event I’ve already come up with, and intend on pursuing if elected…

Smiley 90’s: A one-up of Pomona’s acclaimed Smiley 80’s party. Since we all wistfully reminisce over our beloved 90’s one-hit-wonders, let’s spend a sunny day on Green Beach listening to these gems, then cap the night with a performance by a big time 90’s band, like Sugar Ray or Third Eye Blind (for whom I’ve already begun speaking with a booking agent about availability)

Due to limited space in this column you will have to attend election speeches Tuesday at snack to hear about some other ideas, such as: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pardi Gras, and the Sagehen Mobile Bash.

Experience
As president of Wohlford, I have volunteered to organize, set up, and DJ, 3 of the last 5 TNC’s; I have also developed experience in event management over the last two years by helping set up various other parties/events. I am creative, driven, and love to foster a good time. I’ve got plenty of fresh ideas that I would love to filter into the position of SAC, and believe I have proven myself capable of handling the responsibilities of student activities in a larger arena.

P.S. I promise to get you a new and improved Party Inform by Wednesday afternoon at the latest… so all you TNC thrift shoppers, can do your thing.

Much Love,
Matty Rich

Seth Winterroth, CMC ‘12

I love the parties we throw at CMC: the Pirate Party on Green beach, gettin’ my B&G on in Claremont Hall, or even watching friendships momentarily dissolve during a rowdy game of flunky ball. I am committed to making the parties we love bigger and better, appeasing the school wide appetite for “beats,” and creating fresh ways to promote the latter half of our CMC credo: “work hard, play hard.” But, with this commitment comes a desire to reestablish the intended duties of the SAC position. As long as I have been at CMC the SAC position has been defined by the duty to throw parties. Recognized almost exclusively as the “party inform guy,” the position itself has developed a singular focus, based on “ragers” that monopolize the majority of the budget. While I love our parties, like many others on our campus, I appreciate complimenting my nights with the Captain with sunny fun in Santa Monica or Glass House concerts in Pomona. At CMC we are well-rounded individuals and our social interactions can and should consist of more than they do presently. I will work with the Dean of Students office to sponsor off campus trips to places other than the farmers market, bring in a wide variety of musical performers (some Kid Cudi, Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, Andes mountain flutes anyone?), and collaborate with the other 5Cs to break down barriers through memorable social interaction.

With the help of the CMC Forum I will establish a system of surveys that puts the power in your hands. My term as SAC will be a democratic one, and you will define my role. I am committed to putting in the effort to create events that contradict the CMC social stigmas, embrace the entirety of our student body, all while holding true to what CMC does best. Bottom line, I am going to improve our party lifestyle and fuse it with an influx of diverse social engagements, making my term one you will remember.

Social Life Chair (SLC): Grace Cowan, Hannah Gordon

Grace Cowan, CMC ‘11

If elected, my main focus would be to expand the selection of alternatives and to improve the ones we already have, like Hub Quiz. The main role of the Student Life Council Chair (SLC Chair) is to provide alternatives to the parties. I want to have more options for the student body including food (maybe even a food fight), movies (like a midnight showing of Iron Man 2), and any other ideas that the students would find entertaining.

Hannah Gordon, CMC ‘12

Hey fellow CMCers! I’m Hannah. I am running for SLC (that’s the dry event committee chair, just an fyi). I’m having a great time at CMC this semester and now I want to give back to the student community. I think ASCMC is a great opportunity to get involved and meet really cool people.

As SLC chair I would be in charge of awesome events like Hub Quiz, movie nights, cookie decorating etc. Now that it’s getting toward the end of the year, I think it is time to branch out and spice things up a little. Lets get everyone out of their bubble of friends to exciting, and potentially embarrassing, events like Karaoke, taboo competitions, and ping pong tournaments.

Looking forward to seeing you at the speeches on Tuesday!

Editor’s Note: Because the ASCMC Constitution forbids candidates from online campaigning and the authors of comments cannot be exactly identified, we have disallowed commenting on this and all other election-related posts.

A full list of candidates is available on our election page, where the title of each position is linked to a page with the statements from the candidates.

2013 President: Aditya Pai, Connor Barclay

Aditya Pai, CMC ‘13

CMC is awesome. It’s awesome not only because of our academics, our athletics, and our parties but also because we are small – like the bar in Cheers where everyone knows your name. That’s why I first ran for class president. Being class president at a big school isn’t much fun: you have to represent thousands of kids you don’t even know. But at CMC, being a student representative is different.

It’s easy to get to know your class just by having some initiative and being outgoing. You can then have confidence when deciding how to spend your budget because you have a good idea of how most people would want you to spend it. I think this makes the job much easier and much more rewarding.

It’s no surprise that people enjoyed the CMS Freshmen Tailgate because a lot of freshmen said they valued events with the other 5Cs. Of course everyone came out to the In and Out Snack: not having snack on Sundays is a common freshman complaint. Lots of us bought t-shirts because the Class of 2013 has a ton of pride. The freshman pre-party was a success because you asked for it in the survey. And the 2013 Olympics were great because an overwhelming majority of freshmen value events that let us meet each other and bring us together as a class.

Going forward, I want to build on these themes of fun events, school spirit, and class unity. We’ll have a 2013 Beach Trip to be held after spring break; a second Sunday night snack would follow. And we can afford all of this because ASCMC approved my proposal to increase our budget by 100%.

It was a lot of fun to represent all 282 of you this term. I’d be honored to do it for another one.

Connor Barclay, CMC ‘13

Hey there, Class of 2013! I’m Connor Barclay and I’m running to be your sophomore class president. As a member of the Freshman Class Cabinet, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Pai, the FCC, and the Class of 2013 Party Planners to bring you everything from the CMS Freshman Tailgate to the 2013 Olympics. I think we’ve done well, but I know we can do even better!

Why should you vote Connor Barclay?

• I’m doing this for you. I am running to make our sophomore year the best it can possibly be. I don’t care about the title. I don’t care about “building my résumé.” I care about you.
• I’m not a politician. I won’t preach about how I’m going to this, that, and the other, and then not deliver. I won’t knock on your door and ramble off a canned speech about why you should vote for me. I want you to get to know the real me – raw and uncensored. I’m confident that honesty breeds productivity.
• I listen. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone has something unique and valuable to bring to the table. I care much more about what you think than what I think. It’s your Sophomore year – it should be how you want it to be. Plato once said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” I won’t be the fool.

I love CMC and the Class of 2013 more than Pitzer loves the environment, and I would be delighted to serve you as your class president.

Finally, I’m honored to announce that every Freshman Class Cabinet member and all three Class of 2013 Official Party Planners endorse my campaign. Join them in voting Connor Barclay for Sophomore President!

Let’s do this!
CB

2012 Class President: Taylon Johnson, Drew Oetting, Jason Soll

Jason Soll, CMC ‘12

As class president, I will have two primary duties: throw a killer Monte Carlo Night and improve our class experience and connection for those abroad. Here are some of my plans to go above and beyond with these duties:

Monte Carlo: I plan to make use of my close relationships with various Vegas professionals by bringing true Vegas talent to Monte Carlo Night. Also, I will arrange for gift bags with logoed merchandise from Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Express, and Bath and Body Works to be handed out to everyone. This will be the greatest Monte Carlo Night yet.

Class Trips: I will arrange for our class to attend advanced screenings of Hollywood films and television shows at their respective studios. I am also currently working on bringing filmmakers to campus to screen their work and engage in discussions with the student body. 5C Junior Class trips will be set up too.

Class Merchandise: I will lead an effort to create a line of class merchandise beyond tee shirts. You deserve more.

Study Abroad: About half of us will be abroad next year. I am dedicated to retaining those relationships by means of blogs, video journals, and weekly spotlights on your crazy stories.

Communication: I will bring an unprecedented level of communication and ideas to our class. I can always be reached at 614-519-5464 or Jsoll12@cmc.edu for questions, comments, ideas, or concerns about anything.

We’re already halfway done guys. It’s time to get excited about the time we have left at CMC. I’m looking forward to using the relationships I’ve made from working in various industries to enhance our funding and fuel great events and projects for us all. The sky is the limit. Seriously.

Thanks for your support and I am looking forward to working with you all.

Taylon Johnson, CMC ‘12

When I first got to CMC, I thought, “Wow!  I’m not in Kansas anymore!”  I realized that I was becoming a part of the most amazing college. The classes and school work are only a part of what makes a great school.  The people, the interaction with the people, and the activities play an important role in the educational experience.  CMC dominates in these areas, and I would work to improve and to maintain the CMC experience.  Our time in the Claremont bubble is short.  I therefore want to make sure you have the very best experience and develop unforgettable memories.  I want to throw a spectacular Monte Carlo party and maintain the awesome party scene, which makes your friends at home and the other 4Cs jealous.  I want to unify the junior class by continuing the Sophowars games created this year.  I want to organize Price is Right outings and Dodgers games, as well as designing care packages for all of our peers that go abroad each semester.  I want to listen to your ideas, concerns, and suggestions to make our junior year even better.  I plan to bring energy, a positive attitude, and a great work ethic to the ASCMC team.  I would love the opportunity to make our junior year the best ever!  So remember to vote Taylon Johnson on Wednesday night at Collins, and let’s make memories that will last a lifetime!

Drew Oetting, CMC ‘12

Dear CMC Class of 2012,
Hello… My name is Drew Oetting, and I am running for Junior Class President. For those of you who do not know me, I’ll give you a brief bio. I was born in Chapel Hill, NC to two loving parents. I then moved to Iowa City, IA where I grew up, went to school and learned all there is to know about corn and primary elections. I came to CMC because I wanted a small college, warm weather and to be surrounded by intelligent people who loved economics, politics and beirut (in Iowa we call it beer pong) as much as I did.

Here at CMC, I am an Economics and Math dual major and I hope to complete the Finance Sequence. I play on the CMS golf team, I am a member of the Student Investment Fund, I’m a tenorish baritone in the Claremont Shades a capella group and along with Chris Temple, and I attempted to organize the Claremont Club Tennis Team.

I have the utmost respect for the way we do things here at CMC, and I personally want to contribute to our community. I feel that our college is the best in the country; and I believe that the class of 2012 is the best CMC has ever seen. Serving as our president is something I take very seriously. I have talked both to our current president, Will Kahn ‘12, and current junior class president, Tammy Phan ’11, regarding their experiences and have taken their counsel to heart. I promise you I will reference their advice in order to make the right decisions for our class. I promise you I will organize an amazing Monte Carlo. I promise you I will fight for the class of 2012.

Please feel free to hit me up with any questions, suggestions, concerns etc at aoetting12@cmc.edu.
<3 Drew

2011 Class President: Cara Daley

Cara Daley, CMC ‘11

Hellooooo future Senior Class of 2011!

I am running unopposed, but I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know how incredibly excited I am to be at least partially responsible for our senior year being wonderful/memorable/crazy.

I have a lot of ideas brewing for events and such, but I wanted specifically to take this opportunity and let you all know to not hesitate at all if there has been something on your mind about next year, something you would like to see happen, or really anything else you need to get off your chest.  Send me an email literally whenever. (cdaley11@cmc.edu)

Love,
Cara

Editor’s Note: Because the ASCMC Constitution forbids candidates from online campaigning and the authors of comments cannot be exactly identified, we have disallowed commenting on this and all other election-related posts.

All the statements will be published over the next few days, starting with those from the candidates for president and vice president below, listed alphabetically by last name.

President: Charles Johnson, Benjamin Kraus, and Tammy Phan

Charles Johnson, CMC ‘11

What is the purpose of ASCMC?

I believe that ASCMC should be about solving problems.

And in that charge, ASCMC has not been at its best. Or rather, it has not been as good as it could – or should be. It has spent our money without concern as to its best effects, taking care to maximize the value – and fun – of every dollar. And many of us complain about that attitude that spends wastefully, but what have we done to change it? Ask yourself: Should this be a popularity contest for $240,000 and free room and board?

I don’t think so. I have limited space here, but I’ve written up a platform on my ideas – a platform that you weren’t going to see because of an arbitrary reading of an ASCMC rule that I overturned. There I have made promises that none of the other candidates have made and I intend to keep all of them. Here are a few.

• Transparency: ASCMC appoints many positions – such as curriculum committee, academic affairs, board of trustees’ liaisons, among others. I propose that we hold elections for position, rather than the commonplace appointment of friends. For those spots we cannot hold an election , we will put the applicants application online so that everyone knows who is going to do what and hold them accountable. Every dime will go online and every meeting will be open to the public.
• Better Parking at CMC: I pledge to you that I will not rest until every CMCer has the right to bring a car to campus. It was shameful that ASCMC was silent when freshmen couldn’t bring their cars. Scripps’s two lots to our north has more than 200 spaces free and I have sent a letter to Scripps’s administration to get the ball rolling on how we could purchase parking in that lot.
• Giving You Back What’s Yours: If elected, I’ll turn down the room and board, and the president’s special slush fund, and give it back to you to be spent on parties or rebated back to you so that you can buy booze or give to your favorite club. It’s your money to spent, not mine to take.

Let’s change it for the better. Let’s make this election about ideas, rather than the popularity.

Benjamin Kraus, CMC ‘11

Dear CMCers,

By itself CMC is a wonderful place, but together we can make it better.

I decided to run for ASCMC president because I want to apply my determination to creating and implementing the big ideas we all have for this school.

On the student life front, I have secured flat screen HD TVs for the hub, and a 14-meal plan for next year. I have also been working with a few other members of ASCMC and Jeremy Whaley to get satellite TV in dorm rooms.

On the social front, I was one of the two main organizers for the wedding party, and I planned the Mike Posner concert. I also spear headed 6:01 this year and helped throw the 24-hour party last year. Partying on campus is awesome, but I would like to make it easier to party off campus as well. Think about two whole buses going to Coachella.

While making sure people have a good time is important, ASCMC needs to do more. One of my goals would be to make it easier to study at CMC. I have fought hard to get better hours and bigger tables in the reading room, and white boards in the lounges. I see great value in facilitating the real reason why we are all here. Whether it’s buying coffee or providing earplugs, ASCMC should be there to make studying painless.

That being said, my ideas don’t matter that much. There are only two things regarding my potential presidency that I can say with one hundred percent certainty. First, if you tell me your ideas I will listen (seriously, BKraus11@cmc.edu). Second, I will try my hardest to get your ideas accomplished, and while I don’t want to make any promises, I think I have a good record of getting things done.

Respectfully Submitted,
Ben

Tammy Phan, CMC ‘11

Simply put, I love CMC. I love the weather, birthday pondings, our professors, and seeing John Faranda at TNC. But there are also a lot of things that need work. On Tuesday, you’ll be asked to vote for one of three people who all have some things to change about CMC. But this election shouldn’t be just about what can be changed.

It’s about making the most of the time that we have here. It’s about keeping CMC, well, CMC. It’s about bonding during W.O.A.!, free food at tea and snack, and beating Pomona-Pitzer at… anything.

It’s also about having the experience that’s necessary. I’ve learned a lot through my work with ASCMC the past three years. As Senate Clerk, I’ve found that we need to improve our 5C relations to improve our social activities. As Executive Secretary, I learned the ins and outs of the Budget Committee. And as Junior Class President, I’ve been lucky enough to help bring my class together, as well as plan this year’s Monte Carlo.

I have great relationships with DOS, the Ath, and the other 5C student governments, and have had a well-rounded experience in ASCMC. As a result, I know of necessary changes and the possible solutions. ASCMC should have office hours and ways to keep everyone actively involved. We should have an on campus 24-hour kitchen. We should have a big artist, not like Ludacris or Lupe, come to campus. We should bring Madrigals back. We should have more parking in Bauer. I want to do a lot next year, and you can help make that possible.

So, CMCers, put on your “Wearing it since 1946” sunglasses and head to the polls on Wednesday, and vote for Tammy Phan. Vote for what you love, and what you could love, about CMC.

ASCMC Vice President: Andrew Cosentino, Chris Jones, and Harrison (Will) Kahn

Andrew Cosentino, CMC ‘11

Three years goes by quickly at CMC, but it has been a good time to me so far. I’m a two sport varsity athlete, and this past year was able to get involved with the student government as the Social Activities Chair. I’m running for ASCMC Vice President because I feel that I can implement meaningful changes within the student government that will increase efficiency and enhance different aspects of student life.

Over the past year as Social Activities Chair I’ve been responsible for the planning and management of many of our campus’s weekly social events. Learning how the student body functions and getting the most out of my budget became crucial. I tried new things and sometimes they didn’t work out, but I came away with knowing how to do it better in the future.

Moving forward I think that it is important to change a couple of things within ASCMC. It is important that we hold more surveys throughout the year. These short surveys take up almost no time and provide such valuable information. Insights gained will hopefully help ASCMC allocate money more efficiently across the student body.

Although this year’s board made important steps, there is still much more that can be done to promote transparency. Things like survey results, budgets for events and what happens at executive board meetings should all be on the ASCMC website.

In addition, I think that more can be done to work with the other colleges. While SAC, I helped coordinate biweekly meetings with my counterparts at the other 5Cs, and I think that these meetings were helpful to a degree. However, it became very apparent that our student governments were structured in very different ways, and that closer cooperation on several levels is needed to achieve our goals.

Thanks everyone and I hope you all vote Cosentino for Vice President.

Harrison (Will) Kahn, CMC ‘12

My name is Will Kahn, and I want to be your ASCMC Vice President. Having served on ASCMC’s executive board for the past two years as Freshman and Sophomore Class President, I have the experience for the job. I know how ASCMC works behind the scenes and I know how we can improve it.

I’ve planned many successful events on and off campus including Super Bowl Parties and trips to Knott’s Scary Farm. At the same I recognize that many of the best events are the ones originated by you, the students. One of the top events of the year has been “Sophowars,” an ongoing sophomore class color war, which was planned by members of the class of 2012 and funded by ASCMC. Because the event was student organized and student driven, enthusiasm and turnout were high.

One thing ASCMC could do better is broaden student involvement and input for events. In short, you’ve got the ideas, we’ve got the money. A fellow sophomore came to me when he wanted to show his school spirit by making “Puck Fomona” tanks, and I advanced him the ASCMC funds to make it happen. This kind of two-way relationship is something ASCMC should foster. It’s not enough for ASCMC simply to plan performances and events alone. Our student organization must include the whole campus in the discussion to take full advantage of every student’s ideas.

As a junior next year, I will be in the middle of my time at CMC with both the experience and the enthusiasm this job requires. I want the job, I want your vote, and I promise a full year of hard work for you and with you.

Will Kahn for ASCMC Vice President.

Chris Jones, CMC ‘11

Dear Friends,

My name is Chris Jones, and I am running for ASCMC Vice President.

I have been ASCMC CFO for the past year, and while I have not been the one throwing all the parties, I have been taking care of business that is imperative to ASCMC functioning properly. Before my tenure as CFO, the organization’s financial practices were chaotic and dangerous. Things like the bank reconciliation process were done haphazardly, and left us in a financially dangerous position. I corrected this. Now we can put full reliance in our financial data, and not risk grave repercussions down the line. I have also helped streamlined the check request process, so that you get your money reimbursed quicker than ever before.

Finally, in being the CFO, I know the intricacies of ASCMC’s finances and bylaws like the back of my hand. Seeing every transaction that goes through the organization has given me the greatest understanding possible of what we do, and what we can do better. This means that if there is ever a project that needs to get done, or a problem to be solved, I have the knowledge and focus to do it.

I have never been the face of the organization, or the person running huge parties. I do not have incredible T-Shirt making abilities. What I do bring to the table is unparalleled knowledge and experience with the intricacies of ASCMC, along with a penchant for hard work and dedication. As Vice President, this experience would give me the ability to make ASCMC run smoother than it has ever run before, thus allowing more club events, more trips, bigger parties, better concerts, more give-aways, and better student life at CMC.

Warmest Regards,
Chris Jones

Editor’s Note: Because the ASCMC Constitution forbids candidates from online campaigning and the authors of comments cannot be exactly identified, we have disallowed commenting on this and all other election-related posts.

Why write this now? Because very few people understand how ASCMC actually operates. Even though the organization serves over 1,100 people on a daily basis, the number of people who actually know “how things work” is only a couple dozen at most. So in the interest of a fair and transparent election, here’s “what I’ve learned.”

ASCMC, Inc.

Heggblade Conference Room: Where the Magic Happens

The Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) is a 501(c)3 organization. In legal terms, that means we file our own tax returns, write our own checks, keep our own books, and are legally independent from the school.

What does “legally independent” mean? It means that ASCMC is responsible and liable for any events we put on, anything in the Forum (ASCMC’s official “newspaper”), and any internal controversies that arise. In the past, this has meant that students who take complaints about ASCMC’s actions to CMC’s administration have no recourse except with ASCMC itself. ASCMC is governed by its own constitution and bylaws, which also helps shield us from overzealous administrators (a future possibility; not a present reality).

Of course, the Dean of Students can still cancel our parties, the Dean of Faculty still chooses our graduation speakers (Kravis 2010!), and if ASCMC really screws up, the school could probably withhold student fees (but that would never happen).

Finances

Student fees are tacked onto tuition at $235 per year for every full-time student. 100 percent of that goes to ASCMC. Technically, it goes to CMC then to the ASCMC CFO in the form of a check for the full amount each semester. The CFO then takes that check down to the Wells Fargo branch in the Village and deposits it into our business account there. The CFO, President, and Vice President are signatories on that account so can deposit or withdraw money when necessary. Right now there is $177,740.54 in the checking account, but a lot of that is earmarked toward something or otherwise unreconciled. Like most corporations, money comes in and out so frequently that it’s hard to know exactly how much is available, but it’s always easy to get a general idea.

The Budgeting Committee (see Constitution) decides where the money goes. There a few guidelines such as a minimum allocation for Senate, but which fund gets how much is otherwise entirely discretionary. The Budget Committee also creates funds, such as a “Wedding Party” fund for special events and causes.

When someone spends money on an ASCMC event or approved expenditure, they save the receipts, submit a reimbursement form, and Chris writes them a check within a week or two. In extraordinary cases we’ll do a wire transfer or advance payment (for Lupe Fiasco’s fee, for example), but the policy is generally reimbursement only.

Positions

Before explaining the positions on the Board of Directors, I should mention that the “Powers and Duties” of each board member are very clearly outlined in the ASCMC Constitution. I should also say that those and the descriptions listed below describe the bare minimum that each board member must do. Everyone usually goes above and beyond.

Everyone on Board gets a stipend of varying amounts, which are listed in the Constitution. The President gets free room and board because of the opportunity cost of being an RA (generally, DOS will not let an RA be in a significant ASCMC position because of conflict of interest and time commitment issues). All board members traditionally get certain perks like mass e-mailing privileges and best seating for concerts they help plan. Again, if you’re thinking about running or applying for one of these positions, you need to read the Constitution to know what you’re getting yourself into.

Elected Positions:

President (Isayas Theodros)

The ASCMC President is responsible for the health of the organization. He presides over the Board of Directors meetings every week and represents ASCMC in discussions with the administration.  The President has many more responsibilities not listed here, but this is the short version. The President is almost always (and maybe always) someone who has been on the Board of Directors before because of the level of experience the job requires.

Vice President (Me)

The Vice President’s main responsibilities are running weekly ASCMC Senate meetings, appointing students to and serving on trustee, faculty, and college committees, and working with the President to ensure the health of the organization. Like the President, the Vice President is responsible for more than this, but I’m keeping these descriptions brief. Also like the ASCMC President, the Vice President is usually someone who has been on the Board before.

Class Presidents (William Robelo-Lara ‘10, Tammy Phan ‘11, Will Kahn ‘12, Aditya Pai ‘13)

The Class Presidents are all given the same basic responsibilities: represent and organize activities for their class. Each president is given a discretionary fund (this year in the range of $2,000-17,000) from which to spend on class activities. This year the junior class went to The Price Is Right, the sophomores had some “SophoWars” thing (I still don’t know what that was all about), etc. Additional responsibilities include running Monte Carlo (Junior Class President) and speaking at graduation (Senior Class President).

Social Activities Chair (Andrew Cosentino)

The SAC is the party planner-in-chief of ASCMC. The SAC is more or less responsible for making sure there’s something to do on campus every Saturday night. He or she usually manages a budget around $10,000 – 25,000 for the year.

Social Life Chair (Kenley Turville)

The SLC is responsible for throwing dry events on and off campus. For example, the Dodgers games, Hub Quiz, and Gossip Girl showings. The SLC’s budget usually matches the SAC’s.

Dorm Affairs Chair (Ben Kraus)

The DAC runs Dorm President meetings and oversees TNCs and other dorm events. The DAC also receives a discretionary fund around $8,000. Traditionally the DAC also helps the SAC with bigger events.

Appointed Positions:

Clubs and Organizations Chair (Johnny Ko)

The CO Chair or “the clubs guy” is most recognized for delving out funding allocations to clubs during budget hearings in April and throughout the year on a discretionary basis (with a $5,000-10,000 discretionary fund). The CO Chair also serves on the Budgeting Committee. The CO chair is vital in keeping the organization together as clubs receive a huge portion of ASCMC funding so the CO Chair has to keep in constant communication with club leaders.

Chief Financial Officer (Chris Jones)

This is the guy who writes the checks, manages the books, files the tax and legal documents, and knows what’s really going on behind the scenes. An extremely important position because we do not have the resources to pay a full time accountant (but we do have one alumnus CPA who volunteers a few hours now and then).

Executive Secretary (Cara Daley)

A great way to get involved in ASCMC, this job involves taking minutes at meetings and serving on a few internal committees. As with any position on Board, the Exec Sec can also step up and do other things within ASCMC, so don’t think it’s all taking notes and filing memos.

Other Positions

There are lots of other ways to get involved with ASCMC — Forum Editor and staff, Senators, Senate President Pro-Tempore, RA Liaison, Financial Advisor, Presidential Advisor — but I’m not going to detail all of them here. Of course, if you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

So without further ado, the first clue:

You the kick, push, kick, push, kick, push coast kind?
We coastin’ since we started in oh – nine.
Now, we don’t do a lot of kicking here,
But when it’s clue time, we’ll kick into gear.
For this clue, you will have to rack your brain
And hit up our shop, just the local chain.

When you find the medallion, email a picture of yourself with it to forum@ascmc.org. And if you don’t know what this is all about, read up on the Medallion Hunt here.

UPDATE: The medallion was found within moments.  Congratulations to this guy…

Starting this Tuesday (Feb. 16) seven clues will be posted daily at 8:27 PM. Some may be easy. Others will be hard. Some may test the very limits of your physical ability– even your sanity. This is not a quest for the feint of heart, but if you choose to embark, rest assured, the rewards will be substantial.

Each medallion will have two prizes attached to it. Its finder will win one of seven extravagant daily prizes:

• VIP treatment at the Wedding Party
• Private pre-party with Flosstradamus before The White Party
• A TNC in your honor
• Gift Cards, Movie Tickets, Pizza, and more.

But most importantly, each medallion makes enter its finder into a raffle to win Backstage Passes to Lupe Fiasco.

If you’re brave enough to find one, then you must submit a picture with your medallion to collect your prize. The raffle will be held at Snack following the final clue on Tuesday, February 23. (Prizes are CMC only)

Check The Forum each night at 8:27 PM starting THIS TUESDAY, Feb. 16 through Monday Feb. 22.

Editor’s Note: Yeah, we realize we’re acting like parents obsessed with home videos of their kids, but we just hired two photographers and wanted to show them off. We promise not to bombard you with slide shows all semester– just one or two a week.  Enjoy!