Should ASCMC Increase Funding for Trips?

By Sara Birkenthal | April 29, 2010 at 8:00 am | Opinion | 34 comments | |

 
In my mind, there is only one link missing from a perfectly balanced Claremont McKenna social experience: ASCMC-sponsored trips.  If you spend any time at all on the other campuses, it’s hard not to notice the advertisements for their respective student government sponsored trips.  Scripps Associated Students and the Scripps New Student Program, for example, have subsidized and provided funding for trips to Santa Monica and the play Avenue Q. The Associated Students of Pomona College has been known to sponsor trips to the symphony.

A view of Los Angeles' City Hall from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where the LA Philharmonic plays.

Unfortunately, these trips are not open to CMC students.  This is where our student government needs to step in and put forth some funding and organizational effort to plan off-campus excursions for the student body.  There is no denying that CMC has plenty of social events and activities. However, campus life inevitably becomes dull from time to time.  If ASCMC wishes to truly represent the will of the student body, it should offer subsidized trips to desirable locations.  Such locations could easily be determined by a poll, distributed via email.  Once the desired locations were determined, the endeavor could start out small, one trip per month at the beginning and expand from there.

Student government-organized trips are especially vital considering the fact that freshmen are not permitted to have cars on campus.  If transportation is not provided and the fees associated with various trips are not subsidized, many students will miss out on some of the best destinations Southern California has to offer.  If students wish to truly make the most of CMC’s incredible location, a greater effort needs to be made to plan such trips. What it really comes down to is student happiness.  ASCMC-sponsored trips would be fun and accessible for everyone and would add a whole new dimension to CMC’s social climate.

As a first step in the planning and execution of subsidized trips, I have polled a selection of CMC students on where they want to see ASCMC organize trips.  The results are as follows.

Question: If ASCMC were to organize a trip at a subsidized cost, providing transportation, to the following place would you attend?

YES NO Only if it didn’t interfere with the 24-hour party!
Santa Monica 83.3% 8.3% 8.3%
Ontario Mills Outlets 33.3% 50% 16.7%
Balboa Island (Newport) 75% 0% 25%
Symphony concert 50% 41.7% 8.3%
The Museum of Contemporary Art 58.3% 16.7% 25%
A play in L.A. 66.7% 16.7% 16.7%
Indoor rock climbing 50% 33.3% 16.7%
Ice skating 50% 33.3% 16.7%
Hollywood 41.7% 25% 33.3%
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Sara Birkenthal

Sara is a junior at CMC majoring in International Relations and Middle East Studies. When she is not busy endlessly defending her home state of New Jersey, she enjoys trying to speak in Arabic and getting into heated arguments.

 
 
 
 
  • Andrew Bluebond

    Sara,

    I took a look through this piece, and I think you are off to a good start. Still, there is a lot that could be done to make your argument more convincing:

    - You make no mention of the cost after subsidy to these events. Was this part of your survey? Moreover, do you have information on how much the other Claremont Colleges subsidize trips by? This piece would be more interesting if it had some hard numbers for people to assess.
    - Your survey data needs an n-value. How many people did you survey? Did you ask them their graduation year? That might be interesting. I have a hunch that you surveyed more freshmen than sophomores, juniors and seniors. This would (I think) dramatically influence the results of survey.
    - I think your argument about freshmen not have cars is a good one. It could be fleshed out more, though. Remind people that it is a new policy this year, creating a new set of demands for ASCMC.
    - You make no mention of DOS subsidies of events. These can be significant. Do you not believe that they are enough? Maybe you could get some information about these subsidies.
    - Lastly, you should do some analysis of your data, rather than just throw it out there. It’s interesting that you included a question about the 24-hour party. You should explain your thinking.

  • Andrew Bluebond

    Sara,

    I took a look through this piece, and I think you are off to a good start. Still, there is a lot that could be done to make your argument more convincing:

    - You make no mention of the cost after subsidy to these events. Was this part of your survey? Moreover, do you have information on how much the other Claremont Colleges subsidize trips by? This piece would be more interesting if it had some hard numbers for people to assess.
    - Your survey data needs an n-value. How many people did you survey? Did you ask them their graduation year? That might be interesting. I have a hunch that you surveyed more freshmen than sophomores, juniors and seniors. This would (I think) dramatically influence the results of survey.
    - I think your argument about freshmen not have cars is a good one. It could be fleshed out more, though. Remind people that it is a new policy this year, creating a new set of demands for ASCMC.
    - You make no mention of DOS subsidies of events. These can be significant. Do you not believe that they are enough? Maybe you could get some information about these subsidies.
    - Lastly, you should do some analysis of your data, rather than just throw it out there. It’s interesting that you included a question about the 24-hour party. You should explain your thinking.

  • Aditya Pai

    Completely agree. If you have time, go to our 2013 beach trip tomorrow. Your friends Karima, Brooke, and Kate Recinos are going:

    http://bit.ly/dcHd07

  • Aditya Pai

    Completely agree. If you have time, go to our 2013 beach trip tomorrow. Your friends Karima, Brooke, and Kate Recinos are going:

    http://bit.ly/dcHd07

  • Josh S

    That thing about her friends was kind of creepy, Pai.

    My problem with off campus trips is they are usually pretty expensive. I think the buses alone are like $500-1000 each, depending on distance, type of bus, etc.

    Also, when a lot of people go off campus they want to “get away.” If you’re bringing 100 CMCers with you, you aren’t really getting away.

    I think the bigger problem is the lack of freshman cars. And that’s a problem without a serious advocate.

  • Josh S

    That thing about her friends was kind of creepy, Pai.

    My problem with off campus trips is they are usually pretty expensive. I think the buses alone are like $500-1000 each, depending on distance, type of bus, etc.

    Also, when a lot of people go off campus they want to “get away.” If you’re bringing 100 CMCers with you, you aren’t really getting away.

    I think the bigger problem is the lack of freshman cars. And that’s a problem without a serious advocate.

  • Aditya Pai

    Haha yeah Josh, maybe it was creepy, but they are on the list of attendees.

    Buses are expensive, which is why we often have to charge a small fee for such trips. As for cars, Tammy, Chris and I have been talking to Scripps about buying parking spots from them, but those wouldn’t be enough to solve the freshman problem. It looks like freshman won’t have cars until we get the Kravis parking.

    There’s also another problem with off-campus trips. Everyone loves them in the abstract, but when the actual date and time is set, interest inevitably drops. That’s understandable, since everyone has other commitments. But it just means that you have to take popular support for student trips with a grain of salt. Just because 75% of us say we’ll go to Balboa beach, it doesn’t mean 75% us will go on a certain day at a certain time.

    • hmm

      Somehow the other Colleges manage with these problems. Maybe you can talk to their student governments to ask how they do it.

      • arrrrr

        They have bigger student populations, don’t know how to party(opportunity costs), and have their DOS offices organize it. Try asking jim nauls to organize something…

        • Pony!

          My opinion of DOS has increased 10-fold since the Exotic Petting Zoo.

  • Aditya Pai

    Haha yeah Josh, maybe it was creepy, but they are on the list of attendees.

    Buses are expensive, which is why we often have to charge a small fee for such trips. As for cars, Tammy, Chris and I have been talking to Scripps about buying parking spots from them, but those wouldn’t be enough to solve the freshman problem. It looks like freshman won’t have cars until we get the Kravis parking.

    There’s also another problem with off-campus trips. Everyone loves them in the abstract, but when the actual date and time is set, interest inevitably drops. That’s understandable, since everyone has other commitments. But it just means that you have to take popular support for student trips with a grain of salt. Just because 75% of us say we’ll go to Balboa beach, it doesn’t mean 75% us will go on a certain day at a certain time.

    • hmm

      Somehow the other Colleges manage with these problems. Maybe you can talk to their student governments to ask how they do it.

      • arrrrr

        They have bigger student populations, don’t know how to party(opportunity costs), and have their DOS offices organize it. Try asking jim nauls to organize something…

        • Pony!

          My opinion of DOS has increased 10-fold since the Exotic Petting Zoo.

  • Alex Bargmann

    To echo both Josh’s and Pai’s comments – large trips do not seem to be the solution here. Interest wanes and big groups only bring the campus to the off-campus.

    Trip proposals brought to Jim Nauls by a smaller group of people can still be subsidized, and often are. Many people do not take advantage of this opportunity. Past events subsidized through his office have been to see “Wicked,” go to Disney Land, and an L.A. Galaxy game.

    In addition to Pai’s beach trip, ASCMC did subsidize a school wide trip a Dodger’s Game ad Tammy Phan organized a trip to the Price is Right as Junior Class Pres – to name a few.

    • brooke nayden

      I think sara’s point is that, while it is great for students to get off of campus on their own, there are many students who would love to take part in school sponsored trips to places/events in the LA area. A few friends and myself, for example, were very jealous of the Pomona-sponsored trip to see the LA Symphony Orchestra. This does not necessarily have to be the type of thing that happens every weekend, but who would really be against a trip with transport to MOCA? ASCMC sponsored trips would not be an alternative to other “fun,” they would merely be a positive supplement.

      ps. pai, no worries, i’m not creeped out.

  • Alex Bargmann

    To echo both Josh’s and Pai’s comments – large trips do not seem to be the solution here. Interest wanes and big groups only bring the campus to the off-campus.

    Trip proposals brought to Jim Nauls by a smaller group of people can still be subsidized, and often are. Many people do not take advantage of this opportunity. Past events subsidized through his office have been to see “Wicked,” go to Disney Land, and an L.A. Galaxy game.

    In addition to Pai’s beach trip, ASCMC did subsidize a school wide trip a Dodger’s Game ad Tammy Phan organized a trip to the Price is Right as Junior Class Pres – to name a few.

    • brooke nayden

      I think sara’s point is that, while it is great for students to get off of campus on their own, there are many students who would love to take part in school sponsored trips to places/events in the LA area. A few friends and myself, for example, were very jealous of the Pomona-sponsored trip to see the LA Symphony Orchestra. This does not necessarily have to be the type of thing that happens every weekend, but who would really be against a trip with transport to MOCA? ASCMC sponsored trips would not be an alternative to other “fun,” they would merely be a positive supplement.

      ps. pai, no worries, i’m not creeped out.

  • Aditya Pai

    Haha thanks brooke

  • Aditya Pai

    Haha thanks brooke

  • senior

    the gould center used to fund more trips to museums and the symphony. they were so popular my freshman and sophomore years that it was really difficult to reserve a spot. what happened to those?

    also, just to echo comments about nauls– he will def subsidize trips for you and your friends. if you include the cost a zip car in your proposal, no excuses freshmen.

    • MAndrade10

      YA. I remember these trip sponsored by the Gould Center. They had a number of trips per year totally free to the LA Philharmonic. These were an incredible opportunity (and value), and they would fill up in like 45 seconds. I realize that these trips though, are super expensive so maybe not that practical but if they can be done…RAD.

  • senior

    the gould center used to fund more trips to museums and the symphony. they were so popular my freshman and sophomore years that it was really difficult to reserve a spot. what happened to those?

    also, just to echo comments about nauls– he will def subsidize trips for you and your friends. if you include the cost a zip car in your proposal, no excuses freshmen.

    • MAndrade10

      YA. I remember these trip sponsored by the Gould Center. They had a number of trips per year totally free to the LA Philharmonic. These were an incredible opportunity (and value), and they would fill up in like 45 seconds. I realize that these trips though, are super expensive so maybe not that practical but if they can be done…RAD.

  • hmmm

    Gould still gives away opera tickets. Just tell them you want to be notified when something is happening and I’m sure you can grab a spot.

  • hmmm

    Gould still gives away opera tickets. Just tell them you want to be notified when something is happening and I’m sure you can grab a spot.

  • http://www.ipoopinhallway.com Charles C. Johnson

    This is absurd. What’s next? Sponsoring trips to Tropical Lei?

    • Sasi Desai

      Really Charles?

      I think school sponsored trips are a great idea. Getting out once in a while to a new place with a bunch o friends sounds like a great idea. And not everyone is a position to do it on their own, so some support from the student government wouldn’t hurt.

      Like Pai said, the idea, in essence, isn’t bad. Practicalities can be debated…

    • Sasi Desai

      Never mind.

      My bad. That clearly wasn’t you…

  • http://www.ipoopinhallway.com Charles C. Johnson

    This is absurd. What’s next? Sponsoring trips to Tropical Lei?

    • Sasi Desai

      Really Charles?

      I think school sponsored trips are a great idea. Getting out once in a while to a new place with a bunch o friends sounds like a great idea. And not everyone is a position to do it on their own, so some support from the student government wouldn’t hurt.

      Like Pai said, the idea, in essence, isn’t bad. Practicalities can be debated…

    • Sasi Desai

      Never mind.

      My bad. That clearly wasn’t you…