The debate remained pretty tame, with the only bustle coming from the audience: One audience member publicly berated another audience member for asking a question that he saw as inappropriate. A Canadian in the audience asked the debaters about their perception of Canadacare and why the U.S. hasn’t adopted it yet. Another audience member then stood up and berated the Canadian for asking such a question—one the debaters clearly couldn’t answer.

Aside from the excitement from the audience, the debaters remained calm tackling the three topics: energy, the federal deficit, and Obamacare.

Professor Busch, a faculty member of the Government department, moderated the debate. Each side began with a three-minute presentation followed by a rebuttal from the opposing side and then ten minutes of question and answer from the audience.

Each debater stuck pretty close to the talking points of his respective party. Carson Williams, Pomona ’13, began the debate for the Republicans talking about energy. Williams emphasized the billions of dollars the government has lost in spending on green initiatives. He also emphasized that the government shouldn’t spend money on companies or start-ups that are failing.

Speaking for the Democrats, Erin Franks, CMC ’12, highlighted that the government needs to stop subsidizing large oil and gas companies. With this saved money, Franks proposed funding more start-ups, like wind energy, and putting government resources toward research and development.

Sam Stone, CMC ’14, kicked off the debate on how to handle the country’s current deficit, representing the Democrats’ views. He emphasized that debt (the total amount the U.S. owes, while deficit is a yearly gauge) is a political issue rather than a policy one and said that, while this country clearly has a debt problem, we should focus on things like restoring the economy first.

Sean Houseworth, CMC ’13, responded for the Republicans, warning that we need to develop a long-term plan to handle the debt now, rather than continuing to “kick the can down the road.” He noted that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security—all programs the Democrats don’t want to touch—are the biggest drivers behind our debt, while Stone pointed to the Bush tax cuts as the biggest legislative contributor to debt.

Lastly, Hannah Burak, CMC ’13, spoke about Obamacare from a Republican stance. She began by saying, “The U.S. deserves better than Obamacare,” and pointed to the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as unconstitutional. She also noted that the ACA would cause insurance rates to rise.

College Democrat Aseem Chipalkatti, CMC ’15, maintained that individual mandates are nothing new and that Obamacare straddles a nice line between a socialist program and capitalism (to which Burak responded, “The  middle of socialism and capitalism is socialism.”). Chipalkatti noted that, while Obamacare is not perfect, it “tries to fill in the pothole that is our healthcare system today.”

The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) sponsored the event, which lasted an hour and a half and had about 50 attendees.

Maybe not so much. On Monday, Invisible Children’s “Kony 2012” promo video went viral. The video highlights Joseph Kony’s crimes against humanity committed in Northern Uganda through the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).  It has received upwards of 50 million hits on YouTube in just 5 days and landed #stopkony in the top 10 trending items on Twitter Wednesday night—an impressive, rapid rise for a non-profit.

Yet most people watching it probably don’t know that only 46.5% of Invisible Children’s expenditures are actually used on their Central Africa Programs. They receive $3.3 million in general donations every year and spend $1.8 million on Awareness Programs. That means that every time you put a dollar in a jar for Invisible Children, approximately 54 cents of that dollar is going towards “Awareness,” raised through product distribution and media outreach.

Invisible Children has been touted as a revolutionary model for non-profits because they’ve successfully harnessed social media to make millions of youth socially active—or at least, feel that they’re social activists because they liked something on Facebook and put on a bracelet. This sort of “slacktivism” (as the New York Times refers to it) certainly generates much needed funds for the social sector. But is this really the best model? Or are we simply sacrificing depth for breadth?

Despite our reputation as a business and finance oriented school, CMCers have a compassion for community development. SOURCE Non-Profit Consulting, CMC’s student-run consulting organization comprised of 28 students, advises five local non-profits on program strategy. Last summer, I put my SOURCE training to use on the ground in Ghana with Chloe Hauenstein CMC ’14, working for a Ghanaian owned and operated non-profit.

CEWEFIA threw village events like this "drama" to raise awareness of sexually transmitted diseases. The events had high attendance and they constructed evaluations to measure their impact.

Through my experiences, I’ve come to realize that as college students with limited time and financial resources, we all want to get the most out of what we give, which isn’t necessarily fostered by non-profit social media tycoons.  I would urge my CMC peers to donate, but donate smart.  Take into consideration the following things when you look for an organization to support:

1. Ask for the impact numbers. No—don’t ask—demand to see some results based accountability numbers (commonly referred to as RBA’s in the nonprofit world). How many children has Invisible Children actually helped? How many have been returned to their families? In other words, are the things they’re doing impactful?

At SOURCE, many of our teams work on developing quantitative evaluations (including regression analysis) for local nonprofits. That’s because in order to get grants, the organizations are required to show statistical, economic impact results. Donors and activists should use similar discretion.

2. Don’t be afraid to give to “overhead.” Organizations that seem to use a high percentage of their donations on administrative costs are commonly criticized, discouraging potential donors. However, one of the biggest problems in the social sector—including here in Claremont—is that technology is the first budget item cut under strained funding.

When SOURCE starts working for a client, they often have rooms full of files. Paper files. They increase their efficiency ten-fold if they digitize all of those files. Sometimes they just don’t have the capacity or funding to do so. In Ghana, I had to walk three miles from the organization’s office to get internet, which was essential for the projects I was working on. While these non-profits can’t market their need for donations for internet because it’s not as appealing to donors as books for children, overhead can, in fact, be the most impactful tool

3. Support local solutions. What Americans living in poverty need isn’t the same as what Africans living in poverty need. Yet too often, organizations take American models and implant them thousands of miles away in a foreign environment. Many non-profits, like Invisible Children, try to solve this problem by establishing “country project leaders” who are locals running the non-profit’s program in the targeted site.

Question how the non-profit uses those local employees. Do they seek their feedback or just make them adopt the non-profit’s curriculum? Are locals also involved in administrative tasks? They should be. They’ll know which individuals to trust and the best resources to use to maximize the use of every dollar.

Invisible Children has done great things. Everyone now knows who Joseph Kony is, as they should. But should you donate to them? My advice is do your research. It takes them half of the video to admit that Joseph Kony and the LRA are no longer in Uganda, where the organization works. What are they doing to help the other countries catch him? Do they have country project leaders there, too? How are they allocating those funds and what returns are they seeing? If you feel comfortable with the answers to those questions, then donate.

If you want more transparency, look for organizations like The Tipping Point, that do the work for you. They conduct rigorous regression analysis to make sure they’re supporting non-profits that work.

Social media has proven itself to be an incredibly powerful tool for political and social activism. Yet, as we see an increase in a non-profit presence on these sites and more high-tech marketing tactics, question the organizations pursuing this model. It’s great to be socially active—wonderful in fact. Just make sure that you’re giving to an organization that makes a positive difference and can prove it.

To learn more about SOURCE and how you can apply, please attend the upcoming Information Session on March 27th at 5-6pm in Kravis Lower Court 62. Contact SOURCE Managers Kate Johnson (kjohnson13@cmc.edu) and Tamar Kaplan (tkaplan14@cmc.edu) for more information.

The next 30 minutes changed my life.

Kony 2012, as Invisible Children describes it, is a campaign “to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice.” Joseph Kony is the leader of the guerrilla group Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda, which has, abducted thousands of children over the last twenty-six years, ripping them away from their parents at young ages. These children are forced to become sex slaves, child soldiers, or murderers, often forced to kill their own parents. As Jason Russell, the director of the video, shows us, children all over the country are living in constant terror of the rebels, always looking over their shoulders, not knowing if they’ll live to see the next sunrise. Kony’s abominations put him at number one on the International Criminal Court’s list of most wanted people, and yet, ninety-nine percent of the world does not know his name.

Quite honestly, this video left me speechless. The only word I could formulate was “wow”; the only feeling I felt was astonishment. Astonishment at being a global citizen in the twenty-first century, and reading about a man pillaging across a country, raping and murdering people, recruiting innocent children to do the same. Astonishment that I live in the “social media era” where I hear which celebrity is eating at which restaurant at what time, but never hear about a man like Joseph Kony. Astonishment, complete and utter astonishment at our shameful ignorance of such vicious, cruel, inhumanity.

As any significant social issue must, the Kony 2012 campaign has received a lot of criticism from skeptics who say the video is factually inaccurate. For instance, the video claims that the LRA has 30,000 children, whereas this figure is the total number of children the LRA has abducted over he span of twenty-six years, and the size of the group has now dropped to only a few hundred. It was also discovered that after failed peace talks with the Ugandan military in 2006, the LRA was pushed out of Uganda entirely, and Kony himself is now believed to be in the Central African Republic. Some say the video comes across as more of a business deal, exploiting people’s vulnerability to such social issues to encourage them to purchase their merchandise.

The Kony Poster, available for download off the Invisible Children website

My answer to them is: so what? It was certainly unethical on Invisible Children’s part to withhold vital information like the group’s current size and Kony’s present whereabouts. As for the bit about the video seeming like a business deal—think about it, how else can the organization hope to get funding in order to continue to spread awareness about Kony? So what if it is exploiting people’s need to help the world by making their own little contribution by selling t-shirts? That doesn’t change the cause they are working for. My question to the skeptics is: do these details really change anything? Do they, in any way, actually alter the cruelty of Kony’s crimes? Should he be allowed to walk freely just because he’s not operating in Uganda anymore? Or are his crimes exonerated because the number of child soldiers is only a few hundred people rather than the thousands we were led to believe? To all those poking fun at the rest of us trying to spread the word about Kony: No, watching a thirty-minute video might not make us social activists, but sitting back and mocking those who are trying to help makes you apathetic.

We have all witnessed crimes of hate and violence, be it the 9/11 attacks in New York or the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Sitting on our couches, glued to the TV, we have all experienced the despair and frustration that comes with the realization that we can do little but look on and hope too many of our own don’t die. The Kony 2012 campaign finally gives us the opportunity to prevent such savage atrocities, such heinous violations of basic human rights—rights that every single person deserves, be it an American, and Indian or and African.

By making Kony famous, Invisible Children hopes to make him a less elusive figure, one that is easier to capture. Under pressure from the growing support of the campaign, the US government has deployed ten advisors to Uganda to help arrest Kony, but if the government notices a decrease in support of the cause, they will recall these advisors. But if we each donate just a couple of dollars a month to TRI, the organization that is helping fund the campaign, we can make a world of a difference. You can also show your support by signing the petition on the Kony 2012 website.

So wake up, CMC. Spread the word. Make Joseph Kony a household name. Donate a few dollars to TRI; buy the bracelets, put up the posters, wear the T-shirts. Use your Facebook status to share the video instead of a meme. Use those 140 Twitter characters to spread awareness, not ignorance. Despite what the cynics say, Kony does have to be stopped, because for once, the common man has been given the power to help stop an international criminal. Here at CMC, we are encouraged to be leaders, to take the initiative, to make a difference. Why? Because we are the next generation and we are responsible for what this world becomes.

So wake up. Spread the word

While at the meeting, Huang wanted to get a basic understanding of student priorities for extra funding. Huang asked students if they were in favor of installing more Brita Hydration stations (Yes), changing the laundry system so students could see in real time which machines were in use for a small fee (No), adding Blue Light Emergency Phones (No), increasing the number of bulletin boards and kiosks (No), and creating more on-campus jobs (Mixed). He also asked about priorities for the post-renovation Hub, to which most students advocated increasing the emphasis on food and recreation. He concluded by asking about the elimination of the 8-meal dining hall plan (No), prohibiting indoor smoking in all dorms (No) and preferences for future big-name speakers at the college (political commentators such as Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart beat out presidential speakers). As Dean Huang noted, the results were in no way binding promises but merely intended as yardsticks to gauge student opinion for the Dean of Students Office.

Several Senators were excited by the potential support to freedom of expression that the clicker system might provide, especially when it comes to voting on contentious issues. Senate Campus Life Committee Chair Carly Lenderts ’14 expressed her support, saying, “I liked the clickers and am excited to try them for voting procedures in Senate. It’s sometimes awkward for a Senator who wants to vote against a popular budget proposal, for example, so it will be great to have a quick and anonymous way to vote.”

The clickers, said Dean Huang, not only ensure that every possible student voice be heard but also combine the benefits of a participatory process with the practicality of real-time results. Senate President pro tem Miles Lifson ’13 also reflected this view, saying he was “excited about the potential that they offer for ASCMC.” Lifson continued, “They seem to be a fast, accurate, and anonymous way for senate to vote.” Lifson also mentioned that he would be working with Aditya Pai ’13 and Adam Griffith ’14 to “look into the logistics concerning using [the clickers] for senate votes on a regular basis.”

Dean Huang had sourced the clickers free of cost that night from Honnold-Mudd Library. According to Sheree Fu, who works at the library, there are one hundred clickers in total, plus two base units and instructor units respectively. She indicated that they were purchased at the suggestion of Bob Walton, the CEO of the Claremont University Consortium, following his experience with them at a board meeting. She added that Harvey Mudd College and Pomona College had already been using their own clickers of the same make for instructional purposes.

However, there is a catch when it comes to students borrowing the clickers for organizations and clubs. As Fu revealed, the facility to borrow them is currently, “only open to faculty and staff.” She added that even at the library, the clickers are right now in “beta (testing) stage”, until they “figure out how [exactly] to use them.” Still, she added that in the future there is a possibility for students to rent the clickers if they are in high demand.

So what do you think CMC, time for a voting revolution?

Elections for the rest of America may be months away, but here at CMC, the results are in for the 2012-2013 ASCMC Executive Board!

Bolded names indicate winners.

ASCMC President

Aditya Pai: 68.7%

Connor Barclay: 30.2%

Write-In: 1.1%

Total Votes: 466

ASCMC Vice President

Miles Bird: 93.6%

Write-In: 6.4%

Total Votes: 466

ASCMC Social Affairs Council Chair

Steven Limandibratha: 95.0%

Write-In: 5.0%

Total Votes: 466

ASCMC Dorm Affairs Council Chair

Alexandra Cooke: 75.3%

Riley Thomlinson: 23.3%

Write-In: 1.4%

Total Votes: 466

ASCMC Student Life Chair

Stephanie Haft: 43.1%

Mohammad Abdul-Rahim: 56.0%

Write-In: 0.9%

Total Votes: 466

Class of 2013 President

Clare Riva: 74.6%

Jessica Dang: 25.4%

Write-In: 0.0%

Total Votes: 130

Class of 2014 President

Maddie Hall: 55.7%

Merriel Foster: 44.3%

Write-In: 0.0%

Total Votes: 115

Class of 2015 President

Demetrius Lalanne: 61.5%

Isabel Lane: 22.3%

Charlie Montgomery: 13.8%

Write-In: 2.3%

Total Votes: 127

In a vote last week, the ASCMC Senate approved a number of stipend changes for most members of the Executive Board. The proposal then went before the Executive Board for a vote yesterday evening.

The ASCMC Executive Board

The Executive Board only voted on and approved three stipend adjustments from the Senate proposal. The proposal to increase the Social Activities Chair (SAC) yearly stipend by $500 passed with Clare Riva ’13 and Connor Barclay ’13 voting against it. Riva and Barclay were also the only two voting members to reject the second proposal: a retroactive increase of $600 for the Forum Editor-in-Chief yearly stipend. All voting members voted in favor of a $100 decrease in the yearly stipend of the Student Security Officer beginning next term.

All constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority from the Executive Board for passage. Voting members on the Executive Board include the ASCMC President Jessica Mao, Vice President Aditya Pai, the Chief Financial Officer Lacey McLean, Campus Organizations Chair Ed La Cava, Executive Secretary Stephanie Haft, SAC Will Brown, Dorm Affairs Chair Clare Riva, Student Life Council Chair Alexandra Cooke, Freshman Class President Demetrius Lalanne, Sophomore Class President Gavin Landgraf, Junior Class President Connor Barclay, and Senior Class President Mary Doyle.

Nine members voted in the proceedings tonight. Lacey McLean ’12 and Gavin Landgraf ’14–both voting members of the Executive Board–were not present at the vote.

Referring to the three non-ASCMC students in attendance at last night’s stipend vote, President Mao said, “I really appreciated having students come to the meeting.” She added that she also valued having students email her their concerns and voicing them at ‘Mao Pow Wow,’ a weekly open forum hosted by Mao. “I think the officers gave considerable thought to the students’ input,” noted Mao.

Mao hopes the discussion will continue and address in further detail the ASCMC President’s $14,000 yearly stipend, which covers room and board at the college. She continued saying, “The big-picture conclusion that came out of the discussion tonight is that our stipends run on a broken system that needs to be reformed. It can’t be rushed, but it has to be done.”

All three proposals were part of the earlier group of stipend adjustments. Due to procedural ambiguity, Senate must reconsider the stipends tomorrow, Monday, February 27 before they take effect. Last Monday, February 20, Senate voted to amend the constitution to accept all proposed stipend changes with only one dorm–Claremont Hall–abstaining. It is unclear to ASCMC officials whether Senate adopted the stipends as one package or if it approved the stipends as individual proposals but used a procedural maneuver to vote on each individual package in one vote.

If Senate adopted the stipends as one package, Senate must treat the action by the Executive Board as a new proposal and vote again on the three stipend increases. To approve the proposal, two-thirds of all dorms, regardless of the number of senators voting must vote in favor of the motion. If approved by Senate, the changes will be implemented immediately and require no further voting on the part of Executive Board members.

If the Senate intended to pass the measure as individual pieces but voted once for the sake of ease and time, then the proposals would take effect immediately.

Update on February 27 at 10:57pm: Senate clarified the procedural ambiguity stating it voted in favor of all of the stipends individually. The three stipend proposals passed by the Executive Board are now in the ASCMC Constitution.

Note: Forum staff did not edit or revise these statements in any way. They are directly from the candidates in their own words. Their views do not necessarily represent those of the Forum. Statements from each of the candidates are below, listed in the order they were received. Acting in accordance with ASCMC election rules, comments have been disabled for this post.

· President ·

Aditya Pai

I’m Aditya Pai and I’m running for President. I was Freshman Class President, Sophomore Class President, and am currently Vice-President of ASCMC. But I’m running for President because I want to do more.

Last year, I made a promise to be an effective Chair of the Senate – and I kept it. I streamlined our funding and voting processes; I revived Senate committees to work on meal plans, improve Ducey, digitize professor evaluations, and other issues we care about; and I brought senior CMC officials to Senate to listen to our comments and concerns. The result has been a Senate that is not just a source of funding but also a forum for ideas and a platform for action.

As ASCMC Vice-President, I have organized campus leaders to make CMC a better place and we’re now beginning to see the impact of our work. We secured Hub meal-replacements on weekends for CMC students. We extended the hours of Ducey Gym. And perhaps most importantly, we submitted a Proposal for Student Spaces to President Gann and senior staff that has been approved and will be implemented this semester.

Now I’m running for President because I have a vision for what this College could be, and want to use my experience to make that vision a reality.  CMC’s most distinctive quality is that its students lead balanced lives: working hard and playing hard; excelling academically, thriving socially. As ASCMC President, I’ll facilitate that kind of balanced student life. I’ll help you work hard by fighting for more access and better hours in the Reading Room, the classrooms, the library cafe, and the Kravis Kube, Terraces, and Lab. And I’ll help you play hard by preserving our unique social scene while creating new and interesting dry alternatives. Being ASCMC President is an awesome responsibility that demands experience, judgment, and a vision for CMC. If you elect me, I will do my best to fulfill it.

Connor Barclay

Dear fellow CMCers,

Let’s get straight to the point. Why should you elect me to be your ASCMC President?

Simple: I will stand up for you.

Every year you pay $225 to ASCMC. The President’s primary responsibility is to ensure that $225 is spent in the way that maximizes your happiness and to represent you in dealings with the administration, alumni, and trustees. The President is a connector, a resource, and a pace setter, but above all, your #1 advocate.

I have experience being your advocate. In fact, every semester in the last three years I’ve represented you in roles as diverse as Senate’s representative to the Budget Committee, a student representative to the Board of Trustees, and the Junior Class President. I have developed trusting relationships with everyone from CMC administrators to alumni & trustees. These relationships will enable me to be extremely effective in negotiating in your interest. I can be diplomatic when the situation calls for it, but I am not afraid of stepping on a few toes if that is what’s necessary to best represent you.

Come to Snack this Tuesday to here about…

A Stipend? No Thank You. Did you know that ASCMC pays its president $7,000 every year using your money? I think that’s ridiculous too. I will donate that entire stipend right back to ASCMC and permanently reduce it for future years.

Endowment, Anyone?

Think that launching an ASCMC endowment can’t be done? Want to raise more money than all previous donations to ASCMC combined? I’m way ahead of you.

ASCMC 2.0

The 21^st century? Yea, we’re a little late. Sorry for partying.

Yours always,

Connor Barclay

If you have questions or just want to chat, email me at cbarclay13@cmc.edu or call me at 253-732-5795. I would love to hear from you.

· Vice President ·

Miles Bird

CMC,

It would appear that I am running for office uncontested, and therefore I am your de-facto ASCMC Vice President. Let me tell you a bit about myself, and why The Most Interesting Man in the World thinks I am the best person for the job.

My name is Miles Bird, and I am a junior History major at CMC. I like reading, kicking it with my brilliant friends, spur of the moment adventuring, and playing ping-pong. This is my first year back on campus following a yearlong leave of absence from the college after my sophomore year. I took time off school to pursue opportunities and interests that I would not otherwise have been able to do, and spent my time in Mongolia, Japan, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, and Brazil pursuing an entrepreneurial venture, studying languages, martial arts, and backpacking. It was a great year, but I have been all around the world and there isn’t a place like Claremont anywhere else. I love this place, and it is good to be back.

Having not served as an elected official of ASCMC previously, coupled with my professional experience, I bring an external and business-minded perspective to the table. ASCMC is a great service organization, but it is not a well-run business. Steps have been taken in the right direction this year to turn ASCMC into a more effective platform for student-initiated change at our college, but there is a lot to be done. I plan to use Senate, strong relationships with administrators, and other on-campus resources, most importantly the initiative of fellow students, to achieve this end. I will leverage my flexible role as Vice President to assist my fellow executive board members on their own projects.

Looking forward to a great spring and year ahead.

Miles

Note: Forum staff did not edit or revise these statements in any way. They are directly from the candidates in their own words. Their views do not necessarily represent those of the Forum. Statements from each of the candidates are below, listed in the order they were received. Acting in accordance with ASCMC election rules, comments have been disabled for this post.

· Dormitory Activities Council Chair (DAC) ·

Riley Thomlison

My name is Riley Thomlison and am a Junior running for DAC. Voters should elect me because I am organized and passionate about this position. I feel that with a few changes in the structure and coordination of events on campus, CMCers will realize how much fun we can truly have. Not only have I been involved in planning past dorm events, TNCs, and 2013 parties, but I also know where improvements need to be made. If you want a greater variety of events, more incredible memories to brag about to your friends outside of Camp Claremont, and to look forward to every Thursday night, then make the choice to vote for me. I want to change TNC into Thursday Nights with Class and make you regret for choosing an early Friday schedule. No two events will be the same and I promise that I will raise the standard on the definition of a good time. Get ready CMCers because big changes are on their way and with it comes different event venues, creativity, greater dorm involvement, FOMO (the fear of missing out) and so much more. Be sure to look for my flyers for specific event ideas and spread the word that Riley will cause a revolution.

Alexandra Cooke

As your Dorm Affairs Chair, my goals will be to foster a strong sense of dorm community, plan efficient and quality parties, and maintain CMC’s current traditions while reviving traditions lost over the years. At CMC, it’s easy to fall into a routine.  As DAC, I will mix things up: revamping T.N.C. themes and locations, dorm bonding activities, and off-campus ventures similar to “Screw Your Roommate,” planned by current DAC Clare Riva.  I plan to initiate a year-long, inter-dorm competition, complete with a fabulous prize at the end of the year to first place dorm.  I want to work closely and diligently with the Social Activities Chair (SAC) in order to maximize the quality and efficiency of events.

I have the ASCMC experience needed to fulfill my goals and hit the ground running after Spring Break. As both the Executive Secretary and the Student Life Chair (SLC) on the Board of Directors, I learned how to effectively organize and execute large-scale, school-wide events, such as this month’s Wedding Party, and I will continue to do so as DAC.  Because of this experience, I already have a good working relationship with the Dean of Students and Campus Security; strong communication with both offices is critical in planning uninterrupted events.  It will be my top priority to make sure this next year of fun is smooth and entertaining.

I will always listen to what you, the CMC students, want. Approach me with ideas or concerns. I am eager for your input! Vote Alexandra for experience and excellence.

· Student Activities  Council Chair (SAC) ·

Steven Limandibhratha

CMC is a special place, but I don’t have to tell the student body what they already know. What I want to bring to attention is the changing definition of “special place.” The inescapable cycle of college is that every May seniors graduate and every September a new class of freshmen joins our ranks. With this transition, tradition, tendencies, and perspectives both leave and join CMC’s student body. As members of the community that return the following year, I believe it’s up to us to facilitate new ideas while commemorating those fantastic ones that have passed. Incoming students bring new experiences and ideas while remaining students can attest to their past experiences at the college. My campaign statement is essentially to create a social environment that balances just that; taking the past and combining it with the present to create a future that is based on foresight and hindsight.

A note on the position of Student Activities Chair (SAC): I’ve been helping the current SAC, Will Brown, organize parties for the past year, and with that experience comes the understanding that the position of SAC is too much for one individual. The SAC can make a party happen but can only do so much to make it reflect the desires of the population. Another aim that I would have as SAC would be to involve the students more in the kind of parties thrown.

Finally I wanted to remind the student body of what they already know. CMC gives students the freedom to enjoy themselves. As SAC I’ll do everything to facilitate the social environment on campus. Just remember where you are, who are your friends, and take every opportunity to make more. I haven’t met a person on campus who was not worth knowing.

· Student Life Council Chair (SLC) ·

Mohammad Abdul-Rahim

Do you not feel like drinking but still want to have fun? Well, I’ve got the solution for you! My name is Mohammad “MoE” Abdul-Rahim and I’m running for the Student Life Chair position on ASCMC.

As SLC there are a couple of things I wish to do:

• Encourage participation from both the wet and dry communities
• Improve the promotion of dry events
• Get everyone on campus involved in dry events by creating a committee composed of people who enjoy dry events and by sending out monthly surveys regarding which events to hold
• Develop a more transparent method of budget communication between SLC and the student body
• Maintain and improve upon SLC’s cherished traditions, which include: Hub Quiz, Mr. Stag, pumpkin carving, screenings of your favorite TV series and sports games, and others
• Possible new events: Camping on Green Beach, Mini Sport Tournaments, Afternoon Recess Games, Barbecues, Smoothie Nights, Campus Wide Easter Egg Hunts, Capture the Flag with a twist (water balloons!), and much more!

This is just a preview of what I hope to do. If you want to learn more about my plans or have any suggestions, e-mail me at mrahim15@cmc.edu

On a final note, there is one thing you should always remember. You can expect mo’ from MoE because MoEbody does it better!

Stephanie Haft

As ASCMC’s new SLC, I would keep the important foundational traditions of the position while also building a new framework. With the advent of College Programming Board, many of the current dry events previously planned by SLC have been reassigned, allowing more time and resources for other ventures. When I think of “student life,” I also think of campus life and student wellness. My ideas for working on campus improvements and promoting student well-being include the following:

• free massages during stressful exam weeks/relaxation yoga
• working with Campus Life Committee (to secure coffee machines for dorm lounges, etc.)
• utilizing CMC talent to plan shows/ an “idea night” specifically for campus improvement plans
• using SLC funds for transportation to off-campus events
• paint balloon fight, “Biggest Loser” competition, petting zoo, field day, Sunday night studybreak, more!

As current Executive Secretary on the ASCMC Executive Board, I am aware of the responsibilities and hard work required of officers. My experience on the Executive Board has taught me how to successfully execute events and coordinate with the administration. I also sit on the Budgeting Committee for ASCMC, which has lent me not only personal budgeting skills, but also a valuable understanding of how funding for ASCMC events works.

I encourage you to come to next Tuesday’s snack where I will discuss my ideas in more detail; or, simply join the students at Wednesday tea offering their souls to me for chocolate-covered strawberries; prank phone call me at the front desk of Kravis Leadership Institute; or stop by my humble abode in Claremont Hall B310. I would love to explain my ideas further and address any questions or concerns.

I have experience, I have fresh ideas, and I have passion. Now, all I need is your vote.

Note: Forum staff did not edit or revise these statements in any way. They are directly from the candidates in their own words. Their views do not necessarily represent those of the Forum. Statements from each of the candidates are below, listed in the order they were received. Acting in accordance with ASCMC election rules, comments have been disabled for this post.

· Class of 2013 President ·

Jessica Dang

Senior year. What do you think of when you hear the words senior year? Well, for the loving class of 2013, I envision an awesome year filled with exciting senior trips that will include but also go beyond just the traditional Vegas and San Diego trips.

Here are three simple reasons why you should vote for me:

1. I’m all about making our last year the BEST YEAR EVER. I want to share my passion and bring us all closer together by arranging mind-blowing senior trips, providing yummy treats during finals week, and creating fun events.
2. I had the special opportunity to experience an alumni class reunion last year that involved top-notch activities. Currently, I have the privilege of serving on the Alumni Weekend Host Committee and gaining hands-on experience with the planning process. Best believe our class reunions will be nothing but the best.
3. I love CMC, as shown by my involvement with the Board of Trustees, KLI, The Forum, and a varsity sport. I want to be that liaison between CMC and the class of 2013, even years after graduation. Through my demonstrated ability to host numerous events as President of the Student-Alumni Relations Council, I promise I will not let you down, especially 10 to 50 years from now when we show off all the-moves-like-Jagger at our class reunions.

So, to wrap it all up: Go big or go home! I say we start and end our senior year with a BANG! Help me help you create ever-lasting memories before, during and after graduation. You’ll even have countless pictures to remember them by! I believe in you, in us, and our future for the best years of our lives. I make it possible; you make it happen. Vote for Dang for a DANNNNG good year!

Clare Riva

Hey 2013!  My name is Clare Riva and I’m running to be our class president.  But why vote for me?  Let me break it down for you:

Experience. I have been on ASCMC’s Executive Board for two years, first as secretary and this past year as Dorm Activities Chair (DAC).  I know how to plan events, from small class events to large, off-campus events like SYR.  This experience will be essential in planning great class events, from class dinners to Vegas trips to 100 Days.  Also, through ASCMC, my work as Ath Fellow, and my time as a Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, I have built important relationships with Alumni Relations, college administrators, and trustees.  I will use these connections to make our graduation and alumni experiences the best they can possibly be.

Tradition.  It has been my goal this year to bring back dorm traditions, and I succeeded in resurrecting dorm intramural teams and SYR.  I want to do the same for the senior class, from an evening cruise for our class to a big event at the Mt. Baldy lodge. I also hold current traditions very close to my heart, and will fight to make sure things like the Thesis Parties continue.

Passion.  What it boils down to is I love CMC, and I love our class!  I have the motivation, the dedication, and the spirit that it takes to keep our class united here and once we leave CMC.  You will always be able to count on me for unity and fun, next year and beyond. Most of all, I want to make sure that we will always have CMC.

2013, Vote for Spirit and Experience.  Vote Clare Riva for Class President!

· Class of 2014 President ·

Maddie Hall

Fellow Stagthenas,

Four score and seven TNCs ago, our admissions office brought forth in this college, a new class, conceived in Claremont, and dedicated to the proposition that all members of the class of 2014 shall be incredibly badass.

Now we are engaged in a great decision, testing whether that class, or any class so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great quad of that decision…

Okay okay… So I’m not trying to be the next Lincoln, but as class president I will do all I can to keep our class united and strong. Granted no battles are being fought over which dorm gets to hold the next TNC, but our class could be a lot more cohesive if we bond together and step up as leaders. From subsidizing transport to Sushi Cruise, to hosting a class sailing trip, spa day, or rap battle, as president, I will work hard to host a wide range of events. I want to showcase our unique talents, so we can get to know each other on a more personal level.

Additionally, I want everyone’s input about what these events should be. I’m not about to plan a visit to Justin Timberlake’s house because I am probably the only one obsessed enough to find it. I will use metrics (with the assistance of some econ majors) to gauge your level of interest and to evaluate your experience at past events.

I care about class unity enough to get shot in the head for it (by a zombie nerf gun of course)! Hit me up if you want to discuss my ideas, share ideas of your own, or get a ride to target.

Vote for Maddie!!

Maddie Hall

Mhall14@cmc.edu

206-419-1893

Merriel Foster

There is no question that the Class of 2014 is the most intelligent, attractive, talented, and well-rounded group of individuals that has walked the quads of the North, Mid and South.  As a representative of our class, I would make it my priority to listen, communicate and follow through with your ideas and inputs to take advantage of every moment we have at CMC.  With so many of us abroad both semesters next year, it is vital to focus on maintaining the unity of our class on campus.  I hope for each of us to strive to identify as a member of the junior class, rather than a member of a quad.  We are the Class of 2014, and we should be proud.

If elected, my top priorities would be to:

• Plan big events at the beginning of each semester.  It happens too often that we opt to spend the day at Poppa or Ryal and miss out on jumping in a bouncy castle on Green Beach or taking a trip up to Baldy because once the school work starts up, it is near impossible to find a time for a break that we all can enjoy.  Also, with many abroad programs starting a few weeks after the beginning of the semester, there is the opportunity for classmates that will be gone for the semester to come back and spend more time with friends before they fly overseas.
• Feed you.  A lot.
• Coordinate an amazing Monte Carlo.  It is the responsibility of the Junior Class to throw one of the most memorable parties of the year, and I would be sure to keep up the tradition.
• Communicate.  I cannot stress how vital this is for our class to get the most out of next year.  Survey Monkey is great, but I will make a point of talking one on one to members our class and not just bringing your suggestions to the table, but making them happen.

I am dedicated, hard working, creative, and ready to represent you as Junior Class President!

Vote Very Well, Vote Merriel

· Class of 2015 President ·

Isabel Lane

One event a week– that’s my promise. The rest is up to you. Whether you want a hiking trip to Baldy, Friday night snack, or more Class of 2015 parties, you just have to let me know. It’ll be a lot easier for you to do that this year, too; if elected, I’ll hold weekly forums for you to come and talk to me about your ideas (think Mao-pow-wow). Also, there will be a voting system for the events we put on– I’ll give you at least two choices at the beginning of the week and each of you will have the opportunity to vote on which one you’d like to see happen.

As your sitting Vice-President, I’ve had the entire year to learn how to make these kinds of events happen and how to make them well-attended. In terms of ideas, I’ve already been talking to people about what they’d like to see in the upcoming year. Here are just some of the ideas I’ve heard:

A night Capture-The-Flag game

Class swag (sweatpants for the colder months, perhaps)

Having more service opportunities

Making intramural sports more popular

I’m not just your event planner, though: as your president, I’d also be a member of ASCMC’s executive board. If you have any concerns or issues you’d like addressed, the weekly forums would be a great place to come and voice them to me. If you tell me to, I’d advocate for issues like reconsidering the TNC guest pass policy.

Above all, I’m committed to you. If you elect me, you’re putting yourselves in charge. I’ll go the extra mile to make your ideas happen.

If you want to hear more, please come talk to me or come to the speeches at Snack on Tuesday. I’d love to hear from you!

Demetrius Lalanne

“Hey 2015! I’m Demetrius Lalanne, your current class president! I am running for re-election because I loved throwing events and representing you guys at ASCMC meetings. This semester I learned a lot about the position of Frez and how much time and energy goes into it. Whether it was asking Jim Nauls to help fund the Freshman-only Ath teas, or attempting to organize hundreds of super sneaky deaths in assassins, it took about half the semester to really get settled into my position. The position of president is much more than just throwing parties however, although throwing a nice party is essential; class presidents represent the class to alumni and to the administration; presidents have to work well with multiple different bodies on campus and be able to juggle different ideas and commitments at once. I have learned to embody this mentality and build off of it. By re-electing me you’d be surpassing that awkward settling stage. I’d like to hit the ground running, with more events, more collaboration between classes, and more discussions. I am currently planning a huge event sponsored by our class for Mckenna Weekend, and have planned re-occuring Friday Frosh Fests including fun, food and games for your enjoyment. The most important part is that I did not do this alone. I managed a team of 9 other freshman who helped me come up with ideas and execute our parties. I know that if I were elected again and wanted to do even bigger things I would need more help. For those of you who want to help throw parties, or get the class involved in community service, or find non-alcoholic ways for the class to have fun you will have your chance with me as your president. The bottom line is that I love ASCMC and I love my class, and I would love to help you guys have an awesome sophomore year!”

Charlie Montgomery

My name is Charlie Montgomery and I am running for sophomore class president. So why should you vote for me? As President, I would make participation my top priority in order to make next year as enjoyable as possible. I have a vision, unfulfilled by our current President, of the participation needed to realize the potential spirit and unity of our class. Here is my roadmap to getting us there.

1. Spirit-I love the environment of the Pomona-Pitzer games and I want to experience that atmosphere on a far more regular basis. We are all busy with our studies and it is difficult to find a game to go to. I would create a “game of the week.” This would be set up on a rotating schedule so that each team could experience the full force of stag pride.
2. Events- Expect plenty of fun pre-party celebrations, class barbeques, pool parties and other events you will actually want to attend. The events this year have been hit or miss and attendance has been lackluster. If elected I would use SurveyMonkey to involve all of you more in choosing what our class funds go towards.
3. Council- I think FroCo was a good idea that was inadequately implemented. I will restructure it so that all of us would be welcome to participate in the weekly meetings. This group would be led by an elected cabinet in order to ensure responsibility while still being open to ideas, comments and concerns from all of you.
4. I also plan on donating my stipend of $500 back to the class in order to help put on more and better events for all of you.

Thank you and remember that a vote for me is a vote for you,

Charlie

Throughout this past summer, the GOP debates have consistently brought us wildly entertaining television. The race for the Republican Party presidential nomination started out a little bit like this, but as the economy failed to improve and populist movements gained momentum, spectators started taking the candidates more seriously. Now, with a few significant primaries out of the way, Republican voters are left with four candidates all asserting that they can do a better job than President Obama. I sat down with Jack Pitney, Professor of Government at CMC, to determine exactly where each of these candidates stand. His assessment was a little gloomy.

Photo Credit: Jessica Rinaldi

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney has played the role of the stable candidate since the beginning of the race. We all assumed that he had his sea legs, partly because of the amount of time he’s spent at yacht clubs. Throughout the debates, Romney has given a solid performance and has offset the hype tactics used by his fellow candidates with a calm, collected and reliable-looking demeanor.

As Professor Pitney said, “He doesn’t make Republican pulses race, but he can speak coherently without making too many mistakes and there’s something to be said for that.”

Mitt Romney’s widely acknowledged advantage is that, compared to his colleagues, he is moderate in every sense of the word. Professor Pitney pointed out that Santorum and Gingrich will likely continue to highlight Romney’s center leanings by criticizing his past with public health care, and that this small but catching point may continue drawing complaints that Romney is not “right” enough. His challenge in upcoming debates and along the campaign trail will be to “convince people that he’s going to be a conservative president,” according to Pitney.

Romney’s consistent performances and low number of “Oops” moments makes him the easiest candidate for the average Republican voter to support. His disadvantages, however, stem from his highbrow image, his arguably “detached” point of view, and his inability to rile up a crowd. While his fellow candidates use catchphrases and hot topics to gain applause, Romney receives some crowd support, but is never the star of the show. Though it doesn’t seem that there is much standing between him and the general election, Romney will have to fight to stay in the spotlight and remind voters of the importance of being predictable and, frankly, a little plain.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Newt Gingrich

Ah, Newt. He has the name of an amphibian, the stature of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and the image of… well, an unpopular politician. Though people were in disbelief when Newt Gingrich announced his candidacy, his campaign has seen some bursts of popularity. At the end of January, Gingrich was tied with Romney in the Gallup national polls, but again his volatile popularity bottomed out and his approval rating now sits two points above underdog Ron Paul’s, and understandably so.

Gingrich’s time in politics (and as a husband) does not reflect well on him, especially now that he is trying to present himself as the next President of the United States. But, regardless of the ties between the right wing and religion, it’s not Gingrich’s moral character that alienates most Republican voters – though it certainly makes liberals grimace. It’s his history of inflammatory remarks and bipolar political strategy. In the words of Professor Pitney, “Gingrich is destroyed.”

Though he portrays himself as being a poster boy for academics of the right wing, Professor Pitney says that Gingrich’s past contradicts both his academic capability and his supposedly super-conservative ideology. Gingrich’s contribution to the squabbling going on between Republican Party candidates has led people like ABC News consultant, Matthew Dowd, to admit that, “[Obama] is also benefiting from the fact that the Republican nomination process looks like a circus right now and he gets a benefit from, ‘Is that who we are going to have to pick from?’”

Even though this presumably leads voters to settle for consistent Mitt Romney, Gingrich would theoretically have to prove his consistency and stability in order to even be viewed on the same plane as Romney. In reality, however, this change is nearly impossible this far along in the race and in the politician’s career. As Professor Pitney said, “Gingrich has been unpopular since the mid-1990’s and that’s not about to change – he’s said a number of things that people are not willing to forgive.”

Gingrich’s strong supporter base and his pull with minorities via lenient illegal immigration policies could potentially give him that final push for the nomination. But although the religious right may capture a portion of the Hispanic voting bloc, Gingrich is not likely to garner support based on that one connection.

Rick Santorum

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

Santorum started out debate season lost among the mish-mash that was Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry, but the incoming “culture warrior” slowly gained an aggressive following that makes up a sizable part of the Republican Party. The former senator won four of the eight primaries that started in early January. Three of those primaries were in the early days of February, and his national poll rating has improved greatly with his recent success. Now, Santorum is tied with Romney and is seriously being considered for the GOP nomination.

Santorum has very successfully captivated a number of Republican voters with his adherence to conservative values, both economic and social. His weakness lies in some past provocative statements, particularly toward homosexuals, which by this time have earned their own Wikipedia page.

Professor Pitney says that there are two parts to Rick Santorum: the part that alienates people with offensive remarks and the part that has done legitimate policy work and stands a chance to be a good leader. Santorum’s work on the Combating Autism Act won him favor within the Autism community and legitimized his work as a politician. The religious ranger of the right wing also sponsored the Workplace Religious Freedom Act with Senator John Kerry, which featured input from Hillel and the Anti-Defamation League on combating Anti-Semitism in American colleges. The amount of support he’s recently gathered from the right combined with his potential ability to perform puts him in a position perhaps ahead of Mitt Romney in the final few debates. Santorum has the ability to create hype, which Romney decidedly lacks. Santorum’s challenge will be focusing on his background in successful legislation and taking focus away from his penchant for upsetting people.

Ron Paul

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore

I know. Ron Paul is not really in the running for the Republican Party nomination. As Professor Pitney put it, “His campaign is usually more of a cause than a path to the White House.” When the 76-year-old representative from Texas decided to run for president again, spectators could predict that his level of support would hit a glass ceiling. His ideas are too outlandish and he consistently takes the term “free market” too literally, causing even the sitting-on-my-front-porch-with-a-shotgun portion of the Republican Party to treat him like a lunatic. But Paul has maintained a passionate core of supporters that consists of a large number of either very old or very young people (who knew he was going for the young crowd with ads like this).

A number of Paul’s ideas can be rejected based purely on plausibility. The hope that the United States government will revert to the gold standard is nothing but a pipe dream. Thus, the portrayal of his campaign as a “cause” to raise awareness rather than a plan to actually implement drastic changes is understandable. Professor Pitney says, “What may actually come out of Ron Paul’s campaign is some effort to appease his supporters.” When the two presidential candidates are fighting over the Independent vote in the general election, they’ll be faced with dissatisfied Democrats, “undecideds”, and a passionate group of Ron Paul supporters who may not be as convinced as the rest of the right wing to “just vote Republican.” If candidates have to adjust their campaigns to include winning over undecided libertarians, Ron Paul’s cause would have met a satisfactory end.

The Final Tally

When it comes to the general election, it should be widely accepted that registered Republicans will likely vote red no matter what. Those equally far to the left will most likely look at the Republican candidate field, recoil, and vote for Obama. Those in the middle are faced with a difficult choice in November.

According to Professor Pitney, the deciding issue in the general election will not be character, demeanor, or even policy. Although the election process began with talk of remembering American values and returning to morality by encouraging kids to pray in school, banning abortion and forbidding gay marriage, it will boil down to the most widely felt issue in the country: the economy. Simply put, if the economy is good, undecided voters will vote for Obama, and if it is bad, they will look for a change in whoever the Republican candidate happens to be. Regardless of the disheartening idea that moral character is not in fact a deciding factor in choosing the leader of a country, the economy has enough weight in all of our lives to consume a majority of our political thought. With the social and economic turmoil bubbling up in the country, this is no doubt the most important election of our lifetimes.