Both groups have eerily similar functions. The CPB is a board of elected officials that plans alcohol-free events and activities for students at Claremont McKenna College (CMC). Alexandra Cooke ’14, the current SLC chair, is required by the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) constitution to “coordinate non-alcoholic activities for the student body.” If you just did a double take, you’re not alone because CPB and SLC have essentially the exact same purpose. The only differences? CPB has deeper pockets, different funding sources and an unelected leader.

Jim Nauls helped bring Aziz Ansari to Claremont last spring

This article is not intended to disparage either Cooke or the current CPB chair Christina Khavarian ’12.  As dozens of airbrushed unicorn tattoos and decorated holiday cookies will attest, they have each done a fantastic job of keeping us entertained, happy, and well-fed inside and outside our Claremont bubble.

Still, from budget differences to election practices or lack thereof, it seems that the CPB chair and SLC chair are two positions that could easily be merged in order to truly benefit the students and be most effective. If combined, the new “dry chair” could pool monetary resources from two sources and avoid the inefficient overlap in positions that currently exists.  The position of SLC chair should be eliminated altogether and the CPB Chair should be elected by the students to allocate funds from both the DoS Office and ASCMC. This does raise a few problems: will ASCMC become nothing more than a glorified party-planning committee? Where will the money allocated to the SLC chair go? Because the CPB is not governed by a constitution, would the interests of students truly be spoken for?

Cooke sums up budgetary concerns perfectly, “The main differences between the two are simply where their funds come from and the sizes of the budgets. My budget comes from ASCMC and CPB’s budget comes from the Board of Trustees and is allocated by Jim Nauls in the Dean of Students Office.” Cooke notes that CPB’s budget is approximately 10 times larger than her SLC budget and reiterates, “I work for ASCMC and CPB works for Dean Nauls. While I have a constitution, an executive board and a budgeting committee to oversee how I spend my budget, CPB is guided by Dean Nauls.”

Don’t get me wrong, it is indeed admirable that CMC students (via CPB) are now in charge of allocating the funds the Dean of Students Office has appropriated for student activities, but it just seems convoluted to split funds (unevenly) between ASCMC representative Cooke and CPB’s 14-person board. CPB gets to sponsor the big names like Demetri Martin, take students to Dodgers  games, and bring Kogi trucks while Cooke only has the funds to sponsor No Shave November contests and cookie-decorating.

Then there’s the matter of the election process. As Cooke puts it, “ASCMC has a constitution that mandates the fair election of an SLC; CPB does not (yet).”

Indeed, this is how the election for CPB student representatives went in Appleby Dorm. Resident Assistant Jordan Santo ’12 asked his residents, “Who wants to be our CPB rep?”  Silence. “Seriously guys…someone…anyone?” Someone tentatively raised their hand, and thus, a new CPB representative was born!  It was hardly the best example of political activism at CMC, and while the process may not have been the same in other dorms, it’s hard to imagine that there was any hard-core campaigning going on.

Yes, Cooke ran unopposed, but she still had to make her future plans known and tell us what she intended to do as SLC chair.  Besides, a certain sneaky “Write-In” (John Faranda, perhaps?) gave her a run for her money by winning 27.37% of the vote. Students had to actively take thirty seconds out of their day to check boxes and that, my friends, is democracy.

While the individual members of the board were elected, Khavarian was chosen by Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities Jim Nauls and was not elected to her position.

In an earlier Forum article introducing CPB to the campus at large, Jim Nauls was quoted as saying “she will not have any more say in the events than other students on the board.”

CMC is all about choosing their leaders and controlling spending (trust me, I’ve seen Senate debate the merits of a various garden plants for over a half hour), and I find it hard to believe that this decision didn’t ruffle a few feathers. Yes, the idea of a CPB tyrant imposing miserable activities on sober students is preposterous, but shouldn’t the students have more of an active role in choosing who plans activities on their behalf?

When it comes to the CPB and SLC chair Cooke, the method of “divide and conquer” has become “divide and do the same thing with different funding and varying degrees of student input.”   Add to this the fact that there is very little if any communication between the two, and it’s clearly time to combine and conquer.

Though much of what we see from ASCMC as students are events like Monte Carlo or the “party inform,” ASCMC isn’t simply a governing body debating the merits of various themes (or so we hope).  As a group of leaders trying to create the best community for all of us, I believe ASCMC could get used to the idea of contributing what funding it previously used for SLC chair to CPB’s fund so we could benefit from both resources.

Cooke agrees that some cooperation could benefit both groups. “I think CPB and SLC have great potential to work together…the two groups should collaborate more, to maximize great events.”  If the SLC chair simply becomes CPB chair, eliminating redundancies and allowing for fair elections, CMC students can have the best of both worlds. Imagine a glorious campus where you can nosh on hand-decorated cookies while laughing uproariously at Demetri Martin. Dreams do come true.

Ultimately, both groups joining forces to accomplish the exact same thing can only create and fund even better activities for all of us. Personally, I’d like to see some collaboration or I’ll be forced to adopt the much less catchy slogan (my apologies to Patrick Henry), “Give me a fairly elected group of students with shared funding to provide booze-free entertainment, or give me death!”

Laila Heid and Bryan Brown in "The Actor’s Nightmare"

In the next play, “The Actor’s Nightmare,” Bryan Brown starred in an over the top performance of a terrified actor trapped in a fit of forgotten lines and stage fright as he is forced to keep up with an angry stage manager and a constantly changing cast. His role was well complimented by Laila Heid and David Leathers, both of whom had the crowd laughing after nearly every line delivered. This play was easily the most involved, and while it sometimes made obscure references, the audience was kept on their toes at every turn.

This fast-paced, comical series of scenes was contrasted by the performances of Ileana Gabriela Mendoza and Crystal Adams in “Poof.” This play dealt with the dark topic of women trapped by abusive and violent husbands. However, when Mendoza’s tormentor disappears with hardly a trace, it adds a twist that causes feelings of celebration, resentment, and ultimately relief for the two women. Though there was hardly a break from the serious tone of this play, Mendoza and Adams gave convincing performances beyond their years.

The final One Act in the series featured Julia Starr and Jennifer Baute in “The Wake.” Starr’s quirky role as an uninvited guest to a wake was perfectly matched to the moving, and equally funny, performance of Baute as the grieving
widow. Her performance in particular helped the play maintain a flawless balance of comedy and tragedy as she dealt with the guilt of partially causing her husband’s untimely demise. The resounding applause at the end of the production demonstrated the audience’s appreciation for the heartfelt performance of these two actors.

Paige Costello and Will Khan in "Finger Food"

But the performance that stole the show was that of a hand modeling shoot gone awry starring Paige Costello and Will Kahn. An unexpected reversal of gender roles paired with hilariously executed physical comedy had the audience in hysterics from start to finish. Kahn’s style, from his flamboyant gestures to his fake Italian accent, commanded the attention of the audience. Costello  matched him move for move, making “Finger Food” one unforgettable performance.

UTL President, Jennifer Baute, commented on her job of organizing the production, saying “I really enjoyed working on one acts this year. From acting to directing to organizing the event, it’s UTL’s members and the students who come to see the fruits of our labor that make participating worthwhile. I’m looking forward to working on the full-length Ath production next semester!”

Not only were students the performers within the actual production, but each One Act was directed by various students as well, demonstrating once again that the pool of talent at CMC knows no bounds. Overall the acting was well-rehearsed, the plays well-chosen, and the performance seemed to go off without a hitch.

Julia Starr and Jennifer Baute in "The Wake"

Special thanks to Michelle Kung, Jim Nauls, the Media Tech Department, and the whole cast of UTL for another stellar production.

A Queen crowned at the traditional 3C Starlight Ball

This year Monte Carlo, which will take place on Saturday, November 12, reverts to its namesake theme and will see the revival of many past traditions as well as the beginning of a few new ones.  Connor Barclay, class of 2013 president, explains that this year’s Monte Carlo is all about “recapturing tradition.”

While last year’s party was still well attended with almost 800 students, the vast majority of them were from CMC. This year ASCMC hopes to see higher attendance from Harvey Mudd and Scripps College students alike, encouraging both schools to join in the festivities. The aim is to bring back the camaraderie that used to be pervasive in the event. As such, Barclay explains that ASCMC has been coordinating an effort to increase awareness, excitement, and participation from the other two colleges. He notes, “This was the one time a year that the three schools really came together and we have lost that.  We are trying to recapture that spirit this year.”

With tradition in mind, ASCMC is announcing the revival of the Monte Carlo Homecoming Court – for the first time in decades, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps students will be able to nominate and vote on homecoming Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses.

The Forum will hold write-in nominations through Wednesday, November 9 at midnight, followed by run off elections for the top four nominees for each class at Monte Carlo on Saturday night. “Each class will be able to vote for a prince and princess – endearingly termed Royal Fawns – who will be chosen by a vote tally at the end of the night,” says class of 2012 president Mary Doyle. The Senior class nominees with the most votes will be crowned the Stag King and Athena Queen.  Each class will only be allowed to vote for winners within their own grade – however, anyone within the 3c’s may nominate or be nominated to win. You can nominate the Royal Fawns here.

Another, perhaps even older tradition will be returning as well this year. Going stag isn’t stag tradition – and this year “ASCMC is encouraging students to break from the norm and bring a date with a contest,” says Barclay. This year there will be a contest for the most creative Monte Carlo “asking” by 3c students. Between Tuesday and Thursday students can email hhyatt12@cmc.edu to inform us of the time and place they will be asking their date to Monte Carlo, and the Forum will send a photographer to take pictures of the affair. On Friday, the photos will be posted online and open to a vote by the Claremont community. Whichever couple is voted the most creative asking will receive two free tickets to the event and be announced alongside the homecoming court.

As always, guests from outside the 5Cs are welcome.  Barclay reminds students that they must register guests with their Resident Assistant before Saturday, November 12.

The event itself boasts 45 casino tables and dealers from Atlantic City Gaming, and will feature the band “The Trip” who played at Wedding Party 2011. Fully tented and set up at the old tennis court, the event will have a full dance floor, chocolate fountain, and all the normal accoutrements. Among the host of prizes, will be a two-day, three-night trip to Vegas for two, which will be awarded to the student who wins the most money throughout the night. The other prizes, including a trip to Paris, will be given out through a raffle among the remaining students.

Before the nighttime festivities, the Stags Football team will take on Pomona-Pitzer.  The two teams will battle over the Peace Pipe at 1:00pm on Zinda Field.  ASCMC is also hosting a tailgate party outside Duecy on the outdoor basketball courts.  The tailgate will start at 11:00am. If you are interested in going, please send your meal card numbers to criva13@cmc.edu.

Monte Carlo is this Saturday, November 12, at 9:30pm on the Smith Tennis Courts. You may purchase tickets here. You may also nominate the “Royal Fawns” here.

For as long as any student can remember (and even many alumni!), Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Activities Jim Nauls has been in charge of putting together events for students on campus. During a recent Board of Trustees meeting, however, it was brought up that perhaps the beneficiaries of these events, the students, should have more of a say in the use of the Student Activities funds.

Thus the CMC College Programming Board (CPB) was born. According to their mission statement, the CPB is a group of elected representatives who plan to bring “concerts, special events, lectures, comedians, and more” to campus this year. The board consists of elected members from each dorm on campus and is chaired by Christina Khavarian (2012). As the year progresses, the board will divide into sub-committees to develop and run both on-campus activities and off-campus activities.

Photo Credit: CPB

This semester, as the students learn the ropes, the board will focus on hosting the events rather than planning them. “I already have a ton of events lined up for this Fall,” explained Dean Nauls, but he hopes that the student energy will help him to hold an event every night of the week this Fall – a goal which he has been working towards for years. “I’d love to have something every night of the week, but I just can’t be at all of the activities,” he explained.

Come spring semester, the tables will turn: Dean Nauls will be taking the backseat and the board will be taking the reins. Both planning and hosting activities will fall in the hands of students. And, while the ideas that the board comes up with will remain top-secret until then, as Khavarian explained, “we already have two whole pages of ideas just from the first meeting.”

The CPB is also separate from the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College. While the Programming Board may coordinate some activities with ASCMC, the CPB is not taking the place of the Student Life Council, the Dorm Activities Committee or any other student run organization at CMC.

The College Programming Board will also help the Dean of Students office hear feedback from students about events. While Dean Nauls does get students dropping in from time to time saying how great an event was, he noted: “I don’t get many negative comments.” Hopefully, with the board hearing inputs from students all over campus, criticisms of activities will be better heard.

CPB has already hosted a number of events including a Dodgers game, a trip to the Getty Museum, Glee showings, laser tag in McKenna Auditorium, weekly movie screenings in Pickford Auditorium and many others.  They are also hosting the “all-you-can-eat” Kogi Truck on Thursday, October 6 at 10:00PM. Other, previously unannounced, events include a bus and subsidized tickets to Knotts Scary Farm, another bus and subsidized tickets for Wicked playing at the Pantages Theatre, a buffalo wing-eating contest, Hangar 18 rock climbing and other activities.

Some concerns have been raised about how Khavarian was chosen as the Chair of the CPB; indeed, there was no election process this year. Dean Nauls explained that she has worked in his office, helping him run events for several years now. When it came time to put together a student group like this, it made sense to turn to her. “I’ve been working with Jim Nauls for ages,” assured Khavarian. As Jim explained, she will not have any more say in the events than other students on the board–rather, the Chair is in charge of coordinating the sub-committees and day-to-day communication with him and his office.

Dean Nauls weighed in about the drawbacks of a system with so many moving parts: “It was easy when I could just say yes, let’s do it” to an event. Now, with the new CPB, ideas will have to go through many more people to become a reality. Even so, Dean Nauls chuckled as he said that “my job is about to get way easier…maybe I won’t have to be here every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night!”

If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions for the College Programming Board staff, email them at cpb@claremontmckenna.edu or leave comments below.

On the evening of September 13, a student in Marks Hall noticed a woman in her mid-thirties showering in the second floor Marks bathrooms. An hour later, another student found the same woman sleeping in the Marks Hall lounge. Both students called Marks Hall Resident Assistant Kevin MacPherson, asking if somebody’s mother was staying in the dorm that night.

After MacPherson confirmed that the dorm had no registered visitors that night, he called Campus Safety and Security. By this point, the visitor had left the building, leaving behind some personal belongings and paperwork in the lounge.  Campus Safety inspected the building, collected the visitor’s belongings, and left after making sure that all the doors in Marks were locked.

Following the incident, MacPherson sent a dorm-wide safety advisory, issuing an ALL CAPS, Jim Nauls-esque briefing on the importance of locking doors and reporting suspicious visitors.

Photo Credit: Aseem Chipalkatti

Prompted by the email, rumors began to fly around the dorm. Some students claimed that the visitor was wanted in three different states for committing a hit and run. Others swore that she had stolen a child’s passport, and was on the run from the United States Marshall’s Office. A few even declared that she must have been a Pomona student gone crazy with jealousy over the gratuitous amenities of Marks Hall, ranging from vintage coin-operated laundry machines to its hand-laid Italian linoleum that lines the floors.

Things came to a head late on the night of September 14. On the way to an intermural water polo game, Marks Hall resident Logan Solomon noticed a suspicious person hiding in the Japanese Garden behind Benson and Marks Halls. After a brief investigation, he realized that is was the same visitor that had been sighted in Marks the night before. After calling Campus Safety, Solomon and MacPherson stood in front of the entrance to the garden, ensuring that the visitor could not leave.

Upon Campus Safety and the Claremont Police Departments’ arrival, it was determined that the woman posed no immediate threat to students and was only in violation of local trespassing laws. According to Lieutenant Shelly Vander Veen of the Claremont Police Department, the visitor was only a local transient with no warrants out for her arrest. After advising her not to return to the Claremont campuses without prior permission from Campus Safety, two Claremont Police officers escorted her off the CMC campus.

The entire incident showcases the thoroughness of the protective cocoon that CMC provides its students. As stated by MacPherson, “RA’s receive extensive training regarding a variety of scenarios anywhere from potential chemical explosions at the W.M. Keck Science Center to crowd control at the Athenaeum when rice krispies run out earlier than expected.”

While Lt. Vander Veen stated that unwanted visitors are a regular occurrence on the CMC campus, she did have this final piece of advice.  “Often times, dorm rooms are burglarized when doors are left unlocked…we would highly encourage students to lock their doors even when they’re just going to the bathroom or visiting a friend. It will go a long way in preventing them from being a victim of crimes.”

CMC students often refer to the “Claremont Bubble” – the idea that nothing bad can happen on the campuses of the 5Cs. While this incident ended well for everyone involved, it proves that it still pays to lock doors and stay safe, even here at Camp Claremont.

1. The ASCMC Senate enjoyed a change of scenery. Both Bauer Forum and Pickford Auditorium were occupied at the Senate’s new starting time, so all of the Senator’s trudged upstairs to Bauer 35 where they filed in, filling every chair and most of the floor space. It may not have been the most comfortable senate session in the history of the group, but I’m pretty sure that everyone got to know each other a little better.
   
2. For all Senators, it’s time to sign up for committees! Senate President Aditya Pai explained that all Senators interested in joining a committee must submit their applications by tomorrow, Tuesday September 20th.
3. Jim Nauls, Dean of Student Activities, stopped by to talk about changes in student trips budget this year. Nauls noted that the student trip fund received more funding this year and, as a result, “we have programs every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of the semester.” He did explain that “chances are we will not do anything this semester, as far as concerts,” but that “we do movies every Friday night.” To conclude, he made sure to remind all students with ideas and proposals for student trips to simply drop in and let him know.
4. The Chair of the Administrative Affairs Committee, Adam Griffith (who’s that guy?) explained that the process for funding requests will be modified this year to decrease the amount of time spent on them at weekly meetings. Rather than going straight to the Senate general body, requests will now first go to the Administrative Affairs, who will provide recommendations on all funding requests.
5. The vote for freshmen class President will be held on Tuesday, September 20th , following speeches from each candidate at snack on Monday night.
6. Aditya Pai introduced a new section to the night’s Senate session that he calls Open Senate. During this period of the meeting, any and all CMC students can come before the Senate and describe a personal grievance or campus-wide problem for discussion. Tonight, two speakers came forward.

•      First, CMC student Jack Oliphant described his efforts to convince the Consortium to pay to keep the Honnold/Mudd library open later on weeknights. Thanks to his perseverance in bringing the problem before the administration, he described an upcoming trial program during which students will be able to study in the library café until 3AM to gauge the level of interest in such a time change.
•      Second, Tyler McBrien, Chair of the Senate Student Trips Committee described efforts by his committee to explore a number of new options for school-supported spring break programs, such as a possible W.O.A-like set of excursions during the course of the break.

Ansari, now well known for his lewd humor and fearless insults, started his career as a stand-up comedian in New York before gaining fame on YouTube.  His popularity sky-rocketed in 2009 when he began to play Tom Haverford on the comedy series Parks and Recreation, alongside Amy Poehler.  In 2010, he hosted the MTV Movie Awards and made one hilarious cameo on the TV show Flight of the Conchords as an Australian-hating fruit vendor.

Ansari’s most famous impersonation is that of Randy from the film Funny People. Every now and then, you’ll hear a bro imitate Ansari’s “Raaaandy” bit.  But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  The “underwater” part of that film will surely make you love or hate him.  Just make sure your little sister isn’t in the room listening.

Photo Credit: Robyn Van Swank

When it comes to politically incorrect jokes, Ansari always provides a great delivery.  He even made an appearance on the website College Humor as a man who spontaneously–and irresponsibly–decides to adopt an orphan.

Although he may not be anyone’s choice for parent of the year, Ansari was once a good student. The South Carolina native  graduated from New York University.  Ansari’s talents clearly exceed comedy.  He has also written three movies and successfully sold them to major producer Judd Apatow.

But let’s be real here. Ansari’s biggest achievement in the past year? Sitting next to Neil Patrick Harris at the Emmy Roundtable. Now you know you’re famous.

In past years, the Claremont Colleges have hosted Dave Chappelle, Russell Peters, and Margaret Cho. “But Aziz is what’s hot right now. Everybody knows him,” explains Assistant Dean of Students James Nauls.

If you happen to be one of the few that isn’t familiar with Ansari, you can get acquainted with his style of humor by checking out his Tumblr. He is active on it, constantly providing social commentary on the current events of the entertainment industry.

In another impressive gig, Ansari portrays the Swagga Coach of Zach Galifianakis (if you think you don’t know Galifianakis by name, you certainly know him by face; he’s the funny beardie in The Hangover, Due Date, and Dinner for Schmucks).

According to that video, he only sits on things that are purple. Hopefully Big Bridges will be kind enough to accommodate.   Ansari is a celebrity, after all.  The least we can do is provide a purple chair.

The comedy show will be held at 8PM in the Big Bridges Auditorium at Pomona and will be a non-alcoholic event. Claremont College students can buy tickets for $20.  Tickets went on sale to the general public on March 14^th for $40. There is a limit of 500 tickets for CMC students and 2450 tickets total.

The Thesis Party, celebrated by seniors where freshmen are first initiated, has evolved dramatically over the years.

Claremont McKenna’s Dean of Students Office will allow ASCMC to resume registering Thursday night parties this week, after an incident in early September led to heated backroom politicking between the two organizations.

The exchange, which at one point led to a walkout by ASCMC officials, marked a climax in a conflict over alcohol that addresses both realities and perceptions of CMC’s social life.

Student government officials see a change in social culture being imposed by the administration, after the cancellation and suspension of a string of traditional events on campus. The Dean of Students Office (DOS), in contrast, sees a line that has been crossed, a reputation being tarnished and a student body increasingly putting itself in danger.

After three kegs were found at the first Thursday Night Club (TNC) of the year – two more than allowed by college policy – DOS expected “negative ramifications” from the student body once informed of another suspension notice.

“We now have no trust in ASCMC and all the promises they have made us,” one DOS official wrote in an e-mail to staff members.

ASCMC President Tammy Phan echoed the mood.

“I think there’s a deeper meaning behind every action they’ve taken,” she said. “I think ASCMC needs to be very cautious about what DOS is doing.”

Dean of Students Mary Spellman, the subject of much controversy surrounding alcohol policy review over the past several months, reiterated the e-mail’s claim in softer terms.

“The voices that are heard – and the voices that ASCMC caters to, in many ways – are the students that choose to drink,” Spellman said. “You will very rarely hear a group of students stand up publicly on the Forum, or any other forum, and say no. And the college has to serve all students.”

The Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) at UCLA reported in 2009 that 91% of Claremont McKenna students drink beer on a frequent or occasional basis, while 95% report drinking wine or liquor with the same frequency.

CMC’s figures are markedly higher than comparable institutions, UCLA’s report showed, such as Middlebury, Dartmouth and Harvey Mudd.

What students now perceive is an administration hostile to these reports and the publicity that comes with them, such as our presence on Princeton Review’s “Most Beer” list or the Daily Beast’s “Happiest College in America” ranking. With the alteration of TNC and Dry Week, drama around the Thesis Party, and the cancellation of Madrigal – all major events surrounding alcohol – deep suspicion has begun to take root within the CMC community over what the DOS Office intends.

The decision to hire Mary Spellman as Dean of Students last January, on face value, seemed to confirm those suspicions.

THE SPELLMAN HIRE

“Let me take a step back,” Spellman told the Forum. “When I first got here, I did not come with a mandate or an expectation that I would look at alcohol. That was never part of the conversation.”

At the time of Spellman’s arrival, a conservative student blog linked to a report from the Sadie Lou Standard that implied otherwise.

“Responsible, periodic, socially-endorsed drinking seems to be a concept that completely eludes Mary” at Sarah Lawrence, the anonymous student author wrote, claiming Spellman had succeeded at “putting students on the defensive for events.”

Many students made the assumption that Vice President of Student Affairs Jefferson Huang, in charge of the search, was hiring Spellman based on this record.

While Spellman said she stands by her record at Sarah Lawrence, she asserts that the article was skewed. “The particular event in question was a pumpkin carving in the middle of the quad in the early evening,” she noted. “It didn’t necessarily seem appropriate for the event.”

For his part, Huang is deeply displeased with what he sees as the “vilification” of Spellman, who was “absolutely not” hired for her past work on college alcohol policy. “I think she’s been unfairly scapegoated,” he said. “I’d like to think that my word is worth something, and I’m saying I did not hire her to go out there and be the alcohol czar.”

He added: “I have several times asked her, ‘should I be out in front of this?’ And she has said, ‘I’m the Dean of Students, I need to do these things.’”

Spellman does admit to her involvement in the review of alcohol policy at Sarah Lawrence, and even says her “legacy” may very well be a policy that is “perceived as being more stringent.” The college had previously no standard protocol for handling case-by-case drinking indiscretions, and she sat on a committee to organize such a protocol. And while she didn’t chair it, she was responsible for making sure the committee came together – and that it accomplished its aims.

TARGETING THURSDAYS

Whether or not Spellman was brought in for this specific purpose, alcohol policy review was a clear priority to DOS before her arrival, and has been ever since.

In 2009, an Alcohol Task Force was commissioned by Dean Huang to review the state and success of the current college policy.

CMC's "red cup" policy is unique amongst its peers.

Among over two dozen suggestions, the task force recommended the reduction of high-risk drinking be designated an “institutional priority by all groups” at the school; a reevaluation of Dry Week dates, which occurred; more Friday class offerings; and a thorough evaluation of the “Hall Monitor” model of residential living.

The Thursday party “phenomenon” was the target of many of the report’s recommendations.

Last year, a record low number of Friday classes were offered – only 4.3% of all classes at the school – partly due to professorial interest in expanded research hours.

“I don’t know if it’s the college policy to diminish Thursdays,” Spellman said. “But it’s not meant to be a party night. And it is concerning to me that more and more students consider their academic week as shorter.”

In recent years, ASCMC has hosted Thursday Night Clubs throughout the campus, often centered around North Quad dorms. The parties in these facilities have proven difficult to control because of their porous structure, and guests, from both CMC and other Claremont Colleges, frequently “front-load” alcohol before the party in the privacy of their own rooms.

One answer to the front-loading, “pre-game” problem is a hall monitor system, where resident assistants are given stricter directives from deans to enforce policy within student rooms.

Dean Huang says such a policy shift is “on the table for consideration,” noting that, in the past, the sanctity of the room has almost always been protected.

“I suppose we could go there,” he said. “I didn’t want to go there, and I don’t think our students want us to. But we don’t generally go looking for problems unless they present themselves to us.”

The combination of enforcement difficulties, DOS officials say, creates a daunting threat to the safety of students on a regular basis. And for the few that don’t participate, it causes notable disturbance.

“We get a fair number of complaints, but they’re usually pretty quiet,” Spellman said. “Those are the students that either suffer in silence, which a lot do, or they don’t want to be known as the person that’s complaining because its not popular. The popular sentiment is that Thursday night is our party night, and that CMC throws great parties.”

She added: “You may want a CMC education, but you may not want the CMC party culture.”

A ‘PARTY’ REPUTATION

There is no reasonable evidence to believe the administration has a clear, set plan – or a “conspiracy,” as Dean Huang called it – to crack down on alcohol. But there is certainly concern amongst its officials over the direction that drinking is pushing the school’s image.

“The college wouldn’t be doing its job if we didn’t talk about the things that impact students coming here,” Spellman asserted.

Spellman agrees that it is not about a shortage of applicants, with CMC accepting just 15% of students who apply. “But do you want that reputation to be attached to your degree?” she asked rhetorically. “It’s not just a reputational issue and us wanting to be perceived as the best; it’s what it says about you, and the experience you had, and the degree.”

“It’s reputational in that aspect, and in a very powerful way,” she continues. “It snowballs. That’s how schools get reputations.”

Other members of the administration blame various articles and rankings on the Internet for promoting the party image, which, to some, appears mutually exclusive with academic rigor.

“I don’t want us compared to a lot of schools we’re often compared to on the party list, because I don’t think they’re very good academic schools,” Huang asserted. “I think it discredits the institution to do that.”

Asked whether CMC could be called a party school today, Huang replied: “We’re creeping into that zone. I worry about that.”

The admissions office has been challenged most directly by the reputation question, and its dean, Richard Vos, has expressed concern. Over the past year, overnight stays offered to prospective students on Thursday nights have been cancelled, and some of the best candidates, he told the Forum, have cited the college’s drinking culture as the reason they chose to enroll elsewhere.

“For the past few years Jeff Huang, Pamela Gann, and I have been talking about the effect on CMC’s admission program as a result of the negative perception,” Vos said. “We have evidence that the perception that CMC has a strong drinking culture has hurt our admission efforts.”

It brings up a question prospective applicants ask themselves frequently: is it possible to have it all?

CMC students clearly think they can. When ranked the happiest college in the country last year, students prided themselves on their ability to balance work and play by citing the ranking’s methodology, which compiled a mix of data from both U.S. News and College Prowler guidebooks.

“Students here are treated like adults,” Phan stated. “Part of our education is learning how to socialize and network in the real world, and the real world includes alcohol.”

Huang, on the other hand, had mixed feelings on the ranking. “You know, I’d rather be two or three,” he said. “One is a tough place to be.”

CIRP at UCLA found that 58% of Claremont McKenna students partied 3-10 hours a week, versus comparable schools, where the number stood at 40%.

Acknowledging the worry, Dorm Activities Chair Alexander Reichert, who coordinates Thursday night events, rejected the notion as paranoia at best, derision at worst.

“Some say that Dartmouth has a party school reputation, but nobody compares Dartmouth to ASU,” Reichert stated. “We’re absolutely not a party school. Labeling us as one not only insults the faculty and the alumni. It insults the students, who continue to demonstrate success in whatever field they choose to pursue.”

Nevertheless, the worry is growing. And it may explain why parties, as students have lived them, are changing in tone and frequency.

“I want it to be the place where students are incredibly talented, and gifted, and hardworking, and they also happen to throw some kick-ass parties,” Spellman added. “That’s very different than being a party school.”

WHAT ABOUT TRADITION?

Forum editions from 1983 and 1993 give a history to the College's relationship with alcohol.

To ASCMC, the core issue is really what is at stake beyond the day-to-day drink: the tradition of CMC students being able to just enjoy it.

That tradition has manifested in various forms over the years, from day parties on Green Beach to Keg Thursdays in North Quad.

Students argue that they chose this school in part for such freedoms, and that a college’s alcohol policy is a barometer for how much it trusts its students.

But that position assumes the student culture has historically been constant, that traditions at the college have had long lives, and that parties today are of similar scale to parties thrown twenty years ago. And that does not appear to be the case.

Jim Nauls, the Assistant Dean of Students who has been with the college for seventeen years, remembers a period when parties had a dozen kegs, a period when parties charged students entry, and another period when bartenders were hired for every event.

“It’s constantly evolving,” Nauls said. “It tends to reach this peak every three or four years, when new students come in and the old ones leave, and people tend to forget how things were.”

Huang, who has been with the college as long as Nauls, shared similar sentiments.

“I can remember a time when the Senior Thesis Party was a champagne toast. Then I remember the time when the speakers came out. Then I remember when faculty started complaining about the music. Then I remember, just recently, a student had her laptop damaged and, just this past spring, someone was injured by broken glass.”

Since the college officially went co-ed in the mid-70s, the nature of its traditions has changed. Few have stuck. With the changeover in students every few years, a mental relapse occurs, and traditions, first crystallizing, never fully form.

But ASCMC, to its credit, has made efforts to change that.

“The registrar’s office used to give out champagne to every senior who turned in their thesis, which led to the fountain party,” Phan added. “They stopped doing that. ASCMC stepped in to foot the bill. And Madrigals never started with ASCMC, but with the threat of losing it, Brad Walters revived it when he was president. And we’re doing the same thing now.”

“We try to preserve the culture here,” she continued, “as we know it.”

So whether change is due to student actions or wobbly policy is up for debate. But as a result, what exists of CMC traditions has succumbed to the ebb and flow of our drinks and our tolerance for it all.

(contributing photographers: Kayla Benker ’13 and Sean McQueen ‘13)

The rest of the photos can be found here.

Multiple parties share responsibility in the policy shift. Fundamentally, students – and uninvited visitors – have been making a mess of the college’s dorms and quads. Out of $20,000 in damages quoted by Story House over the past year, 65% has been the byproduct of TNCs. “It doesn’t make sense for us to continue this pattern,” Dean of Students Mary Spellman said. “We’re not opposed to the event, but things need to be managed differently.”

Spellman added: “There’s reasonable damage and there’s throwing a chair at a window.”

Jim Nauls, Assistant Dean of Students, expressed strong feelings that the event had grown out of control. “Unless we do something about this, something drastic could happen,” Nauls lamented. “This kid that got his face beat in last week… it could have been a lot worse. It was a product of people not paying attention.”

The problem is twofold. Though big parties are often apt to cause damage, TNCs are usually hosted in spaces unsuitable for big parties. The result is overcrowding, impossible enforcement, and spillage into a secondary party outside the dorm. “The people congregating outside are just going to have to stay at home,” Nauls said.

Thursday Night Club, or TNC, was established only four years ago, originally as a small party revolving around a keg.

After informing them of TNC’s immediate suspension, DOS approached the new ASCMC administration with broad demands. In order to continue, the parties must be more tightly controlled, guests must be more strictly monitored, and damages that persist must actually be paid for.

Indeed, one major issue for the Dean of Students has been the debt ASCMC has accrued. Each year for the past four years, the student government has built up a massive Story House bill, putting off receipts until the end of their term – and often dumping them onto the next government, which is forced to pay a bill they don’t fully understand. The new ASCMC administration cannot then appeal the damage receipts, as most of them are from parties months past. “There’s also the issue of whether there’s downward pressure to meet your damages when you’re not going to pay for it – you’re just going to dump it,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Jefferson Huang. “Hansell inherited a bill; Isayas inherited one; Tammy is now inheriting one. It’s everyone’s problem.”

Story House has grown frustrated with the system, and has pushed the Dean of Students Office to press ASCMC on payments on an immediate basis.

“The expectation has been changed, and we’ll meet them on their expectations,” ASCMC Vice President Chris Jones said. “In the very least, we’re meeting the level that’s been met by past administrations. And if they change expectations, they should expect some adjustment time.”

Currently, the new ASCMC administration has been given a bill of $13,000 in damages for TNC parties.

“It’s not just because there’s a large debt owed. That in and of itself wouldn’t be enough for us to cancel [TNC],” Spellman added. “It’s just that, every week, more and more, there’s damage. And there’s a building attitude of, when the party ends, people can just leave garbage sitting. It’s getting worse.”

Jones and ASCMC President Tammy Phan would not rule out contesting portions of the $13,000 bill. But they were more concerned with taking preventative measures throughout their term, which started this week.

“The real problem is not the fact that the bills haven’t been paid,” Phan noted. “It’s the fact that we, as students, have caused thousands of dollars in damage over the course of a year. It’s that they have to be paid in the first place.”

Phan said, “We’re leaning towards any effort that will allow us to have TNCs, period.”

Jones went on to push back against the method of charging from Story House. “We’ve been mis-assigned charges very frequently,” he said. “It’s checking your rental car before you take it out of the lot. A lot of this is not ours.

Alexander Reichert, Dorm Activities Chair, has drafted a proposal that DOS has accepted as adequate. In response, DOS has lifted the ban on the assumption that his plan will succeed. But the implication is that ASCMC now holds full responsibility of what happens, and that the future of Thursday parties rests on their ability to curtail assault and vandalism.

“The first step is to increase security,” said Reichert. “The second step is to be more stringent on who we allow into our parties.” Reichert noted that TNCs would be smaller, and strictly CMC-only, with a possibility of a guest list for friends of CMCers from the other four colleges. But one goal is to avoid “Pitzer students coming in, and drinking the alcohol they never paid for,” he said. “We are open to making these 5C parties, but the other colleges will have to contribute.”

All TNCs will now card at the door for CMC identification, and will be fenced off. “Fencing sets a precedent,” Reichert added. “These parties can’t just be open and sprawling.” ASCMC will also be hiring security other than Campus Security, which has proven ineffective.

While Nauls, Spellman and Huang were originally in disagreement over whether to truly cancel Thursday Night Club for good, they have agreed to work towards a revised version of the event – knowing that parties will occur every Thursday, anyway.

“We were ready to actually pull the plug on TNCs to say stop,” said Huang. “It really came to a boil for us shortly before the ASCMC elections. I told Jim I thought doing that now would enter us into the issue of candidates, so we waited until after the elections were over.”