Vol. CXXX No. 11

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THE STUDENT LIFE FRIDAY, FebRuARY 7, 2019 | CLAREMONT, CA | VOL. CXXX NO. 11

Pitzer finds $200K College unearths previously unaccounted-for funds MARIA HeeTeR Pitzer College uncovered approximately $200,000 of previously unaccounted-for funds last April, which, unbeknownst to current administrators and students, had accumulated for over a decade, Dean of Campus Life Dan Hirsch announced at a Pitzer Student Senate meeting Jan. 26. The money had been accumulating for the past “15 or 16 years,” according to Hirsch, and the account was unknown to all current administrators at Pitzer. Administrators plan to put the money toward a variety of projects aimed at enhancing the student experience on campus, including both facilities improvements and new programs, among other initiatives, according to Hirsch. Once the account was identified, treasurer Laura Troendle, Vice President for Student Affairs Mike Segawa and Hirsch determined that the money, now called “the student activities fund strategic reserve account,” would go back to the students, Hirsch said. “It’s an awesome problem to have, right? How often do you find $200,000? Not often or ever,” Hirsch said. But it’s unclear how the money escaped detection in the first place. “Frankly, we’re trying to figure that out too,” Hirsch said. Beginning “15 or 16 years ago,” the student senate operating budget was calculated by multiplying the student activities fee by 1,000, the approximate enrollment of the college at the time, according to Hirsch. When enrollment exceeded 1,000, the student activities fees charged to the excess students accumulated in a separate account instead of going to the student senate operating budget, according to Hirsch.

See CASH on page 2

HUXLEYANN HUEFNER • THE STUDENT LIFE

Four sculptures by Carol Bove sit outside of Collins Dining Hall at CMC.

CMC sculptures inspire praise, memes, confusion ANuSHe eNGINeeR Contrary to campus rumors and speculation, the new structures visible on Claremont McKenna College’s campus aren’t bike racks or scrap material — they’re works of art. The sculptures, which were installed outside Collins Dining Hall the week of Jan. 13, are the works of Brooklyn-based artist Carol Bove, according to a CMC press release. The art was officially unveiled Jan. 30 when protective fencing was removed from the area. “Four Loops” and “The Enigma of Pleasure” were created especially for CMC in 2019, while “Cretaceous” and “Lingam” were created in 2014 and 2015, respectively. According to the release, the latter two pieces have previously been on display in New York as well as Leeds, England. All four pieces were made using a combination of natural and synthetic materials, includ-

ing scrap metal, ancient petrified wood and stainless steel pipes. “Four Loops,” in particular, was bent into shape by several tons of hydraulic pressure and polished to give a “mirror-reflective surface,” the release said. Christopher Walker CM ’69, a CMC trustee and chair of the school’s public art committee, funded the four new sculptures on CMC’s campus, the release said. He has previously donated and loaned several other pieces to CMC. “There will be thousands of students who will see them. They will not be tucked away in someone’s yard,” Walker said in a later press release. The artwork almost immediately lit up social media, where several students posted memes poking fun at the art. In a video posted to a 5C meme group, “Meme Queens of the 5cs,” Ava Sealander SC ’22 sings “Mama,” to the tune of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” They pan over “Four Loops” and sing “oo-oo-oo-ooh,”

cracking a joke about the sculpture’s shape. “The loop sculpture is by far my favorite because it’s calming, but fun to look at, especially compared to the others in the area if I’m being honest. I think it’s pretty iconic,” Sealander said via message. Past the jokes, ASCMC President Dina Rosin CM ’20 praised the new sculptures. “I applaud CMC’s expansion of public art on campus, and as we continue to grow our commitment to the arts, I hope to see more opportunities for students to study and create art,” Rosin said via email. Other students, however, were slightly skeptical. “I don’t even know what it symbolizes,” said Kenza Fernandez SC ’22, an art major at Scripps College, talking about “Four Loops.” Fernandez suggested that a plaque with more information about the artist be put up. “Maybe if we know who the artist is we can Google them and

see other pieces that the artist has done or see what the piece symbolizes at least,” she said. Nicholas Mendez CM ’21 was ambivalent about the sculptures. “I hated it when the fences were up at the beginning of the semester, but now that they’re gone I like it OK,” he said. “It’s actually starting to grow on me.” CMC has added six outdoor sculptures and an indoor mural to its public art collection over the past five years, according to the CMC website. “From the mountain to the sea,” a mural that sits in the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, was acquired by a group of trustees on the CMC Public Art Committee in 2015, according to the CMC website’s page on public art. “Meet in the Middle,” a sculpture of benches and streetlights located outside Roberts Pavilion, was installed in 2016 by late artist Chris Burden PO ’69, according to the same CMC public art page.

See ART on page 2

‘Drop Sodexo’ reaches crescendo as Students grill Hub on dining provider seeks new contract meal replacement change Scripps students, workers split over decision MARIA HeeTeR & eRIKA SCHWeRDFeGeR Student activists turned out Tuesday to protest a presentation by Sodexo, Scripps College’s controversial

food service provider, which is hoping to renew its contract with the school. A group of Malott Dining Commons staffers, including some longtime employees, also showed up to defend the company.

ANNA CHOI • THE STUDENT LIFE

Students walk out of Balch Auditorium after silently protesting a presentation by dining services provider Sodexo on future plans Feb. 4.

Approximately 50 protestors, who wore “DROP SODEXO” signs, several uniformed dining hall staff and other students filled Balch Auditorium during Sodexo’s presentation to the college community. The student-organized Drop Sodexo campaign has advocated for Scripps to end its contract with the company for several years because the company operates private prisons in Europe and Australia, has been accused of mistreating workers and has been accused of providing substandard food, among other reasons, according to the Drop Sodexo website. Sodexo has provided food services for the college since 2000, according to Vice President for Business Affairs Dean Calvo. The college’s current contract ends in June, according to an email sent by Calvo to Scripps students in December.

See SODeXO on page 3

LIFE & STYLE

College and university a cappella teams across Southern California flocked to Claremont to participate in the 2020 ICCA West Quarterfinal. Read more on page 5.

The student newspaper of the Claremont Colleges since 1889

eRIKA SCHWeRDFeGeR

Last week, Claremont McKenna College’s Hub Grill left students feeling burned after it restricted, then restored, its meal replacement policy. Several students were caught off guard when they returned from winter break to find CMC’s popular dining spot, which serves packaged and freshly-prepared food items for lunch and dinner, was no longer accepting meal replacement as a form of payment for all items. Students at Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College and CMC can use a meal swipe as payment for an array of hot and cold food items Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner, according to CMC’s website. But the Hub limited the range of items that qualified for meal replacement to an array of grab-and-go items and one “special of the day” — meals that varied from avocado toast to grilled cheese and bisque soup. “Many students were frustrated by the change, as CMC

OPINIONS

students enjoy taking advantage of the flexibility and convenience of meal replacement, and most students seem to rely on the wide array of hot food options,” ASCMC President Dina Rosin CM ’20 said via email. For many with evening classes, athletic events and late working hours, the meal replacement option is a staple which provides hot meals after dining halls close. “For me and also my teammates, it would have been a real detriment, because a lot of the time we did have late practices, so the cafeterias would close and coming to the Hub was all we had,” soccer player William Birchard CM ’21 said. “So to have that taken away would be really unfortunate.” The change in policy prompted an indignant response from students, many of whom voiced their concerns to CMC Dean of Students Dianna Graves. According to Graves, Bon Appétit, which operates the Hub and Collins Dining Hall, did not consult the Dean of Students office before making the change, compounding confusion. In response, Graves said the

See Hub on page 3 SPORTS

Pro-gun activists who use slogans like “the Second protects our First” forget that the Second Amendment wasn’t written with individuals in mind, claims Ben Reicher PO ‘22. Read more on page 7.

Matthew Kim PO ‘23 reflects on his strongest memories as a Lakers fan and describes the impact Kobe Bryant had on him. Read more on page 9.

INDEX: News 1 | Life & Style 4 | Opinions 6 | Sports 8


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