Dear Students of Claremont McKenna College & The Claremont Colleges,
At the ASCMC Executive Board meeting on Sunday October 13, the Board unanimously voted to excise ‘The White Party’ (“WP”) from the budget and reallocate the monies remaining towards a new line-item entitled ‘Spring Event(s).’ This decision therefore represents the termination of the WP and calls for a new event, or events, in the WP’s stead. Under no circumstances does the Board believe, or intend, that this measure curb the number of events at CMC, limit the variety of events at CMC, or reduce the overall quality of social life at CMC. It is our belief that the WP has transformed throughout recent years from an EDM event into a function of influence. Concern on behalf of ASCMC ballooned last year when it became clear that conversations leading up to the WP regarded drug use, to the extent of ubiquity, rather than the event itself. The proliferation of illicit substances at the WP has prejudiced social norms surrounding it and in so doing compelled, if not possibly coerced, students to either engage in the norm or be left out. ASCMC will not support this ultimatum, nor can we. The ‘social scene’ here is on everyone’s radar—everyone has a critique and a hope. However, it must be regarded with some degree of circumspection as to not jeopardize the existence of future events. As a Board, we feel compelled to ‘ring the bell’ when social norms around any one event begin to guide or pressure, and to an extent require, new students to entertain ultimatums that quite clearly impair their autonomy. The termination of the WP in no way implies that similar events (like Neon to Infinity or Club Claremont) or EDM music in general will be banned from the event schedule. In support of such EDM styled-events, the distinction must be drawn between the WP and others of a similar nature. Neon to Infinity, Eurotrash, Club Claremont, and Hardwood, all resemble the WP in many ways; however, those parties did not promote the use of drugs to the extent that use was so widespread it influenced social norms—the WP did. ASCMC’s position must be clear; as a student government we were not elected to convey a moral stance or deliver a proscriptive diatribe regarding any and all drugs. We serve at the pleasure of the students, all students both present and future. Autonomy is the most sacred privilege students at CMC have and it must be protected by both prudent policy and social responsibility. It is most unfortunate that the WP cease to exist, but we have full confidence in our Social Chairs to maintain our culture’s uniqueness and to raise the bar far above their predecessors.
Authored by: Mark R. Blumenfeld ‘14
Signed by:
Gavin Landgraf ‘14
Maddie Hall ‘14
Laura Epstein ’14
Merriel Foster ‘14
Alexandra Cooke ‘14
Remy Pinson ‘14
Jasmine DiLucci ‘14
Ben Tillotson ‘15
Josh Mittler ‘15
Moe Abdulrahim ‘15
Jessica Jin ‘16
Will Su ‘16
Charlotte Bailey ‘16
Iris Liu ‘16
Kelsey Gohn ‘16
Michael Irvine ‘16
Austin Landgraf ‘17
