We at the Claremont Colleges know how to party. From Thursday’s rowdy games of beer pong, to Friday’s oh-so-classy wine and cheese socials, culminating in Saturday’s heavily intoxicated all-out dance parties, it’s hard to find time to sober up. Although some 5C students choose not to drink, weekends at Claremont come with one guarantee: somewhere, at some school, the booze will be plentiful.

While drinking patterns vary from campus to campus, the established alcohol rules and regulations are strikingly similar. Predictably, the college handbooks of all 5Cs uphold California law by prohibiting the use of alcoholic beverages by those under age 21 and forbidding alcohol to be used in public places with the exception of college-sanctioned events. Yet it’s common knowledge that drinking occurs to some degree on all campuses, by students of all classes and all ages, despite the rulebooks.

Scripps College

Scripps College articulates a very specific and strict alcohol policy, as alcohol policies go at the 5Cs. With the exception of official Scripps parties, students over 21 may consume alcohol in their dorm rooms if and only if the door is closed with fewer than eight people (over 21) in the room, as long as the student serving the alcohol does not partake, according to the student handbook.

While this may seem extreme, Scripps Hall Director and Student Development Coordinator LaKisha Tillman emphasizes the importance of restricting alcohol consumption.

“If you want to have a more lenient policy, you need to come up with solutions for students who do become intoxicated,” Tillman said. “You need to come up with plans of action that students will take for caring for other intoxicated students; it has to be full circle. You need to concentrate not just on changing the policy, but what are you, as students, going to do if you want this change.”

Hall Directors are on duty every night and assist RAs and Campus Safety in managing and caring for intoxicated students. Toni Jones, one of Scripps’ three Hall directors, had nine alcohol violations last year and took four of those students to the emergency room. According to Jones, the incidence of alcohol poisoning and ER trips is far lower at Scripps that at the other 5Cs.

When asked whether Scripps’ strict alcohol policy encourages binge drinking dangerously concealed in dorm rooms or excessive drinking on other 5C campuses, Tillman maintains that the policy is not culpable.

“The bottom line is that they’re going to do it anyway. Even if our policy was more lenient, everyone chooses the decisions they themselves are going to make. They’re going to find a way to get around policies and rules and do what they’re going to do. The issue is that for those choices, there are consequences. You lose your faculties and your senses when you drink. And there are consequences like date rape, being left alone, or getting into a car and hurting someone else. When you are intoxicated you can’t make good decisions. It doesn’t happen.”

Scripps Resident Advisors were largely unable to be reached for comment. However, one RA said, "I almost feel uncomfortable being quoted in an article about alcohol policy, as RA's are not supposed to speak against policies of the school; instead we are supposed to enforce them."

Many Scripps students would prefer a more lenient alcohol policy. However, some maintain that in addition to addressing concerns for student safety, stringent alcohol restrictions create a party environment that revolves more around conversations than cocktails.

“Our culture isn’t about drinking and partying on campus. We’d rather have small community-building events.” said Ann Harvey (SC ’08), the former SAC. Harvey said much of Scripps’ Activities budget goes to funding smaller parties, such as class-bonding nights, craft fairs and carnivals.

“The faculty of the year party, which had tote-bag painting, cake and ice cream, is a great example of a party we threw for the community. It wasn’t a limiting event; everyone could enjoy it, because not everyone drinks. I think it’s important that we’re able to cater to different groups.”

Claremont McKenna College (CMC)

CMC has a reputation as a pillar of the 5C party scene. While Harvey Mudd throws a few wildly creative festivities during the year, CMC provides 5C students, week in and week out, with kegs and parties.

Every Thursday night a CMC dorm hosts “TNC” (Thursday Night Club) to kick off the weekend. The Dorm Affairs Council Chair (an elected student) and the host dorm’s president organize TNC and each dorm contributes fifteen dollars to help fund the party. The Student Activities Chair (an elected student) works with students to plan other CMC parties. Most weekends CMC will throw at least two parties.

Last fall highlighted CMC’s integral contribution to 5C nightlife when the number of alcohol poisonings on CMC campus spiked into double digits. Most of these poisonings were non-CMC students coming to CMC parties. The Claremont Port Side reported, “As of mid-February, at least seven of the 14 alcohol related transports on CMC’s campus have been non-CMC students.”

In response to this surge in alcohol poisonings, the CMC Dean of Students changed TNC regulations. Brian Fuerst (CMC ’09), the CMC Student Affairs Chair, said in the past TNC was a “dorm social event,” which meant that it had one keg and aimed to host 100 people. Now, CMC has made it an actual CMC party, meaning it has two kegs, aims to host 300 people and requires fencing and campus security. Despite the recent problems with non-CMC students, all CMC parties remain open to all 5Cs. The only difference between a 5C event and a non-5C event is where the party is advertised.

The CMC Dean of Students also cancelled or shrank most major spring parties in order to reduce the number of alcohol poisonings on CMC’s campus. The Dean of Students must approve every party thrown on CMC’s campus. Party organizers must meet with Jim Nauls, the CMC Director of Student Activities, to answer questions about each party. After the alcohol poisonings in the fall, Fuerst says, “Jim asks more questions.”

CMC only serves alcoholic beverages under 15% alcohol by volume at school sponsored parties. Two students over 21 must take responsibility when they register the party if any underage drinking hard alcohol consumption ensues. Technically, this means any student under 21 consuming alcohol at CMC parties do so only because the two 21 year olds responsible for the party allow them to do so.

Despite the recent problems, the CMC Dean of Students seems to have maintained a light-handed approach to party policy that allows CMC students to design and organize fun and creative parties. As Fuerst puts it, “They’re just looking out for us. I think they do a good job of promoting responsible enjoyment.”

Harvey Mudd

Harvey Mudd traditionally throws some of the most creative parties on the 5C’s. Elaborate extravaganzas like the Foam Party, TQ Night and Slippery When Wet draw excited partygoers from all 5C’s. Despite their party throwing prowess, Mudd has largely restricted access to its mixed drinks and wild venues. Party attendees often need to sign up on an electronic guest list in advance to attend Mudd’s most popular parties.

Mudd’s alcohol policy is the least restrictive of the 5C’s. While Pomona and CMC only offer drinks under 15% alcohol by volume, Mudd is the only one of the 5C’s that allows hard alcohol at its parties as well. Chris Sundberg, the Mudd Dean of Students (often called the “Dean of Fun”) says hard alcohol consumption “has never been a major issue… In fact, the mixed drinks probably have a lower alcohol content because the mixer is cheaper than the alcohol.”

Recently Mudd has phased in a “Selective C” policy. Sundberg says alcohol poisonings haven’t been as much as a problem as “outside folks” and students from the other 5Cs showing up and causing trouble. Non-Mudd students are particularly troublesome because Harvey Mudd can’t discipline their misbehavior. Mudd’s solution is to invite all Scripps and Mudd students to major parties and require all other 5C students to have a Mudder sign them up on an electronic guest list. ID’s are then checked against the list at the door.

The Selective C policy has helped reduce problems at Mudd parties by reducing lines and waiting time to get into the parties. In the past, most problems came from rowdiness in the lines. As Sundberg put it, “when people were bored, drunk and couldn’t get in they got mad, but now, when they know they’re not on the guest list, they don’t even show up to Mudd.” As a result, Mudd has avoided the kind of vandalism and noise they used to experience.

Mudd does still throw some 5C parties, but unfortunately Mudd students don’t always want to go through the extra hassle of reserving campus security. Campus security must be notified several days before the party and Mudd students don’t always plan that far ahead. Mudd also hires non-student servers to serve drinks at Mudd 5C parties as well as student security to help campus security monitor the party. The servers are supposed to check ID’s and prevent underage drinking.

Sundberg seemed fatalistic about problems facing CMC this past year. “These sorts of things come in waves,” he said. “Mudd has been dealing with them for the past few years, now they’ve moved on to CMC. In a year or two we might be faced with those types of problems again.”

Pomona

Pomona’s party and alcohol policy is the second strictest out of all 5Cs. Pomona doesn’t allow parties in dorms, requires servers and security to be present for all alcoholic parties, and bans all drinking games. While it does throw some highly popular 5C parties like Harwood Halloween and Smiley 80’s, Pomona tends to be more self-contained and less popular with 5C partygoers than CMC or Harvey Mudd.

Pomona’s strict policy is motivated, according to SOURCE, by a desire “to err on the side of more oversight” in order to ensure that students are safe and comfortable. ASPC (Associated Students of Pomona College) funds most parties on campus and unlike its CMC counterpart, receives its funding from the Pomona, meaning that the school is liable for underage drinking and alcohol poisonings that occur at ASPC parties. As a result, Pomona makes a special effort to enforce the legal drinking age. Pomona hires students to act as servers, enrolls them in a bartending course, and has them check partygoers’ ID’s. When asked whether strict enforcement of the drinking age would lead to more extensive pregaming, Ellie Ash, Pomona’s Assistant Director of Smith Campus Center and Student Programs, said that “it probably happens.”

One of Pomona’s requirements students may welcome is all parties serving alcohol must serve non-alcoholic beverages and food. This measure aims to slow students’ rate of alcohol consumption by offering non-alcoholic alternatives. When asked about the effectiveness of this policy Ash said, “I think it’s been very effective. College students will eat any free food.”

While Pomona’s alcohol policy is strict, its attendance policies are remarkably open. While security is required at all parties, additional security is not necessarily required for a 5C party. In fact, Pomona’s party requirements don’t hinge on how many colleges are invited, but on how many people are expected to attend. Larger parties need more fencing and security. Almost all Pomona parties, including Table Manners on Tuesday nights, are open to all 5C’s. The difference between what people think of as 5C parties and regular parties is in the extent of the advertising.

Ash stressed that Pomona’s administration seeks to “create an atmosphere where students feel and are safe.” Pomona’s policy tries to respect students who choose not to drink while allowing students who can legally drink to do so.

Pitzer

Pitzer lacks the same reputation for wild and crazy parties that CMC and HMC boast. Their alcohol policy mirrors that of CMC and Pomona; according to the Pitzer handbook, only beer and wine may be served at certain school-sanctioned events, at least 25% of all beverages served must be nonalcoholic, and all parties must also serve non-salty (non thirst-inducing) foods.

When asked if the handbook’s policy was adequately enforced, Student Senate President Ben Kramer, (PZ ’08), answered, “’Adequately’ is the right word. It’s not like RAs are barging into rooms, checking ID’s, same deal at parties. I think that drinking is kept social; no one goes to a Pitzer party to get drunk.”

The stereotypical Pitzer party might consist of considerable time sitting cross-legged in a circle, passing the proverbial peace pipe, and singing along to an acoustic guitar. But does this really characterize the Pitzer party scene? Kramer doesn’t think so.

“It’s funny that the pot-smoking stereotype is truly rooted in the ‘history’ of the school,” said Kramer. “People see Pitzer as a hippie-haven when, in fact, it was an all women’s school until 1970. The pot thing is, I think, more of just a jumping up point from the ‘free spiritedness’ of Pitzer, I do not think Pitzer students smoke more than, say, a Pomona student…and if any kid tells you there’s no pot on their campus, they’re lying.”

The Pitzer handbook, like that of all 5Cs, prohibits the possession, use and transfers of illegal drugs (ahem, weed), as well as the possession of any drug paraphernalia.

“Marijuana is not a problem. It is only extremely rarely disrupting to anyone (well anyone not using it) on campus,” said Kramer. “I think the kids who smoke it don’t see a problem, and the kids who don’t think it’s going on a lot more that it is. Smoke Force, from what I know about it, is rarely even 50% Pitzer students, though I know it meets there to begin with.”

Pitzer’s weekly weed-smoking gathering, known as Smoke Force, allegedly meets every Wednesday evening on Pitzer’s campus, from where students decide to go smoke on one of the five campuses.

Whether or not Pitzer is victim of an exaggerated notoriety, Kramer believes the enforced alcohol and drug policy should loosen their grip. “I’d like to see more trust put into students. Pitzer is so caught up in the ‘we’re enforcing local and state laws’ argument that it constricts those who are safely partaking in any kind of substance and can do so responsibly. It’s a problem around the 5Cs. If only the Deans would wake up and realized that the alcohol poisonings are happening because kids drink in dorms for fear of being caught with the smallest amount of alcohol outside. And for pot, well, that’s a national problem that needs to change; colleges could be part of that effort.”