Guide to Student Life 2002-2003
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Guide to Campus Life
Residential Life
Office of the Dean of Students
September 2002
At Claremont McKenna College, we strive to provide students with a safe, comfortable, and stimulating
environment in which to live and learn. As such, we welcome your suggestions for improvement,
either through membership on a committee, filling out a campus survey, or simply by speaking with
any member of the Dean of Students staff.
We also have certain expectations of community members. Please take a few moments to familiarize
yourself with the policies listed in this guide. Above all, remember that if we are going to come
together as a community, we must be respectful of others around us.
If you should find yourself facing a problem during your time at CMC, keep in mind that there are
dozens of people who are available to help. Students serve as Resident Assistants, Sponsors, Liaisons, and
Technology Assistants. Staff members are available through CMC as well as through the Claremont
Colleges consortium. And even our faculty members, while primarily engaged in the business of teaching,
are seasoned professionals when it comes to understanding the life of college students.
And finally, two words of advice about campus life: Get involved! Whether on athletic teams, committees,
clubs, or volunteer groups, CMC students take advantage of the many opportunities available.
Help make CMC an ever-growing place, and you’ll enjoy your college experience to the fullest.
Best wishes for a terrific year,
Jefferson Huang
Associate Dean of Students
Dean of Campus Life
Resident Assistants (RAs)
Resident Assistants are student members of the College staff supervised by the Associate Dean of
Students and Dean of Campus Life and the Coordinator of Residential Life. A Resident Assistant is assigned
to each residence hall and the student apartments. The responsibilities of Resident Assistants include
advising students, resolving conflicts in the building, assisting residents in resolving maintenance and
damage issues, keeping master keys to rooms, building healthy communities, and enforcing all College
policies. All RAs are on duty Monday through Thursday nights; Friday through Sunday duty is rotated
among the RAs. Resident Assistants are available to help students with any problems they encounter in
residential life and in adjusting to the College. They can also refer students to other resources for help when
appropriate.
2002–2003 Resident Assistants
Nic Snow, Appleby 103, ext. 75281
Meredith “Beth” Perry, Auen 702, ext. 75364
Kofi Acquaah-Arhin, Beckett 105, ext. 72865
Elena Caudle, Benson 217, ext. 75488
Cyndi Hsiao, Berger 202, ext. 75316
Carrie Henning, Boswell 203, ext. 75239
Adam Miller, Fawcett 606, ext. 73985
Noah Chamberlain, Green 201, ext. 75278
Rana Masri, Marks 201, ext. 74055
Tiffany Pierce, Phillips 203, ext. 74051
Elise Kim, Stark 608, ext. 74173
Scott Lerner, Wohlford 107, ext. 76896
Crystal Craig, Apartment 651 K, ext. 75453
Andrew Meyers, Apartment 651 L, ext. 75436
Victor Maciel, Apartment 661 E, ext. 77229
The Residence Hall License Agreement
Prior to occupancy of any room on campus, a student must sign a Residence Hall License Agreement.
Unless changed or terminated by the Dean of Students Office, the room assignment will be binding
for the entire academic year. No room changes will be allowed without the approval of the Associate
Dean of Students and Dean of Campus Life. The College reserves the right to change or terminate any
room assignment by written notice if a student fails to comply with all of the stipulations in the Residence
Hall License Agreement, with the rules and procedures listed in this handbook, and with the Basic
Rule of Conduct.
The CMC Student Apartments
The CMC Student Apartments provide housing for 143 upperclass students. The Student Apartments
offer students an alternative to residence hall living. Apartments have 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,
and are furnished. Other amenities include dishwashers, full-sized refrigerators, range/oven, central air
conditioning, private entrances, parking, barbecues, a basketball court, and laundry facilities. There are
also 6 studio apartments for 1 or 2 students. The apartments are on campus and CMC rules and regulations
apply to students living in the apartments as well as those living in the residence halls.
Students must apply to live in the apartments. Selection is based on class standing, references, and
disciplinary records. Apartment costs per resident are as follows: $4730 per year for standard and $3960
per year for studio.
Housing Costs
Room rates for the 2002–2003 academic year are as follows: $4,920 for a single room and $4,370
per person for a double room.
If a student withdraws from the College during the academic year and a new resident is assigned to
the vacancy, the rental fee will be prorated. Normally if there is no new occupant for the room being
vacated, no refund will be made.
Off-Campus Living Option
A small number of returning students are allowed to live off campus each year. Students wishing to
live off campus must go through the Room Draw process and choose the off-campus option at that time.
There is a fee of $50 per semester for living off campus. Students who decide that they want to live off
campus after they have already selected on-campus housing must petition the Associate Dean of Students
and Dean of Campus Life in writing. If permission is granted, the penalty for the late decision will
be $100.
Meal Plans
All students living in the residence halls are required to participate in the College meal plan. Students
may choose any of the following meal plan options: sixteen meals per week, $4,370; twelve meals per week,
$4,030; or eight meals per week, $3,750. Each plan also comes with “flex dollars” for use at any facility
at The Claremont Colleges that is equipped with a card reader.
Mail
All students at Claremont McKenna College are issued mailboxes on campus. The campus mailing
address is:
Student name (please use full name)
Story House
742 N. Amherst Street
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California 91711-6430
Packages may be picked up and stamps purchased at the Story House mailroom window during
posted hours. In order to receive a package, students must present the white package slip that was placed
in their mailbox notifying them that they have a package. A picture ID may also be requested. C.O.D.
packages are not accepted.
The mailroom lobby is accessible with card key 24 hours a day, except during breaks in the academic
year, for students to pick up mail from mailboxes. For additional postal services, there is a United
States Post Office located at 140 Harvard Avenue in Claremont.
Notary Public
Notary Public services are available at no charge to CMC students, faculty, and staff. Victoria
Chapman (ext. 72856, Bauer Center 319) and Cathy Puckett (ext. 18114, Dean of Students Office) are
both certified to notarize documents. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment. Two forms of identification
are required (valid driver license, passport, CMC ID, military ID, etc.).
The Residence Hall Damage Policy
The College policy on residence hall damage is based on the principle of individual and group
responsibility. The purpose of this policy is to enhance student care and concern for the living environment,
to strengthen the sense of community and interaction in the residence hall, and to reduce the
amount of vandalism that occurs in the residence halls.
Claremont McKenna College takes pride in the condition of all of the living spaces provided for
student occupancy. Any student who finds preexisting damage, missing furniture or an untidy room
upon move-in is encouraged to notify Facilities and Campus Services, located in Story House. The College
will attempt to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
As a part of the check-in process, each student is asked to carefully inspect his or her room for damages
and to cite any preexisting condition for which he or she should not be held accountable. The Resident
Assistant will evaluate the check-in (“Room Condition and Inventory”) form for accuracy, and will sign
indicating that the information is correct. It is important that the inventory is accurate and complete. The
College reserves the right to reject any form which is not submitted within 24 hours of occupancy. Every
resident is expected to maintain his or her room and the public areas of the residence hall in a clean and
undamaged condition. When the room is vacated at the end of the year, Facilities and Campus Services
will videotape the condition of each room and the common areas of every dorm. Information provided
by the videotape will be compared to the “Room Condition and Inventory” form and the “before occupying”
videotape made in late August. Any damages will be charged to the resident(s) of that room.
All students will be held accountable for damage, unauthorized room modifications, missing furniture
or excessive cleaning needed in their individual rooms. Students in double rooms will, in some
cases, share the costs of the damage; likewise students living in suites will in some cases share the cost of
damages occurring in the common areas (i.e., bathrooms) of their suites.
Students will be charged for damage, missing furniture, and excessive cleanup to public areas on
the basis of the smallest identifiable group which can be held accountable for the damage. Whenever
possible, the person(s) responsible will be charged. If the responsible person(s) cannot be identified, the
Resident Assistant will assign the charges to the smallest identifiable group which could include all
residents of a suite, hall, floor, or residence hall. Damages and cleanup due to an event may be charged
to the sponsors of that event and/or to those students who signed the social event registration form for
the event. Also, damages and cleanup may be charged to a group of students who do not share a room,
suite, floor, or hall but who have been identified as being in the proximity when the damage occurred.
Students are urged to notify their Resident Assistant with information about any damages which
occur in their living spaces. Damages will be assessed on the basis of the most complete and accurate
information available to the Resident Assistant—student input is essential for accurate billing.
Resident Assistants, Building Attendants and other College personnel, and individual students may
provide information which is ultimately used to identify the individual or group to be held accountable
for damage or cleanup charges.
Damage Appeals
Each student will receive a “dorm damage statement” approximately once a month. Students
must appeal charges which appear on their damage statements within ten days following the date of the
statement. Students wishing to contest dorm damage charges must fill out an appeal form in the Dean
of Students Office, indicating which charge(s) they are appealing, the reason for the appeal, and the
person(s) who should be charged. A copy of the student’s dorm damage statement must be attached to
the appeal form. Charges for which appeals are granted will be reassessed to the appropriate individual or
group. Failure to appeal within the filing period absolves the College from considering the appeal.
Security Deposit
A Security Deposit of $190 is to be remitted by each student upon acceptance to CMC. All students
are to retain a positive balance in this account at all times. If the amount charged against the account
exceeds $100, sufficient funds must be paid in order to bring the account total back to $190. No student
will be allowed to participate in the Room Draw process if the total amount in his or her account is
below the original $190. Students will receive notification prior to Room Draw with instructions to bring
Security Deposit accounts to the full amount.
Room Draw
In the spring semester a Room Draw process will be conducted during which returning students
will select rooms for the following academic year. Each student will be assigned a computer-generated
random lottery number according to his or her class standing. Those with the lowest numbers will select
first, with priority going to seniors, juniors, and sophomores in that order. A student who is not on the
campus for the Room Draw process should assign a proxy who will be given the responsibility for selecting
a room for him or her. All returning students must go through Room Draw, even if they are planning to
live off campus the following year. Off-campus living is a Room Draw option and only a limited number
of students can choose that option.
Room changes will not be made for returning students who have chosen their room during Room
Draw except in situations determined to be exceptional cases by the Associate Dean of Students.
Room Assignments and Changes
New students will be assigned rooms and roommates based on personal preferences as indicated
on their Housing Questionnaire forms. Every effort will be made to match roommates with similar
habits and priorities. New students experiencing difficulties with their roommates are encouraged to try
to work out the problems themselves and if necessary, to ask the Resident Assistant to mediate the conflict.
If the Resident Assistant is unable to resolve the conflict, the student may wish to contact the
Associate Dean of Students. Room changes will be granted only in emergency situations.
Single Occupants in Double Rooms
A single occupant of a double room may normally select a roommate of his or her choice or accept
a roommate assigned to the vacant space.
If one resident vacates a double room, the remaining resident must be willing to accept another
roommate, move to another room, or pay the single/double room rate, at the discretion of the Associate
Dean of Students and Dean of Campus Life. The College reserves the right to determine how many
rooms may be used as one-half capacity rooms.
Roommates
The success of any roommate situation depends largely on communication and compromise. It is
helpful for roommates to set aside some time in the beginning of the year in order to compare background
information, likes and dislikes regarding music, sleep, cleanliness, borrowing and lending, and
study habits. Resident Assistants and the Associate Dean of Students and Dean of Campus Life are available
to help resolve roommate conflicts.
Courtesy Policy (Quiet Hours)
To maintain an environment which promotes the College’s educational mission, the College endeavors
to provide adequate opportunities for study and sleep on campus. Students are expected to be
aware of the effect that the noise they create (e.g., from their stereos, loud talking, etc.) may have on
roommates and neighbors.
The courtesy period (quiet hours) is as follows:
Sunday - Thursday Midnight - 8:00 a.m.
Friday - Saturday 2:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Beginning at midnight on the last day of classes each semester, the courtesy period will extend 24
hours per day until the conclusion of finals.
Students have the right to reasonable quiet at all times. Requests for quiet should be
made directly to the individual responsible and a resolution of the matter agreed upon by the two parties.
In attempting to reach an understanding, it may be helpful to involve the Resident Assistant as a
mediator. If the disturbance is repeated, the student may request help from the Dean of Students Office.
Substance Free Residence Hall Policy
Stark Hall has been designated as a “substance free” community. No alcohol, tobacco products, or
illegal drugs are allowed in the community. This policy applies to residents of Stark Hall as well as
nonresidents. Penalties for violations of the substance free policy may result in fines and/or disciplinary
actions.
Laundry
Coin-operated washing machines and dryers are located in the following dorms: Appleby, Auen,
Beckett, Benson, Berger, Boswell, Fawcett, Green, Marks, Phillips, and Stark and at the student apartments.
The washing machines cost $.50 per load, and drying is $.25 per load. Students must provide
their own irons and ironing boards. There are also several laundries and dry cleaners within walking
distance of the College.
Linen
One set of bed linen will be provided to each student living in the residence halls. The linen is yours
to keep. Laundering the linen is the student’s responsibility.
Housekeeping
Approximately every week building attendants will enter student rooms to do basic cleaning. The
staff will not pick up items strewn around the room, nor make beds, but the furniture will be dusted and
the floor will be vacuumed if clear of personal items. Excessively messy rooms may result in a special
cleaning charge.
Search of Rooms
A search of a student room by College staff may be authorized only by the Dean of Students Office.
Such authorization will be issued in writing indicating the reason for the search and the objects or
information sought. Except in emergency circumstances, an occupied residence hall room will not be
searched without prior notification of the resident student(s) and his or her presence at the time of the
search. If the search is conducted without the student being present, the student will receive notification
that the search did occur and the reason for it.
The College cannot prevent nor prohibit the search of student rooms on College premises by law
enforcement officers acting in the performance of their duties.
Student rooms will be entered for routine maintenance and cleaning purposes and may be entered
without prior notice for emergency or safety reasons.
The College is not liable for the loss of, or damage to, personal property for any cause not arising
directly from the negligent acts of College employees acting within the scope of their duties. Private
insurance is advised.
Pets
No pets or animals, other than fish in a maximum 10-gallon tank, are allowed in student rooms.
Pets other than fish on campus constitute a violation of the license agreement and may result in disciplinary
action.
Roofs, Ledges, and Balconies
Screens may not be removed from residence hall windows. Residents are not allowed on the roof,
ledges or balconies of any residence hall. Residents in Fawcett, Auen, and Stark Halls should note that
the balconies are always off limits. Violations may result in expulsion from the residence hall, a $100
fine, and/or judicial action.
Elevators
Students who are found guilty of tampering with elevators or elevator equipment are subject to a
$100 fine, necessary repair costs, and possible judicial action. Subsequent violations will constitute
cause for expulsion from the residence hall.
Fire Safety Equipment
Students who tamper with fire-fighting or safety equipment (including fire extinguishers and
smoke detectors) are subject to a fine of $100, expenses for necessary repairs of equipment, and/or
judicial action.
Halogen Light Policy
Due to recently documented fire dangers of halogen lighting, CMC prohibits the use of halogen
lamps. Desk, table, or floor lamps that contain a halogen light bulb are not permitted on the CMC
campus. The Building Attendants have been directed to report to Facilities and Campus Services any use
of these lamps.
Candles
Due to the danger presented by open flames, candles may not be used on the CMC campus unless
they are used as part of a campus event and approved by the Director of Student Activities.
Appliances
Students may safely use personal appliances such as stereos, radios, televisions, VCRs, electric
razors and hair dryers in residence hall rooms. Due to wiring limitations, discretion must be applied in
their use. A kitchenette is provided in the Beckett Hall lounge for student use. No cooking is allowed in
student rooms. Cooking in unauthorized places violates county health regulations for residence halls as
well as state fire safety regulations. Neither individual students nor the College can avoid liability for
failure to heed these rules.
Refrigerators
Students are permitted to keep small refrigerators in their rooms, subject to the following restrictions.
1) The refrigerator must not be larger than 4.5 cubic feet.
2) The refrigerator must draw no more than 100 watts of power and must be U.A.L. approved.
3) Only one refrigerator is permitted per room.
4) Students must clean out refrigerators before vacations. It is recommended that refrigerators
be left unplugged with the doors propped open during the time students are away from
campus.
5) No refrigerators are permitted in closets, public areas, or rest rooms.
6) Students who leave refrigerators in rooms over the summer will be charged for removal, and
the refrigerators will be donated to charity.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is only permitted in a student’s room if no other students are bothered. If the smoke
bothers another student, the smoker must cease immediately. Smoking is not permitted in common
areas or any substance free communities.
Air Conditioners
Air conditioners may not be installed in residence halls.
Room Decoration and Modification
Students are encouraged to personalize their own living spaces but must observe the following
guidelines. No nails, tacks, screws or tape may be used on any painted surface. Any devices used to hang
pictures must not damage walls. Any personal modifications to student rooms must be restored to the
original condition one week prior to vacating the room. Unauthorized or permanent modifications will
be removed or repaired at the student's expense.
Residence Hall Furniture
Requests to have room furniture added, removed, or reconfigured will be handled on a first-come,
first-served basis. Only one bed height adjustment per semester will be allowed. Students must write
their requests on the blue sheet at the front desk of Story House. These requests will be taken only for the
first thirty days of each semester. Requests will be handled within seven days. Due to lack of storage
space, only beds & desk chairs will be removed. A student will be held responsible for any additional
furniture requested and delivered to the student’s room, including patio chairs. Lounge furniture is
provided for the use of all residents of the building and is expected to remain in the lounge. Furniture
may not be left in bathroom & hallways. Any lounge furniture found in individual student rooms will be
removed and a fee will be assessed. Continued violations of this policy may result in a fine and/or
disciplinary action.
The only furniture authorized for outside use are the College-owned patio chairs.
Lofts
All CMC Residence Halls have "loft-able" furniture. Students wishing to use their own lofts need to
make sure that they are free standing and no longer than 7 by 7 feet. Students will be asked to remove
any lofts that are determined to be unsafe. Whether using College-supplied lofts or homemade lofts,
students assume all responsibility for injuries or other damages resulting from their use. If students
have concerns about the safety of their lofts, it is their responsibility to notify Facilities and Campus
Services as soon as possible.
Winter Break Housing
Residence Halls will be closed during Winter Break to all students except athletes who are required
to return to campus early. Athletes will need to work with their coaches to make sure that they go through
the necessary procedures to arrange for Winter Break housing.
International students who cannot return home during the Winter Break may contact International
Place about possible hosts in the local area.
Guests
Guests of CMC students are welcome to visit the campus. The CMC student host must register any
overnight guest with his or her Resident Assistant and is responsible for the conduct of his or her guest
during the entirety of the visit. Guests are welcome for no more than three days per visit. A cot is available
through Story House with a minimum 24-hour notice.
Guest Parking
Parking is available for campus guests in the east Bauer Center parking lot. Temporary parking
permits are required for visitors and are available at Campus Safety.
Keys
Lost room and/or mailbox keys must be reported immediately to Facilities and Campus Services at
Story House. There will be a charge of $95 to re-key a room and $9 to re-key a mailbox. Room and
mailbox keys must be turned in at the end of each semester. Failure to do so will result in immediate rekeying
and assessment of the charges listed above. Students are prohibited from duplicating or possessing
unauthorized duplicates of College keys. Unauthorized possession of any College master key will
result in College judiciary action and a fine of $250.
I.D. Cards
Every student is issued a photo-I.D. card upon entrance to the College and is required to carry it at
all times. Students and guests are required to show a valid I.D. card or other appropriate identification if
asked by Campus Safety or any College official. Students who fail to cooperate with an identification
request while on the property of The Claremont Colleges shall be referred to the judiciary board.
Residence Hall Security
Residence halls are locked at all times. Each hall in the middle and south quad is equipped with a
security system that allows access with a key card. Every CMC student will receive a key card. Key cards also
serve as a student's I.D. card, meal card, library card, and access to the fitness center.
Any student who loses a key card must report the loss immediately to the I.D. Card office at Steele
Hall on Scripps campus. A new card will be issued and a charge of $10 will be assessed. Failure to return
a room key by the designated date at winter break and summer vacation (when the residence halls are
closed) will result in an automatic re-key of the room and will be billed to the student's account.
It is the responsibility of every student to assure that the residence halls are kept securely locked.
After entering or leaving the residence hall it is wise to check to make sure the door re-latches. Students
will be fined $100 for propping doors.
Safety
Most residence hall thefts can be avoided if students lock their rooms even when leaving for only a
short time. Guests should be escorted at all times in the residence halls. Individuals who have no legitimate
purpose in the residence hall should be escorted to the door and asked to leave. Students should
immediately notify Campus Safety and the Resident Assistant after a theft has occurred or if they see any
suspicious individuals.
All students should exercise caution when walking alone on the campus or in the community. Care
should be taken to avoid dark areas and, if at all possible, students should avoid walking alone at night. The
CMC Escort Service (ext. 74080) is available evenings during the academic year to accompany students to
their destinations. The addition of "blue light" telephones also makes the campus a safer place. Tampering
with these telephones will not be tolerated; a fine of $100 and/or disciplinary action will follow.
Safety Whistles
Every student is provided with a whistle upon entry to the College and encouraged to carry it with
them. The whistle will easily attach to a key chain. Use of whistles for any reason except an emergency
will result in disciplinary action. Please see a Resident Assistant if you are in need of a replacement
whistle.
Recycling
The student body at CMC plays a critical role in college-wide efforts to improve the environment.
Recycling is encouraged through convenient location of recycling containers throughout every campus
building including recycling receptacles in every student room. In addition, all members of the college
community are asked to conserve electricity and water.
The College maintains an Environmental Concerns Committee which includes student representatives.
Last year's conservation and recycling efforts resulted in a significant reduction of electrical
consumption and a diversion of approximately 50% of the College’s building waste to recycling facilities.
Insurance
Students should maintain personal property insurance to cover losses incurred by theft, fire, interruption
of utilities, or other causes. Students should check with their families to be sure that their
belongings are adequately covered under a homeowners or renters policy.
Checking Electronic Mail
As we move into a new information age, more communication will be sent to you via e-mail.
Some of this information could affect your academic program or personal safety. All CMC students are
required to check their electronic mail often-at least once per day is advised. If you miss important
deadlines or information because you have not checked your e-mail, no extensions will be granted.
Resident Technology Assistants (RTAs)
Resident Technology Assistants are student members of the College’s staff, operating under the
Computer Lab Manager. The College retains 14 Resident Technology Assistants one for each residence
hall and two for the student apartments. RTA responsibilities include providing service—Ethernet
card installs, troubleshooting, etc. for student computers, helping students navigate the computing
world at the College, enforcing College Information Systems & Technology (IST) policies, and acting as
liaisons between IST and the student body.
2002–2003 Resident Technology Assistants
Lindsay Claiborn, Appleby 209, ext. 76922
Colin Tudor, Auen 803, ext. 75365
Michael Baehr, Beckett 211, ext. 76807
Alvah "Tyson" Wickboldt, Benson 112, ext. 72763
Dustin Beckett, Berger 107, ext. 75298
Scott Bennett, Boswell 107, ext. 75229
Scott Fisher, Fawcett 601, ext. 75428
Evan Johnsen, Green 216, ext. 75279
Jonathan Huang, Marks 110, ext. 73103
Peter Ombres, Phillips 122, ext. 75698
Christopher Kan, Stark 301, ext. 72464
Mitchell Browne, Wohlford 114, ext. 76499
Alisa Decker, Apartment 661 D, ext. 77222
Bryan Ikegami, Apartment 681 C, ext. 76785
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