Caltech

Caltech: Smart or Silly?

Some Caltech first-years recently found themselves in a compromising situation. In the wee hours of the morning, wearing tutus and Superman capes, they had to call in the professionals . . . a professional rescue team. The students undergoing the hazing ritual were stranded in Eaton Canyon because of a landslide. Rescue team leader Deputy Greg Gabriel remarked on their “distinctive headgear - hats with antennas and horns, that kind of stuff,” and added, “You've got to remember that common sense is not factored into the intelligence quotient.” – S.L.

National

College Loan Woes

Recently, Congress passed a bill the government hopes will create nearly $14 billion in revenue by making lenders pay the windfall between interest rates paid by students, and those paid by lenders. The bill allows students to borrow more money through the Stafford loan program and also opens up existing loan programs to graduate and professional students. Here’s the catch: interest rates for borrowers will increase as of July 1st, from 6.1% to 8.5% on PLUS loans and from 5.3% to 6.8% on Stafford loans (!). The New York Times quoted Luke Swarthout, higher education associate for the State Public Interest Research Groups (a nonprofit consumer organization that opposed the law), “this bill turns to students and families as the predominant source of revenue, rather than trying to identify inefficiencies in the loan programs. This bill asks students and parents to pay for tax cuts.” In the bill’s defense, Senator Enzi of Wyoming (R) said, “we were able to reduce spending through changes in the way lenders operate . . . and actually increased student opportunities." However, with about 10 millions students taking out Stafford loans and 800,000 taking PLUS loans every year, that’s a lot of potential debt for students post-graduation. Ouch. – S.L.

Pitzer College

Renovations at Pitzer

Recently, Pitzer College renovated their McConnell Dining Hall, adding an outdoor patio to the west side of the building. The patio has six tables with umbrellas and three additional tables. Freshman Liliana Sanchez enjoyed her experience sitting outside, however she thinks the space seems a little “cramped”. Conversely, Senior Daniel Bendett thinks the patio “adds to the aesthetic and utilizes the beauty here at the Claremont Colleges." Too bad there aren’t enough tables for everybody to one with the aesthetics. – J.K.

City of Pomona

Crime in Pomona City

The Pomona City Council voted unanimously to block a pedestrian walkway connecting Pomona’s Manville Street cul-de-sac to the Claremont Village Apartments after Pomona residents complained of Claremont criminals using it to access Pomona and sell drugs. The Claremont Village Apartments are part of a housing complex on Arrow Highway notorious for its crime rate. Although no rapes or homicides have occurred in the complex from January 2003-2005, police made seven narcotics arrests and four times as many burglaries occurred relative to the rest of Claremont. Although the Pomona district, including Manville Street, reported more rapes and homicides over the same time span, fewer serious crimes were reported in the Pomona district than at the Claremont Village Apartments. Although Manville Street residents have petitioned for the past two years to close the walkway, some residents aren’t sure building a wall will solve the problem. According to Claremont resident Sam Pedroza, "We need to seek real solutions - have the police departments work together. It's not a Claremont problem or Pomona problem; it's a problem in the whole region." Claremont city officials claim this is the first incident in which a neighboring city closed off an access point because of crime in Claremont.

California

Put it out!

California is the first state to declare tobacco smoke a toxic air pollutant. The Air Resources Board based the decision on a study showing a higher rate of breast cancer among women exposed to second-hand smoke. The study calculates smoke exposure increases chances of developing the disease by 68-120%.  This conflicts with the Surgeon General’s reports, which give no indication that second-hand smoke is harmful.  Despite this evidence, anti-smoking organizations lack the support to pass further laws outlawing the use of cigarettes.

Canada

Sleepless . . . in Canada?

Canadian Marc Lachance emailed 3,700 Belgian women to find his true love. Lachance met Sabine on holiday in Havana, but forgot to get her information. Desperate, he wrote to every Sabine in Belgium. Finally, Sabine’s brother heard about Lachane’s efforts on the radio and told his sister. With the aid of Lachance’s workplace, Sabine contacted Lachance and promised to email him. Lachance said Sabine wanted to show him her country. “If she does, I'm on the first plane to Belgium." - K.H.

New Jersey

Thinking of Transferring?

Bleary-eyed high schoolers applying to Seton Hall University have found something to cheer them up. What was supposed to direct them to "World Education Services" turned out to be the number for a toll-free sex chat with "hot, horny girls." The recording tells applicants, "spark up your days and nights with stimulating talk." They can then choose between "students, housewives, and working girls," at rates ranging from $.99 to $2.99. Hey, we all know how easy students are.

Claremont McKenna College

A Small Price to Pay

We could learn a lesson from Tim Iafe (CMC): if you’re ridiculously lucky, then not studying for midterm could yield a brand new car. Tim took a day off to go to “The Price Is Right” and returned with a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. According to Iafe, “I had to guess the combination of the safe that held the prizes, and the combo was the price of [some] tennis equipment. I guessed the price correctly, $650, and that’s it . . . I won!” We hope he failed his exam. - J.C.

Harvey Mudd College

First Woman President (HMC)!

Maria Klawe, chosen as Harvey Mudd’s newest and first female president, will succeed Jon Strauss on July 1, 2006. Klawe’s husband, currently a professor of computer science and mathematics at Princeton, will join the Dept. of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd this fall as well. Klawe, a computer scientist, is currently dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University. She is well known as a proponent for women and minorities, becoming involved in engineering science and mathematics, and serves as chair of the board of directors of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology in Palo Alto. At a recent visit to Harvey Mudd, Klawe was inducted into the Honorable Order of the Wart during lunch in the dining hall. The fully costumed students knighted Klawe and dubbed her Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. President Klawe, a title probably inspired by the doctorate degree and four honorary doctorate degrees she currently holds from various colleges and universities. Klawe says she is “crazy about mathematics” and seems very excited about coming to Harvey Mudd. Her interests include painting, hiking, juggling, playing electric guitar and video games. Sounds like she’ll fit right in.