MAy 5 . I 9 94 V o l u M E X X I I I, I s s u E 4 THE OTHER S I DE
are a few individuals which I would like to point out and thank individu Editor's Desk ally. Obviously, there are many people at this school who have touched "Idle speculation is reserved for people who are too rich, too poor or too crazy to get seriously concerned my life and impacted my ideas, thoughts, and dreams. Unfortunately, I about anything outside their awn private realities . . ." do not have the space to acknowledge everyone, but specifically, I would - HunterS. Thompson like to offer my gratitude to Team Jones and all of its affiliates (including Rossi, Mikos, Garst, Alphie, eil, P. Dolan, etc ... ), my advisor and good THE OTHER SIDE I spent a great deal of timesearchingforanepitaph for my final editor's desk. I was looking for something conclusive friend, Jeff Lewis, and of course, my guru, mentor, and TOS supervisor, -a grand finale if you will-and in doing so, I spent hours thumbing through a variety of periodicals: The Great Gatsby, Allen Greenberger. Editor-in-Chief: fordJm Kurland It has been a great four years and to those of you who are fortunate Ulysses, Garfield Gains Weigh~imal Farm, etc. All the while I sought out a phrase or pull quote whichcould, in twenty Production Editor: Heidi Schuman five words orless, sum up my college career. I believe it was somewhere between Where theWild Things Areand The Old enough to have time left here at Pitzer, the only advice I have to offer is Executive Editor: Kim Gilmore enjoy and take advantage of it. For my classmates, the ones who are Testa.mentthat I finally gave up as I realized how ridiculous I was being. I concluded that it was foolish to even think that Features Editor: Mike Stephens some all-encompassing phrase existed. A couple of days later, however, I was rereading an essay by Dr. Hunter S. joining me in the great the leap of faith, I am as clueless as you are. But as Dr. Thompson would say: "Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll ..." Copy Editor. Zach Taub Thompson and I stumbled upon the quote which lies a top this page. I figured this phrase was as good as any because Writers: Amy Champ Thompson's interpretation of idle speculation, at least in my opinion, is relevant to not only thedassof'94, but the majority Pat Dolan Sincerely, ~ ~ of the Claremont College community. Elise Graner We spend a good portion of our time in college speculating. Whether we are attempting to figure out which questions will be on a economics exam or trying to dedde which courses will best prepare us for life after college, most of our time Max Z.facbos at Pitzer is focused towards one end- the future. In order to effectively gear up for life beyond Pitzer, we are forced to ~nd\'-/- Tobin Steers speculate about what we want our future to be and how we plan to get there. This obviously is not an easy task, and now, Scott Stolzman with commencement less than two weeks away, my idle speculation has inherited a distinctly different flavor. This is a Cover Photo: Kim Gilmore common phenomenon for a college senior, who for the first time in their life is faced with decisions which will, at the very Faculty Advisor. Allen Greenberger least, have lasting effects upon the immediate future. Up until this point, the decision making process has been an easy one: grammar school was followed by junior high, after junior high came high school, college proceeded high school, etc. Now, after twenty-plus years on this planet, we are must choose a path of life. For those individuals who came into college with a self-constructed map of their existence, Pitzer may simply have served as a rest stop along a lengthy highway where- after filling-up on the necessary knowledge and experience- these individuals can continue traveling down the road to their final destination, whatever it may be. For the vast majority, however, this simply is not the case. We all know that Pitzer is not the optimum university to attend for a student who hopes to pin down a career over the course of eight semesters. As Mikos Stephens points out in his article, titled "Pitzer Graffix," our school, in the same manner as most liberal arts colleges, is not designed so much to To the Class of '94 prepare us for a career as it is to provide us with the quintessential tools of critical thought. So don't be surprised if you see a number of Pitzer grads stranded in the road next year without a map or AAA card. Hell, I'll probably be the one holding a sign which reads: "PITZER GRAD- WILL WORK FOR CD'S." Farewell, I have grown a great deal here at Pitzer. This school has exposed me to a wide array of subjects, people, and situations which I would not have encountered at other universities and I am extremely grateful for it. Hindsight is always twenty twenty and there is obdously a few things I would change about my college career(i.e. my major), but in retrospect- which Good Luck, is about alJ I have left at this point- I am quite satisfied with my experiences here at Pitzer. After all, I am one of the lucky few which has actually chosen a direction after graduation. and ... The last four years have transpired a lot faster than imagined they would. It's almost like, upon my entrance to college, someone stuck my life into a VCR and pressed fast forward. I never had a chance to hit pause and as a result, I have a great deal trouble distinguishing between freshman and junior year, child psych and social cognition, Kohoutek '92 and Kohoutek '93, etc. I hate to usc the age-old cliche, but time does fly when your having fun. I think senior year went by most quickly. It seems like yesterday that I was sitting at this same typevmter churning out my first editor's desk (which, by the way, was much easier to write). In that first ed's desk I stated a number of goals which we, the editor's of The Other Side, hoped to fulfill over the course of the school year. Our main goal, if memory serves correctly, was to provide "a forum between students and administration." It is quite apparent, based on the reactions of the students and faculty of this school, that we were successful in doing this. I have seen more progresswn in the interactions between students and administration over the course of the last two semesters than I have in my previous three years at Pitzer. I attribute this to a number of things, but most importantly Now go out and find a job! to a wiJJingness on both ends to work together. In the past, especially \o\-i th the onset of the alcohol policy, there has always been an "us versus them" attitude. This year, however, a bridge began to form. Students were inquiring and faculty were answering (most of the time). miss I am confident that The Other Side will continue to serve as a forum and inquisitive periodical long after I am gone. Good luck, we'll you. This year has been a turning point for our school. In some minor way, we, as the staff ofTOS like to feel as though we have helped to facilitate this change. And it is with the utmost confidence that I can state that Heidi, Kim, and Zach (who are returning as editor's next year) will continue to uphold this tradition. FinalJy, before I \\-ind down this ed's desk I would like to thank all of the people who have supported this publication either as a contributing ''\'Titer, artist, photographer, poet, or by simply offering encouragement, compliments, or criticism. As we are aware, we would not exist without your help and insight. On a more personal level, however, there
MAy 5, I 9 9 4 THE O THER SID E 3 T HE O THER S IDE PROVIDA FUTURI? THE DELIVERY MAN by P. Dolan CONTEXTUALIZING PITZER REVIEWS I live in La Verne. I always have. I Sparkletts truck garage. I asked them circling this building with a Bridge in The Delivery Man Sausage hold two jobs to pay for my classes at why but they didn't tell me. the middle of it. But finally I found My first Friday I hopped into the Pitzer, and parked in front of Scott by P. Dolnn ...... 5 Reviewed by jordan Kurland ...... 21 Citrus College. I live near the Pomona fairgrounds with my girlfriend Tammy. truck (number 58, my favorite because Hall. We'vebeengoingoutsinceh.ighschool. the radio works). I looked at the deliv I climbed out of the truck to the We Came to Build Enigma We like where we live until the drag ery list. It was all places in Claremont. sound of live music. It was about four by Amy Champ ...... •...... •...... B Reviewed by Max Z. jacobs ...... 21 races start in the spring. Tammy's I hadn't been in Claremont since I P.M. I grabbed two bottles and headed brother was in the Army during Desert played soccer in high school. I hopped toward what the ticket told me; Sanborn Where Diversity Lies Storm. We thought it was strange Hall. I walked down a walkway Gigs At A Glance that those oil burning machines filled with people. I decided to by Elise Graner ...... 10 Matt Nathanson Trio Update...... 18 roared nonstop the whole time he follow this crowd. Suddenly from was in Saudi Arabia. behind me came a strange parade Pitzer Graffix This is my daily life. We both with people blowing horns, carry by Michael Stephens ...... 12 getupin themomingandeat break ing big signs that looked like faces, fast. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and everyone was in crazy cos and Fridays I take the car to class tumes. I followed the parade. Getting Out SHORT FICTION and drop heroff at work (she works It was an opening among the by Zach Taub...... 20 Fear and Fallacy at an elementary school as a buildings. There were a ring of teacher). Her friend drops her off booths, some cooked sizzling by jordan Kurland ...... 16 at night while I collect ticket stubs foods. The aromatic smoke rose at the new movie theater in Up into the sunfilled air. Dazed people A Title Would Only Cheapen land. l notice a lot of college stu walked everywhere. I put down POLITICS dents that go there seem to be my wate r and asked where What I've Done Here different. Their cars have plates Sanborn was. No one knew. An Every Good Leader Eventually by Tobin Steers •...... 19 from all over the country. They have on the Ten and turned the radio on. older woman walked up to me. She Lets Us Down different ac~nts and I' m amazed how The only station that came in clear was was dressed as a belly dancer, com· much of th~m wander into the theater something called 88.7 KSPC. The mu plete with a metal-link bra (chainmail, by Kirn Gilnzoore ...•...... •...... •...... 6 stoned to watch flicks and think that no sic was clanking metal sounds \·vith a she corrected me). "Welcome to one notice$. They always wear flannel Guru moaning in the background. Kohoutek!" she yelled. "Oh my God," Cuba, Capitalism, and Contradiction shirts and hiking boots and travel in Every so often someone would get on I thought. I wanted to radio back in to headquarters. Was this right? Sud by Scott Stol:.man ...... lO small groups. I never knew where they the air, laugh, and say he was going to came from until I took that job as the see the band in Sacramento. I laughed. denly some guy in skin tight black Sparkletts water delivery guy. I looked atmydeliverylistagain: Pitzer leather pants and a painting on his Pitzer Changes South African I started delivering on Tuesdays College, get off the Ten at Indian Hill, chest of a comet going down his belly Investment Policy and Thursdays. r went to business's take a left and follow the signs. No walked by. I saw more people I recog DEPARTMENTS mainly; car dealerships and real estate problem. The music got louder the nized fromthemovietheatcr. This was by Kiln Gilmore ...... 22 places up and down the 10. They were closer I got. no ordinary drop off. places easy to get to and they always l went up Indian Hill and took a left Eventually someone told me Editor's Desk ...... 2 paid theirbillsand left the empty bottles into the Claremont Village. I proceeded Sanborn was right behind me. I ;.-.•entto out. I liked the job. People were toward what looked like a college. I the door and spent ten minutes pound The Other Si 4 MA y 5, I 9 9 4 THE O TH E R SIDE 5 THE OTHER SIDE how, it seems inadequate. Because of him, we are just supposed to live out that indi\'idual people matter. But at that spectacle, the things our leaders our own fantasies of fame through im thesametimetheresurrectionofNixon do seem all the more elusive, more ages like his. The great paradox of as not so bad of a guy after all uproots Every Goo Lea er distant. "alternati\"e" music hinges on this fact, a deeper realization, that our leaders ln fact the 20th century political and perhaps the preponderance of are vulnerable, and that much of the figure has much in common with the alternativism is only indicative of the time to put faith in public figures today popular musician. In his book about powerful, self-destructive and ulti is eventually to be let down. American bluesmusiciansentiUed Lost mately personal will to attain closeness Despite this fact, and the continual Highway, author Peter Guralnick dis with those public figures we are mar alienation we feel when public officials Eventual Le sUs Down cusses how the role of the performer keted to, and therefore to an extent, or leaders continue to make decisions before the onset of mass commercial coerced, into idolizing. we feel are wrong, the U.S. press corps ization, was a community based expe And, on the other hand is the real still responds to the Whitewater de rience. Most of the pre-recording era ity that certain public figures make bade with surprise. Only a sheltered bluesmusicianscamefromasmallcom themselves more vulnerable than oth and forgetful country could be so The lights went out in the middle of her speech. It was people ~d taken matters of social and politicaJ importance shocked-ofcourse they'recorrupt. Not munity, "a community which by and ers. There are those that knowingly a power failure. mto the1r own hands and demanded justice. The U.S. had construct themselves this way,and oth that corruption is excusable or should It was an interesting coincidence of events that the First already been scorned for Cold Waractivitiesand blundered large was able to entertain itself. Oh, there may have been 'stars,' but the ers who simply feel that the elimina be overlooked, and there are certainly Lady's visit to Claremont landed the day before the funeral meddling in Cuba. stars were local heroes, heroes who tion of that distance issomething worth some forms of corruption that are more of the first publicly fallen President of the United States. It As journalist Marc Cooper laments in a recent issue of had developed a widely admired skill striving for. Because of that, and Kurt ,-.:orrisome than others(the Whitewater was apt, too, that the power failure marked the most news Spin m~gazine, lo?k0g back on recent American history toagreaterdegreethananyothermem Cobain does seem to be one of these offenses seem a little petty). But the worthy portion of the event. Walking through the entrance, from th1s perspechve IS somewhat disheartening."Against figures. Because of this vulnerability, sheltered qualities are weakening over you had to pass t-shirts that were made this event (the the backdrop of inner city combat zones, record youth ber of the community. Demographics didn't enter into it, because you were the question of distance is more com time, and maybe this nation will be importance of any event seems measurable in direct pro unemployment and teenage pregnancy, rising illiteracy, plex, the ability of fans to feel feel for more mature for it. To ask for a leader, portion to the number oft-shirts sold), through the thickets and homelessness, the white-and-black film clip of playing for friends, neighbors, and fel low workers." In hisessay "Reification the death of the "person" compounded. a rock star, any one person, to o~ people wearing the specially made buttons holding the Kennedy's plea to 'ask not what your country can do for and Utopia in Mass Culture", Fredric The dual task consumers have to •.vor• singlehandedly uphold our vision of shck programs ouUining the festivities, past the cameras you, but what you can do for your country' looked ancient ship/reject public figures was pain justice or democracy denies the diver and nervous organizers. and irrelevant." With these things in mind, it is surprising Jameson categorizes the relationship between artist and public as one which fullvobviousfromLA Times interviews sity we so often ask for. Part of the Hosting the First Lady is certainly reason for pulling that an_yone cares ~tall what the President and First Lady with teenage fans crying over his death acceptance of diversity, I think, is to out all the stops, and Scripps College was sure pulling them ar~ domg. But stdl, for some reason, I was hoping that "was still in one way or another a social institution and a concrete social and and castigating him for betraying his accept human complexity even when it f~r this even~ . The wh~le proceed!ng was put together very Hillary Rodham Clinton, not the President but a vital interpersonal relationship with its own duty as public figure/leader. doesn't gel with our concept of ethics. mcely, d~p1te a last mmute locatiOn change. These objects politi~l figure in her own right, would have something So perhaps it is more than just skep In some ways we have no choice but to were rerrunders, though, that today's political figures are affechng to say about the state of life in late twentieth validation and specificity. With the coming of the market, this institutional ticism of politicians that made Hillary accept 1t, but to accept it gracefully surrounded with show, and that the spectacle docs not century society. without loosing our own sense of eth status of artistic consumption vanishes: Rodham Clinton's speech insubstan always stand for something more profound. It wasn't that what Hillary Rodham Clinton said was tial. This year has seen the death of ics is sometimes hard to do. Most members of the pre-Nixon generation remember wrong or reprehensible, or totally boring. She talked about art becomes one more branch of com modity production". The purpose is another infamous politician, Tip When Hillary was speaking, I was a time when the government wasn' t necessarily mostly h~w today's young people (particular!y young women, she O'Neill. Although he wasn't the most wondering ho.,.,r she wanted the audi show, when the President and his aides were not subject to sa1d) have a long and hard road ahead. She spoke of lofty not to call for a mo\·e back to agrarian society, only to call attention to the popular person to punditsand Belh·... ay ence to interpret such broad reaching character assassination, and when the goal of the press was aspirations, the need to "follow your heart" and the need to critics while he was ali\"e, again and conceptsas justice and leadership. And not to dethrone them from their positions. The death of persevere in hard times. Blah, blah, blah. Impossibility of what we expect of our public figures. again his most famous line was quoted further, is it possible to be open minded Abraham Lincoln had such an impact on Walt Whitman Don't be mistaken, though. It was cool to have the v·:ith assurance \vhen he died, "Politics and at the same time to escape the kind that he wrote "When Lilacs in the Dooryard Last Bloom'd" First Lady come and speak, and she and Bill are much To see how far we've come from this kind of relationship between com is local!'' As Cooper states, "But the of relativism thatdecperconsidera tions (0 powerful western fallen star!/ 0 shades of night- 0 better than the Bushes. I particularly liked the part younger generation has only been act of politics sometimes seem to inspire? moody, tearful night!/ 0 great star disappear'd .. .) '11oved munity leader /performer and public, where she admitted to watching the NCAA tournament, we can look to the treatment of the ing on what they inherited form my In some ways that is the larger picture, that man," my Grandma says of john Kennedy, "I touched after telling a young student last month in one of those generation: our fears, our mistrust in and one that has to be formed and his hair as he paraded down South Street." Kennedv seems death of Kurt Cobain by the press and "ask anything" sessions that she doesn't watch network fans. On one hand the continuing government, they are engaged \'Vith changed over years with the particular to have straddled both worlds, he was both im~ge and news. And she did show some grace under pressure social concerns- but in personal, not forms of order and chaos we chose. sut:stance. And although we know now that he was just as success of mass production affirms when the lights went out. The lack of faith in senior impossibility of popular heroes. t-.:ow public politics." Public figures, in the meantime, will guilty of human rights violations and frailties as anv other Yet there was the obvious tendency continue to let us down. They will give human being that happened to have been elected Pre'sident, elected officials probably has very little to do with the there is such distance that we have Clinton's and their cadre of young dedicated aides. In reproduced icons that are somewhat through the proceedings of the Nixon boring speeches. They will die by their there was a sense of reverence for him. funeral to rewrite the American politi own hands. But they \dll also occa some senses, they are sincere, I'm sure about they're interchangeable, that can be resurrected Later generations, on the other hand, have grown up cal history. Maybe this is just the need sionally offer some decent advice, or when "Fuck Authority'' has come and passed. Before those desire to see a better country. (She even mentioned and murdered within weeks at the cal lous and unpredictable whim of the from other politicians to ensure that offer some articulation of humanity in college today were in pre-school, two reporters had somethmg in her speech about the health care plan.) But Watergate aside, Nixon, like all presi through art, which could be taken as already revealed the lies of President Nixon at a time when the media game that they are so good at playing is no consuming public and our ad\·ertising counterparts. Because of this, we can dents, do something. Eulogies, after all, reminders that our models for leader the Unit~ States gover:nment was already weakened by longer simply the package that gets the goods to the are not for the dead. They are to re ship can be composites of any indi extended mvolvement m a devastating war. Masses of not really be distressed over the death store. Rather, we are aware of that package, and some- of Kurt Cobain the man. The ethos of mind us that a flesh and blood person \'iduals that rises above the limitations being famous, of "making it," the ma who exists now onlv in our conscious of their world. chine that produces "stars" is based on ness did exist, but i~ the case of public ·:oon't stop thinking about tomor b y :~ ·i ril" ·c;·:i ·· 1 tn ·,ocr e · ·. the very d ista nee consumers have from iigures, they are to remind us of the row"? Good suggestion. :J - -- them. We aren't supposed to know cornerstone of Enlightenment thought, 6 MAy 5 , I 9 9 4 THE OTHER SID E 7 THE OTHER SIDE AC: How does one develop a rela CH: If you work together, you're certain breed of artists... A lot of art in tionship with a place, an institution, or going to get a lot further. It's really the the academy has become like research even a person, over many many years? Dalai Lama's position again. The ways in the academy. It's very much tied to "We Came to Build" CH:Alotofyoungerfacultywould and the solutions are aU there, and the corporate interests, money-making in ask that same question. They have a way to arrive at those is without trying terests. different relationship with the institu to. But all the other stuff keeps getting AC: Selling knowledge, period. tion. And this isn't a critkism, but in the way... If you stay in war mode, CH: And restricting knowledge, T ~aces aJI\d Places they're more careerist. People like you're not going to change. We have to controlling knowledge, and making it Warmbrunn, Marquis and Macaulay consciously go from that mode to the inaccessible. The arts are right on the -we came to build a college. We came idea ofa gathering. How do you do that edge in that regard. In the academy, to stay. Look at Claremont. It's very in South Albuquerque or South Cen you should have the freedom to say, tidy and secure. Some people would tral? I'm not going to sit here in this "Yeah, it's in the marketplace, but it's say you get trapped, but to be fair beautiful garden and say that it's easy. also this, and it's also that-not the there is a sort of unconscious element least of which is that art is a human that goes on. Traces activity that is very important to how AC: It seems like "place" is a really CH: My personal life is balanced to we develop and how we are". important thing for you. the degree that I have time to make art. The notion that the only way art is CH: That's what I've taught here If I'm not doing something that I feel is made is by a singular genius-we're for thirty years. We had a course early making art, then I'm not happy. very prone to that in this country, be on, easily 25 years ago, called "The AC: What do you perceive within cause our emphasis on individualism Communal Organization of Space." I your lifetime, as far as the kinds of art is so powerful. And it's true. I experi taught it with a sociologist. We talked you looked into, and how things are ence it. You experience it. The indi about the importance ofa senseof place. changing? vidual existsand individual expression And in some way, what we used to call CH: We were socialized to think isimportant. Theproblemariseswhen "thecharisma of destinations." It really that you could be an academic artist. you believe that's all there is. Some means something to go from one place That's not entirely clear. When I came people buy into the notion of Plato- to another, even if it's from the profane to Pitzer, I had been at Harvard. Ben that they' re divinely inspired. into the sacred. That's an important Shawn was the first artist who'd been The answer is community. That's shift. invited to be a Jorton lecturer at what I'm doing now. Lacking commu Russ v.•as from Fontana. At the end Harvard, because there was a real nity in the modem world, what you of it, he said, "My god. You're teaching stigma against people who got their need to do is find the closest, best pos sociology and I'm teaching art." And handsdirty.Hesaid-and this was our sible version of that for you. that's the way it used to be in the early generation-There is no natural envi AC: What about the interference of days of Pitzer. There was a lot of fluid ronment for the arts in America, but technology, and its impact on people? ity around disciplines. It's a tradition maybe the academy can become that CH: The communications revolu Carl Hertel discusses Art, Environment and Community here.! think part of the struggle wesavv environment. tion does exist. I'm going to die before at the College Council meeting yester Before that, it was very separate. I have to join, but it is important and day wasaboutdisciplines. And how do Theartsarealwaysconsidereddanger someone of your generation really has wemakeappointmentsthatarerespon ous. You know that. In social terms, to engage that at some level. Pitzer is One of the greatest joys of my time here at Pitzer was ~ible, but not totally constrained by the there's an element of control~ither very much like that. It's very post-mod collaborating with Carl Hertel during my final semester. idea of a discipline. The students-! direct or indirect-applied to them, so em. There's no present. The present By returning to an actual tradition- the Kohoutek pa disagreed with their tactics-but I they don't influence things too much. gets erased, because there's too much thought the point of view was an im Art mo\·ed into the academy in the late attacking you so rapidly. So, for some rade- the InterArts Seminar (re)created through a cycli portant one. I would have liked to have fifties into the sixties. That's when I body of my generation, it's very impor cal project. We realized that Professor Hertel, as a person had a more philosophical discussion came here. There was a tremendous tant to go to some small place in 'ew who has graced this space since our college's genesis, about it. The point-of-view is-you amount of excitement around the arts Mexico where there's not that manv and l have just said it-hov.• are you in the sixties as a part of social change, people and get in touch with the land. lives with a real sense of cycle, of the degrees to which going to change things if you keep do as a part of the fabric of everyday life. It sounds so corny. transformation- in body and spirit- means growth. ing things the same old way? It's a So, people can make jokes about hip What this busy-ness and the elec Some of my concerns upon graduating are the impact of tautology, but in order to change, pies and psychedelic art, but it's really tronic thing does is it de-natures us. you've got to change. true that that was a new thing for our (An ironic pounding emanates from Pitzer's new buildings, the idea of moving on, and the AC: I think there's a big miscon culture to have it right here. the construction site.) As Dick Barnes impending transnational arts revival of the next century. ception on the part of students that AC: Rather than just on Sunday or puts it: you're hungry, but you'd rather What better person to consult than Carl, for whom the there's this "system" they' re fighting. at a gallery. What about folk art in the watch a turkev dinner on T.V. than eat end of the academic year signals retirement from his or there's this "institution" called Pitzer, States? a bologna s~ndwich. Even though or there's the faculty and administra CH: It was there, in ethnic commu you're starving. ::J position as Pitzer's resident arts guru? The following are tion against them. It's not exactly like nities, in different racial communities, selections from a chat in the Grove. that. There's so much pull here for stu but not recognized. But art in theacad dents. All you have to do is just talk to emy-l'm not sure whether it's an ap -Amy Champ people. propriate environment. You produce a 8 MAy 5, I 9 9 4 Til E O THER SIDE 9 THE OTHER SIDE of their culture and denying the fact eryday. Several people wonder about student body is made up of people that race still doesaffectone'sopportu this. Some find it intimidating, as I had from all over the country, and all over nities and status in society today. And myself. But if you were one of seven the world. In the dictionary, under the therearesomewhoaretoointimidated women in an all men's school who word diversity it reads "different" and by to approach or befriend those who put would you sit with? When one enters "variety''. Different is a scary word. separatism before the blandness of uni McConnell, they walk into a sea of What does it mean? In the past in our versality. White. Whyisitthatweneveraskwhy society anything that varied from the Elise There are problems here. But due the Whites sit with other to the size of this little '1iberal" arts Whites? Itisbecausetheymake school we must interact daily on some up most of the population here Graner sortoflevel \vith people we might have and therefore they don't stand once hated, feared, or misunderstood. out. So instead we point fig Supposedly, U.C. Berkeley is the ures at the race that is easily epitome of diversity yet there is hardly visible to us. We watch what With ripped bags as their only protec ing \vith other African-American students, any intermingling or socializing they say in class, where they tion from the rain, a group of Chicanos Chicanos with Chicanos, and Whites with amongst the students of different races sit, and whether they seem worked to create the perfect atmosphere Whites? Why is it that there doesn't seem to friendly or "militant." There is for Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech. I be any interracial dating and if there is, it is communication here that stu watched them as they meticulously straight extremely well-hidden? Or why is it that u At Pitzer there may dents at larger schools aren't ened each row of chairs. It was not until there is so much talk and speculation when able to have. Some disagree two people from different cthnici with this and say that those ties or races are hanging out or be separatism, but at () who don't want to deal with talking to each other at a party? If least one is able to other races and ethnicities can a Whiteman is seen with a Chicana still avoid it. They may be able once at a party it's said that he only walk down the hall to avoid direct discussions of "goes for Chicana women." Or if racial or cultural issues, but an African-American is dating a and ask a woman of they can not avoid some sort of blond haired woman that he must interaction with them whether "have a thing for only blond another race or back- it be in the laundry room, at the women." There arc even rumors Coke machine, or in the dining that White women onlv date Black ground why she hall. People lose that feeling of later that I found out that people with green men here because it is the trendy cool thing thinks there is no real intimidation as the person's cards were not admitted to the First Lady's to do. It is a way to rebel against their rich face becomes a familiar fixture speech. This is quite ironic, especially on mothers and fathers who arc infuriated by diversity here." in their life. Whether they real the same dav that most administrators will the thought of in terra cia I rclationshi ps. \1\'hy ize that they are dealing vvith likely be trying their damndest to impress is it that if a Blackman or womanspeaksout their prejudices and stereo Mrs. Clinton with the intellectual, socially against the European cultural pressures that or cultures there. Why? Because there types or not, they begin to see conscious, and diverse aspects of the stu forces them to swallow their Black pride or they can avoid it. They don' t have to that person as an individual with a social norm was considered weird, ab dent body of the Claremont Colleges. Re sense of unity then they must be militant? discuss things with each other ina class name and personality rather then just a normal, and different. Definitions area gardless of what our "liberal" school may Who was that Black militant leader e\·ery room of five hundred people. They fear and misconception that they have powerful thing. In order to be "di look like to out- one feared? Not the one that was nice and don't have to see the same faces every never dealt with. verse" the Pitzer community can not () siders, how di peaceful named Martin Luther King, Oh, Jr. day. Oneofmybestfriendsgoesto U.C. try to define what each race or Ethnic verse is it really? that's right, it \\'as Malcolm X, the one who At Pitzer there may be separatism Berkeley. SheisChicanaand was think group should be and whattheyshould \\Then I look in has been immortalized in a Black made but at least one is able to walk down the ing about being a Chicano Studies ma be doing. Who cares which Black man side I find sepa Oscar nominated film which is watched by hall and ask a woman of another race or jor. But she told me that when she's in is dating which White woman? Who ratism, a false millions of people all O\·er the world. background why she thinks there is no class she feels like an outsider, an out caresifthefew African Americans, who universality, ru- There is no hiding from one's identity real diversity here. One is able to ask sider not to whites but to other we can recognize by face, sit together mors, and above here at the Claremont Colleges. One is her why she only sits with people of her Chicanos. It is understandable because in the dining hall? We need to start a II else, contra unable to hide from their race, religion, or race everyday in the dining hall. It was shehasprimarilybeenexposed to white looking at why these things stand out dictions. ethnicitv, but it seems that the differences not until I talked to several people con people from the same social and eco to us. Why do these actions bother us It is true that Pitzer, more than most are moie often expressed then the similari cemingtheirthoughtsondiversityhere nomic background her whole life. She so much? Why do I still hesitate to eat colleges, has a reputation of attempting to ties. There is skepticism concerning the that I was able to realize how blind I has been to protests and lectures but dinner \vith that woman down my hall represent manyd ifferent minorities in each "diversitv'' here. Some feel that there b a have been to many problems. Rather never inside the homes of people who and her friends? How diverse would class. But, why is it, for example, that even feeling of uni,·ersality at Pitzer that alien then asking why certain groups eat have been brought up \vi th a rich Mexi that be? How diverse are we? :l though a large voice of the Pitzer popula ates those ""'ho feel that we can only over together in the dining hall where the can or Latino cultural base. At Berke tion is Middle Eastern there is no ~1iddle comeour prejudicesand differences by being demographics of the student body is so ley she doesn't have to directly look at Eastern studies program or Middle Eastern aware and actively conscious of them. Pos obvious, let us look at why we notice. what it means for her to be a Chicana. professors? Why IS it that when one walks sibly, somestudents feel that by focusing on Yes, a group of African-American At Pitzer there is separatism and into McConnell dining hal! one sees, for the the similarities that transcend di,·erse cul students usually eat together in the there are diques based on race and most part, African-American students eat- tures they are denying the indi,·idual traits comer of McConnell Dining Hall ev- ethnicity. But it is justifiable. Pitzer's 10 MAy 5, I 9 9 4 TH E O THER SIDE 1 1 THE O THER St DE Pitzer a~affix CUBA, CAPITALISM, AND CONTRADICTION by Mikos Stephens With gradu- As graduates of an extremely expensive in ation quickly ap- stitution, how can we claim this? Seriously, after proaching I find myself reflecting on the "Pitzer the rehab which half the graduates must seek, Experience." I have no idea what that means, most alumni of good ole Pitzer should be ready but it was a term that was casually thrown to take on the world. For all the political studies around when I firstarrivedat Pitzer(pronounced majors there is always the CIA (Maui). History Pee-tzer). Anyway, now that four years have majors can take their place in law schools. 05. come and gone it's hard to say what I got out of majors can try to get a job, but if you were an my experience. Sure there is the degree, a two employer and had to choose between a CMC year hangover, sixteen grand in student loan business major or a PitzerO.S.major, who would bills... Oh yeah, and an education. you choose?-No offense. The point is, college is I don' t mean to sound solipsistic, but per less a preparation for a career these days and sonal life experience is fairly irrefutable, as long more of an experience in critical thought. If you as you tell the truth. But in thesedaysofrelativ can think for yourself by the time you leave, then ity, even that truth is debatable. Back to school. you are a step ahead. Pitzer, like almost any college has academic and Odds are we'll all end up as cogs in the social traditions that make it distinct. Minimal wheel of life. So what. The warm confines of requirements, but there have been a lot of Pitzer have allowed us to watch the Rodney changes in the law, so don't quote me on that. King beating, the nots, car-jackings, fires and An accessible faculty and staff, i.e.- slugging floods from a safe, convenient distance. We fear down beers with a certain Psych prof at the what lies beyond, partly because starting over is Kohoutek beer garden. Beautiful architecture nerve-racking, but also because we just don't The Value of Exploring the Other Side compliments of Mike Brady, and let's not forget know what's out there. Recent incidents of it is the shwag kingdom of the Five Colleges. violence on the campuses have brought to light The Pitzerexperienceissomcthing is no inherent truth in what can accu have either been filtered out of the edu Pitzer is not the end-all-be-all of education. the protective, but penetrable confines of the that is as unique and multifaceted as rately be labeled as perception. I have cational curriculum or reduced to a Hell, my history degree and a quarter might get communitv we live in. We see in these events the students who attend our school. alsocometounderstand that few things level of severely limited understand me a cup of coffee. Either way, it's high time to images of aworld \.\'e have actively avoided for Any attempt to boil it down to just a are as simple as we would be led to ing. Discovering that the contrasts get out from under the protective womb of the last four, or three, two- whatever years. The few key clement would, in my opinion, believe. As mainstream media becomes behveen societies are not a matter of Pitzer. That may seem trivial, but just think real world is out there, and its not going any be both incomplete and shortsighted. increasingly focused on sound bites being better or worse, but merely one about it. What about health insurance? The \.vhere. Scary, 1sn't it? :J At the same time, howe\·er, their arc and stereotypic imagery, we must ei of being different, is a revelation. You bureaucrats in Washington surely aren't going certain themes stressed at Pitzer which ther team to identify the bias' present can'thelpbutreceivepauseforthought to resolve this issue. We all want to believe that connect with us on a deeply personal in their reporting, or resign ourseh·es about how different societies have we won' t sponge off our parents, but never say A fond fanec/1 to Pit=er. level. They transcend being merely as to accepting predigested news as the evolved based upon internal needs, and never. The prevailing attitude today is that pects of what we've learned while m only "real" viewpoint. how indoctrinated we are into thmking society has college, and become ingrained mto the Pitzerhasalwaysstressed the value of certain values in absolute, rather nothing to wav we mteract with the world around of a multi-cultural education. Regard than relative terms. Cuba, in particu offer people. uThe point is, college us. 'In mv time here, two such values, less of how successful vou feel the col lar, offers a great many challenges to We are con exemplified in the trip I took to Cuba, lege has been at bringi'ng this home to what our society has come to accept stantly re is less a preparation have repeatedly 1mpacted the way I us, the fact remains that we are given as the root of human desires and minded that for a career these approach hfe. I have teamed the im opportunities to expand our under happiness. our genera days and more of an portance of taking into account per standingof the world around us \.'\-'hich When one thinks of tion (X, SJNCti\·cs which might seem foreign to are particularly rare in today's highly Cuba, itisusuallyinnega- Pepsi-what experience in critical our own svstem of beliefs, but retain formatted undergraduate education tive and distinctly po- by ever) will not thought." \·ahdity nonetheless. They represent system. I ha\·e been fortunate enough litical terms. beassuccess not simply a thought process, but a to take two trips abroad \Vh1lc here at Information given ful as our d1stmct cultural conception of what is Pitzcr,onc to Sou them Afnca,and more to us by most me- parents. But this notion soon becomes a self or is not SJgnificant. More plainly put, recently, as part of the Claremont con dia sources. Scott fulfilling prophecy, and breeds an attitude of thc1r IS an undemable value in mam tingent to Cuba. Both of these experi Our govern- indifference; that sort of rebel without a clue tammg anawarenessofthev1ewpoints ences have left lasting impressions that m e n t , thing. 'Society sucks, and so I don't have to try held by other groups of people, be no classroom education could hope to o r care' attitude. cause they add insight into why people duplicate. In traveling abroad, you arc ~a;ncts_ a Stolzman choose certain courses of action. There exposed to ideas and ways of life that ture 12 M ,, Y 5, I 9 9 4 THE O THER SID!! I 3 TilE OTHER SIDE of a poor, oppressed people, ruled by a to thestabllityof a nation, regardless of the U.S. most people consider them series of cooperative exchanges took neither that of lauding Cuba nor con dictator, and fleeing to the U.S. at the how popular its current government selves free to speak and act with politi "In contrast to Cuba, place in which each country, using its demrung the UnHed States. Rather, I first chance they get, hoping only for maybe. lndced,currentmeasureshave cal autonomy. These freedoms are comparativeadvantages, received more have hoped to point out that issues of the same freedoms and opportunities still not prevented the U.S.government openlyad monished in schools and most where institutional restric- in the exchange of resources than it freedom and repression are rarely as guaranteed to all our citizens. It may from penetrating Cuban airspace with media sources as being absolute. There tions on freedom are open could have produced domestically. simple as good versusevil. I have sought be true that their economy is in deep Radio Marti, \\•hich continually bom are, howe\·er, systemic obstructions to Cuba is generally regarded as being to give perspectives rarely found in the depression, and many of the freedoms bards Cuba with messages of condem these freedoms which confront many and acknowledged, limita assisted in these transactions because mainstream media sources throughout we so readily espouse in this country nation for the Castro regime. Regardless ofourcitizens, butarerarelydiscussed. tions on freedom also exist the U.S.S.R. was trading goods that had trus country, and to ask questions that (speech, press, political assembly) are of personal opinion about the appro Some of the more obvious cases a higher global market value than those are seldom heard.lt is not that I believe restricted in Cuba. However, to be fair, priateness of the tactics employed by occurred during times of war. in the U. S. The difference, which they received. To examine the Cuba to be a paradise, nor the United though, lies not so much in exchanges in this manner, though, States to be worthy only of blame and slants ones perception by putting what condemnation. I do, however, ques scope, but in our ability to was essentially a socialistic swap of tion the right of any country to impose perceive them." goods through the prism of a capitalist its values upon another, especially market system. when the action is self-serving and the It is also interesting to note that the benefits are questionable at best. Pur to was offered to me by a friend and yardstick with which people judge suit of the almighty dollar is not neces Vietnam veteran just a few weeks ago. Cuban trade and economic growth to sarily noble, and the UnHed ations During a Veterans' Day celebration in be subsidized is that of the U.S. and has on multiple occasions overwhelm the months preceding the Gulf War, he Europe. These Western powers are said ingly denounced the foreign policy em and several other members of Veterans to have gained their wealth fairly (i.e. ployed by the U.S. as a violation of for Peace arrived with the desire to through the market), but might not international law. Though many econo march. The parade was open to all mjli slavery and nearly 500 years of theft, mists hate to admit it, the rise in wealth tary veterans, and like many others, he from mercantilist to neo-colonialist in this country has not been accompa and his friends arrived carrying ban practices, be considered some form of rued by an increase in happiness, and ners and placards. In clear opposition economic subsidy? lack of material possessions elsewhere to most other marchers, though, the At the moment, it is true that in have not led to depressed societies. members of Veterans for Peace held terms of material goods, times are very Ultimately, I have tried to use the signs denouncing the U.S. involvement difficult in Cuba. Their economy has example ofCuban/ American relations in the war effort. For this reason, they shrunk by over 80% in the last 4 years, to illustrate larger truths which I have were soon dragged away from the and most people now live on a daily discovered while here at Pitzer. march and detained by M.P.'s with the dietofriceand beans. At thesametime, Namely, that situations are rarely clear official rationale that they were attempt though, it is through a well educated cut, and that to judge someone else's ing to start a riot. No charges were ever understanding of the world around situation by your own values is often filed against them, however, and over them, and not brainwashed ideology, an act of injustice. Most important is the past three years they have accrued that leads the majority of Cubans to sues in this world are so complex that legal fees in excess of $500,000 while continue supporting their government. we can not hope to fully understand all attempting to fight the go\·ernment for Most Cubans feel that a move to capi of the relevant thoughts and informa violation of their Consti tu tiona! rights. talism would more likely result in con tion surrounding them. The sad part of Thts situation does much to illustrate ditions similar to those found in the this realization is that to some degree the dichotomy currently found in our neighboring states of Jamaica and the or another, we are all forced to wallow system of personal freedoms. You have Dominican Republic, than those which in our own ignorance. The key, though, " S i r I m p eria list, We A bsolutely R efuse to Fear You!" the right to assemble, a Ithough officials we have in the U.S. They also point to is to accept the limits of our ability to may choose to limit that right. If they the egalitarian nature of their health understand both peoples and events, one must take these limitations in the the Cuban government, the fact remains Internment's have been used against do so illegally you have the right to and education systems as a perceived and not be so quick to lay judgment light of their situation. Since the revo that the Cuban people understand, and "potential agitators," and restrictions fight them in court, but you may need improvementover those which we find upon them. Achieving a complete and lution, Cuba has been under an obsti for the most part support, both their on press reporting due to reasons of a half million dollars to pursue that here in the United States. Above all, well-rounded grasp of any situation is nate state of economic and political government and its methodology. Ad national security are commonplace. opportunity. The point being that while though, it is the pervasivespiritof pride not merely a process of talking to some siege by the most powerful nation in ditionally, while they can't call for an During the 1950'sMcCarthyera,Ameri \'l!e have a great many freedoms to be and unity which is most important to one, or reading about it, but rather an the world, which lies a mere 90 miles end to socialism, Cubans are free to cans were arrested for political affilia proud of in this country, they are rela many Cubans. They revel in kno\... -ing on-going search for increased enlight off its coastline. The Cuban work for reforms \vithin the system, tion, and even for withholding tive freedoms and not absolute ones. that whatever the conditions inside enment. Pitzer has taught me to accept government's claim of fear regarding and readily voice complaints about information about suspected Commu Another notion that is often em Cuba become, it is the Cuban people, this fact, and to celebrate the differ the ability of the U.S. to manipulate a governmental operations and pro nists. In many cases, these abuses went ployed to discredit the gains made un and not some outside force, that ulti encesin perceptionsasagift and not an more open political system can not be grams. well beyond the ones which are cur der the revolutionary Cuban mately control their destiny. In the ab obstacle. Instead of being a threat to discounted as mere political rhetoric. ln contrast to Cuba, where institu rently used to justify our condemna government is that they ha\~eonlybeen sence of multiple economic classes, our own preconceived notions, we One need only look at the impact which tional restrictions on freedom are open tion of Cuba. It is the more subtle and able to survive with massi,·e amounts manv other divisions also seem to fade should see diversity as a perpetual op U.S. foreign policy has had upon other and acknowledged, limitations on free institutional restraints, though, that of assistance from the former Soviet fron{ the scene. Class envy and racism portunity to heighten our understand Third World nations, most notably dom also exist in the U.S. The differ moreclearlydefine the limitations faced Union. While it is true that Cuba didn't are virtually nonexistent, and the crime ing of all that surrounds us; because in 'tcaragua, to realize the threat posed ence, though, lies not so much in scope, by citizens of the United States. get where it is all by itself, the U.S.S.R. rate is among the lowest in the world. the world we live, there is always an by foreign backed opposition groups but in our ability to perceive them. In An example of what I am referring never gave it "aid" per se. Rather, a The point I am trymg to make is other side. :l I 4 MAy 5, I 9 9 4 THE O TIIER SIDE 15 TilE OTIIER SIDE 'VVc were somewhere a round may not have been founded upon this ideals of the sixties generation, wanted ofhisslumber, "Heyman, d o you want Circus-Circus." Yeah, right, you must Mother of Moses, he was right, it ap Barstow on the edge of the desert when principle but it cer tainly has been built to follmv Thompson's lead and thrust me, to y'know,drive." I felt like telling be having a flashback. I was in control, peared as if every light in the Luxor my professor spilled his Diet Pepsi all upon it. toward s the heart of the American him to screw himself, 'cause after all, he and spending my morning at a washed was burnt out. ''lbat's impossible," I over the dashboard. I remember say Enough of my incessant rambling, d ream - Las Vegas. He was right, Ve was the enemy, but I held back. "Naw, up casino with an overdue idealist retorted, "It can' t be. Nothing closes in ing something like "You idiot, control let's get back to the mission. So there gas still represents all that is wrong l got it," l'd be damned before I let one wasn' t on the syllabus. Fresh blood Vegas! Time is kept by the Roulette yourself ..." Ah, but it was too late, he we wcreshootingdown the 15 freeway with this country, butthcrewasno v.•ay ofthemdrivemycar. And then we saw was in order and the Luxor was the Wheel." There was no denying it; my was already half-asleep. It must have strapped into the front scat of my for him to understand that the prob it- I remember this well, it was 3:15 jugular of this hid eous town filled with prof was right. What kind o f cruel trick been the two beers he drank back in Honda Prelude (all cars are lems of the nineties generation nei A.M. (wasn't that the same time that thieves, whores, and slugs. First your was this? We were in search of the Claremont. There I was, wide-eyed yet foreign these days, ther began or ended at the Mirage. I the Father always awoke in the money and then your soul, what next? American dream and nothing was go stagnant. Stuck behind the wheel of pretty damn didn' t ha\'C the spine to tell him Amityville Horror?}-the newest addi Anything to cure a fix and lord knows ing to stand in our way. mycarat2 A.M. with my sixties throw com- that he, along with all the other tion to Vegas, The Luxor. Vegas is overpopulated by junkies of "Let's find a sporting goods store; back prof nodding in and out of con adults who constantly analyze "I thought we were going to Ve every flavor and style. we'll buy the proper supplies and repel sciousness by my side. 'Bout the and scrutinize my generation, gas," my professor exclaimed, "that We pulled off the freeway and our way in!" Obviously, I was becom only thing that was keep- had no way of understanding looks like the Broad center." I shrugged headed straight towa rds the Luxor. ing delirious -it's funny how sleep dep ing me awake was the what the hell crawled across off his misinterpretation and kindly Silence enveloped us as we realized the rivation makes everything a bit more music; Kurt Cobain always ~ ~ our warped and disenchanted asked him to put his glasses back on. drastic implications of the triangle interesting. But this d idn' t change the had that effect on me. It was ,.._ ~' minds. Just as l could never The Luxor was massive; a huge loping looming before us. Who could have situation and at this point the Luxor ti me to get serious, however, ~~ understand the sixties more triangle rising from the earthand thrust been twisted enough to design this gross was nothing more than a symbolic in- this trip to Vegas wasn't de- than my history books or ing straight to- signed for pleasure, we were Woodstock: The M o!'ie wards the on a mission. would allow, this poor heavens. I took Thompson made this trek •• man, who deals with in the who le twenty-five years ago, but hisout '-. 1 college students on an scene which lie look was a little more skewed. For ~ "\.....' ~ hourly basis, could in wait for us: us, there was no need to indulge in ~~ never understand. pharaoh , any hard d rugs, for reality in the The nineties are no t about lost sphinxes , nineties is twisted enough. l can't souls and broken dreams. We arc not monorail, etc. think of a more frigh tening place than pact too). as confused as we seem. As a matter of How the hell Vegas, that Oasis of money, greed, and It was pitch black fact most of us, somewhere in our sub was this mam lust -all the qualities which make this and the speedometer conscious, know exactly what we want. moth co n country the \·vond erful place that it is wasstuckaround 73 m.p.h., any Forus, hO\vever,thercsimplynolonger structed? to be in the depths of an acid trip. We faster and I might ha\'e been pulled exists a way of getting there. Genera Even here, were, for the most part, clean and so O\'er. Who knows \vhere the pigs are tion X, my ass. I would love to see how in Vegas, one of ber. \Ve had a few beers before leaving lurking 2 hours past midnight on a well our parents would do at a time the few cities in campus, but neither of us wanted to Monday morning. The sunroof was \vhen jobs arc nonexistent and e\·cry the U.S. which face a night in jail for d riving under the open, but not enough to climb ou t, and thing hasalready been invented or com still makes influence. I remember thinking how it was about this time that I realized mercialized. They should try grO\,;ng money, and a lot funny it was that most people who hop that we only had oneCO for the ride, In up at a time when the di\'orce rate is of it, the fat and behind the wheel after a few stiffiesare Utero. l was getting sick of Cobain's above fifty per cent and water is indi greedy must more concerned withbcingcaughtthan bitching and moaning: "I tried hard to gestible. And they wonder why there keep their costs injuring themseh·es or o thers. ha\'e a father, instead I had a dad ..." At is such a disparity in ideals between us down. So, what Yes, we were out to find the Ameri least you had something you selfish and them. If they wanted us to pre do they do? can Dream. Asthetimeshavechanged, fuck. serve the American dream the way that They cruise the they certainly have stayed the same. Our society is crumbling and my they knew it than they shouldn't have borders, man- Utah, California, Colo incarna tion of everything holy and sa carnation of everything evil a nd hol Las Vegas remains the place where all p rofessor, being the intellectual that he been so goddamned selfish. They never rado, Arizona, Mexico- and round up cred which our country? This is wha t low that this country has to o ffer. The people - of all races, ethnicities, sexual •s (which, by the way, is a hell of a lot worried about saving money for those all the vagrants and hoboes they can Vegas is all about- the gaudier the beauty and pro mise of the pyramid preferences - come toge ther and fight more important than being an a ttorney who would enter adult society after find. People of eve ry race and color: better and the Luxor pretty much took was as much of a mirage as Vegas itself towards the same end. In this day and these davs since there are more stu them, and now, we, inhaling the brunt Blacks, Whites, Chicanos, a tive thecake. And a teittoo. lt'sagambler's - a fake oasis o f broken dreams and age when racial tension is rampant and dents in iawschool than there are prac of their mistakes, ha\'e to worry about Americans, etc. They throw 'em up in wet dream; a cathedral fo r losers with false expectations. anti-semitism is in the midst of a come ticing lawyers), wanted to find what saving the ozone layer for our children. the back of a pick-up and drag 'em to nothing better to d o then waste their "Wait a minute," rumbled my ail back it is hard to believe that any thing was eating away at the teeth of our I must stay away from these tan Las Vegas where they can seek out time and money searching for a d ream ing prof, "It isn' t dosed, it's painted has this type of drawing power. But as country. Ob\, ously, he had no way of gents! I always have been one who their own version of the American which d ied long ago. When Richard that way." Well, I' ll be damned, he was my dad always says, "Money makes grasping the traumas and tribulations thinks too much. We \'\'ere almost to dream. That's the beauty of Vegas; N ixon was elected in 1968 the Ameri right. My faith in the world had been the world go 'round ..." Our country of the next ruhng class, so he, with his Vegas when my professor snapped out where else can you be exploited by can dream was already on its d eath restored. For some odd and unknown people, lose money to mach ines, a nd bed. All ixon d id was put it to rest. It reason, the Luxor was supposed to be be ignored by the system all in one day was Reagan who finished hammering stark black. If this isn' t a tribute to the ATREPID JOURNEY INTO THE HEART OF THE AMERICAN DREAM -without even speaking the language. the nails in the coffi n. I guess that growing impact of the marginalized on But soon my trail o f thoughts were would make George Bush a pall bearer. .. our society, then I d on't know what is. interrupted by my su perior, "As your "B'gad s," m y professor p ro The Luxor was societal perfection: by JoRdAN J(uRlA d professor I demand that we go to the claimed, "it's closed." Holy Mary (continued on page 23) I 6 M Ay 5 , I 9 9 4 T i l E O THER S IDE 1 7 THE O THER SID E A Title Would Only Cheapen What I've Done Here -- by Tobin Steers -- LARGE CHECK OUT igs at a Glance: Sorely cracking piece of sky VARIETIES OUR of Overtown, overfield, overhead Badly holding stars above EspREsso YouRsElf: "} ~0 W. BEERS Fromthehouse, fromthebam, fromthechild fooT~ill Blvd., UplANd & £~ WINES DEAL! Who will fix the sky, something must be done - T~uR. 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May 12, 9 PM I I OFF ANY I "tx..a..- U..--c..K ""ba~ The Southern Preacher Speaks:: {Free) T -...x....--\- ev..\- \~\- ..--~"'-\- a~ :!>a~ ~ c..- I$ 7 99 :KEG BEER I MID~~~HT ~ "'~\\~"'~~cu-..- "'cu.:!>~ a~\~~ a\-~\ People, I must ask you! How have we angered the \,~~ ~'~ ,,....,.~ ,....,. ~~ ~'«..o T~ '«..~ c~ Lord so as to provoke this awful and dangerous occur XATUIUL FUDGE CAPE: 522-1 I IJP.7/94 ~ WEEKDAYS ,cdo::.,U,. \-k~ \~"'~....,..,...._~ ~a~ ..--.~""-" 1\;',,.._,:!>""-U. rence. The Heavens have cleft in twain and we must ask FOUXTJUX AVE., DOLLYWOOD T ~u-:!>\- :!>a\- a~ \<::>do::..~ a~ '~ Me<"' ~ our Lord jesus Christ what have we done to bring this L.----..L---- ,..--:!>..h. .... :!><::><::>...._ ""'~ ~ a~~ ~~~ T""' ~~~ horror to our world. Have we not loved our neighbor -FRI. ~lAY 13, R:30 Pn I FREE ~.!£!:IVERY I 'oac..'«.. ~~~ ..L ~,..--.'«.. ..L"' ~<::>~~ ~ enough? Have we averted our eyes from the stck and I 8 MAy 5, I 9 9 4 THE OT HER SID E 19 THE OTHER StDE from buying Riddles. It is a good record According to the liner, there is only one with twisted lyrics and witty musical instrumental on the entire disk. progressions and if you don' t already The musical style on the disk is own a Primus album you may find different as well: it's still primarily Sausage to be extremely appetizing. samples and keyboards, but the feel Sausage Nonetheless, if you are a devoted has changed. It's more glossed over Riddles Are Abound Tonight Primus fan like myself, Sausage can be like Euro-popor easy listening. For The Getting out. Three years after ar towatchtheBullswin their fourth world to either get smaller (probably not>_ or served as a tasty snack between meals. Cross several artists musical styles were riving here in Claremont, I'm doing it. championship from friendly confines. it is going to further homogenize its Prawn Song/Interscope -Jordan Kurland borrowed from, and, in some cases, the 1o, I'm not graduating, I'm going I think I'm leaving at a good time. student body. Way to promote diver Sausage is not a new meal for musicians themselves were borrowed from. Some of those musi abroad. If everything comes together, Once again the colleges are immersed sity. I'm sure that transfer students Primus front-man and bass playing cians were Deep Forest, from I'll be in Osaka, japan, this fall, going to in a quagmire of political issues. Here would agree. deity, LesClaypool. As a matteroffact, whom they got the whole Kansai Daigai (a university) and living at Pitzer, we're constructing buildings Then there's the issue of date rape; the menu-•Nhich consists of Todd Huth "native yodeling motif;" Pe v.rith a host family. I'm not strictly we barely have the money to finish, let always an issue, but this time the spot on guitar and Jay Lane on drums, in ter Gabriel, from whom both interested in learning light is on Pomona Col conjunction with Claypool-is the origi styles and percussion tracks Japanese; I am excited by lege. As we are all nal Primus. Todd and Jay hopped out were borrowed; Genesis, cultural exchange. I've familiar with by now, of the frying pan long before Primus both percussion tracks and been stuck in America for the alleged rapist got (which presently consists of Larry musical themes; the afore the majority of my life, an injunction until May LaLonde on guitar and Tim Alexander mentioned Sade, for vocals; and as much as I try to twenty-fourth. So,he11 on drums) was a house hold dish. Now and Enya for ambient musi fight it, I am still a probably graduate, and Claypool, being the nice chap which he cal styles. There are indus perpetuatorof the Ameri go out into the real is, has given the original recipe a sec trial influences evident as can world view. That's a world and continue his ond chance, and with help from his well. I didn't mention these testament to the pervasiveness of the alone maintain after their completion. alleged behavior. Yet another miscar own record label, Prawn Song, Sau artists in an effort to criticize American system in which we live. The Here, at one of the most expensive col riage of justice. The injunction itself sage may, after all, find its way into Enigma's new effort. Musi majorcomponentofthatsystemiscapi leges in the country, students \-vill re has opened up another can of legal people's cupboards. cal borrowing can revitalize talism, so when 1 go to Japan I'll still ceive yet another tuition hike. worms. For example, when a student Sausage'sdebut,RiddlesAreAbound have to deal with that element. How Representatives of the administration signs over his or her legal rights to a Tonight is inarguably a meaty concoc orcreateentirelynewgenres. ever, the japanese world view is based stated that they couldn't see another private institution, is it legal for the tion. The musicians are more than Instead, by understanding where Enigma's influences less on capitalism and has a substantial state, in this case the California State ample and thearrangements,asalways wealth of historical tradition to draw Superior Court, to intervene on the be with Claypool's input, are highly er come from, you'll hopefully upon. Now it would be ignorant of me "Safe town we're in here, half of the defendant? Even more piti ratic. The problem with the record, Enigma better understand what their music is to imagine that the Japanese system is ful is that there are unsubstantiated however, lies in the fact that it draws like. withoutproblem. Again,everysystem particularly given the rumors that this man is responsible for too much from the sound which Primus The Cross of Changes The majority of the tracks on the has its own injustices. But that's not anywhere from 10 to 16other offenses. has brought to the mainstream. And Charisma Records disk are good, and they all offer some really the point. I'm excited to learn an surroundings. I'll wager Rapes. Quite possibly, this man is a although I hate to make comparisons thing to the listener. However, there entirely new familial discourse. I'm repeat offender, a serial rapist. Now, between Sausage and Primus, the re Enigma. The name itself conjures are a couple that stand out for their looking forward to immersion: to new that the safett; here, in Pomona is finally bringing charges semblances, unfortunately, are simply up several images. For many people, quality, as well as some that stand out friends, new faces, and new ideas. ja part, is a testament to the against him. Why so long in coming? I too obvious to be ignored. In a nut Enigma's first disk MCMXC a.D. car for their lack thereof. First, the bad pan. I' m leaving. Gone. doubt that it was the silence of his shell, the trio's sound can simply de ries a great amount of baggage. news. If you really like AceofBassand I won't be in Southern California brutality and systematic victims. Instead it is the systematic scribed as stripped down Primus. In Emgrna's music has served as the back other Euro-pop music, track 6, "The until January. No more smog, no more irresponsibility of the institution. Of other words, Riddles reeks of cheese ground for trips: road and psychologi Dream of the Dolphin," and track 8, earthquakes, no more smoldering ten racism of the police." fenses such as date rape are covered up Sailing the Seas of Cheese that is. cal alike. It has been played as work "Out From the Deep," are for you. Well, sion. No more Claremont with its con all the time. It's been proven that the Don't get me \>\'Tong, Riddles Are music and work out music. Now, I don't. The tracks are glossy and over stant denial of what it really is. Sure institution lied to us about how many Abound Tonight, is a fun and entertain Enigma has a sequel disk called The produced. They have very little to offer trees are nice, the town (it's not a city) couple of thousand dollars putting any cars have been stolen, and how many ing record butasadie-hard Primus fan, Cross of Changes. along the lines of lower frequencies, was given an award for their abun major financial stress on students al other violent crimes have occurred on I find Sausage a bit hard to swallow. To begin with, The Cross , in con and thus come out sounding brassy; dance. And, how much extra does ready paying full tuition. They should these colleges. Whose to say that they There are some great tracks on the trast to their first album, is not entirely they are wispy pieces. On "Out From Claremont pay for its water rights? Safe tell that to the several students who aren't going to lie about this? It's all record: "Here's To The Man," "Girls instrumental. Although calling the Deep," a Euro-pop interpretation town we're in here, particularly given have already left, or who are leaving about damage control. The colleges For Single Men," "Prelude To Fear," MCMXC a. D. instrumental is a misno of a power ballad background at the the surroundings. I'll wager that the after this semester because they can't have to look good, even at the possible and the ti tie track, "Riddles Arc Abound mer, the majority of the singing, which climax of the song can't even save it safety here, in part, is a testament to the afford to go here any longer. Maybe expense of offending some of the stu Tonight." I will also be the first to was Gregorian chants, served more as from mediocrity. brutality and systematic racism of the Pitzer was a pipe-dream for them from dents. Hell, after all, those offended are admit that I have spent a great deal of a lead instrument rather than a con For you old school Enigma fans, police. No, no more Claremont for the start, maybe they just weren't cut only here for four years, maybe five at time digesting this record because I veyor of message. This disk is differ there are a couple of real pleasers. The several months. Instead, I'll go back to out to be part of the fiscal elite they the most. The colleges have to main enjoy it- a lot. But when it comes ent. For example, the first single first is track 2, 'The Eyes of Truth," a Chicago, get my usual bike shop job, tried to play ball with. In any case, they tain their image for many years of suc down to it, Sausage is no match for released, "Return to Innocence," has a heavily Peter Gabriel influenced instru and settle into my comfortable routine. lost. In the process, the school is going cessors-what if open discourse scares Primus. Sade-like singer throughout the track. mental. \1\fhile it is unlike any of the Probably in my own state of denial. All them away? I am neither castigating Claypool The singer doesn't detract from the previous Enigma instrumentals, its lin the while, I'll be saving all my nickels So, I think I'm leaving just in time. for his attempt to relight the 'ol frying track, in fact both she and the track are eage is apparent. The theme is more and dimes for japan. Wow. It'll be nice by Zach Thub (continued on page 23) pan nor am I hoping to sway people very good. Ho""''ever, it is a departure. (continued on page 23) 21 20 M A y 5, l 9 9 4 THE O THER SID E THE OTHER SIDE South African leader, Nelson Mandela. (left) A news clip from Pitzer's decision in 1986 to end Getting Out Enigma Fallacy investments in firms with money in South Africa. (below) (continued from page 20) (continued from page 21) (continued from page 17) The politics of these institutions is re Middle Eastern, in some ways like beauty, fun, pragmatism, and most ally starting to get me down. Sadder something from Gabriel's Passion. The importantly, multi-culturalism. I gazed still, there are several issues at hand percussion is borrowed from Gabriel's again, admiring the naked beauty of that have yet to be addressed. A few '1Gss that Frog," but Enigma's usage is this beast as a state of euphoric ... weeks ago, Pitzer sponsored a social farmoreappropriate. The overall pack BOOM! I hate when those curbs responsibility day. On that day, there age is tight, percussive and moving, jump out at you. There was no time to were several forums scheduled to dis much like their previous pieces. There think, however, we had to get off the cuss critical issuesof social responsibil is even the trademark Enigma classi road quickly. No one was hurt but that ity and how they related to Pitzer. r cal-musical syncretism, this time it in was the furthest concern from my mind. ended up as a facilitator in one of the cludes a choral interlude. The other No oakie cop was going to give me an discussions called "Race Matters." The enjoyable track is track7, "Age of Lone exorbitant fine for reckless driving. tum out was good, and I had hopes for liness (Carty's Song)." It too displays With a sputter the car began, but I some productive discourse. Instead, that certain Enigma-esque mysticism, could tell that the furious Prelude was the conversation became yet another and again there is the Middle-Eastern no longer a happy camper. As we crept version of the "why do Black people sit theme. The Enigma flute is there as into the Luxor parking lot I knew that together at meals" discussion. Now, I well. "Age of Loneliness" in many we were doomed... ::J am aware that that particular discus ways is similar to sion \..\fill have to be had a lot in order to "The Eyes of even begin to open people up to under Truth," and this standing. However, within the context is consistent \vt th We want your CDs! of the forum, there seemed to be bigger the thematic na fish to fry. For example, the treatment ture of their first We pay an average of $3-$5 cash for 'em, of the lower level staff employees of disk. plus ... these institutions, i.e.. maintenance, Basically, if Pitzer Changes South African house keeping, and Marriot employ you like New ees. How, as one student put it, does Age, Enya, Bring us your tapes & the social responsibility of an insti tu Enigma, orany of tion apply to them? Furthermore, how the other artists Investment Policy do we keep discussions such as that and musical LPs! from being limited to "people of color styles I've al days" (you know, those one or two ready men We pay top dollar cash, baby. by Kim Gilmore days a year when people of color are tioned, you'll the focal point)? In other words, there probably find During the academic year, 1985- nics have been examining the conse the original decision to di\·est for po are very serious problems in that arena this album enter 1986, Pitzer College decided to divest quences of lifting this ban. After a litical reasons, a statement to this effect that need constant attention, rather than taining. I did. and don 't forget. ... college funds from corporations in panel discussion on Tuesday, April 26th would be left out of the final motion. just a glance. But, again, the problems However, I al Rhino is the place to go for the volved in the South African economy. with Pitzer Professors 1'\tongela At press time, it was recently an are so numerous and complex that it most certain that According to the Participant ofSummer Masilela and Lako Tongun, and other nounced that the ANC party won the would take several more issues to dis The Cross of best selection of new and used 1987, this process "involved faculty, discussions about the issue there was a elections and that Nelson Mandela will cuss, even in brief. Changes will not students,administration,and the board motion brought to College Council by become the new president. About Finally, I'm getting out of here. have the staying music in the entire free world. of trustees in a process of examining administrators. The motion as passed twenty three million voters partici Hopefully, next January I \A.--ill return power of its pre issues of apartheid,and in determining reads, "Be it Rcsoh·ed that the College pated in the election, which marks a from abroad \-vith a new energy to ad decessor. That Check us out! what stance the College should take suspend its South Africa free invest start to the integration of the South dress all the aforementioned issues (as a I bum still re against the oppression in South Af ment policy given the potentially posi African government. This is just the well as the several others that will pop mains as some of rica." The year long debate led to the tive political changes in South Africa. start of a long political and social pro upovermyfinalsemestershere). Wow, the best back final decision. Pitzer, along with many If the political situation in South Africa cess which in the long run will hope I'm tired. Almost time to go home. It's ground music other U.S. based corporations and in changes to warrant reimposing sanc fully bring an end to the racially based been a wild year, and we'll hook up around. RHiNO stitutions, used this action as a protest tions, the College \.. -111 move expedi imperialism that has hindered the ma again in the not so distant future. Until -~axz. RECORD 5 against apartheid and as a call for po ently to divest from funds identified as jority of the South African people. then, Peace. ~ Jacobs litical change. South African im·estments." There was As stated in the passed resolution, CLAREMONT With free elections taking place in discussion over the difficulty of obtain should the political situation change, 235 YALE A VE. (909) 626-7774 South Africa for the first time in that ing funds that were South Africa free, the school \vtll change this policy as nation's history last week, U.S. compa- but it was decided that, in the spirit of College Council finds appropriate. Your old music can make you money! 22 MAy 5, I 9 9 4 THE O THER StDE 23