CMC Parent News - Winter 2020
In this issue:
Family Weekend 2020: See You in Claremont!
CMC Advocates: How CMCers Support One Another
Explore Claremont: What to Eat, See, and Do!
The QCL: An Inside Look at CMC's Newest Center
Parent-Student Career Discovery Hour
Don't forget to snap a picture with the Stags and Athena!
Family Weekend 2020: See You in Claremont!
Clare Powell P'23
CMC Family Weekend is almost here!
Get ready to experience CMC through the eyes of your favorite student(s)! The 2020 CMC Family Weekend provides that view, plus the opportunity to grow your network with other families, faculty, and staff. Our collective community is truly unique and offers many avenues to connect, learn, and grow.
From first years and seniors, to siblings and grandparents, all will enjoy a range of activities planned. Thank you to the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement and the Parent Network Board Vice President of Programs, Jon Frank P’21, and the Programs Committee for organizing such a wondrous Family Weekend on campus. This team has really planned something for everyone.
What’s New?
- Opening Professor Lecture | Saturday, February 15 at 9:30-10:30 a.m. – "Teaching Politics in an Age of Trump." University classrooms are not just places where students learn vocational skills or reflect on the meaning of life. They are schools of democracy. Join Jon Shields, associate professor of government, as he discusses why these schools of democracy are critical now more than ever, and what CMC is doing to strenghten them.
- Family Trivia Night | Saturday, February 15 at 7:20 - 8:20 p.m. – Who’s game? Come join the campus in a team trivia game organized by the same inquisitive group that delivers the game Thursday nights for students. Put your unusual bits of knowledge and distinct character to work for some energetic fun. Prizes feature CMC swag and bragging rights!
- How Do We Define Success? | Sunday, February 16 at 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. – Join an exercise and discussion led by CMC Success Consultants. This special group of student coaches help other students develop strategies to improve time management and organization, efficient reading and note-taking, and exam prep as well as well-being objectives including test anxiety, sleep management, stress-tolerance, and coping skills. Healthy living on and beyond the CMC campus is the collective goal!
Not to be Missed Events:
- Town Hall Meeting and Q&A with President Hiram E. Chodosh | Saturday, February 15 at 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Plan to attend this annual favorite and hear about CMC's achievements and aspirations. Please bring your ideas and questions to share and participate in our collective, continued growth.
- Civility, Access, Resources, and Expression: THE CARE Center | Sunday, February 16 at 2:15 - 3:00 p.m. – The CARE Center seeks to proactively engage and educate the campus community on issues of diversity and inclusion, providing resources for all students, and also fostering community building and wellness. Join Vince Greer to learn more about the center, and feel free to either observe or engage in a unique student-run activity designed to highlight the center’s purpose and benefits.
- Audit CMC Classes | Monday, February 16 – Choose from the list of classes open to visiting families and participate in the dynamic academic environment of CMC. The final list of open classes will be available upon check in.
Other traditional favorites planned include energetic athletic events sprinkled throughout the weekend plus tasty adventures like “Donuts with the Deans” on Saturday morning and “Exploring the Wines of Oceania” for the 21 and older visitors on Sunday. Although we have an action-packed schedule, please feel free to enjoy what appeals to you and your family on and off campus.
Please remember to discuss weekend plans with your student. All are welcome to enjoy the weekend plans however your student may need to study or have other commitments on their schedule.
A few other helpful notes:
- Registered? – If not, please register so you can enjoy the weekend as you wish. Know that a few events do have limited capacity and you need to select activities where required. CMC Family Weekend Registration
- If you have not made your travel and accommodation arrangements, you may find this list of local hotels helpful: Area Hotels
- More Information – Additional details about CMC Family Weekend, including the updated schedule, is posted on the website at CMC Family Weekend.
- Special Accommodations – If you require special accommodations due to a disability, please call us prior to Family Weekend so we may assist you at 909.621.8097 between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
- Hospitality Room – Visit the hospitality room in the Founders Room at Bauer Center North during the following times.
- Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Monday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- What to pack? – Most activities are casual unless otherwise noted on the schedule. Recent weather in Claremont has been cooler than normal, so please the weather so that you can pack accordingly.
We look forward to welcoming you on campus next month to absorb some of what our Athenas and Stags experience and how we all benefit from the CMC community. Travel safely and see you soon!
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How CMCers Support One Another
By Sydney Heath '22
The CMC Advocates group, formed in fall of 2016 in response to the serious issue of sexual assault on college campuses across the country, currently has 30 active members – and is still growing! The group works both to prevent sexual assault on CMC’s campus and to help educate CMC’s community on consent and healthy relationships. We provide a 24-hour hotline that CMC students can call to report an incident or if they simply need someone to talk to. The hotline provides advice for CMCers on what their next steps can be in reporting an attack and offers the caller a place to find solace and a friendly person to listen and believe them.
Advocates can be found walking around most CMC parties in our teal "Advocates" shirts, handing out water bottles and ensuring that everyone is practicing enthusiastic consent. This is also known as “life-guarding” parties. All Advocates go through extensive training to best carry out our responsibilities on campus. We hire an expert to train us in multiple sessions, focusing on topics such as how best to speak to a survivor, and highlighting the importance of our role as confidants.
Advocates also host educational events throughout the year promoting sexual assault awareness. These events include speakers, self-care activities, movie screenings, and tables outside of Collins Dining Hall, where we attract students to our booth with donuts and educate them on the resources available. Our hope is to make students aware of these many resources, so they know where to go if they, or someone they know, experiences sexual assault.
When I asked fellow Advocates why they think the CMC Advocates play an important role on CMC’s campus, Hailey Wilson ’22 said, “I truly believe that Advocates have fostered a community within CMC where people support and care about each other. Because of Advocates, survivors know that they have a group of people who believe in them, and they are not alone.”
To learn more about the CMC Advocates, please follow us on Instagram. If you or somebody you know needs advice on how to report sexual assault, please call our 24-hour hotline at 909.377.2400.
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Explore Claremont: What to Eat, See, and Do!
By Steffani Brown P'23
Known as the city of “trees and PhDs”, Claremont has a lot to offer those who visit. With its tree-lined streets and beautiful surroundings, the city has something for everyone. If you’re here for the weekend or have a couple of days to spare, here is a list of things not to be missed!
Eat!
Dining in Claremont comes with lots of options.
Choosing a memorable place to dine in Claremont will leave you scratching your head. With over 80 restaurants to choose from, expectations are high, and this city delivers!
The 100-year-old Some Crust Bakery has a rich history and incredible pastries. Crème Bakery is famous for their croissants, and I LIKE PIE features individual sweet treats that will leave you feeling like you have walked the narrow streets of Lyon, France to visit their bakeries. Not just my words, read the reviews!
Claremont also has several options with locally sourced produce, keeping it fresh and light. Union on Yale’s patio and bocce court are a great draw to get you in the door, but its fresh and unique dishes are some of the area’s best. Plus, the wood fired pizzas are no joke. Dr. Grubb’s is appropriately named, providing a prescription of fresh produce, quality protein, and a variety of carbs with explosive flavors that make it well worth the visit. Last Drop Café, a walk-up counter style restaurant, offers some of the city’s best coffee, tea, and Italian soda options. The café’s fresh, made to order lighter fare and generous portions are good to the last drop!
Finally, dinner is served! One stand-out is Uno Tre Otto, featuring a daily harvest of local produce and wholesome flavorful dinner dishes made from scratch. A little off the beaten path, Uno Tre Otto requires reservations. For delicious fine dining and quality entertainment, check out Candlelight Pavilion Dinner and Musical Theater for current shows and reservations. 50-Fifty Asian Fusion is worth a visit, offering Thai inspired, Asian dishes that are as highly rated as their service. Rounding out the group is the consistently crave-able and fresh Eureka! The Fig Burger is a favorite!
See!
Uncover Claremont’s art scene.
At its core, Claremont encourages curiosity, discovery, and expansion. With more than nine museums and dozens of galleries, there is no shortage of venues, and the subject matters are as varied as they are engaging.
The Claremont Museum of Art is located in the city’s 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival depot. Admission is $5 and it is open Friday through Sunday 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Currently at the museum you will find Vanguard: Origins of Tierra del Sol Arts in Claremont featuring Helen Rae and thirteen artists from the Tierra del Sol Foundation's Progressive Arts Studio for adults with developmental disabilities.
Built in 1993 on the campus of Scripps College, the prestigious Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery shows the artwork of professional artists as well as works by the college's teachers and students. The gallery is most known for hosting the Scripps College Annual Ceramic Exhibition, which has the distinction of being the longest-running ceramics show in the United States. The theme of this year’s Ceramic Annual, (the 76th) is Sentiment and Skepticism: Our Culture of Contradictions. You can catch it January 25 to April 5, 2020, Wednesday through Sunday, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
Do!
Explore Claremont’s local gems on foot.
Claremont Farmers and Local Artisan Market is a Certified Farmer’s Market. It is a true local farm-to-table experience where packaging and shipping are eliminated, benefitting both the environment and your wallet. The market runs every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Harvard Ave., between 1st Street and Bonita Ave. in The Village.
The Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden's expansive site offers something for everyone with 23 points of interest on 83 pristine acres. This visit is not a pop in, pop out kind of stop. Allow yourself plenty of time to explore and immerse yourself in the beauty of thousands of California’s native plants in their natural surroundings. The current exhibitions are PCH: Plant Coast Highway, an ode to California’s scenic beauty, and Baby Plant Portraits, which captures California’s native plants as tiny seedlings. It’s too adorable to miss! Well-marked trails with places to explore along the way make this a great place to get a little exercise in your day and enjoy the beautiful Californian sunshine. Special events are held regularly, check the website in advance to pre-register. The entrance fee is $10 for Adults, $6 for seniors and students, children three and under are free. The garden is open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and the last admission is 4:30 p.m.
Claremont is a beautiful town of 13.35 carefully thought out square miles, and one does not have to look far to find incredible things to eat, see, and do. You can visit again and again and experience something new each time. Make it a family affair, or begin your exploration solo if you have a few hours your own. You will not be disappointed!
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The QCL: An Inside Look at CMC's Newest Center
By Rick Verjee P’21
In this day and age, data and analytics are infused in every aspect of the workforce, from political analyses, to business dynamics, to sports analytics. With the help of the Murty Sunak Quantitative and Computing Lab (QCL), students at CMC now have the opportunity to gain data and quantitative skills that will not only keep them up-to-date, but set them apart. CMC opened the doors to the QCL in September 2018 to equip its students with the tools necessary to keep up with the fast pace of technology and innovation.
Located on the lower level of the Kravis Center, the QCL supports the integration of computer and data science into the full range of liberal arts disciplines: the social sciences, sciences, and humanities, helping students apply quantitative reasoning skills to any discipline, from economics to government, and biology to philosophy.
At the QCL, students learn to incorporate data and analytics into their research papers and other academic projects through one-on-one support and peer mentoring. QCL Mentors are a group of students who enthusiastically help fellow CMCers with computational and data questions. In this new community space, students begin to understand the programming language of data, making it less intimidating. The QCL hopes to be a place where students who are apprehensive about data and analytics can begin to build their knowledge and discover an appreciation for it. CMCers are directed to the best sources of support information, which helps to elevate the quality and clarity of their analyses.
Below is a breakdown of the QCL’s three essential services:
- Mentoring/Tutoring: QCL provides regular mentoring/tutoring for a wide range of courses that teach and use quantitative and computational literacy.
- Training: QCL organizes co-curricular training workshops on quantitative and computing topics of interest to students, faculty, and staff.
- Consulting: QCL provides direct support and consulting services for advanced student projects (e.g., senior theses and other independent quantitative research projects) and faculty research projects that require technical expertise and computational tools and resources.
Built as an open space tutorial center, the QCL is available to students on a drop-in basis and by online appointment. It is led by QCL Director Jeho Park, who holds a doctorate in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Claremont Graduate University. Prior to joining CMC, Park served as associate director of academic research computing services at Harvey Mudd College.
How can parents get involved? CMC's data science sequence includes a capstone project for students. These are projects which students mine data for "real world" companies. If your company has a need, please contact Jeho Park at jehopark@cmc.edu to start a discussion.
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Parent-Student Career Discovery Hour
This Family Weekend, parents and students connect!
Calling all CMC parents! We invite you to share your experience, wisdom, and advice regarding career options with CMC students during Family Weekend 2020 on Saturday, February 15 from 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum North Patio.
Students will be asked to arrive with questions and curiosities, and to engage with parents who've been-there-done-that. Join others in your “interest-cluster” and dive into one-on-one or small group conversations. No pressure, just a chance to be yourself and meet others with common interests. There is no preparation required, but please sign up here and we will follow up to confirm and provide more information closer to the event.
Don't forget to bring your student!
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Parent Network Board Meetings
The Parent Network Board meets quarterly to discuss board business and to hear from College leadership. Read the minutes from the October 5, 2019 meeting here.
Past Parent Newsletters:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Spring 2023
Winter 2023