Pitzer College, one of the universities associated with the Claremont Consortium in Los Angeles, is in the news recently due to its denial of an application requesting funds for the creation of a student yacht club.
The proposal requested $5000 to be put toward renting boats and hiring instructors. The proposal was written by a member of the Pitzer student senate, Jordan Fox. Fox has never sailed before, but was looking to start the club to teach and promote sailing and boating. "I would just like a space on campus where we as students can enjoy and learn more about sailing, boating, the ocean, and sea chanteys," he told the Claremont Independent newspaper.
But the Student Senate saw things differently. "The Student Senate voted against this club's instatement last night, as the majority of Senators found the name 'Yacht Club' to have a particularly offensive association with Yacht Clubs and a recreation known for being exclusive," wrote Taylor Novick-Finder in an email on the campus's communications board. The Yacht Club became only the third club to be rejected; the Hammock Club and the Cake Club were rejected previously for being too similar to already-existing clubs.
One club that did make the cut? The Tattoo Club. "That Tattoo Club's proposal statement says that the club's function 'would potentially include but not be limited to: subsidizing transportation to tattooing locations, subsidizing the cost of the tattoos themselves, bringing speakers to the Claremont Colleges, providing information about tattoo-related locations and events, and hosting stick and poke parties! (just kidding).'"
Oh, college kids.
On the college's student communications board, indictments were fast and forthcoming. "It doesn't matter what it's called, the club itself is a classist and inaccessible activity for people who are not wealthy," wrote one Pitzer student, who is somehow managing to attend a college that costs $65,000 a year.
"Pitzer's money would be going to a luxurious classist, elitist yachting activity (alienating students on campus who are lower income) instead of going to support for example queer and trans people of color, disabled students, working class students, indigenous/Native American students, etc."
Because, of course, disabled people can't sail. Neither can queer or trans people of color, and especially not working class people.
Of Pitzer's 1,067 students, the college reported that less than one percent identified as American Indian / Alaska Native. Five percent identified themselves as black (that's less than 50 students). More students identified themselves as "unknown" (six percent).
"We as a Student Senate have overreached our boundaries," Fox said to the newspaper. "We were turned down just because of our name. We never had intentions of making this club offensive in any way. I certainly never would have thought this name could be considered classist."
Mr. Fox, check out startsailingnow.com. We can teach you how to sail. But I don't know who can help you with the sea chanteys...
