Claremont Independent Writers and Editors Dominate Claremont McKenna's Web Page

First, there's John-Clark Levin and George Posner's (both CMC '12) attempt to break the World Handshaking Record this afternoon. In what can only be described as characteristic John-Clark Levin wit, I leave you with this paragraph from him. (You can almost hear him talking to you if you close your eyes.)

"We have been practicing extensively," Levin says. "Practice involves shaking hands for longer and longer periods to build our endurance, and rehearsing special techniques we've devised for preventing an accidental stoppage of the handshake. We’ll also have special swabs for drying our hands during the handshake––akin to servicing an automobile engine while barreling down the freeway––and hand sanitizer, before and after the attempt, as a flu precaution."

Meanwhile, former editor of The Claremont Independent and sometime writer on this blog, Ilan Wurman CMC '10 is featured on the front page for his flute recital this weekend. The press release makes known what we all know -- that Ilan is, frankly, goddamned impressive. He's already been admitted to Stanford Law, though he won't graduate until after next semester. He's got to finish his physics degree, you know.

Now if only their erstwhile editor (me) could get it together for that final issue! To work!

Changing Mascots: A Former Scrippsie Comments

I came upon this blog discussing a Scrippsie's return to her alma mater. 

I'm off to my 15-year reunion at Scripps College. So many things have changed since 1994 at this amazing women's college. One interesting change is that instead of embracing La Semeuse or the athletic mascot of the goddess Athena, current students have embraced...

...the squirrel.

Most of us alums are rather perplexed about why an infection carrying rodent in search of nuts is a good idea for a student-selected mascot, but I'm trying to embrace it. "Scripps Squirrel Girl" is chronicling her adventures during reunion weekend.

You should give her blog a look. There are photos of squirrel stuffed animals in odd poses. 

The Claremont Review of Books for the Spring

William Voegeli, contributing editor to The Claremont Review of Books and visiting scholar at Claremont McKenna College, has a great write up about how conservatives and Republicans plan to weather our years in the Wilderness. The link isn't yet available and the essay is worth reading in its entirety, especially its discussion of would be G.O.P. reformers such as Ross Douhat and Reihan Salam, Ramesh Ponurru, and David Frum, and how they fit into the history of the age old Republican battle of Traditionalists versus Reformers. 

It is the essay's final paragraph, however, that has reengaged me, and I thought I would share its final paragraph with you. 

Conservatives have no guarantees that they will be able to save the American experiment from those who cavalierly dissipate the capital required to sustain it. They can only struggle to prudently reconcile the experiment's deepest needs with the exigencies posed by today's circumstances and threats. If that reconciliation ultimately requires nothing short of morally disgusting compromises that give up basic principles, the conservative will, instead, cheerfully commit to doing his duty for the duration, fully expecting to die on the losing side.

Well, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war for there is fight left in this conservative. One mustn't let the coming collapse of American civilization get you down.