The Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College's (ASCMC) decision to vote down the Claremont Port Side’s livestream of their informational meeting Feb. 6 reflects a lack of openness surrounding controversial affairs at the Claremont Colleges. In light of the the events that played out at Pomona College after its Board of Trustees received an anonymous complaint about worker-hiring practices last year, The Student Life urges all 5C administrators to be as open as possible in order to encourage trust and communication between students and their administrations. 

Both CMC and Pomona students have felt betrayed or harmed by the actions of their colleges' administrations, and those administrations have felt sometimes-unfair backlash attacking their intentions. Transparency is the most likely cure. The meeting itself was a good start toward rebuilding trust between students and administrators. Suspicion will continue to linger until complete understanding is reached, so we encourage the prompt planning and scheduling of the next meeting, in which CMC President Pamela Gann will speak to students.

The fact that over 100 students attended the session shows that there is still interest in the topic. In the spirit of openness and repairing damaged trust under extraordinary circumstances, ASCMC should have allowed the Port Side’s request for livestreaming, even if it were set up behind a password wall and available only to CMC students and alumni.

The CMC administration and other leaders at the 5Cs must be aware of the damage that limited openness and communication can bring about. Just months ago, the Pomona Board of Trustees made the important decision to check employees’ work documents behind closed doors. The lack of openness surrounding this affair is still one of the main causes of grief for the community, many of whom feel that open communication might have allowed for more foresight of and preparation for the jarring events that followed the complaint and audit.

How many people actually made the decision that the anonymous complaint was serious and credible? How thought-out were the implications of the entire process? While the situation appears to have calmed down, until these questions are answered the lingering suspicion may never entirely disappear. Task forces and information sessions set up after the fact can help, but will have to work hard to make up for the reflexive reticence.

CMC’s administration needs to take this lesson to heart. President Gann’s e-mail to all of CMC Jan. 30 was the right first step. The information sessions with various administrators are beginning to answer questions, but until students get complete, satisfying answers, they will continue to have their doubts and frustrations. We hope the meeting with President Gann is speedily arranged, candidly held and publicly broadcast for all to see.