ASCMC Vice President Commits Fraud, Stays in Office

Everything you need to know about the misappropriation of funds and ASCMC’s response.

Pickford Auditorium in the Bauer Center (Credit: Perera Construction)

On Saturday, April 19, the President of the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) released an email informing the student body of “fraudulent conduct” committed by the ASCMC Executive Vice President (EVP). The email states that the EVP misappropriated funds allocated for DJ services to instead reimburse alcohol purchases for a class event.

In the week before the email, CMC’s Dean of Students office (DOS) contacted ASCMC regarding “questionable activities” conducted at class events hosted by the EVP, who had previously served as Sophomore Class President. The events in question were a pregame for Pirate Palooza in May of 2024 and Four Corners in March of 2025.

DOS discovered the fraudulent activity when the supposed DJ was caught in a lie with a DOS official, according to an individual close to ASCMC leadership. In addition to notifying ASCMC, DOS began their own conduct process to determine repercussions for the EVP’s actions.

After learning of the fraud, ASCMC formed an investigatory committee, consisting of the President, Chief Ethics and Procedural Officer (CEPO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The committee reviewed financial records and conducted interviews. They found that the EVP’s conduct during the first event was entirely above board, but her activity during the second event constituted financial fraud.

During both events, the EVP paid a student $120 for DJ services. During both, the DJ bought alcohol for the class and used the money as reimbursement. The difference was that the student, who made a Spotify playlist for the Pirate Palooza pregame and thus fulfilled the role of DJ, did not attend Four Corners.

In the wake of this discovery, the investigatory committee strongly encouraged the EVP to resign from office. The EVP declined. On Friday, April 18, the ASCMC Executive Board convened – deviating from their standard Sunday evening meeting time – to discuss their response to the uncovered fraud. 

After asking the EVP to excuse herself from the room, the investigatory committee presented a draft statement to be sent out to the college. Aside from the EVP and all three members of the investigatory committee, only one member of the Executive Board had previously held an office within ASCMC. According to an individual close to ASCMC leadership, the committee asserted in the meeting that the EVP shared the sentiment of the statement, although the EVP had not seen the draft. After several rounds of editing from members of the Executive Board, the Board voted unanimously in support of releasing the statement. They also voted unanimously in support of a censure against the EVP: according to the email, “A censure represents strong disapproval of the EVP’s actions. The stipulations of this censure include a severe stipend deduction, loss of voting rights and removal of oversight over EVP discretionary funding.” 

In the statement, the investigatory committee also recommended that the EVP “be removed from office by a senate vote.” They continued: “Two consecutive ¾ majority votes are required to remove an Executive Board Officer” and referred students to Article III of ASCMC’s Procedural Bylaws. The first senate vote occurred on Monday, April 21, and a second ad hoc senate was scheduled for Tuesday, April 22.

During the ASCMC Senate meeting on April 21, the EVP openly admitted to committing fraud, but emphasized her commitment to both ASCMC and the broader student body. She further alleged that members of both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 ASCMC Executive Boards were aware of the misallocation of funds. Members of both Boards adamantly denied this. Multiple sources close to ASCMC have confirmed that members of the 2024-25 Board knew that the DJ would use the funds to reimburse alcohol. It is unclear whether Board members knew that the DJ was not present at Four Corners, and ASCMC reaffirmed in a statement to The Forum that “No members of the ASCMC Executive Board were aware that funds were being used for services not rendered.” 

Throughout the discussion, former and current members of the ASCMC Executive Board stressed that the infraction was not that the DJ was paid to purchase alcohol for the event, but rather that the student did not fulfill the role of a DJ, and thus a student was paid for services not rendered. In their statement to The Forum, ASCMC established that “ASCMC has no control over what service providers do with the money they are paid. The central issue is that the EVP knowingly submitted a fraudulent invoice for services not performed.”

ASCMC is no stranger to financial fraud. In 2018, the ASCMC President and CFO resigned after claiming $2,000 of fraudulent reimbursements. Unlike the current case, the President in 2018 pocketed the money.

Fraud also occurred two years ago, according to a source close to ASCMC. An Event Commissioner working under the 2023-24 Executive Board logged hours for working a party, during which they did not work but instead attended the party and were intoxicated. When ASCMC discovered this instance of fraud, the student claimed they didn’t know they were violating rules, and they faced no formal disciplinary action.

In their statement to The Forum, ASCMC noted that “A few years ago, a censure was proposed when an officer was not executing many of their constitutional duties. It did not pass. Removal votes are historically rare.”

During the senate meeting, members of the investigatory committee raised concerns regarding ASCMC’s student fees. These fees, which are currently $350 added to each CMC student’s tuition as a “Student Activities Fee,” are allocated to ASCMC to fund CMC clubs, parties, 5C clubs with CMC participants, and other student activities. This finances the Sophomore Class President’s discretionary fund, which was used to pay the DJ. The ASCMC constitution stipulates that student fees cannot be used for alcohol. An anonymous source familiar with ASCMC processes stated that DOS, the Board of Trustees, administrators, and the college’s financial offices all trust ASCMC with the student fees. They added that this trust is “integral to [having] the freedom to host the parties we want, to have clubs do what they want to do.” They worried that fraud committed by an officer of ASCMC could break this trust.

Throughout the senate meeting, many students expressed their faith in the EVP, expressing that she has always worked to serve the CMC student body, has acted with a high standard of ethics, and was a successful Sophomore Class President. Others questioned her ethics and ability to continue performing her role.

The final vote tallied 18 in favor of removal, 14 opposed, and 1 abstention, falling short of the ¾ majority necessary for removal. 61 senators were eligible to vote, but the voting was closed after it became clear that the ¾ majority was not possible, according to ASCMC.

At the Executive Board meeting on Sunday, April 27, the EVP reiterated her commitment to ASCMC and apologized for the contentious debate at senate. A further conversation occurred under closed minutes, lasting nearly half an hour.