Los Angeles

Location

The LMU site is located, as one may guess, at Loyola Marymount University in western Los Angeles. It is about three miles from LAX International Airport; the conning tower is barely visible from some parts of the campus.

Overview

First off. It's Los Angeles. The weather is always wonderful, there's a Jamba Juice onsite, and wisps of Radiohead's "Kid A" flutter around the campus at all possible hours. What more could you want from a camp for nerds?

LMU has always been a kind of black sheep with traditions, not keeping many (to the dismay of easterners), until a great kid named Michael Sherwood brought an incredible passion and zeal in the summer of '01. In that summer, and through no easy means, he imported REM's 'It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)', 'Stairway', Gay Dad (I do believe LMU "started" this tradition), and Radiohead to the camp. Suddenly, there was light and energy. The abysmal food tasted better, the sky was bluer, the girls were wearing less clothing.

• Tidbit: "It's the End of the World as We Know It" was a staple at the LA venues in the early 1990s (LMU and, before that, the University of Redlands). Apparently, it died out sometime in the 1990s.

It should be noted that the playing of the canon and establishment of many of the eastern traditions in '01 was actually due to a former Lancaster student turned instructor DJing the dances. He brought REM's 'It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)' and the associated dance tradition and helped to bring Passionfruit to Los Angeles. And Forever Young was not only on said instructor's computer, it was played at the proper time during each of the unfortunately small number of dances that summer.

Yet, Forever Young is not even on the RA DJ's computer. Many canon songs are omitted, although some are played once or twice. There are only three dances per session, all held on fridays, and no other "traditional" days. There is always a casino day and a talent show, but that's about it.

In LOS.01.05, however, the songs "American Pie", "It's the End of the World as We Know It", "Istanbul", and "Stairway to Heaven" were played at every single dance.

Activities

The afternoon activities are the most interesting part of the camp. 'Enmity Bracelets', made of chains and spiky metal objects, decorated the ankles and wrists of many '04 LMU-ers. 'How to be a Central American Dictator' led raids on other afternoon groups such as 'Guerilla Warfare', wearing stylish red headbands and wielding water balloons. 'Down With the Man' started protests against every other activity held that day. 'Robot Wars', and 'Robot Wars II' were two duels between RAs Tom and Geoff. Encased in cardboard armor, they clashed together in apocalyptic combat to the heavy beat of Rammstein.

Courses

There are a multitude of courses offered, but not many advanced courses, i.e. Advanced Chem.