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 [but it does get cold in the mornings and at night], 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.

Dorms

-Huesman Hall [otherwise known as "the dorm with urinals"] -Doheny Hall -Desmond Hall -Rosecrans Hall -Whelan Hall

RAs

LMU is home to the legendary Boring Brothers and, of course, Tom Ryan.

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.

Wet and Wild Day usually takes place on the first Saturday. Usually there is a "Dry Side" for the wusses who go play in the bounce house, read magazine, or play cards. RAs can be seen roaming about the "Wet Side" with heavy-duty water guns. Students usually have to make do with flimsy plastic cups that they fill up with water. The first Saturday is ended with a Movie Night.

On the second Saturday, the Talent Show takes place. People with super-cool skits or not-very-great skills perform. Casino Night takes place after that. Some people play card games for 'money' while others run around doing weird and crazy deeds the RAs tell them to do for 'money'. A couple of people get 'married' (until marriages got cancelled they said it was 'cty inappropriate' ). At the end every hall uses the money they have to bid for prizes like In-And-Out burgers or duct taping an RA of their choice to a tree.

Sunday is usually a day of 'non-mandatory fun', although it is mandatory for you to go. It's usually like the daily and weekly activities that take place from Monday to Friday. Sunday is concluded with a [groan] two-hour study hall.

• Actually, in 06.2 the order of weekend activities was:

First Saturday: Quiz Bowl & Movie Night First Sunday: Carnival Second Saturday: Talent Show & Casino Night Second Sunday: Wet & Wild Water Day, although it is doubtful that this will continue as one student got hypothermia.

Dances

Dances take place on Fridays and the last Thursday of each session. During 2005, they took place at the Rosecrans Courtyard. Most people dance, although many boys can be seen sitting at the edge of the dance floor. During 2006, they were sitting on the walls around Sullivan Academic Center and RAs like JZ and Jason and Mike had to run around making them dance.

As of 2005, LMU does play "American Pie", "It's the End of the World As We Know It", "Istanbul", and "Stairway to Heaven" at every dance. Chants of "HARDER HARDER HARDER HARDER!" and sometimes "FASTER FASTER FASTER FASTER!" could be heard after the usual "die die die live live live sex sex sex more more more!" during session one. People have pointed fingers at the Biomedical people for this.

• Don't do this ever, it merits face-punching in all instances.
• Never add anything to the end of American Pie chants, only Lancaster people do that.

Courses

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