Phoebe Schwab ’29
Copy Editor Intern
Is it better to sink or to swim? To speak or to die? To dance or to go to bed? This year’s Baywatch party answered some of these questions for the broader student population. Hint: just go to bed.
On Sept. 13, Scripps Associated Students (SAS) threw their first party of the 2025-2026 school year. With past events such as the Brat Rave, Enchanted Forest, and Block Party, Scripps students were ready for another dynamic dance floor and energetic DJ. Yet, when I walked into the venue, I was forcefully reminded of one thing, and one thing only: Scripps is not a party school.
Surely I was not the only one thinking, “Why so many beach-themed parties?” Between the 5Cs Life’s a Beach and the new Baywatch party, my rotation of three bathing suits was incredibly tired. I’ll admit, following the Motley’s opening party, Motgun Wedding, it was challenging to devise a more creative theme.
With my tiny bikini, flipflops, and sunglasses (yes, it was totally dark out), I was ready to brave the night. I walked onto Bowling Green Lawn sporting the wristband that took ages to get. Given that our generation was unable to experience Black Friday in the 1980s, the wristband line was certainly a taste. With sales spanning over three days, I found myself camping out 30 minutes early to purchase one.
Upon entering the party, it was 11 p.m., and I was already an hour late. Still, I checked the time to make sure I was not mistaken: no one was there. I decided to wander around the barren lawn for a few more minutes, and slowly but surely, “hordes” of people started to trickle in.
Although Bowling Green Lawn can fit thousands of people, it barely lasted through Baywatch. Between spilled drinks, busted moves, and the general size of the moshpit, I’m surprised the grass is still alive.
“I think [Bowling Green Lawn] fit everyone easily,” Kate Prince ’29 said. “But there were cigarette butts and lots of other trash left over. I think the venue was definitely interesting, but I wish we weren’t caged in.”
The metal fence was meant to deter sneak-ins, but ended up as a hookup spot. For those not in a passionate, somewhat unaware makeout session, the fence acted as a chicken coop (and we are not the Pitzer chickens!).
Over the following days, I watched the grass slowly turn to a hay-like consistency. Thankfully, our lovely maintenance team nursed it back to health, but I can only imagine the cleanup process, especially at 1 a.m., post-party.
One large draw to SAS’s Baywatch party, other than the necessity for any parties at Scripps, was the sets by three separate DJs. The original SAS email announcing the event preached, “Featuring music from Baby Kiwi, Aaron Wu, and Eman, you better not miss this!”
While it was a promising offer, the entertainment was mediocre at best. As a historically women’s college, I feel our music could’ve been better, or at least less geared towards men. With flashing Baywatch clips on the jumbotron and a DJ that played “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars multiple times, partygoers weren’t working with much.
Still, the men of Claremont McKenna and Pomona College found a way. “I almost died in that crowd — I thought I might get trampled,” Tova Brodsky ’29 joked. The moshpit was not for the weak — between over-the-top makeout sessions and the sweaty, shirtless men, Scripps students found it hard to catch a break, unless they were willing to waste their four-dollar wristband fee and tap out for the night.
Still, this is not to say there weren’t highlights to the night. After being lifted onto my friend’s shoulders, staring over the crowd of bathing suits and lifeguard costumes, I realized the true success of this party. SAS was able to bring people together — to connect Scripps with the rest of the 5Cs. Each group of people, the ones making out, the ones in the moshpit, and the ones leaving their trash on the ground, had all decided to be at Scripps on that night.
Were we meant to be a party school? I think not. But that doesn’t have to be the purpose of SAS parties. We are not a Big 10 school — fraternity ragers will never be a thing at Scripps, let alone any of the 5Cs. We don’t have tens of thousands of students, but we do have community. On the night of SAS’ Baywatch party, we all had one thing that united us: we chose to be there.
We chose to pay $4, we chose to show up in our bikinis, and we chose to have as much fun as possible with what resources we had. So while the party itself may have been a major sink, at least our sense of community and togetherness was a swim. Here’s to the hope that SAS parties only go up from here. Cheers to a new school year, and hopefully to fewer beach-themed events.
Photo Courtesy of SAS
