SMC's Club Row, "Caribbean" style

The traditional bi-annual event, Club Row, will take place tomorrow.

The gala will celebrate campus-club pride with a "Caribbean Carnival!" theme.

On March 31, the library walkway will be filled with club representatives from around campus joining together in Santa Monica College spirit.

This year the spirit of Club Row was decided by Chauncey McClaine,

Inter-Club Council vice chair.

"I was here on campus over the winter session

thinking of something different, but fun and I thought of Brazil," said McClaine.

The South American countries McClaine had in mind include Trinidad, Tobago, Antigua, Aruba and St. Thomas for the highlights of the

competitions. Unlike last semester's Halloween theme, the students think

a little romance of different cultures is not a bad change.

"Last year I did not go to Club Row because I do not celebrate Halloween, but this semester sounds like there's going to be fun and good food," said John Bullock, a freshman from Louisiana who is majoring in biblical studies.

Many of the clubs almost came short of ideas for fundraising after the health regulations caused them to change from serving food to considering other opinions. Two months prior to this event Los Angeles County Health Department reformed the county health regulations, complicating the procedures for serving food during Club Row.

Some of the other restrictions include having to cook the food on campus and provide a wash bucket.

"I think more guidelines is a good thing," said freshman Roxanne Roknian, vice president of the Chemistry Club. They will be serving festive drinks for sale and entering all the contests.

Black Collegians Club will be entering the contest and has chosen to sell, or accept donations for T-shirts, spray-painted in the SMC school colors.

"If we serve food, we will serve fried chicken and pizza and maybe some dessert," said Jason Hurd, second semester graphic design major, in charge of Club Row for BCC.

A club that found the regulations restrictive was the Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba Club. "Too much and too complicated," said Marical Guearra, second year student at SMC and president of CSCC, which is selling T-shirts, instead of selling food, and passing out literature with music.

"These are extreme and unfair regulations," said Nick Mataalii, president of the Latino Student Union, an organization that almost always cooks food and brings it to Club Row.

"Our relatives usually prepare food for us and that's how we make a profit. Catering is too expensive so the regulations created big issues for us," said Mataalii.

One club that plans to keep the stride is the Pan-African Student Union.

"We understand the concerns with food poisoning, however the health department made the regulations difficult, but they are preventing contamination," said Biko Kpotufe,public relation officer for PASU and second year SMC student.

One tradition that Club Row continues to internalize is club spirit and student support.

On March 31, at 11:15 a.m. to 12:30p.m., make sure you have an appetite to go along with that festive drink and crazy caribbean, carnival attitude.