On Monday, April 21, the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College Senate (ASCMC) voted 18:14:1 to remove Executive Vice President (EVP) Amrit Dhaliwal CM ’27 from her position for misappropriating funds. Because the vote did not meet the required three-quarters majority, Dhaliwal retained her position as EVP, although in a limited capacity.
The meeting began at 8:05 p.m. and was attended by over 160 students. After moving through two budget requests, the Senate welcomed an investigatory committee — constituted of ASCMC President Kylee Tevis CM ’26, Chief Ethics and Procedural Officer Paloma Oliveri CM ’26 and Chief Financial Officer Thomas Walker CM ’26 — to discuss their findings on Dahliwal’s situation.
Their investigation centered around two events: a Pirate Party class pregame hosted by Dhaliwal in her former role as CMC sophomore class president last April, and the 4 Corners party hosted on March 29.
At the former, Dhaliwal paid an individual to be a DJ and play music at the party at the standard $60 per hour for two hours, amounting to $120. The DJ immediately spent the money on alcohol for the party. Walker emphasized that this particular event was not under scrutiny but rather “important to bring up” for context.
Dhaliwal’s misappropriation of funds at 4 Corners was the main subject of investigation.
“The EVP submitted a fabricated invoice for DJ services,” an ASCMC Executive Board statement, sent to the student body on Saturday, read. “The person listed on the invoice did not perform any DJ services, and the purpose of the falsified invoice was to reimburse the individual for alcohol expenses from a class event. Manufacturing of an invoice for services not rendered is fraudulent conduct, and in direct violation of ASCMC’s Constitution.”
It was confirmed during the Senate meeting that the same individual was funded to perform DJ services at both events, with $120 being invoiced to them each time. While the DJ did perform at the Pirate Party pregame, they did not perform at or attend the 4 Corners party. The Dean of Students Office (DOS) initially brought the issue to ASCMC, after which the investigatory committee was formed.
ASCMC’s Executive Board moved their regular Sunday meeting to Friday last week, during which they discussed the results of the investigatory committee. They voted unanimously to censure — or express strong disapproval of an ASCMC Officer when they have breached ASCMC’s constitution — Dhaliwal at the meeting. As a result, she received a severe stipend deduction, loss of voting rights and removal of oversight over EVP discretionary funding.
Dhaliwal was given the option to resign from her position, but she decided to move forward with the official removal process.
“The question that we’re asking here is not whether the funds were misappropriated, that fact is pretty much undisputed — we talked about this with Amrit [Dhaliwal], and she agreed on all the facts,” Tevis said at Monday’s meeting. “The question is whether this is a serious violation of our Constitution that merits removal.”
Afterwards, Dhaliwal was invited to speak to the crowd.
“I did commit fraud, I’m not trying to hide that fact,” Dhaliwal said. “I was really strongly suggested that I should resign, but I chose not to, because I really do love ASCMC and I want to keep being part of it.”
She emphasized how she wanted to continue serving in her role despite being censured.
“Take away the stipend, I really don’t care,” Dhaliwal said. “I really love ASCMC.”
At 8:28 p.m., a Q&A opened to allow students to ask questions both to the investigatory committee and to Dhaliwal directly. A voting form was simultaneously sent to confirmed senators, who are the only ones permitted to vote on issues during ASCMC Senate meetings.
“What do you have left?” Caleb Rasor CM ’28 inquired of Dhaliwal’s situation given the censure.
Dhaliwal responded by outlining her goals to appeal the decision.
“Full disclosure, I do plan on appealing that, because you guys did elect me,” Dhaliwal, who ran unopposed for EVP, said. She added that it would be difficult to collaborate with coworkers in the future with the current restrictions on her role.
In response to a question about how Dhaliwal would cooperate with the Executive Board after her censure and investigation, she made a point that received backlash from current and former members of the Board.
“Well, transparently, they all knew this was happening the whole time,” Dhaliwal said.
Former ASCMC Executive President Ava Kopp CM ’25 responded by saying that the so-called “DJ loophole” was technically permitted, but “paying somebody for services they didn’t perform” was fraud and explicitly forbidden by ASCMC’s Constitution.
“What’s the difference between that and saying, ‘You know what, my friend really needs $30, I’m going to write a check from ASCMC’s fund and I’m going to pass it off as something that I was doing in their best interest,’” Kopp said.
Kopp also discussed her relationship with Dhaliwal and her opinions about her continued role on ASCMC’s Board.
“I really admire you, I’ve gotten to know you for the past year in ASCMC and have loved working for you,” Kopp said. “But this is not something that I am okay with, and I don’t think that it warrants being in office.”
Multiple former and current Board members chimed in, echoing sentiments that Dhaliwal remaining in office was not “respectable,” and that in accordance with precedent, she should be removed from office.
Aria Fafat CM ’27 was one of many students to defend Dhaliwal.
“This feels like we’re scapegoating one person because DOS found out about it,” Fafat said. “That does not seem like it’s accountable, that does not seem like it’s transparent.”
Many others spoke in favor of Dhaliwal’s leadership skills and service, calling her “amazing” and “a responsible leader.”
Zubin Khera CM ’27, former freshman class president — who Dhaliwal beat in last year’s sophomore president elections — spoke to the pressures felt by representatives within ASCMC.
“Unfortunately, there are times when even I was advised when I was president to exploit the loopholes, from my seniors as well as other freshmen class presidents,” Khera said. “It’s an institutional problem, or maybe even a problem with the culture of our school, but I think Amrit deserves a second chance.”
Fafat later added that Dhaliwal’s removal proceedings were “just incentiviz[ing] taking advantage of loopholes.”
“We seem to be pointing the finger at one person … because she didn’t take advantage of the loophole well enough,” Fafat said.
Walker clarified that the main issue is not with Dhaliwal’s use of the loophole last year, but rather her misappropriation of funds for 4 Corners. He also said that ASCMC “will be changing what is defined as a DJ” in light of these events, and will need to establish further checks to ensure the specified services are actually performed.
The Q&A continued until 9:15 p.m., when Oliveri halted proceedings after a student complimented Amrit and said she was “the best person” to be EVP.
“Well, then, I have something to say that might make you happy,” she said. “The motion didn’t pass. Amrit is still our vice president.”
The announcement was met with applause from many in the room.
One senator — who requested anonymity due to their active working relationship with Dhaliwal — spoke to TSL about their reactions to the Senate meeting. They said that Dhaliwal had an unfair advantage during the vote because of how Senate confirmation works.
CMC students usually obtain senator status by either attending the first senate of the term or attending three consecutive Senate meetings. No students have attended three consecutive Senate meetings in the new administration, which began on March 31. Thus, the only people eligible to vote on Monday were those who attended the first Senate meeting of the newly elected administration, which Dhaliwal led and advertised.
“I could see the people in the crowd, I know that those people were her friends … who showed up in support,” the source said.
The source also expressed concerns about ASCMC’s relationship with the Board of Trustees. CMC’s tuition recently increased — a change that typically leads to a raise in ASCMC’s funding — but both the source and several executive board members at the meeting shared concerns that Dhaliwal’s appropriation of funds could be a reason for the Board not to raise ASCMC’s funds.
Dhaliwal declined TSL’s request for comment.
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