Known as “The Spruce Moose,” the Morgan Hall golf cart has formed a bond among residents.
By Rosy Banks and JJ Bowman
It’s not a golf cart. It’s a legend.
Beginning as an alternate means of transportation for an injured student, the cart has evolved into the Spruce Moose — the sought after vehicle featured prominently during Midnight Madness and other Pepperdine events. Cruising down dorm road, it makes students all over campus smile.
“When people get in, they get really excited,” Head Mechanic Josh Cañas said. “The cart brings joy; it’s like Christmas.”
Morgan Hall Resident Advisor Andrew Martin originally purchased the cart because of a severe knee injury. Being a business major he had no way to get to the Center for Communication and Business for classes. Public Safety offered rides, but often he had problems getting to class on time with Public Safety schedules.
After reaching an agreement with Housing and Community Living, he found Spruce Moose, a five-year-old golf cart that has undergone a series of mechanical renovations. Residents named the cart the Spruce Moose after an episode of “The Simpsons” that spoofs Howard Hughes’ attempt to build a huge flying boat called the Spruce Goose.
But the Spruce Moose has rarely had an easy ride. Despite its popularity among students, Public Safety officers have raised concerns over its safety.
“We’ve been pulled over about 15 times,” Martin said. “They required headlights; we did that. They required driving slower, we did.”
Deputy Director of Public Safety Rob McKelvy said a few incidents were reported last semester.
“The concern was that it was being driven in pedestrian areas and that students were piling on the cart,” he said.
Also, McKelvy said, a witness told Public Safety that a visitor’s foot had been run over by the golf cart, causing her shoe to be knocked off her foot. No report was filed, however, because the woman never came forward to Public Safety.
Public Safety operates similar carts manufactured by automakers Ford and Chrysler, but those are registered and comply with state low-speed vehicle requirements.
Director of Public Safety Earl Carpenter said his department is more than willing to offer students a low-speed vehicle and a driver if they have difficulty maneuvering around campus.
California defines a low-speed vehicle as a motor vehicle that is capable of propelling itself at a minimum speed of 20 miles per hour and a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface, but golf carts are explicitly not considered a “low-speed vehicle.”
Nevertheless, with the addition of headlights and other safety features, the Spruce Moose has bridged part of the gap between a low-speed vehicle, permissible on all campus roads, and a golf cart, which requires more restrictions.
In an agreement with Housing and Public Safety, Martin has issued licenses to a select five drivers with the rest of cart users solely as passengers. At first any of the 24 residents who paid a $25 subsidization fee could drive the cart.
And the added emphasis on safety has made life for the Spruce Moose much less volatile.
“For the most part we try to lay low,” Martin said.
In November Housing had a concern with the reported way students were driving the vehicle.
“We communicated with the RA,” said Jim Brock, director of Housing. “He reminded residents and they agreed to be as safe as possible in driving it on campus.”
Assistant Director of Public Safety David Stephens said this semester he has heard of no complaints about the golf cart.
“When it’s used in a responsible manner … it seems to be less of an issue,” he said.
Cart riders want to keep the Spruce Moose through the semester and then possibly sell it to the Housing office.
“If we need to run into the community we could use it as an easier way for us to reach different residents,” Brock said.
A number of mechanics live in Morgan Hall and since its purchase in September they have replaced or improved virtually every part on the cart.
“It’s an experience … people come by to see what’s going on,” Martin said. “Some stop by to try their mechanical talent.”
Renovation has cost $1,800, part of which was spent to meet Public Safety’s requests. The original price paid was $3,000, Martin said.
Modifications include a motion detector security alarm, a silicone-sealed waterproof car stereo, headlights, taillights and a new engine with more horsepower.
Spruce Moose is now capable of speeds up to 24 mph, though owner Martin assures it never reaches speeds that high on campus.
Customized “Simpsons” theme shirts adorn The Spruce Moose Group, which coincides with Morgan Hall’s general “Simpsons” theme. Martin keeps close tabs on the vehicle since it is currently unregistered on campus. When any of the drivers want to utilize the golf cart, they must sign in and out and also carry along walkie-talkies as they ride. License plates adorn the back, labeled Morgan for all to see its origin.
Martin conducts safety meetings once a month.
“Now they can’t make vague claims of what may or may not have happened,” Cañas said.
Enhancing the Spruce Moose, residents have gone though a series of unforgettable trials, including the most recent transmission problem that almost put the cart down for good.
“Two weeks ago we decided we were going to go out there and fix it, and if we couldn’t we were going to call professionals (which would have cost hundreds),” Cañas said.
Martin went out for the night, to return to an all-night stakeout for cart repair. Carson Roen, who was named director of cart operations, thought he had fixed it and put it in reverse. Nothing happened.
“When we finally got it to work, it shoots almost straight into the wall. Everyone came out of their dorms cheering,” Cañas said.
Spruce Moose is currently under more renovation while residents try to make the cart meet Pepperdine’s requirements.
They still have more projects in mind for the future.
Possible additions include a refrigerator, heater and an underbody glow light.
“We want to put a tip jar for passengers. Tip a lot, please, but girls are always free,” Morgan resident Calvin Scott said.
Currently Spruce Moose’s high profile continues to grace campus as it shuttles passengers to and from classes.
“All the guys have a lot of pride in it,” Martin said.
However, relations with Public Safety must stay in good standing for the Spruce Moose to continue its legacy.
McKelvy acknowledged that if more students try to employ golf carts, a specific university policy will have to be written.
“Eventually, you’re going to start finding those carts in parking spaces,” he said. “We have to look at (attempts at using golf carts on campus) on a case-by-case basis.”
Besides Midnight Madness, Pepperdine has used the Spruce Moose by the office of Admissions to give VIP tours. Although its time in Morgan Hall probably won’t last beyond this semester, its legend will remain for a long time.
January 30, 2003