Vol. CXXX, No. 11

Opinions

Sports

Tiara Sharma SC ’20 examines the limitations of academic space and her decision to leave Scripps. Page 9

Maezelle Millan CM ’21 avoids a La Sierra opponent in their game on Nov. 29, which the Athenas lost 65-62. Page 11

THE STUDENT

LIFE

The Student Newspaper of the Claremont Colleges Since 1889 CLAREMONT, CA

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

Prometheus 2017 Exhibition Builds to Explosive Finale

VOL. CXXX NO. 11

House GOP Tax Bill Would Increase Financial Burden on Many CGU Students Kellen Browning

Liam Brooks • The Student Life

A bus explodes as part of artist Adela Goldbard’s pyrotechnic show “A World of Laughter, A World of Fears” at Pomona’s Bixby Plaza on Nov. 18. See page 4

Facing Dept Squeeze, PO CS Majors Ask President for More Resources Meghan Bobrowsky Amidst course enrollment problems with Pomona’s growing computer science department, seven students met with Pomona president G. Gabrielle Starr on Nov. 30 to ask for more professors, additional funding, and more space for the department. Claire Genre PO ’18 began the conversation by saying that students have not been able to get into the classes they need due to the computer science department’s small staff of seven full-time professors and one visiting instructor. Starr explained that the number of CS majors has fluctuated over the years but is currently compounding in the upward direction because CS has become a popular major. This trend is proven by the increase of CS majors from six in 2012 to an expected 60 this year. To adjust to the sharp rise in interest in CS, Starr said Pomona is in the process of hiring two more permanent CS professors. “There’s huge competition to get good people and make these positions as attractive as possible,” she said. “It’s a national problem, which makes it even harder to confront, and there is not an easy solution.” Elvis Kahoro PO ’20, who received 341 signatures on his petition for more CS faculty hires, added that Pomona disadvantages itself by hiring professors as late as March while other colleges scoop up potential faculty members by November. But even if the department gets more professors, where will they teach? At the moment, the CS department lacks classroom space. Genre said that this has forced classes to be taught in Mason Hall and Millikan Laboratory. “When we don’t have an answer to where their office

would be, [potential hires] don’t [necessarily] want to come here,” the CS major said, proposing they look into classroom spaces at the Honnold-Mudd Library. Even with these problems solved, Genre thinks the CS department’s inadequate budget will influence what the department can do. Currently, each department receives a two to three percent budget increase each year, regardless of how big the department is. “Pomona has a huge endowment, [and] the college itself has a lot of power to help us achieve our goals,” Genre said. She also requested more funding for CS extracurriculars, adding that Harvey Mudd College was able to send 60 students to a CS conference while Pomona was only able to send 15. Starr said she could help with the budget but made it clear that Pomona can only spend less than five percent of its endowment. And even then, the college has to wait to find out the return on the endowment before using that money. Students and faculty who want to do research projects together are impacted by this because funding for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) doesn’t come out until the spring. As a result, professors have to compete with industries that make students commit at the beginning of the year for the following summer ’s research projects. “This is the opposite of what Pomona advertises,” Ross Wollman PO ’18 said. He recommended looking at other sources for SURP funding. Starr replied that they’re always applying for grants, but they often don’t hear back by fall. While on the topic of money, Genre also inquired about more financial collaboration between

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Second-year Claremont Graduate University student Jamey Keeton may soon be faced with a “crippling” financial decision. Nationwide, graduate students like Keeton are up in arms about a provision of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act – the Republican tax bill that passed the House of Representatives on Nov. 16 – that would treat tuition waivers, which provide free or reduced tuition, as taxable income. Keeton, who is pursuing master’s degrees in philosophy and cultural studies, earns $800 a month through a federal work study job as a secretary on campus, and also receives a $12,000 fellowship from CGU. “If the tax bill passes, they’ll look at that $12,000, and they’ll tax me on it,” he said. “It would crush me.” Tuition waivers, often part of the financial aid package provided to students seeking master’s degrees or doctorates, are offered in exchange for graduate students serving as research assistants, teaching assistants, or graduate assistants on campus, explained Samantha Hernandez, the legislative director of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students.

Hernandez, a PhD student at Arizona State University, said students who receive tuition waivers will move up in tax brackets if the House’s tax bill passes. “If you have a student who makes $14,000, $15,000 a year, they currently get taxed at that rate,” she told TSL. “But if they have a tuition waiver at $30,000 a year, all of a sudden they [will] go from the $15,000 tax bracket to the $45,000 tax bracket.” Hernandez says such a dramatic shift in taxable income will not be sustainable for many graduate students. “You don’t make money off of being a graduate student; you don’t make a prosperous career out of it,” she said. “That’s the way it was designed – [graduate school provides] you tuition, provide[s] you a livable stipend, and then at the end you get the job. But this tax situation is assuming that we have the job, currently.” If the bill becomes law, Hernandez said, NAGPS anticipates “people being less likely to seek graduate degrees, and we anticipate a large amount of graduate students leaving.” Will Schumacher PO ’18 is

See TAX page 3

State Sen. Portantino Returns to Pitzer College for Millennial Dialogue Elinor Aspegren State Senator Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) visited Pitzer College Wednesday for the second time this semester to hold an open dialogue event focused on activism and political engagement among millennials. Attendance at the talk was low – only 11 people were there, including four 5C students, a few high schoolers from the area, and other local residents. “Your generation is volunteering more than any generation in history, except politically,” Portantino said at the beginning of the event.

“For me, I want to have these open dialogues to hear what you have to say … You have your policy maker here, what do you want me to know?” Throughout the talk, Portantino tried to get attendees involved in answering each other’s questions, rather than just answering them all himself, like in a traditional question and answer session. “You’re all here to participate, so it’s translating the action to beyond these walls that is important,” he said. Pitzer Studet Senate Secretary Kamyab Mashian PZ ‘19, who presided over the event for Senate,

CMC Receives $20 Million Financial Aid Donation Seoyoon Choi Robert L. Emett CM ’50, a World War II veteran and a graduate of Claremont Men’s College, reached an agreement with Claremont McKenna on Nov. 16 to donate approximately $20 million from his estate following his and his wife’s deaths. The exact amount of the donation will depend on the prices of his assets at the time of the donation. Emett’s latest donation will contribute to paid summer internships and nointerest loan programs. Emett has donated to the college in the past as well. On his suggestion, CMC converted a scholarship fund that Emett had established into a no-interest loan program. Since its establishment in 1994, the Robert L. Emett College Loan Fund has benefitted more than 150 students with loans totaling $1.7 million. “Mr. Emett thought his funds would be better utilized as an Emergency Loan Fund,”

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explained Peter Hong, the associate vice president of public affairs and communications at CMC. “Mr. Emett wants students to see their education as an investment that they participate in by repaying the loan, rather than an entitlement.” The loan fund in particular has provided loans to students whose younger siblings’ college matriculation strained the family budget or who experienced other emergencies such as parents’ sudden loss of jobs. Students expressed anxieties about changing their financial aid packages because of nonemergency reasons, with loan funds like Emett’s help students who change their financial aid packages for emergency reasons, such as unexpected changes in family or financial circumstances. “I was honestly, quiet scared when I dropped the scholarship about the finances and I worried about financing my

See AID page 3

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appreciated the approach that Portantino took to the event. “While many of the politicians who have come to Pitzer before just talk at the students about their projects and views, Senator Portantino solicited our input on what we wanted to see at the state level. Students are not often given an opportunity to make their views and experiences heard so directly,” he said. Other topics at the talk included the new gas tax in California, which was raised by 12 cents per gallon Wednesday; how access to mental health services can be expanded and destigmatized, particularly in

high schools; how standardized testing can impact education; academic pressures in college; differences in resources between schools in the University of California system; and the country’s deeply divided political environment. Mashian said that while the event was small, it made it more effective since it allowed “for much more dialogue between the participants.” “It was also interesting to hear the views of the high school students who were in attendance, since so much of the discussion revolved around the pressures created by the state education system,” he said.

Pomona Sees Fewer Alumni Donors, with Fatter Wallets Daisy Ni Pomona College is receiving a greater proportion of fundraising dollars from an increasingly small pool of donors. The schools’ Institutional Indicators for the 2016-2017 academic year, a document prepared annually for the Board of Trustees with statistics about the school, reveals trends regarding alumni affairs. Although total contributions continue to increase in dollar terms in most categories of giving, participation rates in various Annual Fund categories are declining. According to Craig ArteagaJohnson, Pomona’s assistant vice president for advancement, alumni, and parent engagement, this pattern is not surprising. “Pomona’s experience with the alumni giving rates is really part of a broad national trend,” Arteaga-Johnson said. He said there are a few theories behind the phenomenon. “The charitable landscape is becoming a lot more competi-

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tive,” Arteaga-Johnson said. “In the past, schools were the small handful of organizations [people] really had access to in terms of giving. Now, we all receive dozens of opportunities to contribute to charitable causes.” He pointed out various online platforms as examples of the growing philanthropy sector. The growth of technology is also a contributing factor in connecting with alumni, he said. “Some of the channels we’ve historically used to reach out to people to secure their support are becoming more and more clogged,” he said. For example, young alumni especially receive mass promotional emails and phone calls. “While we still have student calling programs,” he added, “over time the number of people who have picked up their phones has been declining.” In response, Pomona has been taking initiatives to re-engage alumni. Arteaga-Johnson ex-

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NEWS................................1 LIFE & STYLE.....................4 OPINIONS........................8 SPORTS...........................10

NEWS PAGE 2

DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

Senate Briefs

CS: Students Skeptical about Immediate Change Marc Rod & Karen Song

Scripps Associated Students The meeting opened with a presentation by Scripps Associated Students President Kelly Peng SC ’18 about her meeting with new Director of Campus Life Brenda Ice, at which they discussed her role on SAS going forward. Vice President of Activities Kaya Mark SC ’18 recapped Eurobash, and noted that no students had to be medically transported from the event. Senior Class Presidents Aliza Adler SC ’18 and Helen Thomason SC ’18 announced that they are organizing an end-of-classes celebration for students on Dec. 8, and co-Treasurer Grace Wang SC ‘19 said that she received monetary checks this week. Next, first year representative Julia Kelly SC ’21 discussed several events, including Scripps friendsgiving and the “Go Stag” CMS event, as well as the upcoming 2000s event. Sustainability Chair Leta Ames SC ’18 then spoke about ongoing planning for free Diva Cup distribution events and application reviews for next semester’s Sustainability Chair, and Student Organizations Chair Maddie Warman SC ’20 spoke about planning for the winter dinner. Then, Junior Class President Casey Harris SC ’19 announced that the commencement speaker survey had closed, and Sophomore Class President Aleah Brooker SC ‘20 told SAS about her plans for a

Study Abroad application party. Also, Diversity and Inclusivity Chair Abby Clarke SC ’20 spoke about a meeting of the Leadership Council. Finally, Peng presented announcements on behalf of other senators, including that a rescheduled forum, an update on SAS’s Core review, and the events of a Faculty Executive Committee meeting with primary contact deans. The Senate then moved on to discussions about legislation. SAS voted to grant $4,000 to help fund two Diva Cup giveaway events at Pitzer College with ten senators voting for the proposal and four abstaining. The meeting ended with a discussion of issues that Scripps first-years living in Claremont Graduate University apartments have encountered. The students reported that CGU students are using a common area reserved for Scripps students. Resident Advisor Representative Julia Ruiter SC ’18 agreed to speak with the Scripps RAs at CGU and Assistant Dean Christopher Dennis to address the issue. –Marc Rod PO ‘20 Associated Students of Pomona College Associate Dean of Campus Life and Director of the Smith Campus Center Ellie Ash-Balá opened the meeting with an about Foothill Transit Class Passes. The new approved program would allow for students from all parts of CUC to

get a free reusable pass for the Foothill Transit bus, which travels a variety of distances in the LA area. Maria Vides PO ‘18 also announced that airport ride services would be making a comeback in the near semester. Guest speaker Sue McCarthy spoke with ASPC about her first semester as the new Title IX Coordinator on campus. When asked what plans she hopes to bring to Pomona and the consortium in general, McCarthy answered that any new initiatives should be determined in collaboration with the students and faculty. She also spoke of dividing her efforts with the Title IX program in terms of reporting, response, and prevention. Her ultimate aim in this position is to empower marginalized voices, have student voices be heard, and prioritize survivors. Other priorities on her list included offender accountability and bystander intervention programs. Meredith Simpson PO ‘19 brought up a topic that was being discussed within the Academic Affairs Office regarding student contribution in the governance system. Academic Dean Audrey Bilger and the Academic Dean’s Office hoped to have more direct conversations with the student body through ASPC. The rest of the meeting was spent discussing quarterly checkins and questions that would be brought up with the Residence Hall Staff at the next meeting. –Karen Song PO ‘21

PZ Students De-Stress Before Finals at Wellness Week Meghan Joyce • The Student Life

Pomona President G. Gabrielle Starr speaks with students from the Computer Science department, who gathered at Seaver House on Nov. 30 to voice their concerns about lack of administrative support.

Continued from Page 1 the Claremont Colleges. Melissa Grueter PO ’18 suggested that students majoring at another campus pay a sum to that college since they’re using its resources. In response, Starr said that historically, the colleges have not charged each other since there are differing levels of resources across the colleges. Doing so could lead to incentive misalignments that

make it challenging for the colleges to share resources. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to throw up walls,” she said. Instead, Starr thinks everyone should work together “to not trash the resources that everyone shares.” Other issues raised were paying teaching assistants more and refraining from having them teach classes. Grueter said they mostly wanted to provide Starr with stu-

dent voices since she heard the faculty last week. “We were definitely heard,” she said. “I’ve gotten so much from the CS department. So I want to help make the department better in the future.” Connor Ford PO ’20 agreed. “The department is not going to get better in the next five years. The people who are going to see any real changes will be students after that.”

DONORS: Young Alums Have ‘Doubts’ About Giving to Alma Mater Continued from Page 1 plained that historically, alumni donations typically go toward the annual fund and are used by the college in areas it sees fit. But recent alumni “are interested in whether there are opportunities in targeting their givings specifically,” he said. As such, Pomona has instituted programs to offer alumni the opportunity to support specific causes, such as funding internships. Another example is Champions of Sagehen Athletics, a donation fund that was established last year for the Pomona athletics program. “When the target area aligns with something they care about, often you’ll see them giving more than they will otherwise,” Arteaga-Johnson explained. Pomona’s trend regarding alumni contribution and participation is also echoed at other Claremont Colleges. Adrienne Gibson, the executive director of alumni engagement, wrote in an email to TSL that “the giving trends that Pomona is experiencing are absolutely also happening at Scripps.” According to David Sonner, president of Harvey Mudd College’s Alumni Association Board of Governors, the past five years at his alma mater have shown both an eight percent increase in terms of total dollars given as well as a three percent decrease in participation. He cited a study conducted in 2016 by S.T.A.F.F., an organization consisting of 48 small liberal arts colleges including both Pomona and Claremont McKenna, that found that among about 35 liberal arts colleges, two-thirds went up in alumni dollars while two-thirds simultaneously went down in alumni participation. “Younger donors may have doubts about whether giving to

their alma mater make the most impact,” he said. Like Arteaga-Johnson, Sonner also listed advances in technology as reducing the effectiveness of Harvey Mudd’s outreach efforts. “People are more likely to screen calls now that we have caller ID, so volunteers are more likely to get voicemail than talk with a person,” he said, using his own experience working at a phone-a-thon. In trying to incentivize participation, Harvey Mudd is trying to reconnect alumni to each other and to the college. “We put a lot of emphasis on things like alumni weekend,” Sonner said, detailing events such as zoo trips, whale watching, and hikes as examples of social excursions. “Every year, we’ve seen increasing levels of people coming to alumni weekend,” he added. “People who are connected that way are more likely to participate and be reminded of the value of their alma mater and give.” Liam Reese PO ’18 reaffirmed this phenonem through his personal experiences at Star47, Pomona’s student calling program. “We see these trends at work,” he wrote in a message to TSL. “In three years of calling, I’ve heard a lot of objections and flat-out rejections.” He added that Star47 sees an average of a three percent decline in particulation during election years, as many donors turn their attention to political action groups instead. “What I’ve seen a lot more of in the last three years has been what we call the ‘too liberal’ objection,” Reese wrote. “Pomona is a very different institution than it was even 20 years ago, and many alumni disagree with the direction the college is headed toward and refuse to support it on those grounds.”

David Guadalupe PO ’19, wrote in an email to TSL that “one of the most common reasons given to us when alumni decide to not donate is because they see that Pomona has however many billions in the endowment.” Reese stressed the importance of the alumni Annual Fund compared to the endowment. “The endowment is pretty much ‘untouchable,’ meaning that we can’t just reach into that fund and use the money to help out current students,” he wrote. “The endowment is an investment, and we only see the returns on that investment on an annual basis. So the Annual Fund is critical to ensuring that students on campus get the resources they need in this academic year,” he explained. Guadalupe expressed his concern regarding the decline in participation. “Every fiscal year we ask for a slightly larger amount,” he wrote, explaining that in accounting for the trend agents will need to ask the alumni that do give for larger amounts. “This can be an issue because at some point, alumni will simply get tired for being asked every year for more money that they may or may not have,” he wrote. However, both Arteaga-Johnson and Sonner were reassured that since dollar contributions are on the rise, the schools need not be immediately concerned about the lack of participation. “We certainly are dismayed to see the decline in participation rate as it can eventually have negative effects on sustainability of the dollars we are trying to increase over time,” ArteagaJohnson said. “However, as the dollars go up, we don’t have a big reason to be concerned.”

Bukuru Anaclet • The Student Life

Students watch performances by their peers during a Wellness Week event at Pitzer College’s Gold Student Center.Center. Students watch performances by their peers during a Wellness Week event at Pitzer College’s Gold Student Center.

Karen Song Pitzer College residence life staff and Peer Health Educators kicked off their very first Wellness Week on campus this week. The initiative was promoted as an opportunity for students to destress and take a break from finals through various creative activities. The residence life staff also hoped to use the events as a platform for students to learn more about self-care and openly discuss

mental health. “The week was developed to remind students that ‘wellness’ is multifaceted,” Assistant Director of Residence Life and Summer Programs Valerie Schiro wrote in an email to TSL. “It’s not just about eating healthy and working out, but also about mental health, positive interpersonal relationships, and self-care. The goal was to help students manage their stressful daily routines, and learn how to care for themselves in unique and fulfilling

ways.” The events encompassed everything from arts and crafts to food and discussion. Some of the most popular events were Dogs and Desserts, featuring student-friendly canines, and a bullet journaling class. Even though many students are stuck in their dorms studying, the turnout was greater than expected, and the office of residence life hopes to continue the event next year with even more holistic wellness practices.

NEWS DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

TAX: Senate Tax Bill Does Not Contain Tuition Waiver Provision Continued from Page 1 one such student. He planned to attend graduate school and work toward a doctorate in philosophy, but the tax bill has derailed his plans. If it passes, “I would have to figure something else out,” he said. “It’s crazy. It really is.” “My understanding of it is that my tax bill could go up as much as 200 percent or 400 percent,” he added. “Reading the testimony of these people who are currently graduate students … it seems like it would just not be financially tenable.” Keeton, who has emailed both California senators and his representative about the issue, said the looming threat of a tax hike has forced him to rethink where he is applying for his doctorate degree in philosophy. He had hoped to attend an out-of-state school, but is now looking at international schools to avoid the tuition waiver tax. “I already talked to admissions at McGill University at Montreal; I emailed admissions at King’s College in London. I’m looking at new alternatives. This is a new diaspora that’s about to happen,” he said, anticipating a

trend of graduate students pursuing higher education elsewhere. If he’s not able to go to school internationally, Keeton may be forced to make an uncomfortable decision – either swallow the tax increase that comes with a large tuition waiver from an out-of-state school, or go to an in-state institution, which won’t offer as much financial aid. “It’s like pick your poison,” he said. “Would it be easier if I just take on loans? Do I just take the waiver?” Keeton said he’s hardly the only CGU student fired up about the issue. “Almost every seminar it’s brought up,” he said. “I know when it was first announced, when people started to become aware of it, people were lamenting about it in class all the time.” On Wednesday, thousands of graduate students from more than 50 schools around the country participated in the Grad Tax Walkout, protesting the tax bill. The event was organized by six graduate students from the University of Southern California, the walkout’s website said. It’s not surprising the issue is widespread: 145,000 graduate students received a tuition reduction during the 2011-2012 school

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AID: Students Report Difficulties in Scholarship Programs

year – the most recent year from which data is available – according to the American Council on Education. ACE wrote to the House Ways and Means Committee on Nov. 6 that it had “grave concerns” about the bill, which ultimately passed 227-205. “This legislation, taken in its entirety, would discourage participation in postsecondary education, make college more expensive for those who do enroll, and undermine the financial stability of public and private, two-year and four-year colleges and universities,” ACE wrote. There’s still hope for the thousands of beleaguered graduate students, Hernandez said. The version of the tax bill currently being debated in the Senate does not include a provision that affects tuition waivers. If that bill passes an anticipated Friday Senate vote, the two bills’ differences will have to be resolved in a conference committee. “We have a fighting chance going into conference, where the two bills will be reconciled,” Hernandez said. “So our focus is when the two bills come together. We’re working hard to make sure that provision is left out.”

Photo courtesy of the Claremont McKenna College Office of Admissions

Robert L. Emett CM ’50 has agreed to donate approximately $20 million to his alma mater to fund paid summer internships and no-interest loan programs.

Continued from Page 1

Photo courtesy of Claremont Graduate University

Students are Claremont Graduate University and other graduate schools nationwide are threatened by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which would tax their tuition waivers.

college education,” wrote Danielle Dominguez CM ‘19, who entered CMC as a recipient of the Interdisciplinary Science Scholarship and later dropped the award, in a message to TSL. “But despite some issues the financial aid dept did help me navigate that process.” The Interdisciplinary Science Scholarship is one of CMC’s merit-based full-tuition scholarship program awarded to entering first-years, specifically “outstanding students from

CUC, Foothill Transit to Offer 5C Students Free Bus Passes Marc Rod Beginning next semester, all 5C students, staff, and faculty will be eligible for free, unlimited rides on Foothill Transit’s bus lines through their Class Pass program. The passes will be available at the Connections store in the Honnold Mudd Library. Students who want to pick up a pass will have to present their CUC ID and must be enrolled in at least one credit at any of the colleges to be eligible for the program. The program, which was previously instituted at five other colleges in the area, includes any of Foothill Transit’s 39 bus lines and the Metro Silver Streak bus, which run to 22 cities throughout Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Foothill bus lines serve Claremont, Pomona, Montclair, Pasadena, and downtown Los Angeles. Rides usually cost $1.50 each when purchased on the bus, plus $.50 for transfers. “We feel the benefits to our students are many: it’s free, it’s an option for students who do not have their own transportation. and it’s an opportunity to be environmentally friendly while also reducing the stress of driving in Los Angeles traffic,” CUC Vice President Denise

lower-income households,” and is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The recipients of ISS must dual or double major in a science discipline and a nonscience discipline. “I took history courses and literature courses at CMC and found my interests engaged and less so in my Keck science classes,” Dominguez wrote. “It’s difficult because the scholarship didn’t allow for that change, but in the end I decided that exploring subjects that I’m deeply interested in and have come to enjoy was more important than the financial security

Crime Logs Below are selected crimes from Nov. 1 to Nov. 29: Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 29, there were 17 bike thefts at the 5Cs. All cases are still open. On Nov. 2, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., there was an auto burglary at KGI. The case is open. At 7:05 a.m. on Nov. 3, a trespasser was escorted off campus from CMC’s Children’s School. The morning of Nov. 6 around 8 a.m., a male suspect aged 30 was arrested at Pomona’s Blaisdell hall for trespassing and possession of burglary tools.

Meghan Joyce • The Student Life

Hayes wrote in an email to TSL. Foothill buses serving the Claremont stop at the Claremont Transit Center on First Street between College Avenue and Mills Avenue, just south of Pomona College’s campus. Buses to downtown Los Angeles stop at or near a variety of destinations in the city, including

Cal State Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Union Station, Staples Center, and City Hall. “The [Student Deans Committee] is hopeful that students will take advantage of this benefit to enjoy the entertainment and cultural resources in the LA area, or even just to get to local destina-

tions served by Foothill Transit,” Hayes wrote. In other transportation news, the Metro Gold Line extension project, which will extend the Gold Line light rail to Claremont and other cities in the Inland Empire, will break ground Saturday at Citrus College in Glendora. The ceremony is open to the public.

afforded by ISS.” Overall, Hong wrote, very few CMC students have dropped out of scholarship programs, but when students have considered dropping, the CMC financial aid office has worked “to help them understand the implications of withdrawing.” “If a student does choose to withdraw from a scholarship program, the CMC office of financial aid packages them with a financial aid award utilizing other sources of aid which meets their demonstrated financial need,” Hong wrote.

Around 1:30 am on Nov. 11, a weapons violation involving a knife occurred at Pitzer’s McConnell Dining Hall. The case was forwarded to the Dean. Around 1 a.m. on Nov. 16, two men (aged 27 and 46) appeared to be casing

the bike racks at Pomona’s Harwood Dorm. They were arrested for prowling and possession of burglary tools. Around 3 a.m. on Nov. 16, two men (aged 25 and 30) were found near the bedrooms at CMC’s Senior Apartments with a camera. They were arrested for prowling and possession of burglary tools. On Nov. 21, there were three stolen vehicles. One at Pomona Museum of Art, one at Scripps’ Steele Hall, and one at Scripps’ Lang Art Building. All three cases are open. Much of this information is from the Clery Act Public Crime Logs, which are currently available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Campus Safety. The past 60 days of logs are now available on the Campus Safety website.

LIFE & STYLE PAGE 4

THE STUDENT LIFE

DECEMBER 1, 2017

Pomona Art Museum Ends Fall Exhibition with a Bang

Liam Brooks • The Student Life

Liam Brooks & Grace Ozonoff-Richey “Pyrotechnics will never go exactly according to plan,” Adela Goldbard told TSL. “And that’s an integral part of my work since I’m very interested in chance, the accidental, and the unexpected.” Goldbard’s performance “A World of Laughter, A World of Fears” earlier this month did not go exactly to plan — a bus that was set to be ignited early in the performance remained intact and had to be manually detonated after the finale — but that’s not to discount the power of the spectacle, which involved plenty of explosions, smoke, sparkles, and a healthy dose of in-your-face, inyour-ears political commentary. During the performance, each of the cacti spun in place and then disintegrated in flame, some sending debris flying like pinwheel sparklers. Before moving to Bixby Plaza to be set ablaze, Goldbard’s installation was housed in the

Pomona Art Museum as the centerpiece of their fall exhibition, “Prometheus 2017: Four Artists from Mexico Revisit Orozco.” The exhibition is part of the Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA collaboration, a showcase of “Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles.” Instillations are stationed around Southern California, including exhibitions at Scripps College’s Williamson Gallery and the Pitzer College Art Galleries. According to the Pomona Art Museum’s website, the “Prometheus 2017” exhibition “examines the multiple ways Orozco’s vision resonates with four artists working in Mexico today. Goldbard, an artist who splits her time between Mexico City and Chicago (where she is completing her MFA at the Art Institute) spent the last several months on site at Pomona constructing a Mexican landscape from paper mache and other highly flammable materials, with the decisive intent to blow it all up.

Enlisting the help of the Artsumex artist collective, Golbard and the team constructed cacti using traditional craft techniques with reeds. “My work could not be made without them,” Goldbard told LA Weekly in July. The program stated that the Nov. 18 performance was based on a June 2016 conflict in Oaxaca, Mexico: “On June 19, 2016, federal policemen tried to remove professors and parents blockading highways to protest education reforms. The protesters defended themselves with stones and DIY bazookas as they blocked the roadway with burning buses. The police responded with tear gas cans, rubber bullets, and automatic rifle fire, which the authorities denied.” Goldbard wrote in an email to TSL after the event that her work, among other things, “intends to make visible obscured connections between events and discourses on both sides of the border.” Liam Brooks • The Student Life

Liam Brooks • The Student Life

LIFE & STYLE THE STUDENT LIFE

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DECEMBER 1, 2017

FASHION COLUMN

Sheenie Yip on the Artistry of Identity and Consumption Charlie Kolbrener

It is certainly difficult to mitigate the contest between the pitfalls of consumerism and an interest in fashion. Clothing, after all, is a wearable expression of materialism. But fashion is also an integral aspect of people’s ability to create a sense of identity. For some, it can be a safety net, or a comfort blanket. So we cannot condemn fashion (and the brand fetishization that comes with it) as only an extension of the negatives of capitalism. It is not always just an attempt to fulfill socialized images; it can be attempt to fulfill your desired image. T h i s we e k I s a t d o w n w i t h Sheenie Shannon Yip SC ’18.Yip’s look transcends segregation of styles. Elements of formal wear and European streetwear all play into Yip’s distinctive style. We talked about Sheenie’s experiences with developing a personal sense of style, and how fashion can operate as both a form of self-expression and an extension of consumerism. TSL: How did you become interested in fashion? S h e e n i e Yi p : I t h i n k m y experience is really specific because, for a good chunk of my life, up until I was like twelve, I had really bad skin problems so I couldn’t wear anything but sweats all the time … And then, I lived in Shanghai from nine to twelve, and then, when I moved back I just wanted to remake myself ... I mean obviously I had a rough start. I wore some weird shit. Tumblr helped me shape my style and know what’s out there. TSL: Who inspires you? SY: I really got into shaping my personal style or standing out through observing Japanese Harajuku or FRUiTS. FRUiTS magazine is like this – it’s stopped now, but there’s this specific place in Harajuku where people dress a very specific way. I would wear tattoo tights with guns printed on them and these skeleton hand necklaces that were like chokers with fake blood on them

and studded headbands ... I think that was freshman year of highschool, or sophomore year. I wore double platform creepers and all that. From then on, I think just following Tumblr and slowly transitioning to Instagram and following very specific people that I really liked and obviously it changed over the years. Because I’m AsianAmerican, there’s not a lot of representation there for me in the media. I shaped it through my own media, like Tumblr and Instagram and followed a lot of Asian models or Asian fashion, lifestyle people. TSL: What are your favorite pieces? SY: My beret. I’m just recently obsessed with wearing a chain. I’ve been wearing a pinstripe blazer a lot. It’s getting old, I need to change it up, but that’s recently what I’m doing. I love trousers. I don’t pay attention to runways all the time, but every time there’s a good pair of trousers, I’m like, “Yes.” TSL: How do we rationalize the contest between the problems of consumerism and an interest in fashion? SY: “There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.” I guess I can avoid thinking about it as much right now because I’m not focused on buying expensive things. I do respect people who do at times when they’re very specific about it, because it’s not buying for the brands, it’s buying for the artistry behind it ... That’s why I think people make fun of hypebeasts, because they’ll buy things just because it’s hyped for a couple months and then it’s not anymore, maybe they’ll resell it. It’s evident here, but I think it’s even more evident in China, where people don’t even ascribe identity to clothing anymore. You see someone wearing like, Balenciaga shoes, or something that you would assume here is a signifier for someone that cares, but they just bought whatever they saw that was interesting to them. So there’s definitely a

Stella Li • The Student Life

Sheenie Yip SC ’18 poses for the camera at Scripps College.

devaluing. I do think reselling is really interesting within the context of capitalism because … there’s something about the way that you can pass clothing around that’s very communal. TSL: How would you describe your personal style? SY: I love dressing down for-

mal wear. And I think recently, just from things I’ve been looking at, I’ve started looking a lot at European street fashion. And it’s not that I try to buy those brands, like I don’t own Supreme or Palace or whatever, but I like the look. So it’s dressed down formal with a little bit of

street style. Sometimes I wear girly things, but it’s only when I go out. TSL: How has fashion worked for you as an expression of selfidentity? SY: You can essentially control how people see you. I think that I’m a very much visually

expressive person. That a way to establish who I am, maybe to other people is through clothing. Not everyone does that. Also, with my skin, I think it was a way for me to control visually how I presented myself instead of wearing black sweats all the time.

Computer Science Genius: An Optimistic Future for Facebook Intern Elvis Kahoro Bryce Wachtell Few summer internships are as selective and sought after as those in Silicon Valley. Even fewer companies within the tech capital of the world are as powerful and eminent as Facebook. Elvis Kahoro PO ’20 knows both of these facts well, so when he applied for an internship at the company, he didn’t have high hopes. But against his expectations, Kahoro found himself living in the Bay Area and working at the tech behemoth as a software engineer this past summer. K a h o r o , a K e n ya n - b o r n Georgia native, was nervous but excited for his time at Facebook. From the people to the campus to the culture, Kahoro reported that his experience there was wonderful. “The company is pretty progressive in terms of work environment,” he said. “The model is move fast and break things. Facebook would prefer for you to build something and – even if it’s not finished – get it out there and then constantly make changes.” The internship was the perfect fit for Kahoro given his interest in computational social sciences. The somewhat-novel field seeks to integrate computer science in the humanities to accomplish tasks or reveal patterns that reveal insightful information. “Anything that is in the humanities that can be scaled or that you can gain inferences from by using data or machine learning would fall under computational social science,” said Kahoro. Facebook hires many computational social scientists because of the wealth of information they can gain from their millions of daily users. The fact that the company is a people-facing platform made the job opportunity even more attractive for Kahoro, too. In middle school, Kahoro found the leaked source code of a 2D video game he liked to play. After examining the mechanics of it for hours, he realized computer science may be of interest to him, and after some high school classes in the

field that suspicion was reaffirmed. He has since declared a major in computer science at Pomona. At Facebook, Kahoro enjoyed the people he interacted with on a daily basis. His manager, he said, was especially welcoming. “It was just so surprising to see how willing my manager was to spend time helping me figure out things, in terms of both my actual project and life. He was spending all this time with me, but I knew he had to push his own code and contribute to the team that he was on.” Likewise, Kahoro went to lunch with several other interns to talk to Pomona alumni who are now full time employees at the company. He described them as welcoming of his presence and exuberant to have fellow Sagehens on campus. “ I ’ m n o t s u r e w h y I l o ve computer science so much,” he said, “I just think tech can play such a huge role. Candy Crush, for example, was bought for almost six billion dollars. That’s more than some industries for an entire country. I think giving people access to computer science and technology will make the world a better place. And my hope is to be a part of that – providing people in the developing world with a higher standard of living.” Kahoro wants to apply his computer science skills in two major ways: to improve general accessibility to technology, and to remedy or mitigate problems i n t h e d e veloping world. “I think incorporating accessibility work into computer science is important, because tech and Silicon Valley can be a pretty big bubble,” he said. “Making tech more accessible is what I’m really interested in, so I try to find teams and projects that are in that sphere.” Kahoro’s altruistic world view commands much of what he does, both as a software engineer selecting projects to work on, and in his roles as a student leader. Though he wants to keep going back to and ultimately start his career at Facebook, Kahoro imagines working for a nonprofit or foundation at some point in his professional career.

Ethan Ong • The Student Life

Elvis Kahoro PO ’20 sits on a bench in Marston Quad.

LIFE & STYLE

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DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

Bramwell Debuts SUBTL in Art Gala ‘When We Met’ Becky Hoving Ellington Bramwell PO ’19 lacks subtlety. At least, that’s what someone told him in the summer of 2016, months before he launched the clothing line SUBTL. “I was actually trying to spit game to this woman,” Bramwell recalls, laughing. “What people don’t know about me is that I’m an introvert, and I don’t ‘spit game.’ At all. ... I remember one of her responses was, ‘You lack subtlety.’” The conversation gave Bramwell the perfect name for his clothing line: SUBTL. A media studies major and art minor, Bramwell has always been creative. Growing up in Chicago, his high school teacher introduced him to Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, where he channeled his artistic energy into graphics and animation. The line, which includes graphic t-shirts and a phone case, embodies Bramwell’s dedication to what he describes as the “doit-yourself culture.” Intentionally shying away from mainstream styles, Bramwell aims for his clothing to cultivate a “raw” feel. The logo, a jagged lettering of “SUBTL” with a graphic of hands, represents his authentic intentions. “I wanted something a little gritty – I didn’t want it to be too clean,” he said. “I wanted to incorporate my gravitation toward thinking about space in general, which is why a part of the logo is kind of like a black hole with hands reaching up from beneath.” Bramwell detailed his process from ideation to production. As the studio manager for The Hive at the Claremont Colleges, he has used its screen printing tools to produce his merchandise and occasionally outsources to online orders for more complex designs. “I usually get someone’s bike or someone’s car and take the fiveminute ride down the the T-Shirt Mart or the swap meet – that’s where I get all my blanks from,” Bramwell said. After buying blank t-shirts, Bramwell chooses designs, transfers the design to a screen, and imprints the logo on the shirt. One of Bramwell’s favorite designs is “Let’s Be Evil Together,”

a “grimey-looking couple in a heart-shaped bed.” The design demonstrates partnership and was inspired by the idea that everyone is searching for a partner in crime. “I feel like we all put on shields the minute we get out of bed and just try to conquer each day,” Bramwell said. “The idea behind the design is what if you could do that with someone who’s on the same wave as you.” Bramwell’s website also includes an editorial section. He partnered with In House Atlas, a production collective at the 5Cs that explores space and truth through art, to curate articles and poems. “The people that I interview are other young adults, starting their own organizations, apps, and some are really dope musicians and artists,” he said. “I really just wanted to re-center the light, take a step back away from mainstream culture, and focus more on local initiatives and local shapers of culture.” Bramwell’s clothing has appeared in pop-ups, instillations, showcases, and is available on his website, inhouseatlas.com/ subtl. Pitzer College’s Shakedown Café also boasts a wide collection of SUBTL’s merchandise, where students can purchase phone cases and t-shirt prints with cash or Venmo. On Nov. 3, Bramwell’s collective introduction came to life in his art gala debut, “When We Met.” Complete with projections, light installations, live painting, dance performances, music, and visual art, over 70 people entered the off-campus home of Isaac TuckerRasbury PO ’18. Dawned in furs, heels, and suits, many guests abided by SUBTL’s request to “wear the attire that makes you feel most radiant. Despite the guests’ swanky attire, Bramwell came to the gala dressed in khakis. “Typical,” TuckerRasbury said with a chuckle. Tucker-Rasbury, who has grown close to Bramwell through their work at the Black Student Affairs Office, said that his home near the Claremont Co-Op and Pomona art museum was the ideal location. “[Branwell] was like, ‘Man, uh,

Meghan Joyce • The Student Life

Ellington Bramwell PO ‘19 models his own designs earlier this year in February.

can I use your house?’” TuckerRasbury said. “And I was like, ‘You know I want you to use my house, and you should have asked me before.’ I was so happy about it.” Tucker-Rasbury added that there were some days, he would just leave his house open for Bramwell and his team from In House Atlas to set up for the gala. Tucker-Rasbury noted that Bramwell would have been happy no matter the number of guests or sales made. “Some people do things because at the end of it, they’re going to get to dress up really nicely and stand in front of a crowd,” Tucker-Rasbury said. “[Bramwell’s] the guy that does the thing because he really wants to do the thing … He’s not beat

over the crowd – he’s doing it because he loves the work.” The gala allowed Bramwell to showcase his entire artistic collection. “People [had] seen pieces of my work, whether it [was] random stickers, posters, random shirts, or canvas pieces at different events, but they [had] not seen the collective introduction I wanted to have,” Bramwell said. After pulling over a month of all-nighters, Bramwell’s hard work has paid off: The gala was anything but subtle. “The gala was tight,” he said. “I remember being at this point last year [when] I wanted to collab with all these dope people [who had] wiggled their way into being some of my favorite artists in general, so it

was honestly a surreal feeling to be able to collaborate with them on a debut.” Bramwell donated all proceeds to Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief efforts and Eye Love You, a Chicago youth summer camp, founded by a close friend. After spending the summer of 2016 interning at CBS in Manhattan, he discovered his true passion: interacting with members of his own community. He now hopes to combine his interest in community engagement with his artistic design skills. Looking forward, Bramwell hopes to eventually have a retail front, where he can continue to cultivate creative energy through community workshops and gala

spaces, like those provided at The Hive. Bramwell says he is not monetarily motivated, but rather hopes to expand upon his collection of artistic content and make art more accessible to everyone. “I hope for it to be a hub of collaboration married with community engagement,” Bramwell said. Bramwell admits that it’s funny how far he has taken his company since that one conversation from the summer of 2016 coined SUBTL’s name, despite the fact that the relationship never went any further. “I don’t even think the person knows about SUBTL,” Bramwell said, laughing. “No one expected it.”

Ye Olde Student Life I don’t know about other people, but as a December-born baby, I can’t help but look forward to every end of a year. I get to finally pack my things and go “hibernate” in the summer-all-year-long Singapore, where I call my second home, and spend the holidays with family. Even as things come to a close – with my post-Thanksgiving blues and finals season lurking near – looking through TSL’s Christmas-themed archives has nonetheless kept my toes up for a happy closure to 2017. At the same time, a sardonically humorous article by a writer from TSL’s December 7, 1971 issue has caught my attention. With certain issues still relevant to us from over four decades ago, perhaps it’s time to reflect on what we hope to bring into the new year of 2018. Pomona College Claremont Dear Folks, I hope you are all feeling well and can survive the last few days before the extended recess. (Remember – the days will pass, even if you don’t.) Unluckily, the usual result, survival, is often not a sufficient condition for accomplishment. Since 1971 has nearly expired, it is appropriate that its events be clarified, before 1972 crowds the scene. General holidays are stranger times; people, even the unintelligent, unlucky, the flagrantly uninspired, take time out to enjoy themselves. Drudgy people who think they’re obligated to be happy go around looking pleased until they really do feel good. They spend money on friends and relatives, they subscribe to the latest entertainments for their children. Meanwhile, old friends meet, families reunited, and the general glee spreads. Even the old, the poor, and the loners are somewhat included. The widespread picking up of childish things provides relief from usual burdens. Religion is a worthwhile institution if it serves no purpose other than providing a few days or weeks of holidays annually. However, there is no excuse for the shortness of duration of the Christmas season. Santa Claus comes to town once and is banned until the next year; we prefer to sit around being tired and worried. Granted, there are all sorts of things, especially people, to fear. The UN, the Arabs, and the Communists are out to get U.S. collectively, while the mad rightists, leftists, and disoriented hippie freaks threaten us from every direction. What’s more, the middle of the road seems to be growing wider and more congested all the time. No one over age ten writes letters to Santa Claus; who can blame him for driving in thin air? He comes in the dead of night through the “exhaust barrier.” His whiskers and his reindeers’ antlers are encrusted with itchy unmelted smow (frozen smog). His gift list has been condensed onto 3.5 feet of holly-scented computer paper, but he doesn’t know how to read it, so things get passed around and mixed up like always. Two front teeth are given to every dentist while the mini-monster set gets knitting kits and chessboards, but everyone lives happily until after vacation. Since morale is currently high, the valuable questions are: 1) Can you honestly tell Santa you’ve been a good kid in 1971? and 2) What will you think when the holiday ends and your enemies start their anti-you campaigns afresh? The answers to the first are highly personal, so I will ignore it. Luckily there are some widely applicable suggestions for the second problem. The following are useful attitudes for combatting anti-you campaigns: 1. They aren’t worth listening to, anyway. 2. If they liked me, I couldn’t stand myself. 3. It’s better to be disliked than unnoticed. 4. People with personality conflicts are more creative and successful than people who are normal and happy. 5. No one is REALLY normal or happy – they’re just pretending. 6. Because I am unhappy, I am demonstrating my superiority by not hiding my true self. 7. Misery isn’t its own reward – I’m sure to get plenty of sympathy. Again, appropriate greetings, warnings, and cheers to all, from us and me. Sincerely, Susan M. Jones, Special Sub-Editor Pomona College Student Life – Compiled by Ariel So.

LIFE & STYLE DECEMBER 1, 2017

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THE STUDENT LIFE

MUSIC COLUMN

New Artist serpentwithfeet Mixes Gospel and R&B to Create Fearless Vulnerability Juanita Graham

Last year, serpentwithfeet released its debut EP, “blisters” – an appropriate title for the sweltering collection. With the production of Haxan Cloak, the stunning vocals of Josiah Wise, and the collaborative efforts of Bjork, “blisters” arises as a meld of neo-soul and gospel, occupying a unique space that feels both futuristic and primordial. Amid mythological lyricism and classical instrumentation, the EP also offers an raw portrait of queer experience. Its first and titular track introduces listeners to the end of a relationship: “As your lips curl at the smell of sweetness in this room, keep tying your shoes. You should know the world outside my door has tightened its womb for you. Help me say the darkness of the leaves has come. Forgive has not, forgive not.” Wise peels back the layers of heartbreak, exposing a graceful, yet crushing emotional reckoning. He traces the fissures in intimacy that bring about this unraveling: “You would not get small with me, you would not kneel for me, you would not kiss me.” Accompanied by a distinct sonic landscape, simultaneously expansive and suffocating, Wise’s vocal prowess takes center stage. But the following track, “flickering,” aptly begins in a much softer place: “I’m starting

to feel the cord connecting us two is made of gossamer. I’m starting to kiss these bruises; it hurts that you won’t join me.” serpentwithfeet is refreshing not only in its honesty, but in its bravery. Wise is unafraid of vulnerability, a characteristic that remains prominent throughout the EP. The following ballad, “four ethers,” is the first explicitly queer song of the collection: “Babe I know you learned some fucked up shit from your mother. Had you tucking your dick, had you hiding the shit that really made you special. Show me yourself.” Wise touches on the nuances of queer love and the many forces it may face: internalized homophobia and mental illness being two of many that the collaboration encounters on four ethers. The final two tracks – “penance” and “redemption” – bring the listener through the painful realities that dissolved this relationship, into a space of acceptance: “I thought there was redemption in the four ethers ... But your name is impossible to know.” As a whole, “blisters” may leave its listeners reeling or revitalized, or maybe both. There’s no doubt, though, that it is an imaginative and intimate creation, well worth exploring. Courtesy of serpentwithfeet

Laspa Center Ends L-Squad Series with Conflict Resolution “Considering the political atmosphere that we have going right now and the way it’s expressed on both a macro and micro level, as a woman, it’s important that we effectively combat challenging situations,” said Mackenzie Priest-Heck SC ’21, a student worker at Scripps College’s Laspa Center for Leadership. “Learn to combat tension, rather than falling into that mean-girl or submissive dichotomy that I think most women end up doing.” On Tuesday, the Laspa Center concluded its “Conflict Management and Leadership” L-Squad Workshop series at Scripps’ Student Union. The program consisted of three lunchtime sessions presided over by speakers whose vocations require that they attempt to med i a t e c on fl i c t s . “An d we’re all probably going to be in some sort of workplace too, at some time,” said Ana Cherry SC ’20, another student worker at Laspa. “So, it’s good to learn empathy and interpersonal skills.” The first guest speaker, practicing lawyer Dawn Repp, talked about how to judge when it was okay to bust out their toolbox of problem-solving skills and use them to bridge interpersonal ruptures in a session titled “Choosing Your Battles.” Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services’s Dr. Carrie Grant then arrived to lead a hands-on, interactive forum titled “Listening and Assertive Communication” on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving break. Catrina Walters SC ’20 said that the conflict-management steps that Dr. Grant offered are now treasured in her own toolbox. “I definitely found that the way I handle people and speak to them has begun to change after the second workshop,” she said. “I actually use the steps she talked about, and now even when I’m watching a dumb TV show or something, and someone is trying to solve a problem, I’m watching how they’re doing it, and then they do it wrong, and I go ‘Oh you missed a step!’” The third session, “Conflict Resolution,” was led by Imam Adeel Zeb, the Claremont Consortium’s Muslim Chaplain. In his discussion, he had a volunteer from the audience enact a scenario where they asked another student to return a belonging initially borrowed without permission, and even-

tually used both participants to demonstrate speech that adequately expressed hurt, yet non-confrontational feelings. “Imagine,” Zeb said, “that you’re an administrative member, and a co-worker sends out an email to the whole staff declaring that you are the most incompetent person they have ever seen. How do you react in a productive way?” Zeb suggested using non-accusatory responses to maintain the validity of another person engaged in a conflict and to create conditions for productive discussion. He advocated for employing the five “love languages” as defined in Dr. Gary Chapman’s 1995 book: words of affirmation, physical touches, gift giving, quality time, and acts of service. Zeb had his audience journal in reaction to prompts, such as “I forgive myself (or someone else) for judging me as …,” “I forgive myself (or someone else) for accepting the false belief that …,” or “I forgive myself (or someone else) for believing the misrepresentation of reality that ….” Finally, he encouraged the scribbling down of personal feelings as a mechanism to help rid hatred, anger, and internal struggle.

Jaimie Ding If you’ve been scrolling through Netflix recently, you might have noticed a new anime show called “Neo Yokio.” With a 5.9/10 average rating on IMDB, the Netflix anime’s reception was incredibly mixed. “Neo Yokio” is a six-episode collaboration between producer Ezra Koenig (a member of the band “Vampire Weekend”) and Furuhashi Kazuhiro (who directed countless animes, including “Hunter x Hunter” in 2011). With a star-studded cast of voice actors including Jaden Smith, Jude Law, Susan Sarandon, and Tavi Gevinson (who spoke at Scripps College on Nov. 7), the show seemed promising. As someone who grew up watching Japanese animes, I often find it hard to watch Englishdubbed or American-produced shows because of the low-quality voice acting and dialogue. American-produced shows try – but often fail – to imitate the Japanese anime style. Though skeptical for these reasons, I tried to keep an open mind when watching “Neo Yokio.” I was able to watch all six episodes for

this review. “Neo Yokio” tries to do too much at once and ends up accomplishing nothing. With only six episodes running a little over two hours, it simply does not have time to deal with all the plotlines thrown in together and develop its characters on a more intimate and meaningful level. There isn’t enough world-building, making it difficult to contextualize the events that happen in each episode. The show is set in what seems to be futuristic New York, with recognizable locations such as the Hamptons and 14th Street. The series includes openly LGBTQIA+ characters and characters from different racial backgrounds. This was refreshing to see, since the traditional Japanese animes I’ve watched generally only include characters with light skin. The main character, Kaz Kaan (Jaden Smith) is part of the “magistocracy,” a play on the words magic and aristocracy. His family’s duty is to protect the city by exorcising demons. Right off the bat, I did not find him a very likeable character: he was shallow, whiny, and seemed to embody privilege and teenage angst. “Neo Yokio” makes fun of the

shallow, aristocratic society that most of the main characters are a part of, and in turn, critiques the elites in our society. In the very first episode, Kaz throws his expensive Cartier watch off a building because his girlfriend broke up with him. He also debates whether it’s okay to wear a midnight blue tux to a “Black and White Ball.” The character Arcangelo (played by voice actor Jason Schwartzman) is introduced as Kaz’s main rival. While the tension between them is poorly developed, it establishes the divide between the East “old money” who worked for their wealth and the West “neo riche” who inherited theirs. Though both are part of bourgeoisie society, the East views themselves as elegant socialites, while the West are “rat-catchers” that have to exorcise demons to maintain their wealth. The show also lacks character development, especially for Arcangelo and the main female lead, Helena (played by voice actor Tavi Gevinson). Both characters seem to completely change personalities with little to no plot explanation. However, I enjoyed these changes as they moved the characters away from the stereotypical rival and

love interest anime archetypes. A major part of each episode illustrates Kaz’s job of exorcising demons. But, because that part of the world seems completely separate from his personal life, this detail feels like a disconnect. The show could have better integrated different parts of its storyline together in order to make it feel more cohesive. The voice acting for most of the characters is mediocre. There were some notably monotonous lines delivered by the characters Kaz and Helena. However, I can’t quite tell if it’s bad voice acting or if this was done for characters on purpose. There are also several accents that I can’t quite identify. Overall, the show definitely has an interesting premise and is incredibly different from anything I have watched. While it was not hugely entertaining for me, I do believe that the show has potential. While I initially disliked the show, I was able to appreciate it more after finishing the whole thing. A realistic antagonist is finally introduced in the final couple episodes, and the last episode ends with a nice cliffhanger that makes me look forward to the next season.

“

Learn to combat tension, rather than falling into that mean-girl or submissive dichtomy that I think most women end up doing.

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Shringi Diva Vikram

Netflix “Neo Yokio” Puts New Spin on Japanese Anime

“I’m happy with the response [the workshop] had,” Cherry said. “A lot of people turned up and seemed like they were really interested. And really, all the speakers are so knowledgeable, and they all tailored their discussions into relevant ideas for college students. So, my favourite part was just hearing the speakers and watching other people there enjoy it, too.”

Elodie Arbogast • The Student Life

OPINIONS PAGE 8

DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

THE STUDENT LIFE LIAM BROOKS Editor-in-Chief KATIE BAUGHMAN Managing Editor CHRISTOPHER ESKILSON Managing Editor GRACE OZONOFF-RICHEY Production Editor

ELINOR ASPEGREN, News Editor KELLEN BROWNING, News Editor MARC ROD, News Associate SEAN OGAMI, Life & Style Editor ARIEL SO, Life & Style Editor JOLO LABIO, Opinions Editor TIARA SHARMA, Opinions Editor HANK SNOWDON, Sports Editor SABRINA WILK, Sports Editor DONNIE DENOME, Copy Chief OLIVIA TRUESDALE, Copy Editor PRIYA KARETI, Copy Editor PEGGY CHOU, Copy Editor

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Weekly Comic: Brainwashed

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EDITORIAL BOARD

It’s More Than Just A Dollar Last week, we noticed the Scripps student body fee for the 2017-2018 school year rose a dollar per student, from $108 in the 2016-2017 year, to $109 per semester. There was no explanation, no email, and no notification justifying this increase. While a buck may not seem so significant in the grand scheme of our student tuitions, the unannounced change left us wondering: why didn’t the Scripps student body receive an update about the rise in financial fees, even those as small as a buck? As students who pay to attend and study at these institutions, we deserve to at least be alerted when and why our budgets have been

raised, if not some type of say in the decision. Scripps’ website confirmed this change in fees, and verified that CASHnet did not make a typo in its report. However, we are not so much worried about the dollar as we are about our academic facilities maintaining honest and transparent communication with its students. The lack of awareness about student body fees is disconcerting. The SAS constitution neither specifies how its student government utilizes these fees, nor discloses who has the authority to change the rates. Scripps’ office services confirms that the Treasurer B bylaws must “[contact] the Student Accounts Office to request the student fees check at the beginning of each semester.”

TSL

TSL SAYS

Over a hundred pages published this semester! Woo-hoo!

All students at the Claremont colleges are subject to student body fees: Students at the other schools pay between $122.50 (Claremont McKenna College) and $177.50 (Pomona) in fees per semester. Why aren’t we talking about these hefty added fees that come out of students’ pockets twice a year? Not only is it the responsibility of our governments to alert us to such changes; we as members of the student body should be interested in understanding and anticipating these changes in our finances. We should want to know when we are being charged extra, and for what reasons.

Royal Wedding Biracial Royalty!

This Production Night Sleep is for the weak

Race Relations in the U.K. Still not discussed ...

North Korean Refugee Soldier A trooper.

Coco Finally.

New Missiles Help.

Cars 3 WHY DO CARS HAVE TO DIE

Jordan Wong • The Student Life

Breaking the Bond with Organic Chemistry After a semester of floundering, flopping, and failing, I finally withdrew from Organic Chemistry on Tuesday. It was a weight I desperately needed off my back. My withdraw paperwork came after a Thanksgiving break filled with worry over its effect on my transcript, the registrar’s reaction, and uncertainty over grad school prospects. Sometime around Saturday night, all this culminated in the completely rational idea that withdrawing from OChem would inevitably and totally destroy any future I could ever dream of. Yet when I turned in the paperwork on Tuesday – the registrar greeted me with a nonjudgmental smile – I didn’t feel overwhelmed with worry or fear of the future. In fact, I felt numb now that the semester-long stress of Organic Chemistry was gone. “I’ll try again next year,” has

been my motto in the process. My failed adventure in organic chemistry can be attributed to many factors: a lack of emotional and academic preparation, overcommitting to other classes and extracurriculars, and an incompatibility between my learning style and the professor’s teaching style. Giving it another go next year will give me another chance to remedy all those issues. Don’t get me wrong. I like organic chemistry. It’s a tough class that chews students up and spits them out. It has been the bane of natural science majors since time immemorial, but I still like it despite the difficulty. One of the things I loved about OChem, despite the stress, was its ability to connect theoretical chemical concepts with much more concrete and observable ones. My textbook, probably in anticipation that many organic chemistry students are pre-med, included sections on medicine and drug design – and I read these with gusto.

Lab section was my favorite: there is something immensely satisfying about conducting reactions yourself. In particular, Tuesday of last week, in the pre-Thanksgiving haze, the lab centered around using different basic tests to identify a mystery

“

Sometimes, the solution is to work harder and overcome. Sometimes, the solution is to cut my losses and say “I’ll try again next time.”

“

Donnie TC Denome Guest Columnist

compound. Seeing my samples change color, form precipitates, go up in brilliant flames, or boil after sitting inert for several min-

utes was wonderful. When I finally realized that even the best lab scores would not make up for my failing lecture grades, I felt both disappointed in and proud of myself. I wasn’t doing well in lecture at all, but I wasn’t bombing lab like I have in the past. My lab scores last year were mediocre at best, but this year they were above average. I was even improving. I’ve tried to take a “try your best and hope for the best” attitude in college. I spent all of high school panicking about what might happen next and assuming the worst at any setback. Part of that was uncontrolled anxiety and depression, but once my brain monsters were controlled, I made a conscious choice to try and be more laid-back. It hasn’t always worked. In the last three semesters, I’ve panicked more times than I can count, but at least I’m not at the “full-scale stress meltdown once a week” levels I was in high school.

My experiences in organic chemistry have cemented my beliefs in the “try your best and hope for the best” attitude. There will always be factors beyond my control in life. No matter what I do, I can’t fix every shortcoming I encounter. Sometimes, the solution is to work harder and overcome. Sometimes, the solution is to cut my losses and say “I’ll try again next time.” I am, of course, lucky and privileged that there can be a next time. For lots of students, a “withdraw” on their transcript could mean a scholarship or other college necessities thrown into danger. That isn’t me, and I am aware of how lucky I am to be in the position I am. Taking a withdraw is not always the best option, obviously, but it also shouldn’t be a non-option. I went into the withdrawing process thinking that everyone would be mad at me, that I was a total failure, that this would screw up my entire life. I was, essentially, caught up in the

perfectionist rat race that, sadly is, college and academia. But my professor, my advisor, and the workers in the registrar’s office weren’t judgmental. They weren’t upset with me. They didn’t see this as some huge failing on my part. Their attitude towards my withdrawing seemed to be “well, sometimes it happens and it looks like the best option for you.” And, an acquaintance currently in grad school explained to me: “There are entire online communities devoted to people complaining about organic chemistry. With a class like this, sometimes the smallest things make the difference between succeeding or not succeeding.” I’ll pick myself up and try again next year when I’m more p r e p a r e d a n d h a ve a b e t t e r chance at it. Donnie TC Denome PZ ‘20 is a public health major from Sunnyvale, CA. They collect pinback buttons to wear on their lanyard.

OPINIONS DECEMBER 1, 2017

PAGE 9

THE STUDENT LIFE

It’s Not Me, Scripps, It’s You Tiara Sharma Guest Columnist Scripps. I think we both know things haven’t been good for a while. I just think we’ve grown apart, become different people, you know? Like a lot of your students (and, yes, there are many), I must admit that you were not love at first sight. But my family and my friends from high school consoled me. They told me that even if I hadn’t chosen Scripps, it had chosen me. During my time here, that chosenness has meant less and less, as I’ve grown to realize the ways in which Scripps has chosen students like myself only to abandon efforts to build an academic community for us. Last week, I pulled a late night with a couple friends in Pearsons Hall, home to Pomona’s Philosophy and Religious Studies departments. I was surprised, perhaps to an embarrassing extent, at the ease with which my Pomona friends swiped into the building at 11:00 p.m. They made themselves some coffee in the building’s kitchen before spreading their papers and books across the tables in the lounge area. They stopped their work every once in awhile to sing along to music or microwave popcorn, to unabashedly take up space in a pretentiously decorated room that looked better suited for students with graduate degrees. But I was less distracted by these interruptions than I was at my own inability to access spaces like these on my own campus. For an institution that centers “active participation in a community of scholars” in its mission statement,

Scripps does not structurally prioritize academics. The college has three academic buildings on campus - four, if we want to count the Performing Arts Center which is primarily home to Garrison Theater and Boone Recital Hall. We have, on the other hand, eleven residential buildings. Eleven. That half of our main campus consists of residential halls speaks volumes about our institutional priorities. The admissions office markets residential life as, by far, one of the biggest perks of attending Scripps. They flaunt our #1 ranking for “best college dorms” by the Princeton Review (although, what I’m sure they don’t flaunt is our housing crisis: due to overnerollment and despite the addition of NEW hall last fall, the college has relegated dozens of first-years to off-campus apartments at Claremont Graduate University). I’ve seen the faces of prospective students and families light up during the residential life portion of their Scripps tour, and I don’t blame them. It’s hard not to swoon at the lush courtyards, the tile floors, the antique furniture, and the Mediterranean-style arches. But, practically speaking, the heart of an academic institution does not, and should not, reside within its dorms. Unfortunately for Scripps students, our college has designed itself, first and foremost, as a place of comfort and luxury. Our administration invests so much concerted effort into making us comfortable. We must live in lavish dorms with fountains and stained glass windows. We must have a multimillion dollar field house (what does

that even mean?), complete with yoga, zumba, and kickboxing classes and a pool fit for a country club. Our dining hall must have brand-new patio furniture reminiscent of a locale from some beachside locale. It is no coincidence that we are both the token women’s college in the consortium and, as most students, professors, and families will remark, the most beautiful campus. “Beautiful,” “gorgeous,” and “pretty,” however, do not allude to this institution’s intellectual histories and academic reputation. The physical structure of the campus reinforces this disparity: our academic buildings are, and have to be, multipurpose to a fault. The Edwards Humanities Building houses classes in politics, economics, math, biology, chemistry, and psychology. Unlike Pomona and many other elite liberal arts colleges in the country, we dedicate no individualized space to our academic departments. In addition, virtually all academic classrooms lock when classes are not in session. Our learning within the academy’s walls is, therefore, entirely dependent on our professors: we lack all opportunity to claim academic spaces as our own. This is the way in which the college consequently confines students to the domestic sphere. The only communal spaces we have to study and socialize in, besides the Student Union – which is a small, out-of-the-way space often occupied by clubs – are browsing rooms that function as strictly quiet study spaces in the dorms. Some would argue that Seal Court substitutes as our student center. How-

ever, after the sun sets and the temperatures drop, this space is entirely outdoors and not at all conducive for socializing or studying. Besides those in the dorms, we have no lounges and no enclosed hub of campus that serves the exclusive purpose of providing students with a communal space. We, therefore, have no place to study or socialize that isn’t completely open to other students in the consortium. The lack of communal spaces on this campus, both academic and recreational, has resulted in my inability to relate to the majority of this community. There exists a culture of contentedness at Scripps that I simply cannot participate in anymore. The weather is nice and virtually the same all year round. We can have a handtossed salad any time we want. And the new class of white, upper-class, cishet women that arrived at Scripps only a few months ago already resemble, to a horrifying extent, the scores of oblivious women that preceded them. The students of color here continue to make demands for this institution to change; they continue, like my friends that night in Pearsons Hall, to claim and thrive in spaces that were never intended to be theirs. But there’s an extent to which the physical spaces at Scripps are structurally built to suppress, to limit, and to exclude – all under the guise of comfort and domesticity. There’s something about this campus – and perhaps it has yet to be named – which increasingly makes me feel unfree. I’m moving through my last days at Scripps as if, perhaps in some dream, I’ve already lived them. I

Sophie Reingold • The Student Life

find myself going into office hours religiously and gushing desperately to professors about how much I’ve loved their classes, how much they’ve changed everything about how I think. Acquaintances come up to me, insisting we grab a meal “sometime” before I leave, and I know – we both know – neither of us will reach out to one another, at least not in time. There’s a strange finality inscribed in these moments; I struggle to find words of gratitude that last them, that exist past them. I can’t help but think about the people in Claremont who will never know the love and admiration I have for them. And although there were times last year when I wanted nothing more than to start over, in some new place and in some new time, there’s a sense in which Scripps defined quite thoroughly what

I didn’t want in my next institution. This is all to say: I’m sure we’ll drunk text once in awhile, Scripps. And that’s okay. We should acknowledge that this isn’t going to be easy for either of us. And hey, maybe a couple years down the road, we can even grab a matcha sometime. Whenever you’re ready, of course, no rush. What’s that Notebook quote I saw on some white girl’s door? The one I’m thinking about as I head into my last week here goes a little something like: “The best love awakens the soul and makes us reach for more.” I guess this goes without saying, then. But thank you, Scripps. Thank you for making me reach for more. Tiara Sharma is a sophomre at Scripps transferring to Brown next semester. She’s probably listening to In Rainbows right now.

A Guide to Economic Success in PyeongChang Weekly Crossword Daphne Yang Guest Columnist In the past few decades, South Korea’s rapid growth and cutting innovation have fueled its rise to the forefront of global advancement. As such, the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics promises to uphold the country’s reputation by presenting a modern and profitable Winter Games. However, given PyeongChang’s current demographic and infrastructural circumstances, the economic success of the Winter Olympics is in jeopardy. But if Korea focuses on increasing public interest in the Olympics through substantial marketing, the country can ensure ensure the future sustainability of the Olympic facilities. Even though hosts of the Winter Olympiad tend to be smaller cities, PyeongChang stands out by having a small population of around 43,500 people. By comparison, roughly 343,000 citizens lived in Sochi in 2014, and the Metro Vancouver area had roughly 2.3 million residents. Because there are fewer people to build and use these facilities, PyeongChang’s small size raises infrastructural and maintenance costs. In addition, although ski resorts in host countries tend to see an increase in travelers in the years leading up to the games, the Ski Business Association of Korea recorded a drop in visitors from 6.8 million in 2012 to 4.9 million in 2016. Thus, Korea must increase tourism for its ski facilities,

especially during the post Olympicseason, in order to balance the costs of infrastructural investment. Korea also faces problems regarding post-Olympics maintenance costs. According to a 2014 report by the Hyundai Research Institute, host countries rarely lose money on operating expenditures. However, Korea’s should consider the economic cost of maintaining the facilities post-Olympics. Salt Lake City, widely known as one of the most economically successful Winter Olympic cities, used mostly existing, reputable facilities for its 2002 Olympic Games. In contrast, Nagano, which built most of its Olympic infrastructure from scratch, failed to continue to generate income from these arenas after the Games. Nagano’s Olympic sites were converted into parks and recreation areas used primarily by just the local population. As a result of this insight, the Hyundai Research Institute suggested that Korea sharply curb investment in new fixed infrastructure. Despite this recommendation, Korea has already constructed six out of the twelve facilities it will use for the Olympics. Most face the same fate after the Games as of those at Nagano: maintenance problems or conversion into public facilities. Therefore, because of PyeongChang’s modest population and lack of tourist revenue compared to previous host cities such as Salt Lake

City, its arenas face a bleak economic future. Although Korea’s prospects for economic success at PyeongChang seem inauspicious, certain remedies can still generate revenue during and after the Games to balance the prospective economic costs. Ultimately, Korea’s main focus in the months leading up to the Winter Games should be promotion. According to Gunilla Lindberg, a member of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG), name recognition continues to be a problem for PyeongChang. The city is a lot less known than places such as Vancouver, or the summer Olympic hosts, London or Rio. However, in recent years, Korea’s Hallyu phenomenon has been growing exponentially in influence. According to recently released economic data, in 2016, South Korean cultural exports increased by 9.7 percent. As such, PyeongChang should take advantage of Korea’s rapidly growing soft power by using honorary ambassadors and celebrity influence to not only market the Olympics as a whole, but also Pyeongchang’s physical infrastructure to ensure an increase in tourism to the region after the event. In addition, the POCOG should also utilize other international events held in Korea, such as the upcoming Seoul Fashion Week, to promote

the Olympics to a wider audience around the world. As an imageoriented society, Koreans place a significant amount of emphasis on fashion, even on the ski slopes. Therefore, innovative, avant-garde winter sportswear sponsored by the Olympics could be showcased at Seoul Fashion Week, which would pique not only foreign, but also domestic interest in the Games. Lastly, PyeongChang should consider partnering with Beijing, the host of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Lee Hee-beom, president of the POCOG, proposed bringing athletes for the 2022 Games to PyeongChang for early training. In this way, PyeongChang will remain relevant even after the 2018 Olympics. The continued presence of Olympic athletes in PyeongChang will attract more tourists to the region, therefore increasing returns to the Olympic infrastructure after the Games. The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics are swiftly approaching. With over 96 percent of the infrastructure completed, there is not much that can be done to minimize investment costs. However, by focusing on venue legacy and publicity, Korea can improve the PyeongChang Olympics’ probability of economic success. Daphne Yang is a Pomona College sophomore majoring in International Relations. She loves learning languages and hates cilantro.

Snaps To That: What Real Time Feedback Means Today Liam Brooks Guest Columnist The Zen kōan asks, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” There is not supposed to be a quick answer. It prompts the student to consider the inextricable duality of action and life – what can exist without being caused or created by something else? But to a student at the Claremont Colleges, there is a quick answer: the sound of one hand clapping is just snapping. Snapping is, perhaps, the physical manifestation of what is a massive social shift a decade of internet in the making – a shift not only in how we debate, but in how we agree. The story goes that snapping replaced clapping for beatnik poets, who performed in the basements of apartment buildings late into the night, as to not disturb the tenants above. Or maybe it’s because you can’t hold a beer and clap at the same time. Or because applause is a rather tasteless way to support people who are sharing deeply personal stories. But the thing is, snapping isn’t just a quieter version of applause. Love it or hate it, it’s a form of social meaning-making. It’s the sound of re-evaluation in action – taking narratives that have been pushed away from the mainstream and validating them, prodding them back into the spotlight. And if snapping frustrates you, that might be because you’re used to those value-marking parts of the institution operating in silence. The value placed on certain worldviews and certain speakers is a privilege, and like all privilege, it is blinding.

Just as social media has allowed us to push away ideas we don’t like by blocking, unfollowing, or just submitting to attention-thirsty algorithmic sorting, it has also changed the way we can endorse ideas that we do like. The line between appreciation and recommendation entirely disappears, as likes on Facebook appear as posts outright – “Liam Brooks and 2 other friends liked this” – and favorites become actions, not personal belongings. Likewise, snaps aren’t only directed at the creator whose work the snapper is appreciating. They point at the work, yes, but more importantly they point outwards – at the context within which an idea is being shared. It’s been said before in previous columns in this paper, but it bears repeating - a priori of their careful analysis, some viewpoints that people raise in class will carry more weight. Whether tied to the mainstream by race, gender, dialect, ability, or age, the authority one has as a speaker is to some degree predetermined by the judgements placed on you by listeners from the moment you open your mouth. Practically, this means that valid viewpoints that have every right to be heard in the classroom - and are absolutely worth hearing – can float in easier than others which have the same right and worth, but run counter to what people expect to hear. Without the foundation provided by dominant narratives in media and education, stories that go against the grain have to push twice as hard. Why not give them an audible boost, in a way that doesn’t interrupt them

or devalue anyone else’s? It’s no surprise that snapping is branded as a decidedly feminist way of showing support, so much so that it’s one of the ways SJWs are parodied, right along the short, dyed-blue hair and TRIGGERED. But beyond its ties to the counterculture of the dimly lit underground beatnik scene, snapping is a practical way to counteract disparities in what viewpoints are considered worthy. This, then, is the sound of one hand clapping: a way of making what was not, be. While snapping is not the desired response to the kōan, it is certainly one way of interpreting it: what does it look and sound like to create institutional support without an institution to stand on? The silence we value in classrooms is

not neutral, because without acting against systems of valuation, we allow them to invisibly alter the way radical or anti-mainstream views are perceived and then restricted, rather than allowed to grow. Snapping breaks that silence — not by drowning out opposing viewpoints, but by providing a bit of extra support to those that need it. With snapping, the institution becomes something to brace against; the silence, something to break. However, in the end, there is one reason I hate snapping that I still can’t shake. I can’t do it. I never learned how. Catch me nodding vigorously instead. Liam Brooks is a senior at Pitzer College. He likes peanut M&Ms.

Alessandra Elliott PZ ’19

Across 1. Obvious, to a valley girl 5. Type of cheese on poutine 10. Actress Rae 14. Matador shouts, (pl.) 15. Parisian goodbye 16. Electric car produced by Chevy 17 Annoying question to ask a senior 20. Type of wedding 21. Perform repeatedly 22. Base of decimal system 23. Aids in the robbery 24. Grasp (of) 27. ____ Maria 28. General Hospital, Young and Reckless, etc. 32. Actor’s part 33. Sock basket 35. Baby fish (abbrev.) 36. Caustic ridicule 37. Marital promise 38. Inexperienced 40. Waiter’s income 41. Sharpened 42. Barric43. Liberal news blog, Daily ____ 44. Basil sauce 46. Cackling scavenger native to Africa 49. First Love / Late Spring singer 51. U.S. spy agency 52. Month (Sp.) 53. Potential sources of pro tein for a vegan 56. “Can I see...?” at a res taurant 57. The first “A” in Reddit’s A.M.A. 58. Stake (in poker) 59. Tibetan bread 60. Porsche model in between S and Turbo 61. Action of the gazelle

Down Audrey Jang • The Student Life

1. Prior to aahs 2. Dull (inf.)

3. Music video host 4. “Why should ____ for any thing less?” 5. Cuisine heavy in rice and spices 6. Type of noodle 7. Cut of meat 8. Intended 9. Honeymoon booking 10. Post Malone’s White ____ 11. Pop 12. Walk led by Amber Rose 13. Texas teachers association 18. Like expensive wine 19. Total after deductions 23. Green fruit 24. Plead case 25. Hunting dog 26. Affectionate name for an aged hog 27. Sea near Italy 29. Guidance 30. Splash sound 31. Repairs garments 33. Grain 34. Engineering degree36. Accompaniment to entree 39. King in Spongebob 40. SOH-CAH-____ 43. Light canoe (old spelling) 45. Adlib often used by Migos 46. 2006 American Idol winner 47. “Cool!” 48. Something owned 49. Manhattan art museum 50. How an uninformed tourist might spell this Parisian attraction 51. Burial chamber 53. Bill 54. Old witch 55. A few of Pitzer’s dorms (abbrev.)

Answers to Previous Puzzle

SPORTS PAGE 10

DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

CMS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

National Champions: Athenas Take Down Wittenberg Tigers Hank Snowdon On Saturday afternoon, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s volleyball team (31-5) made history, capturing its first national championship title by defeating the top-seeded Wittenberg University Tigers (27-3) in three straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-22) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. CMS had a tall task coming into the match – Wittenberg had only lost twice all season, was ranked first in the tournament, and had not dropped a single set in their last three matches. Even though the Athenas hadn’t lost since Sept. 23, and were carrying a 21-match win streak, this was bound to be their biggest test yet. Yet the Athenas appeared unfazed as the match began. The first set began with a tradeoff of points between teams, and neither team appeared to have an advantage until the score was tied at 10-10, as Shelbi Stein CM ’18 tied the match up with a block. From there, Wittenberg proceeded to drop the next two points, and the Tigers’ head coach Paco Labrador called his first timeout of the match. Although the Tigers did win the point immediately after the break, CMS then took four of the next five, breaking the set open and forcing Labrador to call yet another timeout with the score sitting at 16-12. Stein, Regan Dinovitz CM ’21, and Isabelle Taylor CM ’20 contributed kills on the run. From there, the Athenas paced the rest of the set effectively. Led by Stein and SCIAC Athlete of the Year Margaux Arntson CM ’18, CMS didn’t step off the gas pedal, taking the set 25-18. The second set had a similar start, with neither the Athenas or Tigers taking a commanding lead at the start, playing to a 5-5 tie through the first ten points.

CMS appeared to gain some momentum with a quick 3-0 run, capped off by a punishing kill by Dinovitz. However, the Tigers went on a run, and with sophomore Taylor Yontz serving, Wittenberg rattled off five straight points, taking a 10-8 lead. While many coaches would’ve taken a timeout to calm their team, CMS head coach Kurt Vlasich opted to let his team play through their struggles. The Athenas answered the call, quickly turning their play around to win the next two points, with a kill by Arntson and a Wittenberg net violation. The teams began to go blow-toblow again, and after the next 12 points, neither team had broken through, and the score sat tied at 16. Suddenly, the Athenas grabbed momentum and transformed their play, putting the Tigers on the ropes. They won eight of the next eleven points, pushing the score to 24-19. On set point, with a chance to put the Tigers down 2-0, Taylor delivered a vicious kill. The Athenas celebrated, knowing they were one set from making history. At the start of the third set, it appeared as if the Athenas would be celebrating a national title sooner rather than later. They jumped out to a 6-3 lead, commanding the set from the start. However, the Tigers showed why they were the top-ranked team coming into the game, and displayed impressive skill by winning the next five points, as the Tigers’ only senior, Maddie Fischer, added two strong kills. Up to this point, the Tigers had held CMS star Arntson to a relatively average game for the senior. Down in the third set, however, she turned into a monster and began to dismantle the Tigers point by point. Serving up punishing shots, Arntson had seven kills

Courtesy CMS Athletics

The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s volleyball team celebrate their underdog victory in the national championships against Wittenberg -on Nov. 18.

on the Athenas next 12 points, as CMS pushed the score to 20-14. Only five points away from a championship, the Athenas could taste victory. But the Tigers would not go down without a fight. They clawed their way back into the game, and the score sat at 23-22, as sophomore Aubrey Cox put the Tigers within one point with a monstrous kill. The tension of the game was palpable at this point, as both teams knew that every point was absolutely crucial.

With two points needed to win the championship in straight sets, the Athenas picked up a muchneeded point as the Tigers hit the ball four times. With the crowd on their feet, CMS supporters watched in anticipation as the ball was set to none other than Arntson on match point. She flew into the air and slammed the ball down past the Tigers, capping off an illustrious career with the ultimate achievement: a national championship. The Athenas rushed onto the

court into a frenzied celebration and lifted the NCAA championship trophy over their heads. Back in Claremont, a watch party in the packed McKenna Auditorium erupted in celebration. At long last, the Athenas were champions. The dominant national title win was a culmination of an incredible season by the Athenas, who won the SCIAC regular season title, the SCIAC tournament, and the NCAA West Regional en route to their victory Saturday. In its final three tournament

matches, CMS only dropped three sets, in victories over Gustavus Adolphus, Ithaca, and now Wittenberg. Arntson was named NCAA Tournament MVP after her incredible performance in the 3-0 win Saturday, in which she recorded 18 kills. Undoubtedly, Saturday afternoon’s match will never be forgotten by Arntson and her teammates, who for the first time in program history, are now known as NCAA Champions.

P-P WATER POLO

SCIAC Champs Conclude Season With Lopsided Loss to DI Pacific

Ian Poveda • The Student Life

Sagehen Adam Gross PZ ’20 squares off against Stag Koss Klobucher CM ’20 during their rivalry match on Friday, Nov. 17.

Sabrina Wilk The No. 19 ranked PomonaPitzer men’s water polo team (24-11, 13-1 SCIAC) concluded its season Saturday with a 16-2 loss to No. 5 University of the Pacific (20-5, 5-0 Conf.). After starting their postseason with two wins, which resulted in a SCIAC championship title, the Sagehens headed to Stockton to play the DI Pacific Tigers in the first round of the

NCAA tournament. “A lot of people on the team felt like it was a weird matchup because they’re a really strongly ranked team,” said Adam Ward PO ’19, explaining that NCAA had chosen to send P-P to Pacific rather than to UC Davis (22-6, 7-0 conf.) despite the small difference in mileage. “[Davis] would have been a much more competitive game.” Although the Sagehens played hard, the Tigers were determined

to shut them down, scoring a goal within the first fifteen seconds and closing the first quarter 3-0. While P-P scored one goal to Pacific’s two in the second quarter to make the score 5-1 going into half, it proved insufficient as the Tigers outscored the Sagehens 6-1 in the third quarter, and 5-0 in the fourth. Though Ward felt the Sagehens played well, especially in the first half, he said the results were “disappointing.” Even so, the season was a suc-

cess for the Sagehens, whose win in the finals against Whittier made them back-to-back SCIAC champions and whose victories during the season far outweighed their losses. Ward recalled an October tournament when the team traveled to Boston to take on the Ivy League: “We beat a lot of teams over there – Harvard, MIT, Hopkins,” he said. Back in California, they proceeded to dominate the conference, going almost undefeated, and losing only one out of 14

matches in SCIAC play. Ward hopes the team can repeat the strong performance next year, though it will miss its two graduating seniors. “It’s going to be hard losing the two people that we are [losing],” he acknowledged. “One’s our goalie Dan [Diemer PZ ’18] – SCIAC Player of the Year, First Team All-SCIAC, and a huge voice on the team.” The other is Mark Hallman PO ’18, who “does a really good job keeping people

happy during season.” “And he’s really fast,” Ward added after a second, joking, “I’ll have to swim a few more laps, see if I can do something about that.” Though the season had a few disappointments, namely the early loss to Whittier which was P-P’s sole conference defeat, the Sagehens made up for it. “To come back, finish the season off right, win SCIAC, have such a good season – there’s no real complaints in the end,” Ward said.

SPORTS DECEMBER 1, 2017

PAGE 11

THE STUDENT LIFE

CMS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Stags Look to Overcome Slow Start, Take Control of SCIAC Danny Klain

After a successful 2016-2017 season, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s basketball team entered this year looking to repeat that success. The Stags finished the year with an impressive 23-5 record and ended up winning the SCIAC tournament with victories over Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Lutheran. However, they have stumbled out of the gate, and now face a 0-4 record after losses to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, George Fox, and Puget Sound to open the 2017-18 season. Although the Stags’ season has gotten off to a rough start, there are several indicators that the team will be able to turn it around with the arrival of SCIAC play. The Stags only graduated two players last season and kept most of their key contributors, including all-conference center Kendrick Morris CM ’18, who averaged 13.5 points and six rebounds per game last year. Key scorers, like forward Miles President HM ’20 and guard Scott Lynds CM ’17, are also still around. Most importantly, the Stags return star guard/forward Michael Scarlett CM ’18. He led the Stags in scoring last year, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting an impressive 46 percent from behind the 3-point line. After an amazing junior season, Scarlett earned firstteam all-SCIAC honors and was named SCIAC Athlete of the Year for men’s basketball. A few weeks ago, he was named a preseason third-team All-American. On top of the successes of individual players, the team as a whole was very well-rounded last season. They averaged 74 points per game, shooting 50 percent on only 55 field goal attempts per game, a very efficient mark. On the defensive end, the Stags were stout. They held teams to only 65 points a game, the second lowest in the SCIAC last season, and had an opposing field goal percentage of 42 percent. This combined offensive efficiency and stalwart defense

Liam Brooks • The Student Life

In this file photo, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps head coach Ken Scalmanini energizes his players in a time-out as they face an 8-point deficit with only 1 minute and 11 seconds left in the game.

allowed them to be a successful well-rounded team last season, and there’s no reason to believe that they will not be able to do it again. Not only do the Stags have a solid team, they also have a dominant head coach. Ken Scalmanini has the most wins in CMS men’s

basketball history, and has led the Stags to seven SCIAC championships in the past nine years. However, with high hopes also comes added pressure. As the reigning champions, the Stags will have a target on their backs during the conference, and shoulder

the expectation to win. The team was voted the favorite to win the SCIAC title in a preseason poll conducted by head coaches. As long as the team can continue a steady supply of scoring led by Scarlett and Morris and halt the same from their opponents

(ultimately a simple formula), then they should be on their way to another automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. With an exciting returning roster and their conference play set to get under way next Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Redlands, it should be

another big year for CMS men’s basketball – all signs point to the team overcoming its early struggles.

CMS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Athenas Hoops Hopes Fresh Faces Will Bring Strong Season Bryan Williams

As the Claremont-Mudd -Scripps women’s basketball team approaches its conference schedule, it stands 3-2. The team opened up with a win at Pacific Lutheran on Nov. 17 (63-57), then fell in a close 69-65 loss to University of Puget Sound the next day. The Athenas quickly rebounded in wins over Case Western Reserve on Nov. 24 (78-58), and Ithaca on Nov. 25 (74-68). Then they suffered their second loss in a close game

against La Sierra on Nov. 29 (65-62). With the first SCIAC games just around the corner, captain Corinne Bogle CM ’18 is optimistic. “I’m pleased with where we’re at,” Bogle said. “We’re a really young team but everyone’s playing very well. It’s exciting that everybody’s super eager to play and do their best.” Eleven of the 15 spots on the roster are filled by first- and second-years. While many teams flounder under such circum-

stances, Boyle thinks this might actually be be a critical element to their success. “We lost a lot of seniors last year. Four of our five starters were seniors so we knew that we had to fill in the gaps big time,” Bogle said. “Because of this, I think everyone this year had the goal of coming together and making sure there was no drop off from the skill level set by the seniors that were here last year.” Lia Gagliuso CM ’20 echoed her captain’s thoughts. “Learning is a huge part of

this year, and that’s both a challenge and a benefit to our team,” she said. “On one hand, learning a new team takes time, but on the other, it brings new aspects and strengths. I definitely think our captains and upperclassmen have set a standard that all our hard work in practice pays off in games.” Players said the new faces not only offer the team the athletic skills for which they were recruited, but also a much needed vibrancy and passion for the sport.

“Practice every day is a lot of fun because we’re all pushing each other,” Bogle said. “I think everybody has done a really good job of encouraging all grades, like freshmen encouraging seniors and whatnot. There’s a unique overall energy we have day in and day out that we didn’t have other years.” Head coach Kristen Dowling is also excited about the energy that the youthful team has brought so far. “While others may see it as a rebuilding year, we do not. We are young but

talented,” Dowling said. “The benefit of our youth has been drive. Our players are passionate and hungry to learn.” The combination of a youthful spirit from the first and secondyears and leadership from older players creates an atmosphere conducive to a successful season, the players say. “I’m excited to see what’s in store for us,” Gagliuso said. “We have an emphasis on this ‘in the moment’ mentality this year and I think if executed properly, it will bring us a lot of success.”

Courtesy of Alicia Tsai

Maezelle Millan CM ’21 avoids a La Sierra opponent in a Nov. 29 game, which the Athenas lost 65-62.

SPORTS PAGE 12

DECEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT LIFE

P-P Athlete of the Week

Rees’ Career Game Nets Hens First Win

Men’s Basketball Adam Rees PO ‘20 Scottsdale, Arizona

Just six games into the 2017-18 basketball season, Adam Rees PO ‘20 has already surpassed his career high 16 points from the 201617 season, putting up 29 points for Pomona-Pitzer (15) in the team’s win against Life Pacific College (4-6). Rees netted all but one of his shots of the night, scoring two three-pointers and 10 from the floor, and helping the Hens top Life Pacific 9774. Reese has averaged 9.5 points per game for P-P this season. The Hens next play on Saturday, Dec. 1, against Westmont College (8-1).

CMS Athlete of the Week Women’s Basketball Kailee Severt CM ‘18 Moorpark, CA

In three games over the past week, the Athena basketball team (3-2) was led by center Kailee Severt CM ‘18. The senior put up 22 points in a win over Case Western (2-3) Nov. 24, as she shot 9-14 from the field, including 4-6 from threepoint territory. She added 13 points in a win over Ithaca (4-1) the next day, and again had 13 in a tight loss to La Sierra (1-7) Nov. 29. The Athenas open up their SCIAC schedule Dec. 2 vs. Cal Tech (0-3).

Serene Harb • The Student Life

Sagehen players on the bench watch in anticipation as a teammate shoots against the Life Pacific Warriors on Nov. 28.

Hank Snowdon After jumping to a big first-half lead, the PomonaPitzer Sagehens men’s basketball team (1-5) cruised to a win over the Life Pacific College Warriors (4-5) 9774 Tuesday night, securing its first win of the 2017-18 season. The Sagehens were led by Adam Rees PO ’20, who scored a career-high

29 points in the victory while shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the field. Pacific took an early lead in the matchup, but P-P responded with a resounding 25-2 run to push the score to 30-12 halfway through the first half. The Sagehens continued to hold this commanding lead into halftime, leading 59-36 at the break. While the Sagehens slowed down offensively in the second

half, they still cruised to an easy win, despite a late offensive push by Pacific. Rees was the story of the night, as his perfect shooting included a 6-for-6 mark from behind the arc. He was aided by solid performances from Daniel Rosenbaum PO ’19, who had 20 points of his own, and Micah Elan PO ’20, who scored 14 points and tallied seven assists.

It was a much needed victory for P-P, which had been looking to get on track after a difficult 0-5 start to the season. The team will play one more nonconference game before getting into the SCIAC slate – against Westmont on Dec. 2. The Sagehens’ SCIAC schedule opens with a home game vs. Chapman on Dec. 6.

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