Vol. CXXXV No. 5

VOL. CXXXV NO. 5

FRIDAY, October 13, 2023

Should all drugs be legalized?

CMC students go head-to-head in Dreier Roundtable Debate BRECKEN ENRIGHT & HANNAH GOTHELF On Thursday, Claremont McKenna College’s (CMC) Dreier Roundtable hosted a student debate on drug legalization titled “Should all drugs be legalized?” The event provided a $750 cash prize for the winning team, which argued on the affirmative side, and a $150 consolation cash prize for the losing team.

The debate was part of the Dreier Roundtable initiative, which aims to encourage meaningful discourse among students on relevant and complex issues. Launched by alumnus and former U.S. Rep. David Dreier CM ’75, the Dreier Roundtable is intended to support CMC’s mission to become a leading institution in economics and government.

Throughout the debate, the winning affirmative team — composed of Elizabeth Barry CM ’26 and Tanzila Jama CM ’26 — focused on the potential of drug legalization to mitigate harms intrinsic to drug addiction and abuse. They argued that legalization

may save lives by addressing increasing rates of lethal overdose in America and refuted any notion of drug legalization leading to an increase in drug usage.

Barry and Jama also emphasized the economic gains of legalization.

Citing the $1 billion that California makes in annual marijuana tax revenue, they argued that such funds could be redirected to beneficial societal projects, thus reducing the costs associated with the criminal justice system.

The anti-legalization team — which included Viviana Alvarez de la Cadena Garza CMC ‘27 and Eliza Gunter CMC ‘27 — initiated their case by asserting that legalizing drugs would lead to an increase in usage, citing the correlation between marijuana legalization and a 65 percent increase in drug use among minors.

The two argued that the legalized drug industry can be corrupt, as evidenced by the opioid crisis.

The tendency of doctors to overprescribe, they said, is a clear indication

that commercial interests often trump ethical concerns in the pharmaceutical world.

The team also cited how the opioid epidemic costs trillions of dollars every year in emergency room visits, addiction treatments, and social services. They referenced a 54 percent increase in ER visits and a 110 percent increase in hospital visits related to marijuana, arguing that legalization would only exacerbate these issues.

For participants, the inclusion of cash prizes elevated the quality and intensity of the debate.

“I am probably going to give [the cash prize] to my parents,” Jamal, a member of the winning team, said. “I debated in high school, and I won a lot of medals, but I feel like this is finally a way for me to give back to my parents, who I love so much.”

While the losing team did not enjoy the same cash prize, they

See DEBATE on page 2

CLAREMONT, CA

Billion-dollar breakthrough: CMC soars to new fundraising heights

NORA WU • THE STUDENT LIFE

SARA CAWLEY & FIONA HERBOLD On Oct. 2, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) announced it had raised over $1 billion in an eight year fundraising campaign, making it the largest single fundraising campaign in the United States at a liberal arts college. Over 65 percent of alumni contributed to this campaign, with 89 supporters donating $1 million or more.

According to CMC’s web-

site, fundraising efforts for the campaign — officially known as the Campaign for Responsible Leadership — were centered around honoring the college’s leadership mission, expanding student opportunities and preparing leaders through integrated sciences.

With this in mind, CMC allotted the largest portion of the collected funds, over $415 million, for new scientific endeavors.

These included the new Kravis

See CAMPAIGN on page 3

EDITORIAL NOTE

KIMBERLY MURILLO • THE STUDENT LIFE Claremont McKenna College’s (CMC) Dreier Roundtable hosted a student debate on drug legalization with a $750 cash prize for the winning team.

Out of respect for community members who are grieving lost ones and may be affected by constant visuals reminding them of the violence in Palestine and Israel, TSL decided not to feature our coverage of this week’s events, vigils and responses on our front page. Read about how the 5Cs are responding to what’s going on in Israel and Gaza on page 2.

The banner bandit: Scripps banner burglaries result in $6,000 damages COURTNEY CHEN & BEATRIX KARAMBIS Banner bandits struck on Scripps College’s campus — not once, but 21 times. The banners that once adorned the campus-wide lamp posts disappeared in late August and early September. These thefts resulted in $6,000 of total damages as well as additional work for staff to replace the banners.

Students were first notified of the thefts on the morning of Sept.

28, when they received an email from Sha Bradley, dean of students and vice president of student affairs and Binti Harvey, vice president for external relations and institutional advancement.

In their email, Bradley and Harvey said that 21 out of the 22 Scripps banners installed at the beginning of the semester had been stolen. They encouraged students to share any relevant information regarding the missing banners with the college or with campus safety.

“These banners serve many purposes: to welcome our community to the campus; to convey a sense of celebration of joyful events such as New Student Programs and Orientation (NSPO) and inauguration; to create awareness of College events; and to reinforce pride on our campus,” Harvey and Bradley said.

The banners started disappearing at the start of the semester — just before NSPO and President Amy Marcus-Newhall’s inauguration — Marcy Robinson, director of events and conference services at Scripps, told TSL. The timing, she explained, amplified the already significant effects of the thefts.

“Banners have been taken in the past but not at this rate,” Robinson

EMMA JENSEN • THE STUDENT LIFE In late August and early September, a series of thefts left Scripps College with only one of its 22 campus-wide banners, resulting in $6,000 of total damages.

said. “In addition to the significant expense to the College, it creates additional work for staff to replace the banners and takes from the joyous and celebratory atmosphere we’re aiming to create.”

Echoing the college’s frustrations, Ainsley Murphy SC ’26 said she felt that the thefts were not only detrimental to the campus environment but also disrespectful to Scripps overall.

“I just think it’s rude to steal signs,” Murphy said. “Scripps put money into making these

banners [...] and I think for someone to take [them] is rude to the community.”

Not all students within the 5C community sympathized with Scripps to the extent that Murphy did. John Chisholm PZ ’26, for example, said he would rather see administrators address bike theft at the 5Cs. “Ultimately, I think there are way worse things happening on campus,” Chisholm said. “People stealing personal property is a much more legitimate issue.”

Despite varying opinions on

ARTS & CULTURE On Oct. 7, Marquès was joined by Zack O’Farrill, Kazemde George, and Yosmel Montejo in the final performance of the Freedom First West Coast tour at Pomona’s Lyman Concert Hall. While the musicians performed on stage, LaMar called in to recite his original spoken word poetry from an Ohio prison.

The student newspaper of the Claremont Colleges since 1889

the severity of the recent banner thefts at Scripps, several students agreed that these thefts were reflective of a larger trend at the colleges.

“I’ve seen people get up on other people’s shoulders and steal signs around the campuses before,” Chisholm said. “This isn’t the first time something’s been stolen.”

The 5C community is no stranger to property theft — Scripps administration informed TSL that just last year, several Scripps Presents banners went

missing. Similarly, last September, during the annual Atwood Dorm Scavenger Hunt at Harvey Mudd, students accidentally ripped a Pitzer College banner, costing the school $5,000 in damages.

Murphy attributed these thefts to the prank culture present within the 5C community, which she felt encouraged students to use stolen items as dorm decor.

“I honestly think it’s just people from other colleges, or even people at Scripps, who like to steal stuff from their college or from other colleges and hang it up in their dorm room,” Murphy said.

“I honestly think that the theft was from college students who were doing it as a joke.”

Alex King PZ ‘23, who stole a CMC flag during his freshman year at the 5Cs, explained his own reasoning for stealing in a way that aligned with Murphy’s theory.

“I thought it would be fun,” King said. “I thought it would be awesome to put in my dorm room — kind of like a trophy from a fun night out.”

King argued that, in the case of the recent thefts at Scripps, the aesthetics of the banners likely contributed to the issue.

“Sometimes, if you design a banner that looks too good, you are suffering from success,” King said. “[Students] stole it because they were like, ‘I can hang this up in my dorm room and show that I am a rebellious person.’”

While King stated that it was not ideal for so many banners to be missing at a time when many prospective students come to tour campus, he did not think that it was a major concern.

“I don’t think anybody would judge too harshly though,” King said. “That certainly wouldn’t have changed my mind in the college search.”

OPINIONS

SPORTS

The snaking glass sculpture in Mid-Quad is a controversial new addition to CMC’s campus. Kahani Malhotra CM ’27 proclaims her ardent love for the art piece, and asks critics to hear her out on why they should appreciate it too.

After a semester and a half of covering the epic highs and lows of Division III sports, Harold Fuson PZ ’26 reflects on his journey from mediocrely talented (but very enthusiastic) high school athlete to Non-Athlete-Regular-Person, or NARP.

INDEX: News 1 | Arts & Culture 4 | Opinions 7 | Sports 9

News

PAGE 2

Office memos, memoirs, breakup texts: CMC’s Center for Writing and Public Discourse covers hosts seventh annual conference ASHLEY PARK & AMBIKA GUPTA Last Saturday, the Center for Writing and Public Discourse (CWPD) at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) hosted their second annual writing conference with the theme ‘Writing in Place.’ The Oct.7 conference was a day-long event of panels and workshops hosted by CMC students, faculty, staff and professional writers.

“We chose panelists who are thinking about and representing place in different ways,” Chloe Martinez, Associate Director of Programming for the CWPD told TSL via email.

The events included fellowship advice panels, story slam open mic sessions and workshops from poet and scholar Genevieve Kaplan, playwright and television writer Lina Patel and film director and screenwriter Gustavo Hernandez.

A large portion of the conference was devoted to the Appel Fellowship, a program at CMC that provides first-year students with up to $3,500 in funding to create purposeful and independent experiences that culminate in a writing project.

CMC faculty members Beth Jaeger, Mellissa Martinez, and Brian Davidson CM ’08 hosted one of three sessions on the fellowship, a faculty-led panel focused on technical writing skills for grant and fellowship writing.

“A lot of students and even faculty really don’t tend to realize that [technical writing] is really such a beneficial thing to be able to do,” Davidson, who serves as the Director of Fellowships Advising and Interim Director of the Ath, said. “Unlike some of the people here, I’m not a creative writer.

I’m not someone that you would read necessarily for pleasure.”

Martinez, Assistant Director of Multilingual Writing at the CWPD, commented on the necessity of connecting students with people like Davidson whose careers are largely centered around writing.

“I think that any exposure for students at this age is good,” Martinez said. “When you’re in college,

sometimes you don’t realize [...] how things are done. It’s just a neat opportunity to see how people in LA or San Diego or wherever make their livings as writers.”

Furthermore, Martinez expressed her hopes for the panel to inspire students to take advantage of the fellowships and grants that might help them in their academic and writing careers.

“I hope the impact is that students feel that they are being supported by CMC, and they have the courage to apply for fellowships and grants,” she said. “I just hope it nudges a few students, especially those that can’t afford to do it otherwise.”

Another panel session regarding Appel Fellowships was led by Appel Fellows Rohaan Bhojwani CM ’26, Kylie Ha CM ’26 and Tristen Tate CM ’26.

Bhojwani — whose research trip to the North Pole was funded by his Appel Fellowship — said he had initially been worried that his panel would be empty, as it took place on a Saturday at 9:30 a.m..

“I was really surprised to see that the room was full of freshmen excited to learn about Appel,” Bhojwani said. “Not only was the panel informative to those considering the fellowship, but it also had an informal atmosphere that allowed for questions to flow very easily.”

For some first years, the conference’s emphasis on the Appel Fellowship was a motivating factor for them to participate. Dhamar Ramirez Gomez CM ’27 stated that it contributed largely to his decision to attend the event.

“It’s something that I’ve heard a lot about and [I] thought it would be helpful to hear from the current Appel Fellows,” said Dhamar Ramirez Gomez CM ’27.

Still, the conference offered more than information on the fellowship.

Of the more creativity-focused events was a bookmaking workshop that taught attendees how to make a ‘Pocket Book,’ a miniature paper book meant to provide users with a unique structure for writing

October 13, 2023

DEBATE: Pro-legalization side victorious Continued from page 1

CRYSTAL WIDADO • THE STUDENT LIFE

Claremont McKenna College’s Center for Writing and Public Discourse brought together students and writers with its second annual writing conference.

and expression. Kaplan, who is a bookmaker as well as a writer, led the workshop.

“That’s kind of what I enjoy doing with these book-art forms — seeing if I can invite people to play with language in different ways,” Kaplan said.

Another workshop, this one titled “Hometown Verse” and centered on places of origin in poetry, was led by Gustavo Hernandez, poet and author of the poetry collection Flower Grand First. Hernandez cited connecting with young writers as one of his biggest motivators for speaking at the conference.

“One of the greatest things about writing is to be able to look someone in the eye and say, ‘You matter. What you have to say matters,’” he said.

He also imparted advice to young writers struggling with their writing careers.

“It’s easy to get caught up in life and things that make it hard to keep writing, such as a job, financial troubles, relationship issues, family issues,” Hernandez said.

“But I think that as long as you think of yourself as a writer, and keep even just the little kernel of that in your mind, and you know it in your heart [...] even if you’re caught up in these other things, you’ll come back to that because that’s who you are.”

expressed their feelings of contentment with the discourse that their arguments helped generate.

“It didn’t go the way we were hoping. But the audience poll reflected that we had some impact on how people thought, and I think that’s all you can ask for,” Gunter said. “We wanted to advocate evidence and facts, and we managed to do that coherently.”

Jacob Skestos CM ’26, who helped plan the event as a student fellow of the Drier Roundtable, emphasized that this is one of the key components of a successful debate.

“A successful debate, to me, looks like something where anyone comes out of the room thinking, ‘wow, I’ve learned more about something that I’m really interested in and I want to do more,’” Skestos said.

To decide the winner, a panel consisting of two DRT student fellows and a faculty director, Terril Jones, used a specially designed rubric to judge arguments and discourse. Students were evaluated on presentation, organization, clarity of argument, respect for the other team and evidence. The rubric was designed to be inclusive,

built with the acknowledgment that not every student at CMC has formal debate experience.

“We really want to create a rubric that would allow anyone to be successful if they researched their arguments, articulated them well and showed a lot of respect for the other team and for the topic at hand,” Skestos said.

During the debate, the audience was asked to respond to a poll asking them what they thought on the matter. Initially, 58.8 percent took the negative side, meaning that they were against the legalization of all drugs.

The dynamic range of evidence and perspectives throughout the event resulted in a significant shift in opinion. By the end, this number jumped to 77.1 percent. However, the judges felt differently, ultimately declaring the affirmative team — with Jamal and Barry — as the winners.

Both Jamal and Barry are hopeful that the debate will stimulate an ongoing discussion among CMC students and the rest of the 5C community.

“We’re looking forward to being able to convey our side despite the fact that we’re not necessarily the majority opinion,” Jamal said.

Another drug legalization debate, featuring scholars Keven Sabet and Nick Gillespie, is scheduled for Oct. 18 at the Athenaeum.

KIMBERLY MURILLO • THE STUDENT LIFE LEFT TO RIGHT: Viviana Alvarez de la Cadena Garza, Eliza Gunter, Tanzila Jamal, Elizabeth Barry.

5C students mourn, express fear over violence in Gaza and Israel MAYA ZHAN, BEN LAUREN & MAXINE DAVEY As violence in Gaza and Israel continues, Palestinian and Jewish students grieve losses and call for increased institutional support.

In the latest escalation following decades of violence in Israel and Gaza, Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, after which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a wartime cabinet Wednesday, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have ordered the evacuation of over a million Palestinians from northern Gaza. Over 1,300 people were killed by Hamas’s attack and over 1,500 were killed by Israel’s retaliations, as of Oct. 13.

In Claremont, Jewish students and organizations centered around Judaism on campus, as well as Palestinian students and groups supporting the Free Palestine movement, have expressed extraordinary pain as they mourn those who have been killed

by Hamas and the IDF. These groups have organized teach-ins, marches and vigils throughout the past week to express solidarity in painful times, even as tensions grow.

Liz Korbatov PZ ’24, president of Claremont Chabad, a 5C Jewish community for students of all backgrounds and affiliations, described her devastation, fear and sense of helplessness.

“Like many people, I have loved ones and family and friends in the affected region, and we lay awake at night fearing for their safety,” Korbatov said. “Lives are truly impacted.

Nobody can sleep. We’re all uneasy.

We’re all scared. There isn’t a moment that goes by where our minds are not elsewhere.”

Another 5C student, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, expressed similar feelings, adding that they are frustrated by the way some students, administrators and the mainstream media have framed the conflict.

“I’m feeling a lot of sadness and grief, not only with the situation but how everyone has handled it and how everyone has painted this picture and how it’s been talked about in the media,” the student said. “And how it’s been talked about by our head of schools and our leaders and our communities, perpetuating this cycle of violence and hate towards Palestinians.”

Some students in the Claremont chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a national organization working toward “Palestinian freedom and Judaism beyond Zionism,”feel alienated from members in their own community.

“Pain is coming from a lot of places in this moment. It’s painful to fear for the safety of our relatives and friends who are on the land,” JVP member Ezra Levinson PZ ’27 said. “It’s painful to feel unwelcome or unsafe in a lot of mainstream Jewish spaces that aren’t

making room for empathy or care that goes beyond Israel’s borders … It’s painful to know that decades of violence against the Palestinian people, committed in our name as Jews, has created the conditions that led to the current violence.”

The colleges have attempted to support students throughout the week with Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS) providing in-person and Zoom support sessions; additionally, the campus Chaplains emphasized their availability by appointment and by drop-in.

Claremont McKenna College (CMC) Dean of Students Diana Graves and Pitzer College President Strom Thacker sent messages to their respective schools advocating for collective community support and directing students to resources.

Pomona College President Gabrielle Starr also issued a community statement in response to the attacks.

She called on the Pomona community to give comfort to all in need.

“The horrific reports that are flooding the news of the terrorist attacks in Israel become more wrenching with each day; these events have opened wounds that will not heal for decades, and the violence is ongoing,” Starr wrote. “As we go about our days, I ask that you walk gently with each other, and that as a Pomona community we show our care and compassion.”

Starr’s wording in her email, however, frustrated some 5C students, who said that the use of the word “terrorism” and the lack of direct acknowledgment of Palestine in the statement would bring harm to the college’s Arab and Palestinian communities, given the context of the rhetoric utilized during the War on Terror.

“It was disappointing to see things and call it a conflict but not an occupation. I was talking to my Muslim friends and especially more visibly Muslims, hijabi students, and they were talking about how they felt [this language] was bringing us back to 9/11 because that intentional word choice of using terrorist is really antagonizing,” said a second anonymous student, who also requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “I’m not understanding why a president of a college would do that because it does incite anti-Arab hate and anti-Palestinian violence on this campus.”

A third interviewee, who also requested anonymity due to the same concerns, called for recognition of all lives lost and in danger.

“Of course [Pomona] should acknowledge the Israeli lives lost, but at the same time, you can’t just gloss over what’s happening in Gaza — how 2.2 million people are trapped inside there and they’re being bombed,” the student said.

“They’re being bombed to death in the dark, no food, no water. That also

SASHA MATTHEWS • THE STUDENT LIFE

needs to be acknowledged.”

Korbatov, meanwhile, was critical of Graves and Thacker’s neutrality.

“It certainly isn’t enough,” Korbatov said. “I know that the issues of Israel and Palestine bring up deep seated feelings about belonging, identity, religion — they’re really really complex. But I do think that sometimes there’s a right and a wrong, and the murdering of innocents is unequivocally something that universities should condemn.

I think in cases like that when an institution is silent, it concedes to really terrifying rhetoric that justifies the murder of civilians or doesn’t address it at all. And I don’t think that’s acceptable or sufficient.”

Many Jewish students said they were afraid to voice their beliefs and display their faith in public for fear of backlash. Korbatov explained that she feels she has also not received adequate support from her fellow students at Pitzer, calling some of their responses “downright cruel and even terrifying.”

“I know that Israeli and Palestinian students alike, and Jewish students and Palestinian students alike, have family members who are suffering — we’re losing our friends, we’re losing our loved ones,” she said. “And that’s not something that should be part of a wider political discussion; that requires nothing but humanity and compassion.”

Bethany Slater, executive director of Claremont Hillel, the 7C pluralistic Jewish organization, echoed these sentiments, calling students to empathetic action.

“This moment demands that we all lean into our humanity,” Slater told TSL via email. “Justifying these murderous acts compounds our shock and misery. If you do not agree with the justification of atrocities, please speak out.”

On Oct. 9 Hillel, in collaboration with Haverim, an organization which works to bring awareness to and fight antisemitism in the Claremont Colleges community, hosted a vigil to support students in their mourning. Slater highlighted the

importance of unity in grief.

“Jewish students at the 5Cs are showing unprecedented unity right now, supporting one another through this moment,” Slater said. “I have been so impressed by the ways in which they have acted through their grief to look out for one another. I have been able to offer presence, comfort, a Jewish home where they feel safe to be themselves. I will continue to make gathering and educational opportunities available and journey with students through this time so they do not walk alone.”

Haverim held support groups, which are safe spaces for students to chat, mourn and aid one another.

Haverim leaders did not respond to TSL’s questions at the time of publication.

The vigil was also organized with the help of Chaplain Danny Lutz, CMC professor Gary Gilbert, and Rabbi Yossi Matusof and Rebbetzin Rochel Matusof of Claremont Chabad, a 5C Jewish community for students of all backgrounds and affiliations.

Rabbi Yossi extended support to Jewish students.

“Some suggestions of ways to bring extra light during this painful time,” Rabbi Yossi said. “Three practical suggestions come to mind. One, show some kindness and love to someone you passionately disagree with. Number two, this Friday bring extra light into this world with a light of Shabbat candles. And option three, display some Jewish pride by getting a mezuzah to hang proudly outside your dorm room.”

Starr, Thacker, CMC Acting President Sharon Basso and a representative from Scripps College attended the vigil, which was also promoted in Thacker’s email alongside the statement made by the chaplains.

The first anonymous interviewee pointed out that while events in support of Jewish students have been promoted by the Pomona dean of students, events for Arab, Palestinian or Muslim students have been driven solely by campus organizations.

“I think Palestinian students and

Arab students and Muslim students feel marginalized … that is nothing that any student within any of the 5 or 7Cs should ever feel,” the student said. “There should be a place where self expression and freedom of speech is accepted and encouraged and everyone should be given the same resources for support.”

Without institutional promotion, support events for the pro-Palestine community were primarily run and operated by student organizations.

On Oct. 12, SJP and JVP held a joint vigil in collaboration with the Muslim Student Association (MSA) for Palestinian and Israeli lives lost, a Gaza teach-in at the Motley and a march for Palestine. Approximately 50 students marched across the 5Cs and chanted for Palestinian liberation.

“I think that a lot of those organizations like that attract people who are not directly correlated to the cause,” the first interviewee said. “And I think that, that is amazing and that’s where things happen, and that’s what needs to be done more.”

Still, some students who attended the march said they feel unsupported by school leadership. SJP member Loy Prussack SC ’24, who helped lead the night’s events, noted the absence of prominent administrative members who attended the Jewish support vigil.

“We are saddened to see the lack of such compassion from our administration and are disappointed in their lack of overall response,” Prussack said. “SJP reached out to all of the 5C presidents to extend an invitation to tonight’s vigil and none attended.”

SJP also hosted a healing circle on Oct. 10, centering Palestinian perspectives. Hillel held a processing shira circle on Oct. 9, led by the Ruakh and Ritual team. JVP also held a processing space for students to express their unfiltered feelings and collectively grieve for lives lost. Both Hillel and JVP processing events were grounded in Jewish mourning traditions.

Levinson spoke on how the JVP event helped Jewish students find community support.

“Many [attendees] shared that they’d had hard conversations with close family members and friends who saw their empathy for Palestinians as a betrayal,” Levinson said.

“There’s such a strong Jewish tradition of coming together and supporting each other in times of grief and struggle, and I think we tapped into that.”

As the violence continues to escalate, the 5C community continues to mourn. In a time of great strife, Levinson put forward a message of empathy.

“Multiple things have to be true at the same time. That’s what the processing space was really about,” Levinson said. “We came together to insist on broad empathy and on feeling our emotions and refusing to weaponize them. Having a safe community space to do that was really powerful and really helpful.”

News

October 13, 2023

PAGE 3

‘A family away from home’: A look into Black Student Unions across the 5Cs a common sentiment of not really liking those jokes and feeling like they had more potential underlying tones,” McKie said.

McKie emphasized the importance of acknowledging Black students at Scripps and respecting their right to gather in communities of joy and empowerment.

“There are Black Scrippsies.

We’re here,” McKie said. “There feels like a divide between the rest of the BSUs and Black Scripps students, but I seriously want to engage with this community as much as any other Black student wants to.”

ENOCH KIM & NITYA GUPTA Black Student Unions across the 5Cs serve as a space for Black students to find community during their time in Claremont. Student leaders from Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), Scripps College and Pomona College told TSL about their goals for their respective organizations.

Black Lives at Mudd Black Lives at Mudd (BLAM) was formed by Harvey Mudd College students in 2015 to foster a community space for students of African and Afro-Caribbean descent, while providing professional and social support.

This year, the co-presidents of the group are Moyo Oyedeji-Olaniyan HM ’25 and Fred Bolarinwa HM ’25.

One of BLAM’S goals is to ensure that members have ample opportunities to prepare for a career.

To do this, conduct study nights and work with recruiters to host workshops.

“A few weeks ago, we had a ‘mocktails and mock interviews’ session with Bloomberg, which is a big engineering/finance company,” Oyedeji-Olaniyan said. ”We’re hoping to do more things like that.”

According to Oyedeji-Olaniyan, the biggest challenge the group faces is being heard byMudd administrators.

“It’s becoming a more diverse place and having a larger Black population, but sometimes we do feel as though the resources don’t reflect that,” she said.“We are actively working to find solutions for this not to be a limitation.”

Bolarinwa said that BLAM has helped him find community on campus.

“There are a lot of different students on campus that I probably would not have known if I didn’t attend BSU functions in previous years,” he said.

Oyedeji-Olaniyan echoed Bolarinwa, saying that her participation in BLAM has helped her build relationships with other Black students on campus and hone her leadership skills.

“I know a lot of people that are Black at Mudd and I can just go and sit down and have a meal with them,” she said. “That has helped me feel like I have a family.”

CMC Black Student Association The Black Student Association (BSA) at CMC aims to create a safe space for dialogue and experiential learning for Black and Brown students and implement positive changes, according to ASCMC’s website.

This year, the co-presidents of the group are Precious Olajobi CM ’24 and Tiana Jackson CM ’24.

BSA was one of the first groups Olajobi joined at CMC and it became a place where she could chan-

CAMPAIGN: CMC uses donations for expansion Continued from page 1 Department of Integrated Sciences at CMC and the Robert Day Sciences Center. Both were launched in response to CMC’s 2018 decision to leave the intercollegiate W.M. Keck Science Department shared with Scripps College and Pitzer College.

Other recipients of the funding include CMC’s Open Academy initiative, which seeks to promote intellectual diversity on campus, the Presidential Initiative on Anti-Racism and the Black Experience in America and the Athenaeum.

Last spring, CMC purchased a 75-acre plot of land on the east side of Claremont Boulevard, which will house new athletic facilities and recreational areas.

A large portion of the money raised since 2015 has also been invested in student financial aid, according to the LA Times.

So far, CMC has endowed 72 new scholarships and increased the percent of Pell-eligible students from 10 percent to 18 percent and first-generation students from 9 percent to 17 percent.

“This collective accomplishment will truly shape and change the lives of our students,” Michelle Chamberlain, vice president of Advancement and Student Opportunities and dean of the Robert Day Scholars Program, said. “We are very grateful to our Claremont McKenna College community.”

Pomona Black Student Union

ESHA CHAMPSI • THE STUDENT LIFE Precious Olajobi CM ‘24 and other student officers at Black Student Unions across the Claremont Colleges reflect on the ways in which their unions impact their relationships and foster communities on campus.

nel all parts of herself and receive support from a community. She wanted to have a role in creating a similar space for other students.

“I genuinely want the BSA to feel like a family away from home,” she told TSL via email.

“We all experience that in different ways and we are always looking to cater to students in a way that is meaningful to them.”

The group collaborates with other affinity groups across the 5Cs to host events like the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards Party and the 5C General Body Meeting, for members to meet other Black identifying students across the consortium.

“One of the best parts about being an affinity group on campus is that we all share very similar missions and the missions extend past our own individual groups and immerses itself into the larger community,” Olajobi said.

The biggest challenge the group faces is engagement and spreading the word that BSA is for everyone, according to Olajobi.

“I feel it needs to be emphasized that Blackness does not exist as a monolith and BSA is a space that is supposed to be a community, a place where we can regroup and ground ourselves,” she said.

Watu Weusi (Scripps) Watu Weusi at Scripps College, originally named Wanawake Weusi, or “Black Women” in Swahili, was renamed to “Watu Weusi,” or “Black People” in 2017.

“The whole point is to foster a space for Black non-men to show the experience and build community with one another,” board member Hannah McKie SC ’26 said. “Our mission really is to cross that space and uplift Black non-male voices.”

McKie values the ability for Black students to have conversations about their experiences within Watu and to foster a community of a relaxed nature. When asked about the impact of Watu on her identity, McKie stated that instead of changing her identity, her commitment to Watu reinforced her pre-existing values.

“A lot of the things that the group stands for and the group’s missions and goals were things that were already very important to [me].”

McKie said she wishes to work within her community at home in Brooklyn and bring together the resources she has obtained at the 5Cs in order to support the peo-

ple who have supported her in the past.

“I think [Watu Weusi] just has been a reminder of how important and grounding being around Black people is for me,” McKie said. “My main goal is to make sure that I’m engaging with Black people in a meaningful way, so I feel like [Watu Weusi] has just been a good reminder.”

“I think one of the challenges that we face is that we aren’t always taken as seriously as other BSUs at the 5Cs, because we have smaller numbers — maybe because we’re the only BSU at a women’s college [at the 5Cs],” she said. “I feel like it’s kind of hard to be treated with the same level of legitimacy as other BSUs.” McKie said that this was a trend that she noticed even before her leadership position, when she would notice comments from students such as “Oh, you’re like, one of two Black people” when the students would realize that she was from Scripps. She spoke on how, to her, those kinds of comments were invalidating especially in the context of being Black in an already minority space.

“When I spoke to other Black Scripps students about it, it was

Pomona BSU was started in 2016 as a way for Black students to find community and support while studying at a predominantly white institution. According to President Precious Omomofe PO ’24, Pomona’s BSU is still actively trying to create a community that brings together students of the African diaspora.

“I’ve always been in leadership roles, so it was just natural for me to seek that out within the BSU especially,” Omomofe said. “That’s how I kind of got to be in these leadership roles. [BSU] really for me just means community, and finding a home away from home in a way because within that community, that’s how I made some of my best friends.”

Omomofe named institutional funding as a major issue for BSU due to its growing size. She spoke of partnering with the Draper Center to host a Black youth conference that cost around $7,000. Despite the fact that Pomona did not approve more funding, Omomofe said that the event succeeded due to proper planning.

“We’re really trying to create a more positive relationship with the administration,” Omomofe said. “With all the big things we’re trying to do, we are definitely going to need more support.”

Omomofe stated that with her role as BSU’s president, she’s found the diverse forms of Black excellence that some would consider non-traditional. Finding greatness in artistry, music, and other categories, she said, led her to realize that greatness varies in many ways in the Black community at Pomona.

She hopes that students know BSU is “one unit” where non-executive board members can be active leaders. Omomofe also highlighted her hope that BSU events make attendees feel at home.

“I just want to really make an emphasis that the whole point of BSU is for the community,” Omomofe said. “[It’s] for everybody, [for] every single type of Black person to come together.”

Representatives from Pitzer College’s BSU declined to comment, citing concerns with the way they had been previously covered. This is TSL’s third article in a series profiling 5C-wide affinity groups.

Arts & Culture

PAGE 4 ROM-COM IN REVIEW

Eat your heart out in ‘Fresh’ NADIA HSU

Imagine “When Harry Met Sally” if Harry revealed himself to be a cannibal who drugs and kidnaps Sally in order to chop her up and sell her as meat to the perverted uber-rich — that’s “Fresh.”

For the first half-hour of Mimi Cave’s 2022 directorial debut, you’ll think you’re seeing a classic rom-com. Sebastian Stan’s Steve and Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Noa have a meet-cute in a grocery store.

Steve has a Hugh Grant-esque awkward charm and Noa is disillusioned with modern romance after one too many bad first dates.

Whirlwind romance ensues. It’s so rom-com that there’s even a funny Black best friend to girl-talk with white girl Noa. But after those first 33 idyllic minutes, the opening credits finally roll in a magnificent and terrifying beat-drop moment that turns the movie from rom-com into horror. The audience has been played for fools, or better yet, romantics.

The graphic, played-for-laughs violence of “Fresh” is strange and grandiose, but it’s not new.

Recent social thrillers like “Get Out” and “The Menu” have also used wild body horror to magnify real societal horrors. Additionally, the past few years alone have seen an uptick in popular cannibalism-centric media. Take the movies “Raw” and “Bones and All”; the show “Yellowjackets”; and the books “Woman, Eating,” “A Certain Hunger,” “Lapvona” and “Tender is the Flesh.”

Why this increased obsession with cannibalism, with preternatural violences of the body? Visceral physicality is able to communicate something that words and drawn-out metaphors can’t. Some of these recent movies, shows and books suggest cannibalism as a metaphor for something all-consuming — addiction, love, power — while others use cannibalism as a way to talk about womanhood.

“Fresh” does some of both.

Again and again the film parallels images of literal human meat — seriously, like chopped-off legs and human meatballs — against images of women’s bodies to make the (often not-so-subtle) commentary that women’s bodies are treated like meat. It’s an overt and somewhat tired metaphor, but there’s just enough gore for it to remain effective.

At its core, “Fresh” has a rom-

com consciousness, both due to the first 30 minutes and scenes after that point that still feel like they could almost be in a rom-com. Noa has a getting-ready makeover scene, but it’s for a coerced date with her kidnapper; Steve dances in the kitchen to ’80s synth-pop, but it’s while he’s chopping and vacuum-sealing human meat.

And so the movie’s overthe-top violence brings to mind critiques about romance, as represented in rom-coms, that feel familiar. “Fresh” mocks notions of the grand romantic gesture and “all-consuming” love which can turn violent.

Steve says at one point that cannibalism is “about giving yourself over to somebody, becoming one forever. And that’s a beautiful thing. That’s surrender. That’s love.”

The sexual violence is obvious here, but it points to the subtle sexual violence that underlies most classic romcoms. Think of every creepy (or downright chargeable) moment in a rom-com that’s played as romantic: the stalking in “Groundhog Day,” persistently asking a stranger out in “27 Dresses” and “The Notebook,” public serenading in “Say Anything” and “10 Things I Hate About You,” etc.

Steve’s cannibalism – and the cannibalism of the men he sells to (who like to receive their meat alongside the personal belongings and underwear of the woman it came from) – is patriarchal violence at its most severe. But the movie makes clear that this extreme is a magnification of other, smaller forms of violence. Before she meets Steve, Noa goes on a first date with a guy who, when she politely rejects him, calls her a “stuck-up bitch.” Similarly, Steve’s final words to Noa after she rejects him and runs away are, “You fucking bitch!”

The horror of “Fresh” doesn’t come from Noa’s situation or Steve’s brutality — there’ve been too many kidnapped girl movies for that to still work. What makes the film so unsettling and pertinent, what made me close my laptop and check that my location was still turned on, is that we liked Steve. Noa liked Steve. It was romantic, so romantic, until it wasn’t.

LUCIA MARQUEZ-UPPMAN • THE STUDENT LIFE

October 13, 2023

CLAREMONT CORE

In defense of the uniform

MAZZY ROSENAST • THE STUDENT LIFE

GUS GINGRICH I still remember the day I received the pair of jeans that would become the most-worn item in my closet. When I first tried them on, I had mixed feelings. The potential was there — the color, the fading, the silhouette — the only thing wrong was the length. They just needed to be hemmed, then they’d be perfect.

That happened a few weeks later when I returned home from school and I barely had any time to get used to it before going abroad. Even before arriving, I knew I had brought more than enough pairs of pants for one semester. But after the first couple of weeks, I noticed that the rotation I had so carefully curated for myself was gradually being replaced by this one pair of jeans. Each morning, as I was getting ready, I would think to myself: “Would any pair of pants sit better on the shoes I want to wear today? Pair better with the rest of the outfit I’d selected? Better complement the silhouette I had established?”

And over and over again, the answer was no.

At first, this made me a little angry; I had spent years compiling my collection of pants, all for them to sit neatly folded in my closet at the expense of this one pair? The rationalization “but they just look better” didn’t exactly provide the closure I was looking for. I thought I wanted variety in the way I dressed, but I still preferred these jeans to any of the variety I had.

After purchasing a pair of

boots and a coat for the colder weather that I began to wear every day, the quest for variety became much more difficult.

While for a time I was still cycling through various shirts or accessories, straying from a base outfit was increasingly challenging.

Eventually, I was forced to accept that I had found my uniform.

The concept of the uniform is nothing new, but as someone interested in so many designers and eras of clothing, it felt like an odd stage to be at in my style progression. Sure, everything I was wearing reflected my current tastes, but the simplicity of my uniform didn’t. I used to cherish the days where I could wear whatever I wanted in lieu of a uniform and now here I was returning to a certain look despite virtually infinite flexibility.

The main upside to the uniform that helped to assuage these concerns was convenience. Being able to throw on an outfit in the morning that was as flattering as it was versatile saved countless hours of outfit deliberation (and yes, I mean hours). It also made it significantly easier for me to slim down my wardrobe and cut back on any future purchases. After weighing pieces in my current wardrobe and potential additions against my normal uniform, it was clear to me that the majority would not look better than what I already had.

This is a plus for sustainability as well — even if your uniform clothing is of the highest quality, it will probably still be cheaper and more environmentally friendly to repeat that outfit than to go out of your way to wear or purchase clothing that is not as

convenient or good-looking solely for the sake of variety.

This isn’t to say that variety goes out of the window once you find a specific outfit/style that you prefer to all others. With weather limitations, comfort concerns and clothing just getting dirty, it’s practically impossible to wear the exact same thing every single day.

Striving for style uniformity instead of outfit uniformity — finding pieces that look good together or work well with the look you’ve already established so they’re easy to integrate into this uniform style — is much more worthwhile.

On days where the weather is not conducive towards dressing to your fullest potential (or you just don’t feel like getting dressed up), it’s nice to have weather and attitude-appropriate substitutes. Your uniform can also change with the seasons; to those who are able to wear jeans in 90 degree weather, I commend you, but as much as I love mine, my Claremont uniform is still heavy on shorts.

It’s hard to develop a personal uniform without avoiding the stigma of “outfit repeating,” but if you’re like me and have gone through a million different stages of personal style to end up there, there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. Ultimately, your uniform should be the best stylistic representation of you and confidence in how you present yourself outweighs what anyone else might think.

And to everyone hating on outfit repeaters, try to funnel that energy into a more productive cause: finding something that you’re comfortable wearing enough to repeat.

It can be a tedious process, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

‘Deadlocked’: What do we do when the Supreme Court loses its legitimacy?

ZOE DORADO “The only power the Supreme Court has is its legitimacy,” Pomona College Professor of Politics Amanda Hollis-Brusky articulates in the new four-part docuseries “Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court,” which traces the court’s past, present and prospective future. “If it loses that, well then the question becomes, ‘Why obey?’”

On Oct. 4, 5C students and faculty had the opportunity to view the final episode of “Deadlocked,” “The Crisis of Legitimacy,” while speaking with Hollis-Brusky and award-winning director and documentary filmmaker Dawn Porter in a discussion moderated by Pomona President G. Gabrielle Starr.

“We are at a really serious point in our constitutional history,” Porter explained to the audience members.“It’s really incumbent upon all of us to understand where we are, but also in understanding how we got here.”

In the wake of the historical Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the elimination of affirmative action in college admissions and a distinct brand of conservative Catholic justices rising to power since the Trump presidency has caused heavy political contention within the country.

“Deadlocked,” which the New York Times described as “nothing if not ambitious,” debuts in the midst of this unease.

During a Q&A portion of the event, Sebastian Tulle PO ’26 asked about the Court’s future following these changes.

“As you mentioned in the episode, democratic politics [will] have to reconcile with a conservative Supreme Court for decades to come,” Tulle

PO ’26 said. “What are ways that we can find viable approaches to rebuilding trust in our government?”

Hollis-Brusky suggested focusing on structural solutions.

“You gotta focus on the process because if the process is illegitimate, that is what is going to ultimately lead to the loss of faith in the court,” she said.

These structural solutions, many of which are mentioned in “Deadlocked,” are a way to limit the power we give to a group of unelected people. They include creating an 18-year term limit, expanding the court from nine to 13 justices and

establishing a “code of ethics” for justices to follow (every state and federal court in the United States, except for SCOTUS, has one).

However, actualizing these structural solutions is complicated.

Passing a constitutional amendment would require two-thirds approval from both houses of Congress and then ratification from three-fourths of the states. Passing a statute might seem like a better alternative, needing just a simple majority from Congress and a signature from the White House, but it would then have to survive judicial review by the very justices on the

court that it’s implicating.

“It’s a catch-22,” Hollis-Brusky said. “That’s the challenge.”

Despite this political uncertainty, “Deadlocked” illuminates how documentary storytelling is invaluable because it allows us to ask the hard questions and find the truth within it.

“I come from a journalistic background,”Porter said. “I’m not interested in just preaching to the choir. I’m not interested in creating a polemic … always report against your instincts.”

Porter called on a range of experts across the political spectrum

SARAH ZIFF• THE STUDENT LIFE On Oct. 4, 5C students and faculty had the opportunity to view the final episode of “Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court” with filmmakers Amanda Hollis-Brusky and Dawn Porter.

to interview, including Theodore B. Olson, former private counsel to Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, and Ruth Marcus, political columnist and author of “Supreme Ambition: Brett Kavanaugh and the Conservative Takeover.”

Rachel Ma PO ’26, who is interested in becoming a documentary filmmaker, was inspired by how Porter addressed her own political biases in the film.

“It’s impossible to portray truth in a documentary without any sort of bias,” Ma said. “But it’s important to have a wide array of different voices … while also staying true to your own.”

Porter ended with a message to students in the audience.

“Things seem quite grim right now,” she said. “We definitely need your voices … we need your creativity and your ability to reach your contemporaries … If you’re interested in storytelling, follow that interest.”

Hollis-Brusky agreed and recalled how watching “Deadlocked” triggered a memory she had a week after the 2016 election while sitting in her office.

“I kept thinking [about] how we were at a time of great political possibility, for better or for worse,” she said. “2016 was this moment where things happened that we never imagined could happen. But that means that other things that we had never imagined could happen too.”

She connected this to the importance of storytelling in shifting culture and influencing politics.

“If you can’t imagine another way, then you’re limited in the actions you can take towards that goal,” she said. “But our stories and creativity can open our minds to other possibilities.”

October 13, 2023

Arts & Culture

PAGE 5

Freedom First concert series: Keith LaMar performs spoken word poetry from death row MOLLY MURPHEY Taking the stage at Pomona College’s Lyman Concert Hall, pianist Albert Marquès plugged his cell phone into the sound system. With a banner reading “Justice for Keith LaMar” and a nearly life-sized photo of LaMar to the left of the stage, Marquès spoke into his phone, “Hi Keith, can you hear me?”

Responding from death row at an Ohio prison, the performance’s spoken word poet, LaMar, responded he could. A hush fell over the crowd before it burst into uproarious applause.

On Oct. 7, Pomona hosted the final performance of the West Coast tour of Freedom First, a jazz album co-written by Marqués and LaMar featuring LaMar’s spoken word poetry. The band consisted of Zack O’Farrill on drums, Kazemde George on tenor saxophone and Yosmel Montejo on bass guitar. The music was accompanied by speeches advocating for LaMar’s release and prison abolition more generally.

According to the Justice for Keith LaMar campaign website, LaMar was wrongfully convicted after the 1993 Lucasville Prison Uprising and has served 30 years on death row. He has since dedicated much of his life to criminal justice reform advocacy, including writing an autobiography titled “Convicted.”

The concert was co-sponsored by the Pomona Student Union (PSU) and the 5C Prison Abolition Coalition, PSU’s first event in a series of talks and performances to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The night’s program included live performances of “Freedom First” tracks punctuated by speeches from Ken Wright, LaMar’s best friend since the age of 15, Amy Gordiejew, the manager of the Justice for Keith LaMar campaign, Marquès and LaMar

himself.

Wright commended audience members for their commitment to LaMar’s campaign.

“In universities across the country, young people are getting involved with this and becoming informed and they’re taking steps towards righting the wrong,” Wright said. “It’s incredible and I want you to give yourselves a round of applause. Keith has a heart for young people. So I know he would be smiling tremendously right now just to see what has happened and all the work that has gone in.”

Scripps College politics pro-

fessor Mar Golub, who serves as the faculty advisor for the 5C Prison Abolition Collective, urged audience members to consider the conditions Keith faced as he called in from prison.

“If we leave at the end of the night filled with nothing but gratitude and respect for Keith’s particular genius, I worry that we might have missed the most important part of the show,” Golub said. “Keith’s performance is not only about what he can do or what this group can do, but also it forces us to think about the circumstances in which the perfor-

mance is made.”

Following the performance, Leila Riker PZ ’25, a member of the 5C Prison Abolition Coalition, shared her personal connection to LaMar. Riker first met LaMar when he started a book club at her high school in New York City.

“The fact that someone who was locked up on death row and being denied all opportunities to interact with the world had [still] somehow broken through in his teaching made me start to think critically about prisons for the first time,” Riker said.

PSU president Dave Ruiz PO ’24 encouraged students to con-

tinue conversations sparked by the performance.

“Keith’s life, his writings and his music call each and every one of us to consider what justice truly means in a society that loves to talk about it, but that seems to have such a hard time defining and practicing it,” Ruiz said.

Clare Reimers-Hejnal SC ’26, who attended the show, was moved by the audience’s reactions to the performance.

“Abolition is about creation and there was a lot of joy here,” Reimers-Hejnal said.

Kaliyah Keita PO ’24, a member of 5C Prison Abolition, tied LaMar’s work to a larger prison abolition movement.

“Essentially what we were hoping to accomplish … [was] breathing life into Keith’s story and into who he is, and … contributing to him having the platform to be able to share his art and his music and his writing, in addition to the abolitionist messaging that exists in that story,” Keita said.

The night’s performance concluded with a rendition of “Acknowledgement,” an adaptation of a John Coltrane track from the album “Freedom First.” Audience members joined the musicians in chanting “a love supreme,” the iconic refrain of the Coltrane track.

Wright spoke about LaMar’s ability to cultivate love and compassion, a theme punctuated by this chant.

“Seeing the things that he has been able to do after 30 years of incarceration and in a small cell in solitary confinement [and] to be able to collaborate with people around the world to be able to touch the hearts and minds of young people … is a testament to his heart, his openness,” Wright said. “His desire to have a givefirst approach in that period has ANDREW YUAN • THE STUDENT LIFE resulted in him receiving love, care, compassion and concern in On Oct. 7, Pomona hosted the final performance of the West Coast tour of Freedom First, featuring a performance

by Keith LaMar virtually from an Ohio prison. return.”

KIT’S CONTROLLER CORNER

Bridget: The fight for positive trans representation from cis creators KIT KUMAR Transgender people make up 1.6 percent of American adults and approximately 5 percent of young adults, while 44 percent of Americans say they know someone trans. That said, there is a dearth of transgender media created by trans people that is widely consumed by the general public (with a few notable exceptions). Given how small the trans community is compared to their broad media presence, it is important to consider how trans representation in media shapes treatment of and sentiments about trans people. As such, because there are more cisgender people in the media industry than trans people, it makes sense to rely on them to create media about transgender people. Cisgender allies are all too aware that the relatively small amount of popular media focusing on the transgender experience can negatively affect the societal perception and treatment of trans people. As such, many cisgender creators have taken steps to increase transgender representation and improve historically problematic portrayals of trans people and issues.

Still, simply encouraging cisgender creators to produce transgender representation may have negative results; much of the historical transgender representation in media has been incredibly harmful to the public perception of trans people as a whole and continues to plague the trans community’s fight for civil rights. Ensuring that cisgender creators understand the trans experience and portray it with the tact and care that such an important issue warrants is paramount to constructing media that positively and accurately represents the experiences of trans people. Bridget from “Guilty Gear -Strive-,” or “-Strive-,” is an excellent example of how creators may choose to adapt and change characters to improve the representation of trans people in media.

Arc System Works (ArcSys) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher known for their 2D fighting games.

One of ArcSys’s most widely beloved franchises is “Guilty Gear,” a fighting game characterized by its very in-depth lore with fleshed-out backstories for each character on their roster.

Their most recent installment is “Guilty Gear -Strive-,” released for PC, Xbox and PlayStation on Jun. 11, 2021. On Aug. 8, 2022,

ArcSys released a DownLoadable Content (DLC) pack that added Bridget to the game.

Bridget is a yo-yo-wielding bounty hunter who fights alongside her teddy bear companion, Roger. She first appeared in “Guilty Gear XX,” released in 2002, and has been in many of the subsequent installments. Bridget was assigned male at birth, alongside a twin brother, in an English village.

The village held a superstition that twin brothers brought misfortune upon the citizens, so Bridget’s parents forced her to present in a feminine way despite being born as a male.

In previous games, Bridget never expressly identified as a woman, but in “-Strive-,” her character backstory heavily implies that she is transgender, which was corroborated by Daisuke Ishiwatari (the creator of Guilty Gear).

If Bridget’s identity was judged exclusively by her portrayal in “-Strive-,” then one could say that she is a poignant depiction of many transgender people’s journey of self-realization. The sense of confusion she initially feels, expressed in her post-battle voice lines with Goldlewis Dickinson, is born from a fear of abandoning her masculine identity, even though she already presents femininely. Over the journey, she is continuously encouraged to self-actualize and is asked what she truly wants, culminating in her eventual proclamation that she is a woman.

On the surface, ArcSys’ change to Bridget’s character seems to be a relatively positive representation of a transgender character written by cisgender people. The subject is handled with the respect and dignity it warrants, isn’t brushed over or overly laid in subtext, nor an out-of-character change for Bridget’s narrative. However, the presentation of Bridget’s backstory has caused controversy within the Guilty Gear community and the internet as a whole.

Before “-Strive-,” Bridget’s character was referred to as an 男の娘 (otokonoko), a term literally meaning “male girl” but used to refer to men who present with a feminine identity — analogous to the western term of “femboy,” used to refer to men with a feminine presentation. This alone would cause issues, considering the connotation that a trans woman started out as a man who crossdressed,

BELLA PETTENGILL • THE STUDENT LIFE

but the issues of Bridget’s background don’t end there. She was forced into presenting as feminine by her parents and continued well into her adulthood out of a sense of obligation. The concept that someone can be ‘made’ trans is inarguably wrong and a common talking point of transphobic individuals who lambast trans representation in media.

Furthermore, the idea that your gender identity is something that can be controlled through will rather than an immutable part of your identity is harmful rhetoric that anti-trans detractors use.

Nevertheless, I would argue that Bridget is an example of positive trans representation. Her parents feel immense guilt for forcing her into a feminine gender presentation, and by the time of “-Strive-,” there is no longer societal pressure for her to present femininely. After attempting

to subvert her feminine societal presentation in previous installments (seen through her surreptitious attempts to appear more manly), she realized that her gender identity and her own understanding of it are far more complicated than she initially perceived. In “-Strive-,” though people often perceive her as a woman, no one forces her to declare herself to be one.

That change is self-motivated through a gaining sense of agency throughout her story arc and motivated by her own sense of completeness and greater self-understanding.

Without parental guilt or societal pressure and expectations, she realizes that she is trans after all, which means that her journey in “-Strive-” occurs without the influence of others.

Her identity is integral

to her story progression and resolves the overarching conflict she has been experiencing since her introduction. While some may argue that it’s a mistranslation or that this is simply a change intended to earn brownie points with the queer community, the fact of the matter remains that the creator of the game stated that this was an intentional change for this character. Additionally, it’s a change that makes sense for the character and builds upon the previous narratives in an exciting and fulfilling way. Bridget is a good example of cisgender creators adapting what was a historically harmful representation of gender non-conforming people and turning it into a painfully relatable and engaging portrayal of the trans experience. In the words of “Guilty Gear -Strive-,” “Well? How do you like the new Bridget?”

PAGE 6

Arts & Culture

Scripps Presents welcomes Gabrielino-Shoshone Tribal Council PETER DIEN & MAYA ZHAN “íyo’toróvim yaraarkokre ‘eyoo’ooxono (We the Caretakers Remember our Land)” bridged Indigenous oral history with intercultural music performance.

Held at Garrison Theater on Oct. 7, the performance was constructed with the guidance of the Gabrielino-Shoshone Tribal Council, an intertribal coalition with ancestral lands in present-day Claremont.

The Indigenous speakers’ words were accompanied by a live music ensemble.

The event was organized with the help of Hao Huang, a professor of music at Scripps College.

Huang, who has done fieldwork with Native American music for 28 years, visualized Scripps Presents as a crucial channel to promote involvement and open communication between the Claremont community and the Gabrielino-Shoshone Tribe.

“It’s time for us to listen instead of talk or write, it’s time for us to pay attention to the stories these people have to share with us …

A land acknowledgement is not enough,” Hao Huang said.

Javier Ramirez, tribal spiritual leader and advisor, opened with a blessing and chant before the performance. Local Indigenous speakers Donald Rodriguez and Tina Orduno Calderon, as well as Miguel Ordeñana, a non-Indigenous ally, expressed their perspectives on inequities, spiritual practices and the resilience of their tribe. A live music ensemble backed their oral testimonies with a meld of live electronic synths, violin and percussion instruments.

Marcella Castrejon, executive director and tribal secretary of education & records, spoke on the importance of hearing Indigenous experiences firsthand.

“Why not bring the example of what we want people to see instead of seeing it in a book or reading what it’s about?” she said.

Donald Rodriguez shared his reflections from his social work as an advocate for the Indian Child

Welfare Act (ICWA), a law which gives tribal governments exclusive jurisdiction over the placement of Indigenous children.

He underscored the severity of systemic inequity for Indigenous children in America, citing the statistic that their children are overrepresented in the foster care system at a rate 2.7 times greater than their proportion in the United States’ population.

“Some of these history books share that our tribe and the indigenous people of LA County are no longer here,” Rodriguez said. “So we hope that this allows people to realize that we are still here. Come, get to know us and let’s work together to figure out how to work on society’s ills.”

Rodriguez highlighted how false perceptions of the Indigenous community stem from stereotypical depictions of their people in elementary school curriculum. He also touched on how many federal systems, including the child welfare system, don’t account for children from non-federally recognized tribes such as the Gabrielino-Shoshone.

“You are now held accountable,” Rodriguez said to the audience. “You can’t claim you didn’t know about [these atrocities].”

The synths and violin provided ambient music and vacillated in accordance to the intricacies of the speakers’ vocal cadences.

Micah Huang, music director and member of the music ensemble, highlighted the importance of constant connection with the speaker.

“With each of us honoring different instruments and as an ensemble, we have to try out and make choices about how we respond to various turns that the speaker’s testimony tends to take,” Huang said.

Miguel Ordeñana, an ally and wildlife biologist, recalled his upbringing in Griffith Park. Upon visualizing his neighborhood as an expansive space of abundant wildlife — contrary to the popular understanding of Los Ange-

les — he devoted his career to promoting peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.

Inspired by his principles of Indigenous land management, Ordeñana also discovered the famed P-22 mountain lion in 2012.

Tina Orduno Calderon, culture bearer and tribal singer, honored her ancestors’ traditions and intimate connection to the environment. As she told stories about the sacredness of water, the ensemble imitated streams of water, wind and wildlife with chimes. The intricate soundscape intertwined with her narration created an immersive atmosphere that made her words come alive.

“My ancestors … gave us those teachings about living in reciprocity with the lands, the waters, the plant relatives, the minerals and all of the elements,” she said. “There was life here before humankind ever broke his lands. Think about the microbes in the moment that we found that soil is alive, that water has a spirit, that all of these plants came before us, animals came before us.”

Calderon ended with a reading of her original poem “Star Journey.” She described the connection to her ancestors as vibrations and illuminations in her soul.

After the event concluded, the indigenous speakers and instrumentalists embraced in laughter and joy, acting as a living testament to the performance’s goals: community-building, asserting indigenous autonomy, improving allyship and educating the Claremont community on the lands they are living on.

“We’re still here and the fact that we come in many different shapes, sizes, colors and creeds that you can’t just make an assumption of what you think an indigenous person is,” Rodriguez said. “It brings us out of this kind of mystery that we no longer exist.”

COURTESY: SCRIPPS COLLEGE Held at Garrison Theater on Oct. 7, “íyo’toróvim yaraarkokre ‘eyoo’ooxono (We the Caretakers Remember our Land)” bridged Indigenous oral history with intercultural music performance.

October 13, 2023

HORROR HOUR

How Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’ brought spoof horror to the big screen ANNA PETERSON As Halloween approaches, Hollywood is releasing its annual slew of uninspired horror sequels and reboots like “Saw X” and “The Nun II.” As a self-proclaimed scary movie fanatic, I believe that many of these recent films fail to capture the gore-tastic and absurd nature of their predecessors in the classic slasher genre.

One genre stands as a revolutionary middle ground between the bloody slashers of the 80s and this new-wave of franchise horror: the spoof. Produced in 1996, Wes Craven’s “Scream” employs elements of parody while preserving the same graphic content that former audiences enjoyed. In doing so, “Scream” shifted spoof horror into the mainstream and set the standard for a new era of the scary movie.

Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, the film follows Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her eclectic group of friends. A year after the gruesome murder of her mother, the masked killer “Ghostface” begins to target Sidney and residents of the town.

A key distinction to be made when we consider “Scream” within the horror genre is its unique refusal to take itself seriously. Instead, the film wholeheartedly embraces the absurdity that earlier slashers intended to ignore or portray as sincere. Actors like Matthew Lillard (Stu) often heighten their characters’ reactions and even avoid seriousness in some of the film’s gravest scenes. However, Craven more specifically accomplishes this commitment to the absurd by satirizing the cliché tropes that slashers relied on for their formulaic plots.

Craven utilizes the character of Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy), an avid conspiracist and horror movie enthusiast, to initiate a dialogue about these clichés. Throughout the film, Randy makes several remarks on what ‘rules’ the surrounding characters should follow to increase their chances of survival.

For instance, he says that “you can never have sex,” “you can never drink or do drugs” and never say “I’ll be right back.” At the film’s conclusion, the surviving characters even joke that “this is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life for one last scare.”

Yet the most significant satirical commentary in “Scream” lies in its critique of the misogynistic convention present in nearly all psychosexual slashers: “The Final Girl.” Unlike her female counterparts, the final girl is boyish, virginal and multi-dimensional. She takes on an almost asexual role and endures as the last surviving character who outsmarts the killer.

This trope emphasizes that only women who adhere to the constraints of purity and even adopt ‘masculine’ traits will make it out alive, while those who embrace their sexual liberation will fall victim. As the friends gather around the television to watch Jamie Lee Curtis’ infamous “Halloween,”

SASHA MATTHEWS • THE STUDENT LIFE

Randy even points out that she “was always the virgin in horror movies.”

“Scream” mocks this idea, subverting the concept of the final girl.

Leading up to the film’s conclusion, Craven splices scenes of Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween” with scenes of Sidney losing her virginity. Ultimately, despite her loss of purity and deviation from the cliché, Craven still suggests that Sidney will be the movie’s final girl.

It would be unfair to talk about “Scream” without acknowledging the casting, marketing and continued influence that the film plays in popular culture. The official poster for “Scream” showcased a fearful and already well-known Drew Barrymore with striking blue eyes.

Audiences were led to believe that Barrymore would have a larger role in the film, despite her character (Casey) getting killed off in the first fifteen minutes. Craven drew audiences in with the prospect of her performance and took the daring cinematic gamble to either shock or disappoint viewers with the early death. As with standard slashers, I thought it was more provocative and true to the genre that “Scream” casted lesser-known or emerging actors to play lead roles. With future stars like Rose McGowan, Courtney Cox and Skeet Ulrich, this film served as a platform for immense talent and propelled many of these young actors into their careers in Hollywood.

Today, “Scream” continues to have a lasting impact on the horror genre and popular culture.

Following its release in 1996, a wave of more focused horror spoofs like “Scary Movie” and “A Haunted House” began to pop up in mainstream media. Lines like McGowan’s “Oh, you wanna play psycho killer? Can I be the helpless victim?” and “No, please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface, I wanna be in the sequel” have even become iconic sounds on TikTok. Unfortunately, “Scream” has followed in the foot-steps of franchises like “Friday The 13th,” “The Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Purge” with its constant production of modern reboots. These movies have continued to deviate further from the comedic elements in the original and rely too heavily on shock factor to draw audiences in. Instead, directors should integrate the iconic spoof horror in “Scream” into new content that addresses tropes in contemporary horror.

“Scream” marks a groundbreaking milestone in horror cinema at the turn of the millennium. If you’re interested in a simultaneously scary, hilarious and untraditional horror movie, “Scream” might be your go-to for this Halloween.

Claremont Heritage exhibits ‘Stories of the East and West Barrios’ PETER DIEN & CARTER SOE Today, the city of Claremont is defined by its colorful and quaint community: boutique shops, Sunday farmers markets and a slew of activities catered both to residents and 5C students. However, the city wasn’t always what it looks like now.

Prior to the establishment of the Claremont Colleges, the city originally housed a small community of Mexican Americans who resided in the East and West barrio neighborhoods.

On Sept. 28, Claremont Heritage, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the city’s history, held a screening and panel discussion for the documentary “Stories of the East and West Barrios,” which highlights various narratives of the Claremont barrios.

In collaboration with the Claremont Colleges Library Special Collections and Claremont Graduate University (CGU), the event aimed to record, collect and preserve the personal histories of residents who lived in these barrios between the 1930s and 1960s, before equitable housing policies.

Barrios is the Spanish word for “quarter” or “neighborhood.” The communities from those barrios deeply shaped the experiences of Mexican American residents living through a time before equitable housing policies existed. Recent CGU graduate and organizer of the

event Chelsea Liu CG ’23 described the event as a pertinent opportunity for the greater Claremont community to get involved in the city’s history. “[The event] was intended to provide a platform both for barrio community members to see their own history reflected and represented, and for other residents of Claremont and new generations of 7C students to learn about this living history,” Liu said.

The event was held as part of the closing ceremonies for an exhibit displaying the first comprehensive curation on the history of the Claremont barrios. Hosted by Claremont Heritage at the Ginger Elliot Center, it featured archival photographs and artifacts all contributed by community members.

“Panelists were asked to discuss the legacy of the barrios, its historical representation and directions for future community projects,” Liu said. “The film utilized oral histories from the project and archival photographs to present a history of the barrios from its origins to present day.”

The Claremont Colleges – which has depended on the barrio community labor force since the 1920s – also contributed to the insecurity of these communities all through the 20th century, Liu said.

“Throughout the 1930s to 1940s, Pomona [College] and Scripps

College bought land in the neighborhood and relocated bungalow homes for students and staff from campus to vacant lots in Arbol Verde,” Liu said. “Claremont McKenna College (CMC), the largest landholder in the neighborhood today, first started purchasing lots in 1958. CMC argued that it needed the property for institutional uses such as employee and student housing, sports fields and parking lots.”

Since then, the demographic and space of the Arbol Verde has forever changed. What once was a stable neighborhood of homeowners became a temporary residence for college staff and students that only benefited the city and the

Claremont Colleges.

“The City of Claremont seized the Sacred Heart Chapel, pool hall and numerous homes owned by long-term residents through eminent domain — and destroyed them [for a four-lane street] in spite of community protests and petitions,” Liu said.

The powerful exhibition and accompanying discussion was accomplished through several community stakeholders and academic experts. Important figures such as John Domingues and Lydia Henry served as consultants to connect them to barrio members, while Dr. Lisa Crane and Sean Stanley at the Claremont Colleges provided a digital repository, where the oral

SASHA MATTHEWS • THE STUDENT LIFE

histories and archival photographs will be shared and made accessible to the public for research.

“The community members we interviewed for oral histories above all were incredibly generous in sharing their time and stories, and opening their homes and hearts to us, and we are grateful to have built relationships of trust and respect with them,” Liu said.

To continue the efforts of being aware and recognizing the local history of the Mexican American community in Claremont, various professors and graduate students at the 7Cs are dedicating their research and class to focus on these issues.

“Natalia Brazao Cartas, a graduate student at CGU, developed a walking tour of the East barrio with Dr. Romeo Guzmán,” Liu said. “[Meanwhile] Dr. Gina Lamb at Pitzer College is working with her students on a related project on the forthcoming El Barrio Park mural project commemorating the history of the barrios.”

“The Claremont Colleges and the City of Claremont have a responsibility to recognize and redress this history,” Liu said. “7C students and the wider Claremont community need to be aware of the histories of segregation and displacement that have constructed the city they live in, and can contribute to advocating for diversity and anti-racist efforts in Claremont today.”

Opinions

October 13, 2023

PAGE 7

A love letter to Qwalala — and to CMC KAHANI MALHOTRA When I entered my dorm room in Mid-Quad for the first time, I immediately sprinted towards the windows, threw open the curtains and watched the California sun illuminate a snaking stack of rainbow bricks. I was in awe.

The glass sculpture, as I would soon learn, is Qwalala, the newest public art installation at Claremont McKenna College (CMC). While I immediately fell in love with my view, when I shared my adoration with my peers, I was met with immediate backlash and a plethora of critiques.

CMC’s collection of public art is definitely … interesting to say the least, but I was shocked to hear that so many CMCers have severe beef with this seemingly-innocent sculpture.

Criticism is necessary. Our school prides itself on viewpoint diversity and constructive dialogue, and justifiably so. But I fear we’ve become critics to a fault, which wounds school pride and casts a negative lens over our college experiences.

Most of the opposition against Qwalala has stemmed from its occupation of a former large green space in the center of Mid-Quad.

But when the glass sculpture debuted, I sat outside of Valach Hall and watched as people gravitated towards it, touching the bricks and exploring its rocky terrain.

Since then, I’ve seen students host picnics on the green space adjacent to the structure and cut through to interact with it while walking in the Quad. Yes, Qwalala has decreased the available green space. But green space still exists in the area, and Qwalala actually encourages students to interact with it in new ways.

A recent TSL article touched on how students believe the piece “divides and diminishes important social spaces in Mid-Quad,” but I’d argue it hasn’t had too much of an impact. First years and sophomores never experienced the space pre-Qwalala — it had been under construction for the last two years — yet still use Mid-Quad as a social space. Valach Courtyard often hosts Thursday Night Club for students across the 5Cs, students are always

QUINN NACHTRIEB • THE STUDENT LIFE

skateboarding and scootering around the Quad’s slopes and Mid-Quad lounges are hubs for community building.

We can appreciate the new environment public art creates while still advocating for increased transparency from the CMC administration about how our green spaces are being modified and fighting for their expansion — it doesn’t have to be one or the other.

On a broader scale, there’s a stark difference between authentic commentary on campus issues versus a default negative critique of anything new or different. I hold no judgment against CMCers for being averse to Qwalala: It’s human nature to feel wariness around modifications to our environments, as it often feels like

we may be losing a piece of our identities and lifestyles to these sudden changes.

But as we keep relentlessly critiquing our campus, it hurts our pride as a school. Not because critique in itself is a negative force — when wielded well, it can move mountains. However, we can often mistakenly neglect gratitude in the process.

Dining halls are a shining example: Discourse around expanding allergen-friendly and gluten-free options, extending hours and diversifying food options is crucial, yet we need not forget and appreciate the work put in by our dining hall workers across the 5Cs, allowing us to cultivate and embrace community during our meals. We shouldn’t

let our critiques drown out our appreciation and vice versa.

Our criticism is clouding our judgment. To combat this, we need to practice showing our gratitude.

During one of your more menial tasks — a particularly long walk to one of your classes, for instance, or when you’re brushing your teeth — take a minute of solo time to hone into some things you’re thankful for. Whether a classmate loans you a pencil for a midterm, your coffee was particularly refreshing or a public art piece brightens your day, increased gratitude for the small things will push you to look for the good in the big ones.

I’m not saying you need to be head-over-heels obsessed with your college — in fact, it’s better

if you can find things which can be improved, and perhaps play a part in making that happen. But acknowledging your gratitude will push you to feel more connected to your community, and thus, make you more equipped to fight for what’s right for yourself and for the people around you.

CMC’s art would seem wildly out-of-place at any other college or university. But I can proudly say that on our mildly corporate, overly geometric campus, it fits right in.

Criticism and community can coexist. So can the student body and Qwalala.

Kahani Malhotra CM ’27 is from New Delhi, India. She loves grabbing mango-strawberry smoothies from the Hub and falling off of her longboard.

Fending off ‘Fizzimism’ ANJALI SUVA For many of us, mindlessly scrolling through Fizz in the lulls between classes and clubs is part of our everyday routine. A social network that connects students from all of the Claremont Colleges — like YikYak, but just for the 5Cs — the app has seamlessly integrated itself into our lives, providing comfort, distraction and validation all at once.

As a first-year, my first glimpse of a so-called authentic college life at the 5Cs was through Fizz. I joined Fizz as a way to navigate my way through those tumultuous first weeks, figuring out the best dining

halls and scrolling through advice from upperclassmen. But as I later realized, there was a trade-off: Using Fizz early dampened my hopeful enthusiasm about college.

Complaints and hot takes about the schools filled my homepage, stamping out my blissful idealism.

An incoming first-year’s simple inquiry about whether or not there were parties, for example, was met with responses of “there are parties. bad ones.” and “Just go to USC and UCLA parties if it means this much to you omg.”

Some people might say that Fizz serves as an inevitable reality check on college life, but the more I re-

flected on the posts themselves, the more I questioned this narrative. It seemed to me that rather than portraying the truth, Fizz may be creating a culture of negativity about the 5Cs that is largely unwarranted.

There is little doubt that Fizz contributes to an disproportionately pessimistic view of the 5Cs, a phenomenon that I am unofficially dubbing “Fizzimism.” Studies have shown that people generally pay more attention to negative rather than positive news. Since Fizz relies on a system of user engagement through upvoting and downvoting, negative posts inevitably gain more traction. This incentivizes

users to post more negative content — regardless of their true feelings — as doing so promises upvotes and potentially a spot on Fizz’s leaderboard. The rewards, while seemingly insignificant, grant the user bragging rights in their friend group, not to mention the sweet validation of knowing that one is, in fact, funny.

The excess amount of posts criticizing parties, dining and the student body contribute to a discouraging outlook on the 5Cs. This can often affect students before they even arrive, as it did to me before I came to Pomona College.

These posts build disappointing

JOANNE OH • THE STUDENT LIFE

expectations about the school’s environment, which makes it harder for students to put themselves out there and engage with the 5C community.

It is crucial for students, especially newer ones, to build a community in college to gain social connection and a sense of belonging. Constantly seeing pessimistic content can subconsciously influence one’s decisions in building such a community. Students that hear negative comments about school activities might be discouraged from meeting others and taking part in these activities.

This is a self-fulfilling prophecy: The expectation that a certain party will be unexciting draws apathetic attendees and a party that is, in fact, boring. I felt this early on when talks of how boring the first-year orientation parties would be actively discouraged me from going to them, even though I would have enjoyed them had I entered with a more optimistic attitude.

The excess of “Fizzimism” on the app also prevents us from being more appreciative of certain benefits that we have as students here. Complaints about food portions and posts calling the dining halls “mid” and “overrated” prevent students from realizing that 5C dining is far better than the average university dining hall, with most of the Claremont Colleges making the list of the best college food in California.

Although I may seem critical of the app, I do admit that Fizz has a host of benefits: It creates a sense of school identity, connects students and provides a medium of expression. Eliminating its use would not only be unrealistic but would also deprive students of its useful features. That is why instead of deleting it, students should consider reducing their use of it — either through self-imposed limits or app restrictions.

If that is also unrealistic, users should at least scroll mindfully, with the knowledge that popular posts are disproportionately complaints and are not reflective of students’ general opinions of the 5Cs. It seems obvious, but with the stress of everyday life, it’s easy to allow Fizz to inflate such feelings of discontent. Recognizing that the posts aren’t always indicative of actual life at the 5Cs is a small but crucial first step in changing students’ mindsets around life here as a whole.

“Fizzimism” isn’t a devastating issue, but it can affect all of us. With the risk of sounding like an out-of-touch Luddite, maybe it’s time to close the app and experience the 5Cs as they really are, at least for a little while.

Anjali Suva PO ’27 is from Orange County, California. She loves watching horror films, reading fantasy books and just about anything that allows her to avoid touching grass.

Opinions

PAGE 8

October 13, 2023

How to find joy in mundanity MICHELLE ZHANG It was a Friday morning. I woke up and the first thing I felt was irritation. I’d have to make the ten minute hike over to Frary, as Frank was closed.

As I stepped out of my dorm, though, I was met with the comforting calm of a sleepy campus.

I’d walked this route past Marston Quad so many times, but would almost always be rushing through or be so caught up in a conversation that I rarely slowed down or looked around. That day, as I gazed up at Mount Baldy and watched two squirrels chase each other around a tree, I found myself enjoying this walk I’d always complained about.

Mundanity is underrated. It’s a statement that seems simple enough but isn’t always fully recognized. In fact, it’s often equated with a feeling of boredom or even apathy. Through our practiced routines, in 8 a.m. classes and passing periods, during rushed lunches and long library study sessions, it can feel like everything has become formulaic. It might even feel like we’re losing the fun part of ourselves as we slip into predictability … but it doesn’t have to be like this. We can better understand ourselves and connect with one another through our daily actions.

Time and time again, I’ve heard someone ask, “What are you doing this weekend?” and the response is “Just boring stuff,” or “Work, nothing interesting.” Though I can certainly relate to this feeling of disappointment as I realize all that I have to get done, it usually makes me feel more dread if I anticipate my next couple days as full of “boring work.” Because of this, it has become a challenge to reframe how I might respond. Instead, maybe I’ll say, “I’m going to sit on Marston Quad and finish my readings” or “I’ll grab brunch at Malott with my friends.” By verbalizing specific intentions, I can actively look forward to something instead of getting lost in the “boring.”

Of course, there’s nothing bad about spontaneity, about dropping everything and ditching your carefully planned day, about choosing to embrace the utterly unpredictable. We tend to talk and dream about these moments a lot, though, often making it feel like an all or nothing scenario. There’s the idea that you need to do something

LUCIA MARQUEZ-UPPMAN • THE STUDENT LIFE

monumental in order for it to be memorable. However, there’s something so significant about everything that falls in the in-between — all the gaps between the “looking-forward-to”s and “can’twait”s. These smaller moments deserve appreciation, too.

I’ve come up with a few little actions that I’ve begun to weave into my routines.

First, I always make sure to save at least 20 minutes each morning to eat breakfast. I’m usually by myself and I appreciate the time alone. This intentional start to my day is grounding and allows me to just sit and think.

Sometimes, I’ll bring a book along, choosing to unplug from checking my email or opening social media. I’ve come to deeply enjoy this routine of just being present.

I also try to do something new every day. I focus on the tiny things, whether that be taking a different route to class through campus, sitting somewhere new in the library, or reaching out to an old friend. By intentionally seeking out a goal to stick to, I’m more mindful of my actions. I don’t follow my routine: I actively shape it.

If you want to start romanticizing your routine, here are some simple action items.

Make a list of everything that makes your day better, even if it’s incrementally so. Pull up your Notes app or bring along a journal as you walk around campus and go about your daily activities.

Look around and observe your own habits. Being intentional about your actions helps reframe how you think about things.

MANHOLE SANDWICH: A COMIC BY SASHA MATTHEWS

Mr. TSL longs to quit his job in legitimate business and become a full time TSL cartoonist

Rather than getting tired of the same old, you could notice how this same predictability brings a comforting structure to your days.

There might be things that are so ingrained in your routine that you might not usually stop and think about them. Your appreciation for them might only be realized when some unfortunate stroke of luck takes it away. Have you ever misplaced your AirPods and felt frustratingly inconvenienced as you walked to class in silence? Or maybe you’ve spent the day cooped up inside, only to step outside and realize that you love doing work under the warm Southern California sun? Whether it be good music or the feeling of the sun on your face, these are the little things that consistently bring joy to our daily routines and deserve appreciation.

The possibilities for romanticization are endless and adaptable.

We can all learn from each other and share tactics for romanticizing our daily routines. It’s important to recognize that we don’t have to do something crazy or travel somewhere amazing to create moments of equally significant joy.

Now that we’re well into the semester, spinning headfirst towards what sometimes feels like an endless amount of work as we approach fall break, it’s easy to feel like there’s no time to do anything fun, or find ourselves slipping into tedium. However, we also have the power to build pockets of joy within our days. It starts with the tiniest things.

Michelle Zhang PO ’27 is from the Bay Area. She’s a proud lefty and has a Duolingo streak of six years.

THE DORKNESS: A COMIC BY MAX RANNEY

Partyville, Claremont

Dania’s Crossword: Have you read the news?

ACROSS 2. 5C social media app 6. Campy horror series 9. Gettin’ it ____, art exhibit running until Oct. 15 11. CMC’s Center for Writing and Public ____ 12. How many years CMS women’s volleyall has dominated the Sixth Street Rivalry 13. Where the Tiny Patio Concert was hosted

DOWN 1. Claremont ____, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the city’s history 3. What walking barefoot is not, according to Rowan 4. Outcome of CMC’s fundraiser: One ____ dollars 5. How many Sixth Street Rivalry games P-P won during rivalry weekend 7. What we should be romanticizing 8. What you would call someone in college who does not play a sport 9. One of the three best places to thrift in Claremont 10. Cannibalistic rom-com

DANIA ANABTAWI • THE STUDENT LIFE

Sports

October 13, 2023

PAGE 9

Sagehens men’s soccer draws Cal Lutheran in fifth tie of the season ADAM AKINS Another physical game was entered into the logbook of Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) mens soccer team’s arduous season. A smattering of yellow cards marked the high tension on the pitch as the Sagehens battled with the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen for a 2-2 tie on Oct. 11.

According to head coach Mike Ditka, the Sagehens have suffered nagging injuries over the course of the season, forcing them to alternate formations and strategies to look for success. Ditka said he has experimented with heavily defensive 5-3-2 formations and dynamic organizations of the back line in 4-4-2 team compositions, but, thanks to students returning from abroad and injury, the Sagehens were able to return to their native 4-3-3.

“It’s been a lot of adapting,” said Aidan MacLennan PO ’27.

“As long as we can do that the positions don’t matter.”

The game, however, was an opportunity for the Sagehens to get a break from the constant adaptation. Nicholas Mikhal’s PO ’25, the return of Kyle Lau PO ’25 — who reached the semifinals with Hong Kong’s u23 national team in the Hangzhou Asian Games — and a recovered Kieran Veloria PO ’27 allowed the Sagehens a return to comfort play as they welcomed back veteran voices on the pitch. “[Veloria] is obviously a really talented technical threat on the team for attack,” Ditka said.

“It was great to have another attacking option to come in and fight for those minutes.”

The Sagehens led the game

from the start, countering attacks from the physical and scrappy Cal Lutheran side and controlling play through the middle. According to Ditka, this was an element of their play that had suffered greatly due to injured players. The Sagehens, with the help of a streaking and dynamic Mattin Khoshzaban PO ’24, who repeatedly carried the ball from the defensive third and facilitated transition play, rallied from the back to meet attacks from the Kingsmen and demand respect on the ball.

“Mattin was amazing as a left back today, the stuff that he does on the ball is amazing,” Ditka said. “He’s a super talented player that can make a difference in a lot of different lines and positions.”

K h o s h z a b a n ’s r e p e a t e d

ADAM AKINS • THE STUDENT LIFE Sean Donovan PO ‘24 prepares to strike the ball during the Sagehens’ 2-2 draw with Cal Lutheran on Oct. 11.

ADAM AKINS • THE STUDENT LIFE Aidan MacLennan PO ’27 fights through Cal Lutheran defense in the air.

drives continued, but a lack of clinical link up play in the final third resulted in struggles with connecting runs to dangerous shots on goal.

Near the end of the first half, the Hens crumpled for a moment in front of their goal, allowing a throw from the keeper into an immediate offensive steal converted to an open shot, letting the Kingsmen sneak a goal in the closing minutes of the first half. P-P was forced to go into halftime with this cloud over their heads, but Mikhal said they knew they couldn’t let it get to them.

“The biggest thing was just trying to shake it off, it made it feel like a bad half but we played well,” Mikhal said. “We had energy and we knew that we just had to get work.”

The Hens did just that and kept their heads up, creating play with a newfound energy in the second half. Aggressive play led to a cross to find Keyon Namdar PO ’27 on the head, tying up the game less than ten minutes into the half. Cal Lutheran’s physically imposing side geared up after this goal, laying on heavy pressure and challenging P-P players, resulting in three yellow cards per team.

“It’s really physical, teams love to make a scrappy game

and it makes it hard for us to play our game,” Mikahl said. “We just have to keep that intensity up the whole game.”

By the 70 minute mark that intensity paid off. An aggressive run into Cal Lutheran’s box saw Lau draw a penalty kick, which Nicolas Ulrich PZ ’26 confidently slotted past the Kingsmen’s keeper.

Unfortunately, the Sagehens struggled to keep up the offensive pressure after the gift of the PK and fell back into their more defensive formation, struggling to keep up with an onslaught of attacks from Cal Lutheran. This barrage broke through P-P’s barriers in the last fifteen minutes of play when the Kingsmen finished a corner, tying up the game.

The Hens rallied enough to keep Cal Lutheran from finding another goal but couldn’t break through, making the game the Sagehens’ fifth tie for the season in all play. However, while the rest of the 5Cs take off for fall break, the team is looking forward to challenging La Verne on Oct. 14.

“La Verne, we’ll be able to stay in our typical shape and now they’ll haven’t seen that so I think it’s gonna be a little bit of a surprise for them,” Ditka said.

“We had to adjust our shape for them last week, and it’s going to be a surprise for them to see us with our guys back.”

Sagehen men’s water polo: Young core contributes to 15-6 victory over Cal Lutheran KAYLEE STIGAR After winning the conference regular season title last year, Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) men’s water polo were disappointed by an abrupt end to the season with a semi-finals loss to Redlands. After losing again to Redlands earlier this season, the Sagehens now sit in fourth place in the conference, but are still looking to make a splash in the Division III rankings after taking down Cal Lutheran 15-9 for their third conference win of the season on Oct. 7.

The Sagehens came in with energy in the first quarter with a flurry of goals, three of which came from the hands of underclassmen.

Kyle Green PZ ’24 pulled the upperclassmen’s weight for the Sagehens’ roster of 18 freshmen and sophomores out of 25, scoring and increasing P-P’s lead to 4-0 in the first five minutes of the game.

Three freshmen, Chase Barman PO ’27, Zach Whitfield PO ’27 and Miles Chiang PO ’27, form half the starting lineup for the Sagehens.

Team captain Liam Byrne PO ’25 expressed admiration for their core of first years.

“This was definitely our most complete performance from end to end and it’s a really good step in the right direction,” Byrne said. ”The younger players have definitely done a good job of stepping into a tough position of starting right off the bat. Zach Whitfield ended up making a really smart defensive steal on a two on one and that helped carry momentum into the half.”

The Kingsmen tried to cut into P-P’s lead before the quarter ended, but they couldn’t compete with the Saghens’ momentum and the board read 6-2 going into the second quarter.

The Sagehens continued to lock down on defense, blocking all of the Kingsmen’s shots in the second quarter and putting up three more of their own goals. P-P went into the half leading 9-2.

In the third quarter, the Hens built off of the energy of the first half, putting up five more goals and only conceding twice. However, going into the final quarter with a 14-4 lead, the Kingsmen were able to bring the score gap into single digits. They scored five goals in the fourth quarter,

compared to the Sagehen’s single one, but P-P’s dominance throughout the game allowed them to walk away without punishment. The game ended with a decisive 15-9 victory for the Sagehens, earning them their third win in the SCIAC conference.

Jacob Whiting PZ ’26 players felt as if they were able to fully execute their game plans.

“I feel like we’ve been very consistent,” Whiting said. “The Cal Lutheran and the most recent Whittier game are good examples of how we can play together as a team.”

Head coach Alex Rodriguez noted the roster’s heavy under-

classmen presence and said that the team’s youth gives them a unique development opportunity.

“We’re trying to build a relatively young team … so there’s going to be a lot of ups and downs,” Rodriguez said.

“There’s still a lot of guys that have room to grow individually.”

While the Sagehens recognize themselves as a young team that lacks the advantage of having veteran presence, they said they believe a SCIAC and DIII championship are still in the cards.

From winning a national DIII championship his freshmen year to not making it to the national

stage at all the next year, Liam Byrne PO ’25 said he has seen what it takes to win and thinks that the team can still get it done.

“The goal every year is to win a national championship and that’s something that has stayed regardless of the disappointment last year,” Byrne said. “I don’t think I would consider this just a building year because we are young. We have seniors where this is their last opportunity and we don’t want them to have to end their water polo career on a low note.”

However, Rodriguez said that the road to a national championship is never an easy one. But proving that the team can win

tough games against opponents like Cal Lutheran proves that the team can go far.

“That’s how I build a team,” Rodriguez said. “By playing tough games. I always say that getting better is painful.”

The Sagehens have gained another win on the road over CalTech since their performance against the Kingsmen, pushing their SCIAC record to 4-1. They will be traveling over the weekend to play a few east coast opponents and will return to California in hopes to continue their work towards earning a spot in the DIII national tournament, playing at Chapman on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m.

ANDREW YUAN • THE STUDENT LIFE P-P water polo rushes to defend against a shot from Cal Lutheran in the Sagehens’ 15-9 win over the Kingsmen.

Sports

PAGE 10

October 13, 2023

The real sports were the friends we made along the way, and other stories from a Non Athlete Regular Person HAROLD FUSON Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

After a semester and a half of covering the epic highs and lows of Division III sports, I have decided to take a step back and reflect on my journey from mediocrely talented (but very enthusiastic) high school athlete to a NARP, also known (to essentially only athletes or washedup retirees) as a Non-Athlete-Regular-Person.

For four formative years of high school, athletics played a major role in my life. However, when I came to the Claremont Colleges, sports quickly dropped out of my daily schedule. Much to the dismay of fourth-grade me, who dreamed of being the starting catcher for the Washington Nationals, season after season of riding the bench on my high school team led me to conclude that collegiate sports would not be for me. Immediately after arriving at Pitzer College during the second week of classes, I auditioned for a musical and was quickly consumed by rehearsals. Theater and the arts had always been an equally important part of my high school experience, but I had never devoted so much time to a show without also balancing it out with some sort of athletic season.

Thus I began my new life as a NARP, and for a while, I relished my newfound freedom. Gone were the days of perpetual soreness from daily practices and hours of bus rides to and from games. What replaced them were more hours of practice, this time in the Seaver Theater at Pomona College. In need of structure outside of the classroom, I quickly filled up my days with extracurriculars I barely had time for.

However, fear not, former high school athletes gazing longingly at the soccer team that just went whizzing by on their electric scooters!

I’m here to tell you that there is a life beyond the playing field! And while your days don’t have to be filled with a cappella and theater, there is hope for you yet.

In high school, sports served two major purposes for me. First, they were a team. They created a space I could work with my peers on something that wasn’t school work.

Excuse the cheesiness, but being a part of a team and existing in its familial environment was huge for me. And while the competitive nature of athletics was a big reason

for my love, the team atmosphere was something I sought to recreate in college.

Unsurprisingly, I’ve found many new teams to be a part of here at the 5Cs. My beloved sports desk, for one, has been an incredible sports-adjacent team I’ve loved being a part of for the past two semesters. I’ve found a community of washed-up high school athletes that are just as enthusiastic about DIII sports as I am. In addition to being an amazing team itself, The Student Life (TSL) provides me with opportunities surrounding sports that I never had in high school. Not only

do I get the privilege of covering the Claremont Colleges’ thrilling athletics — which take place on fields of lower quality than those of the private schools that many 5C students are used to — but I get to meet incredible athletes chasing their dreams.

Writing for the sports desk and experiencing athletics from this new angle has allowed me to remain connected with sports I grew up playing. Writing lets me be more than just a fan at Pomona-Pitzer games. Interviewing players gives me a firsthand account on what’s going on on the field and in the locker room from

the athlete’s perspective. TSL has been a bridge between my life as a NARP and athletics at the 5Cs. I’ve found teams outside of the sports world in Claremont as well.

The a cappella scene at the 5Cs is one built on strong camaraderie and the occasional bit of healthy competition. (The former high school athlete to collegiate a cappella enthusiast pipeline is stronger than you might think!) Weekly rehearsals and concerts provide a similar structure and end goal that I found from athletics in high school. More importantly, the bond I’ve found with my a cappella group mates rivals the

HAROLD FUSON • THE STUDENT LIFE TSL’s sports desk holds on to glory days.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

Athletes of the Week

Brooke McKee

McKee was awarded SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week last week, leading the Athenas to wins against previously unbeaten La Verne, as well as Cal Lutheran and Whittier as CMS remains perfect in SCIAC play. McKee recorded 35 kills on a .264 hitting percentage last week, including three killfacing set points. The Athenas will look to continue their SCIAC dominance against Redlands next Friday.

Women’s Tennis ITA Cup

CMS

Men’s Tennis ITA Cup Saturday, October 14 Women’s Tennis ITA Cup Friday, October 13 Men’s Tennis ITA Cup

P-P

Volleyball vs. Cal Lutheran Saturday, October 14 Men’s Tennis (ITA Cup) Men’s Cross Country @ UC Riverside

Men’s Tennis ITA Cup

ANDREW YUAN, Photo Editor SASHA MATTHEWS, Graphics Editor ANNABELLE INK, News Editor SARA CAWLEY, News Editor

Cameron Shirangi

Sunday, October 15

Men’s Water Polo @ La Verne 11:00 am

Women’s Tennis ITA Cup Men’s Tennis ITA Cup

Sports Calendar

Men’s Soccer vs. Chapman Women’s Cross Country @ UC Riverside Men’s Water Polo vs. MIT Women’s Soccer @ Redlands Men’s Water Polo vs. Harvard Men’s Soccer vs. La Verne Football vs. Chapman

Senior Staff MADELEINE SHIMKUS, Sports Designer AARON MATSUOKA, Copy Chief ANNALISE CHANG, Copy Chief EMMA JENSEN, Photo Editor

Shirangi took home SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors last week after the Sagehen’s close 10-9 win over Redlands last Saturday. Shirangi had 6 punts with an average of 48.7 yards, including two over 50 yards and long of 77. He placed two within the 20 yard line and opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 39 yard field goal. The Sagehens continue conference play this Saturday against Chapman, at home at 7:00 pm.

Football @ La Verne 2:00 pm

Women’s Soccer vs. La Verne

THE STUDENT LIFE EMMA CONSTABLE, Production Editor JAKE CHANG, News Designer ISHA RAHEJA, A&C Designer AIDAN MA, Opinions Designer

Pomona-Pitzer

PZ ’23 San Juan Capistrano, CA Football

CMC ’26 Upland, CA Volleyball

Friday, October 13

strongest relationships I had with my high school teammates.

Secondly, athletics provided structure. While I noted that I found relief in a more relaxed schedule free from athletic practices and competitions at first, I quickly realized that the structured afternoons and evenings were key to academic success.

My grandfather jokes that playing for his college’s baseball team saved his GPA, and while finding things to do with your time other than homework might seem antithetical to getting better grades, to me, it makes perfect sense.

Left to my own devices, when I finish with classes for the day and find myself with plenty of time to get my homework done, the day quickly wastes away and I look at the clock to see that it’s almost midnight and I still have essays to write.

(Ironically, this article is being written well past my bedtime; however, to my point, I had no rehearsals tonight. So there.) Through extracurriculars and on-campus jobs, I’ve found the same kind of structure I had in high school that gives me just enough time to get my class work done if I put my head down and do it. While this is easier said than done, I do appreciate the constant structure in my days, and I’m sure that comes from years of practice schedules and seasons of games that left me starting homework way too late. Yet the little time I had was always just enough to keep up with academics.

While I have been able to find substitutes for many of the joys I found in high school sports, some aspects of athletics are irreplaceable.

This past spring I contemplated trying out for the baseball team in the fall – not with any expectations of making the team, but for a week or two of taking the field in a uniform, lacing up my spikes and playing the game I love.

And for those of you screaming at your paper “Harold! The 5Cs have such amazing club sports and intramural teams like the brilliant and sexy and talented Brain Eaters ultimate frisbee team!,” I say, “Fear not!,” for I foresee years of intramural inner tube water polo domination in my future. But for now, I have found peace in yapping about the good old days and getting WAY too rowdy at a Sixth-Street basketball game. ‘Sko Hens!

REIA LI, News Associate ZOE SOKATCH, News Editoral Assistant TANIA AZHANG, Arts & Culture Editor CARTER SOE, Arts & Culture Editor

Sunday, October 15 Men’s Tennis Women’s Golf Golfweek Invitational Men’s Golf Golfweek Invitational Men’s Water Polo @ Brown Men’s Water Polo vs. Connecticut College

Editorial Board MAXINE DAVEY, Editor-in-Chief MARIANA DURAN, Managing Editor BEN LAUREN, Managing Editor MAYA ZHAN, Arts & Culture Associate DANIA ANABTAWI, Opinions Editor KAHANI MALHOTRA, Opinions Editor ANSLEY WASHBURN, Sports Editor

ADAM AKINS, Sports Editor HAROLD FUSON, Sports Editorial Assistant ELENA TOWNSEND-LERDO, Special Projects Editor INDIA CLAUDY, Special Projects Editor

EVANN PENN BROWN, DEI Editor RENEE TIAN, DEI Editor JOHN PAUL FERRANTINO, Public Editor KAI SIVASANKAR, Social Media Manager

GERRIT PUNT, Multimedia Editor HANNAH WEAVER, Multimedia Editor PAUL YAN, Business Manager STELLA FANG, Business Manager

TSL’s Editorial Board consists of the editor-in-chief and two managing editors. Aside from the editorial, the views expressed in the opinions section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Student Life.

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