VOL. CXXXIII NO. 8
FRIDAY, NovembeR 12, 2021
CLAREMONT, CA
SHS implements pooled COVID-19 testing AVA FRANCIS-HALL This month, some 5C students were puzzled to discover their COVID-19 test results from Student Health Services read “Pnegative,” rather than the formerly reported “negative.” The reason for their confusion? SHS began pooled testing on Nov. 1, and results shifted accordingly to reflect the new process in place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pooled testing has a faster turnaround time and is a more cost-effective method of COVID-19 testing. Saliva specimens are combined and then tested as a whole. If the pool doesn’t contain enough viral material to be detected by the test, it comes back negative. But if it comes back positive, then the pool’s specimens are individually retested to determine who is positive. This method of testing is more effective in areas in which positivity rates are consistently and significantly low, the CDC said — which has largely been true for the 5Cs since the fall semester began. The Claremont Colleges Services spokesperson Laura Muna-Landa cited high vaccination rates and universal indoor masking as “mitigating factors” in keeping cases low. Pooled testing means that “fewer lab resources are used resulting in a more cost-effective approach when used for screening of a population that is highly vaccinated such as TCC
students,” Muna-Landa said in an email, adding that the technique also results in improved turnaround times. Pomona College Treasurer Robert Goldberg said that the colleges collaborated with SHS to implement pooled testing. “The 7Cs discussed the issue with Student Health Services and agreed that with pooled testing we can continue to receive accurate and timely test results at a lower cost,” Goldberg said via email. But an increased pool size also increases the risk for false negatives because samples are diluted and genetic material might be harder to detect, according to the CDC. SHS pools eight samples at once, according to Muna-Landa. “There is no expectation that using pooled techniques will reduce the efficacy of our screening program in any meaningful way,” she said. According to the limitations stipulated in SHS pooled testing results, “If this specimen was initially screened by pooled testing methodology and validated in our laboratory as a Laboratory Developed Test, then a specimen with a low level of viral RNA may be negative in this procedure.” Madeline Hoorn SC ’24 found out about the implementation of
See TEST on page 3
ABBY PORTER On Nov. 4, the city and county of Los Angeles announced new mandates on proof of vaccination for COVID-19. The LA cit y ordi na nce is one of t he strictest in the country, requiring proof of full vaccination from all eligible customers to enter any “indoor portion of a covered location,” although it won’t be enforced until Nov. 29. LA County, which includes Claremont, updated its October vaccine mandate for indoor bars, nightclubs, wineries and breweries — which can no longer allow customers to show a negative COVID-19 test or partial vaccination for entry. Employees of these establishments had to provide full vaccination proof to their employers by Nov. 4. In the city of LA, the only exemptions are for those with medical conditions that prevent vaccination or those with sincerely held religious beliefs, who may instead show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours. Customers unwilling to provide proof can still use outdoor venues and may briefly enter a business to use the bathroom or get take-out. It will be up to the businesses to review any exemption claims. Of the county’s eligible residents, 80 percent have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 71 percent are fully vaccinated, according to data through Oct. 31. Claremont continues to lag behind the county
With travel policies changing, 5C clubs grapple with funding allocations WALLY BARGERON After months of COVID-related restrictions on funding, 5C clubs are now able to request approval and funding for overnight trips, conferences and competitions from student governments. Clubs across the 5Cs were forced to start off the year with
Napier Initiative courses set to resume in person this spring
County tightens mandate LA County pushes businesses for vaccine verification
CeCILIA RANSbURG • THe STUDeNT LIFe
Students gather at the Pitzer mounds for the 5C Club Fair in September.
ANUSHE ENGINEER As course registration for the spring semester rolls around next week, students at the 5Cs are scrambling to figure out their ideal schedules. But a lucky few automatically get a seat in the courses they want. In fact, they’re an integral part of the courses altogether. For the last 10 years, members of the Pilgrim Place community have studied alongside 5C students in a host of courses as part of the Napier Initiative. This intergenerational collaboration between the Claremont Colleges and Pilgrim Place aims to build relationships between students and elders through courses focused on sustainability, justice and social change. The spring 2022 semester will mark a revival of in-person Napier courses as students and elders study alongside each other. Political Economy of Food, taught by Scripps College professor Nancy Neiman, and Gender, Crime and Punishment, taught by Scripps College professor Susan Cast-
See COVID on page 2
less funding than they requested, frequently because student governments were operating under rules from the colleges that prohibited funding for overnight trips. TSL’s analysis found clubs received, on average, 55 percent of the funding they requested when disbursements were released in October. Clubs whose allocations
were impacted specifically by travel restrictions received an average of 49 percent of their requests. According to ASPC Vice President of Finance Adeena Liang PO ’23, 5C clubs make an itemized request for funding at the end of each year. Then, clubs are funded at the beginning of
See BUDGET on page 3
CMC’s Roberts Pavilion now open to Pomona, Pitzer
agnetto, are the two designated Napier courses for next semester. “Elder co-learners bring a rich set of experiences and knowledge to the class that they are very willing to share with others in the room,” Castagnetto said of the five instances she’s taught Napier courses. Elders are expected to — and gladly do, according to Castagnetto — complete all the course readings and writing tasks. “They are excellent listeners, make very insightful contributions to class discussion and are not afraid to ask questions,” she said, in ways that serve as “a great model for undergraduates.” Aside from skipping a hectic course registration, other perks of the Napier Initiative courses include parking permits, boxed lunches on class field trips and reduced tuition for courses elders enroll in, according to Paula Hui PO ’67, who has previously taken Napier courses. The vision behind an immersive classroom experience, Hui
See NAPIER on page 2
CLARe mARTIN • THe STUDeNT LIFe
CHRIS NARDI • THe STUDeNT LIFe
Pomona and Pitzer College students, faculty and staff can now work out at CmC’s Roberts Pavilion.
ANURADHA KRISHNAN As the construction for Pomona College’s new athletics and recreation center continues, students, faculty and staff members at Pomona and Pitzer College are now allowed to use Claremont McKenna College’s Roberts Pavilion from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Pomona-Pitzer Director of Athletics Miriam Merrill said in an email to students Monday. Roberts opened five years ago to strong reviews from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps students. First time users from Pomona and Pitzer must sign a waiver before using any of the pavilion’s amenities, Merrill said. All users must keep their masks on at all times within the building and swipe into the building with their campus ID card. At this time, usage is only allowed within the specified timeframe and Pomona and Pitzer users are not permitted to register for or attend any CMS group fitness classes or other forms of “recreation program-
ming,” Merrill said. Despite the restricted window, students like Sonam Rikha PO ’24 welcomed the change. Although Pomona students have been able to use facilities at Pitzer’s Gold Student Center, Rikha said she appreciated being able to use Roberts since it’s closer to Pomona’s campus. “Unfortunately, I still won’t be able to exercise as much at Roberts Pavilion because I either have classes or work during those hours,” Rikha said. “I wish the hours were extended and that we also had access to the gym on the weekends. That way it’d be more accessible.” Pomona-Pitzer students have also had the option of reserving a spot at the “auxiliary fitness center” located on Pomona’s Strehle Track. But Rikha was never able to successfully use the auxiliary fitness center, which she affectionately referred to as “the shed.” “I’ve tried to go to the Pomona shed once and registered for an appointment at nighttime,” Rikha said. “Though when my friend and I searched for it, the door was locked and we were left lost in the poorly lit outskirts of the shed.”
SAmSoN ZHANG • THe STUDeNT LIFe
ARTS & CULTURE On Nov. 6, the Benton Museum of Art hosted artist Sadie Barnette to speak about her exhibition “Legacy & Legend,” which centers the FBI’s surveillance of her father for his involvement in the Black Panther Party. Read more on page 4.
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OPINIONS
SPORTS
Colleges have a responsibility to provide institutional support to Division III women’s athletes to help them make up for disparities in donations and networking opportunities, argues Madison Lewis PO ‘23. Read more on page 8.
Contrary to varsity sports with recruited athlete rosters, the unique intramural sports of innertube waterpolo and cornhole allow 5C non student-athletes to engage in recreational athletics. Read more on page 10.
INDEX: News 1 | Arts & Culture 4 | Opinions 7 | Sports 9