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Masthead

THE STUDENT LIFE

Claremont, CA
Vol. CXXXVI

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief
Adam Akins

Managing Editor (News and Sports)
Joelle Rudolf

Managing Editor (Arts & Culture and Opinions)
Claire Welch

News

Editors
Charlotte Hahm
Ava Fleisher

Associate
Kahani Malhotra

Copy

Chiefs

Ethan Ravi
Corina Yi

Design

Creative Director
Floria Auerbach

Lead Production Editor
Tahi Wilton Geary

Production Editor
Nicholas Steinman

Opinions

Editors
Leili Kamali
Celeste Cariker

Photo

Editors
Andrew Yuan
Maggie Li Zhang

Special Projects

Editor
Vivian Fan

Business

Manager
Ansley Washburn

Arts and Culture

Editors

Liam Riley
Audrey Green

Associate

Kira Heller

Sports

Editors
Jack He
Jun Kwon

Associate
Zachary LeBlanc

Graphics

Editors
Shixiao Yu
PJ James

Social Media

Manager
Bianca Mirica

Weekly Newsletter

Email Address:

Leave this field empty if you're human:

TSL's Cartoon Caption Contest

We make a cartoon, you make the caption. Each week we vote and reveal the winner! Stay tuned for next semester's cartoon!

(Shixiao Yu • The Student Life)

1st place: Ah, wait. Power went out again... (Caption by Gabriel Dalton PO ’25)

Join the 5C State of Music:

Enter to win a $20 gift-card giveaway with TSL's 5C “State of Music” — a fun, data-driven look at what students across the Claremont Colleges have been listening to this year. Your responses will help us share the collective soundtrack of the 5Cs. The winner will be selected at random at the end of the semester!

Submit your state of music!

Instagram

This week at TSL: From a potential CGU–Pomona partnership to a cappella groups on campus, tune into our latest reel as TSL’s news, sports, and features editors break down stories from this week’s edition. Read the full stories and more at the link in our bio. Filmed and edited by Isabella Leyton and Bianca Mirica.

•

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This week at TSL: From a potential CGU–Pomona partnership to a cappella groups on campus, tune into our latest reel as TSL’s news, sports, and features editors break down stories from this week’s edition. Read the full stories and more at the link in our bio. Filmed and edited by Isabella Leyton and Bianca Mirica.

20 hours ago

View on Instagram |

1/9

A fire was reported at approximately 7 p.m. tonight in the Atwood Residence Hall of Harvey Mudd College, according to a post from HMC at 8:22 p.m. In an update shared at 9:27 p.m., HMC communicated that the fire has been extinguished, identified the source as an electric skateboard battery and affirmed that all students are uninjured and accounted for.

Atwood resident Sam Winkler HM ’27 said he believes the fire took place on the second floor in the Northeast corner of the dorm. Although not present during Atwood’s initial evacuation, Winkler reported observing “a ton of smoke that rose up onto the third floor” on his walk back from choir practice.

“Even though we might be able to go back into our rooms at some point tonight, depending on where you live, it's not recommended because of the smoke,” he said.

The update posted by HMC said the Division of Student Affairs is working with affected students to provide alternative accommodations.

This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Words and photo by Joelle Rudolf

•

Follow

A fire was reported at approximately 7 p.m. tonight in the Atwood Residence Hall of Harvey Mudd College, according to a post from HMC at 8:22 p.m. In an update shared at 9:27 p.m., HMC communicated that the fire has been extinguished, identified the source as an electric skateboard battery and affirmed that all students are uninjured and accounted for. Atwood resident Sam Winkler HM ’27 said he believes the fire took place on the second floor in the Northeast corner of the dorm. Although not present during Atwood’s initial evacuation, Winkler reported observing “a ton of smoke that rose up onto the third floor” on his walk back from choir practice. “Even though we might be able to go back into our rooms at some point tonight, depending on where you live, it's not recommended because of the smoke,” he said. The update posted by HMC said the Division of Student Affairs is working with affected students to provide alternative accommodations. This story is breaking and will be updated as more information becomes available. Words and photo by Joelle Rudolf

3 weeks ago

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2/9

A former employee of The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), Steven Anthony Cowles, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of over $1 million from the Claremont Colleges over the course of nine years, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Cowles concealed his fraud through false documents, using fictitious invoices and requisition forms of electrical products, which were then uploaded to the Workday platform.

“TCCS has implemented a series of enhanced financial controls in response to the incident,” Muna-Landa wrote “These include revised purchasing policies, strengthened oversight and reporting procedures, mandatory training, and new system safeguards.”

Cowles will face up to 20 years in federal prison according to the US Attorney’s Office. United States Central District Of California District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong has scheduled Cowles for an April 22 sentencing hearing.

Words by Ila Bell| Photo courtesy of Pomona College

Read the full story at the link in our bio

•

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A former employee of The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), Steven Anthony Cowles, pleaded guilty to embezzlement of over $1 million from the Claremont Colleges over the course of nine years, according to the US Attorney's Office. Cowles concealed his fraud through false documents, using fictitious invoices and requisition forms of electrical products, which were then uploaded to the Workday platform. “TCCS has implemented a series of enhanced financial controls in response to the incident,” Muna-Landa wrote “These include revised purchasing policies, strengthened oversight and reporting procedures, mandatory training, and new system safeguards.” Cowles will face up to 20 years in federal prison according to the US Attorney’s Office. United States Central District Of California District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong has scheduled Cowles for an April 22 sentencing hearing. Words by Ila Bell| Photo courtesy of Pomona College Read the full story at the link in our bio

4 weeks ago

View on Instagram |

3/9

Wizards Weekly: Every week cartoonist Sasha Matthews PO ’26 draws a new wizard.

Photo 1: “Wizard of the Diamond Realm,” Sept. 18, 2025.

Photo 2: “Wizard and Apprentice Ponder the Orb,” Oct. 2, 2025.

Photo 3: Wizard Internet These Days,” Oct. 9, 2025.

Photo 4: “My Parents (Both Wizards) Having Sex,” Oct. 23, 2025.

Photo 5: “Candy Summoning Wizards,” Oct. 31, 2025.

Photo 6: “Wizagons,” Nov. 7, 2025.

Photo 7: “Business Casual Wizard,” Nov. 14, 2025.

Photo 8: “Divorce Wizard,” Nov. 21, 2025.

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Wizards Weekly: Every week cartoonist Sasha Matthews PO ’26 draws a new wizard. Photo 1: “Wizard of the Diamond Realm,” Sept. 18, 2025. Photo 2: “Wizard and Apprentice Ponder the Orb,” Oct. 2, 2025. Photo 3: Wizard Internet These Days,” Oct. 9, 2025. Photo 4: “My Parents (Both Wizards) Having Sex,” Oct. 23, 2025. Photo 5: “Candy Summoning Wizards,” Oct. 31, 2025. Photo 6: “Wizagons,” Nov. 7, 2025. Photo 7: “Business Casual Wizard,” Nov. 14, 2025. Photo 8: “Divorce Wizard,” Nov. 21, 2025.

2 months ago

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4/9

At 7 p.m. last Saturday, Nov. 15, the Claremont Shades hosted SCAMFest, the annual collegiate acapella festival at the Claremont Colleges. After months of preparation, the Shades hosted this year’s event to an auditorium full of enthused Claremont students and visitors.

TSL sat down with The Claremont Shades’ President Harold Fuson PZ ’26 to discuss the process of planning such a large, lively event.

“It’s such a special night for so many people,” Fuson said. “To be able to put that event on and be a part of making it as special as it is is super cool and something we take a lot of pride in.”

This year, the event featured a lineup of all eight Claremont acapella groups, with performers travelling from UC Irvine, UCLA and USC.
Claremont’s Groove Nation hip-hop group performed just after the intermission, breaking up the musical acts with dynamic dance numbers that had the audience screaming in support.
—
Words by Claire Welch and Ananya Vinay | Photo by Sarah Ziff
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

•

Follow

At 7 p.m. last Saturday, Nov. 15, the Claremont Shades hosted SCAMFest, the annual collegiate acapella festival at the Claremont Colleges. After months of preparation, the Shades hosted this year’s event to an auditorium full of enthused Claremont students and visitors. TSL sat down with The Claremont Shades’ President Harold Fuson PZ ’26 to discuss the process of planning such a large, lively event. “It’s such a special night for so many people,” Fuson said. “To be able to put that event on and be a part of making it as special as it is is super cool and something we take a lot of pride in.” This year, the event featured a lineup of all eight Claremont acapella groups, with performers travelling from UC Irvine, UCLA and USC. Claremont’s Groove Nation hip-hop group performed just after the intermission, breaking up the musical acts with dynamic dance numbers that had the audience screaming in support. — Words by Claire Welch and Ananya Vinay | Photo by Sarah Ziff Read the full story at the link in our bio.

2 months ago

View on Instagram |

5/9

This fall, the Pomona College Model United Nations team (PCMUN) revamped its annual conference, SageMUN, pivoting from focusing on college students to working with high schoolers. Director General Gabriel Dalton PO ‘26 described the impact this shift had on the conference.

“Because we’re a smaller conference, we’ve kind of positioned ourselves to be a little more beginner-friendly,” Dalton said. “For a lot of kids, it’s actually the very first MUN conference.”

As their conference has pivoted to target younger, less experienced MUNers, veteran PCMUN member Diana Braghis PO ’26 and the leadership team have learned to provide more guidance, aware that most students are going through this process for the first time.

“We kept asking: do you have questions, how can we help you, do you need any explanations?” Braghis said. “We walked them through how to do Model UN.”
—
Words by Bianca Mirica | Photo courtesy of SageMUN
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

•

Follow

This fall, the Pomona College Model United Nations team (PCMUN) revamped its annual conference, SageMUN, pivoting from focusing on college students to working with high schoolers. Director General Gabriel Dalton PO ‘26 described the impact this shift had on the conference. “Because we’re a smaller conference, we’ve kind of positioned ourselves to be a little more beginner-friendly,” Dalton said. “For a lot of kids, it’s actually the very first MUN conference.” As their conference has pivoted to target younger, less experienced MUNers, veteran PCMUN member Diana Braghis PO ’26 and the leadership team have learned to provide more guidance, aware that most students are going through this process for the first time. “We kept asking: do you have questions, how can we help you, do you need any explanations?” Braghis said. “We walked them through how to do Model UN.” — Words by Bianca Mirica | Photo courtesy of SageMUN Read the full story at the link in our bio.

2 months ago

View on Instagram |

6/9

Meiya Rollins PO ’29 reflects on the exhibition, “Complications in Color,” at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art. Sadness strikes as Rollins admires the work of Rachel Lachowicz, a Californian abstract artist who uses makeup to address femininity, as she reflects back on her art portfolio that followed a similar theme, to a specific art piece as a kid.
—
Words by Meiya Rollins | Graphic by Meiya Rollins
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

•

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Meiya Rollins PO ’29 reflects on the exhibition, “Complications in Color,” at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art. Sadness strikes as Rollins admires the work of Rachel Lachowicz, a Californian abstract artist who uses makeup to address femininity, as she reflects back on her art portfolio that followed a similar theme, to a specific art piece as a kid. — Words by Meiya Rollins | Graphic by Meiya Rollins Read the full story at the link in our bio.

2 months ago

View on Instagram |

7/9

For columnist Sinan Walji PO ’28, J Dilla’s Donuts became a way of understanding how one melody can hold different histories at the same time. Walji traces his first encounter with the album at fourteen and follows the story of sampling from Dilla’s era to today.
—
Words by Sinan Walji | Graphic by Nergis Alboshebah
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

•

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For columnist Sinan Walji PO ’28, J Dilla’s Donuts became a way of understanding how one melody can hold different histories at the same time. Walji traces his first encounter with the album at fourteen and follows the story of sampling from Dilla’s era to today. — Words by Sinan Walji | Graphic by Nergis Alboshebah Read the full story at the link in our bio.

2 months ago

View on Instagram |

8/9

On Nov. 11, students gathered at the Coop Fountain for Acoustic Open Mic Night, an event co-hosted by 5C Pens & Poetry Club and the Pomona Student Union. Many students took to the stage to showcase their original music and poetry centered around their personal experiences and social issues.

While many students such as Pens & Poetry Vice President Pherell Washington PO ’29 were worried that their works wouldn’t be well received by the audience, they would later feel relieved upon seeing the crowd’s positive reception.

“I was kind of nervous because when you’re reading a poem, especially a poem with so much emotion, everyone may not agree with you,” Washington said. “[The crowd was] very nice. I kept getting people come up to me, like, ‘Hey, your poem was really great.’ And I was just like, ‘You know what? This is why we have this event: to have a space where people can share and open up.’”
—
Words by Joseph Woo Chan and Kira Heller | Photo courtesy of the 5C Pens & Poetry club
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

•

Follow

On Nov. 11, students gathered at the Coop Fountain for Acoustic Open Mic Night, an event co-hosted by 5C Pens & Poetry Club and the Pomona Student Union. Many students took to the stage to showcase their original music and poetry centered around their personal experiences and social issues. While many students such as Pens & Poetry Vice President Pherell Washington PO ’29 were worried that their works wouldn’t be well received by the audience, they would later feel relieved upon seeing the crowd’s positive reception. “I was kind of nervous because when you’re reading a poem, especially a poem with so much emotion, everyone may not agree with you,” Washington said. “[The crowd was] very nice. I kept getting people come up to me, like, ‘Hey, your poem was really great.’ And I was just like, ‘You know what? This is why we have this event: to have a space where people can share and open up.’” — Words by Joseph Woo Chan and Kira Heller | Photo courtesy of the 5C Pens & Poetry club Read the full story at the link in our bio.

2 months ago

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9/9

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