On Nov. 12, computational linguist Emily Bender delivered a lecture titled “Don’t Try to Get Answers from a Stochastic Parrot”: the third and final lecture in Harvey Mudd College’s Nelson Distinguished Speaker Series.
Author: Ananya Vinay
CMC talks religion, race and gender in preparation for 2024 election
At the “Religion, Race, Gender, and the 2024 Election Conference,” panelists explored how identity, religion, and social change are shaping America’s political landscape.
Susan Rice on foreign and domestic policy challenges today
On Nov. 2, U.S. former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice spoke at Pomona College’s Bridges Auditorium for the Payton Distinguished Lectureship. Rice spoke about the implications of foreign policy under shifting international leadership and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.
‘Corner Stories’: Liberation movements in South Central LA
Danny Widener’s lecture as part of Pomona’s Connections Speaker series, “Corner Stories: Place and Time in South Central LA,” explored Los Angeles’ social movements and their global connections.
John Warner on defending writing from AI
On Oct. 8, John Warner, a writer and former professor at College of Charleston and Virginia Tech, among other institutions, delivered the second lecture in the annual Nelson Distinguished Speaker Series at Harvey Mudd College.
‘Feels Good Man’: Pepe and the alt-right
Documentary filmmaker Arthur Jones presented his Emmy-winning film Feels Good Man at Pomona College on Sept. 19, exploring the co-option of Pepe the Frog by the alt-right. He linked society’s “narrative collapse”— the breakdown of coherent storytelling in the digital age —to the rise of internet conspiracies, highlighting how fragmented online cultures have distorted reality.
‘The politics of food and climate change’: Bringing agriculture into the climate conversation
At the Athenaeum on Sept. 16, Helena Bottemiller Evich CM ’09, editor-in-chief of Food Fix, delivered a lecture titled “The Politics of Food and Climate Change.” Evich stated that agriculture is crucial to the climate conversation but is underrepresented in U.S. climate policy. She attributed this to strong opposition from farmers and the meat industry.
Can AI save education? Sal Khan asks and answers
On Sept. 10, Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, spoke to a packed Harvey Mudd’s Shanahan Auditorium. Kicking off the annual Nelson Distinguished Speaker Series on AI and learning, Khan discussed how AI, when deployed thoughtfully, can enhance learning for students and help teachers. He introduced Khan Academy’s AI-powered learning tool Khanmigo, explaining how the tool acts as a thoughtful tutor, guiding students toward the right approach rather than simply giving answers.
What’s in a place? Pomona College Mainstage’s ‘Kentucky’ tackles a complicated homecoming
From April 4-7 at Pomona College’s Seaver Theater, the semester’s Mainstage production “Kentucky” captivated audiences. Directed by Margaret Starbuck and written by Leah Nanako Winkler, the play delves into the intricate ways in which our origins shape our life paths.
Pomona Divest From Apartheid concludes annual Palestinian Liberation Week
On March 29, Pomona Divest From Apartheid concluded its Palestine Liberation Week with a series of educational and art-based events.