I came out of the closet to my mom at Pomona College’s Coop Fountain. We were telling stories about our now-separate lives over sickeningly sweet Thai teas. At that moment, I didn’t feel like I was in Claremont, but rather, in Manila, sitting on a couch with my mom, complaining
Author: Jolo Labio
OPINION: It’s Not About The Money — Reframing Immigration Discourse
In response to Trump’s latest barrage of xenophobic comments against Haitian and El Salvadoran migrants, many liberals have defended immigrants by citing their contributions to the American economy. For example, the Economic Policy Institute argued that immigrants contribute over $700 billion to the economy every year. Similarly, a CBS News
Why Do So Many International Students Take Econ?
Tulika Mohan PO’ 20 and Valery Atieno PO ‘20 are international students on F-1 visas. With her economics major, Tulika aspires to create equitable development policies that improve living conditions among India’s most vulnerable populations. Valery wants to use her history major as a means to reclaim and represent – to
The ‘Cute’ Minority: Increasing Institutional Support for International Students
“International students are treated this way because we’re the ‘cute’ minority.” For one international student at Pomona, this statement encapsulates Pomona’s institutional treatment of international students. Every year, Pomona’s admissions department prides itself on its plethora of international admits. In its demographic report of the admitted Class of 2021, Pomona
Thou Shall Not Kill: The Hypocrisy in Catholicism
In first grade, my Catholic primary school required us to memorize the Ten Commandments. Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not steal. Thou shall not bear false testimony. We were told to live by these truths; I obeyed and took them to heart. I took mandatory catechism classes for six
In Defense of the Arts and Humanities
Every day, my mom, dad, and grandparents wore a white coat, blue mask, and black stethoscope to work. Growing up, hospital wards were my playground; prescription pads were my coloring books. Everyone expected I would become Dr. Joaquin Labio, M.D. Disease fighter. Organ fixer. Life saver. Yet in ninth grade,
No, I Didn’t Use a Thesaurus
“Wow. That was so powerful and well-written!” A huge grin lit up my face. My friend’s parents—who were visiting for Pomona College’s Family Weekend—complimented my opinions piece on American neocolonialism in TSL's Feb. 17 issue. “You must have used a really big thesaurus.” My smile faltered. Of course, I thought to
An Empire of Starbucks Cups and Steph Curry Jerseys
Jun. 12, 1898: red, blue, and yellow flew across Filipino skies for the first time. As Ambrosio Bautista proudly read the Philippine Declaration of Independence, over three hundred years of blood at Spanish hands came to an end. Six months later, the Philippines—a nation of aquamarine seas, sun-kissed mountains,
The Metal Cage: Xenophobia in America
For many of us, an airplane’s touchdown is the end of a journey. For Zabihollah Zaripisheh, a sixty-year-old Iranian, it is merely the beginning of a grueling struggle. He flew to New York to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter, only to be caged inside suffocating rooms and cold walls for
Pitzer New Resources Program Pressures Administration to Renovate Lounge
On Nov. 6, the Pitzer Student Senate opened debate on Bill 53-B-5, an initiative that would allocate $3000 for New Resources Student Lounge renovations. Pitzer College’s New Resources Program allows students of nontraditional college age, usually 23 or older, to experience an elite, liberal arts education. Nick Flores PZ ‘17, the