Sign-ups at Claremont McKenna College’s Center for Writing and Public Discourse (CWPD) and Quantitative and Computing Lab (QCL) have declined significantly this academic year. Some student employees attribute the trend to students’ growing use of AI tools for academic support and say a continued lack of sign-ups may result in staff cuts.
This spring, the CWPD has only seen around 345 appointments, according to its sign-up portal — an approximate 50 percent decline in use compared to last spring, when the center received 700 student appointments, according to an email from Associate Director Chloe Ray sent to writing consultants last May.
Several current and former student QCL employees confirmed the center experienced a similar decline in sign-ups.
Front Page
Pomona students report buying and trading room draw times due to housing crisis
During room draw this past week for fall 2026 housing, students at Pomona College have reported trading and bidding for housing selection times — including thousand-dollar bids and internship offers. This follows the college’s decision to demolish the Oldenborg Center in May and subsequently reduce on-campus housing.
Taking down Oldenborg, a 120-bed language residence hall, is part of the college’s $125 million Center for Global Engagement (CGE) project to replace the dorm, dining facility and language center. CGE is set to open in fall 2028 and, once completed, will house 200 students.
Students picket and boycott Frary Dining Hall to protest termination of cook Rolando Araiza
Around 30 students picketed the entrances to Pomona College’s Frary dining hall at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 10 — chanting, holding cardboard signs and drumming on buckets. The demonstration, organized by the Claremont Student Workers Alliance (CSWA), encouraged 5C students to boycott the dining hall and advocate for the reinstatement of recently fired cook Rolando “Rolo” Araiza.
Picketers said the boycott directly pressured Pomona to rehire Rolo, asking students to spend meal-plan money at the other colleges. They added that making noise in the picket line drew attention to their cause, something other forms of demonstrations may not accomplish.
“I think you can do a lot of talking, but I think when you really start singing and yelling is when you can really get your message across in different ways,” Una Marie Lake SC ’29 said.
Scripps appoints administrative supervisor to Motley; staff say student-run structure is threatened
The Motley Coffeehouse, a historically student-run cafe and popular event space at Scripps College, will undergo administrative changes beginning summer 2026 — potentially jeopardizing its entirely student-run business model, Motley staff said.
Stacey Miller, The Motley’s current administrative advisor, announced at an all-staff meeting March 8 that she will be taking on new responsibilities as a supervisor to the coffeehouse, alongside the Scripps Store.
Multiple Motley employees said they felt “blindsided” by this change.
5Cs admit class of 2030; CMC to reinstate testing in Fall 2028
As the 5Cs continue to evaluate test-optional policies, students said differences in access to standardized testing shaped their approach to the admissions process, particularly for international applicants. While some colleges have made their policies permanent, others plan to reinstate testing requirements in future cycles.
Claremont Police Commission holds first meeting since homicide of Diego Rios; community demands reform
Last Thursday the Claremont Police Commission held their first meeting since the homicide of Diego Rios. Claremont community members — including many 5C students — spoke out during public comment seeking accountability and reform from the city.
The Commission did not respond to demands or suggestions from speakers throughout the meeting.
Pomona and Pitzer move from ‘F’ to ‘C’ grades in Anti-Defamation League Rankings; Scripps maintains failing grade
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) upgraded Pomona and Pitzer Colleges’ rankings from ‘F’ to ‘C’ grades in their 2026 Campus Antisemitism Report Card released last month, while Scripps College received an ‘F’ grade again and Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd Colleges remained unranked.
ADL reached out to both Pomona and Pitzer prior to releasing this year’s rankings and Pomona “shared some general information about Jewish life on campus,” a Pomona College spokesperson wrote in an email to TSL.
While the spokesperson said the college is “encouraged” by the updated ranking, the numerical value is not their only measure of progress.
Pomona approves $125 million investment plan for new Center for Global Engagement; students express housing concerns
Pomona College President Gabrielle Starr confirmed in an announcement last month that the college’s Board of Trustees approved a $125 million investment plan for the Center for Global Engagement (CGE), the facility that will replace Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations, a residential complex and dining hall where students learn and practice foreign languages.
College officials said they will adjust for the temporary decrease in housing after Oldenborg is demolished and before the CGE is completed.
Pomona BSU town hall calls for administrative accountability amid incidents of racism
After increased incidents of racism on campus, Pomona’s Black Student Union convened with community members on March 25 to host a town hall, aiming to chart a path forward and bring attention to incidents of racism reported across academic and social spaces in recent months. BSU leadership listed out multiple demands, ranging from greater accountability mechanisms to more transparency, arguing that a failure of enforcement on campus is leading to ongoing harm for Black students on campus.
Scripps celebrates National Women’s Colleges Day amid gender-targeted policy threats under Trump
Last week, Scripps College celebrated the second annual National Women’s Colleges and Universities Day at its weekly Wednesday tea. In the wake of new Trump-era gender definitions and budget cuts targeting women’s research initiatives, many students and faculty stressed the timely importance of celebrating historically women’s colleges.
Laspa Intern Geeta Karlcut SC ‘26, said it is important to acknowledge the struggles of women and gender-diverse people in education amid these recent changes.