On Sunday, Nov. 12, members of the 7C community gathered around Beckett Hall at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) to celebrate Diwali. Organized by the 7C Hindu Society, Asian Pacific American Mentoring (APAM) and Asian Pacific American Student Association (APASA), the celebration welcomed international Indian students, Indian American students and the broader Claremont community.
Arts & Culture
The Claremont Shades give a sneak peak into SCAMFest
Ever wonder where the inspiration for “Pitch Perfect” came from? Look no further than Claremont’s very own annual Southern California Acapella Music Festival (SCAMFest). The concert features all acapella groups at the 5Cs as well from schools such as UCLA, UC Davis, USC and more.
Jay Carlon’s ‘Wake’ is a dance piece for collective grief and queer post-colonial identity
Filipinx dance artist and activist Jay Carlon performed an excerpt from their work “Wake” at Scripps College’s Richardson Dance Studio on Nov. 8. “Wake” is a queer post-colonial reimagination of Bisaya rituals for grieving and healing, inspired by Filipinx traditions. Carlon, who sees dance as a tool for liberation, choreographed the piece as an exploration of individual and collective grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlon envisions future performances in spaces designed for queer audiences, emphasizing the importance of creating a world that suits the needs of marginalized communities.
Filipinx students revive Tagalog language table at Oldenborg
The Tagalog language table at Pomona College’s Oldenborg dining hall, which stopped operations in 2020, was revived in October following student organizing supported by the Filipinx-American Student Association (Kasama). Originally established in 2013, the language table provides a vital space for Filipinx students and staff to improve their Tagalog skills, connect and build community. Student leaders are advocating for the introduction of Tagalog courses and seeking to further improve Southeast Asian representation at the 7Cs.
Jia Tolentino on navigating joy and transcendence
Jia Tolentino spoke with Kevin Dettmar, director of the Humanities studio, at Pomona College’s Rose Hills Theater on Nov. 9 as part of the ongoing Joy Speaker Series. Tolentino delved into her evolving perspectives on joy, from ecstasy to quieter, simpler joy which she found in motherhood. She spoke about her complicated relationship with organized religion, experiences with transcendence and the intertwining of joy and sorrow. The talk concluded with an exploration of the unknown, as Tolentino emphasized the beauty and significance found in moments of mortality.
Horror Hour: The found footage phenomenon in “Creep”
Horror movies have evolved into fodder for the masses, promising cheap thrills and empty storylines to give audiences a quick jump-scare. A horror sub-genre that makes room for innovation, writes horror columnist Anna Peterson SC ’25, is the found footage horror.
The 5Sandals: Birkenstocks at the 5Cs
Birkenstocks are ubiquitous at the 5Cs – but why do students here like them so much? Gus Gingrich PO ‘24 investigates the appeal behind the German sandals in his latest article.
Rom-Com in Review: The case for joy In Asian American rom-coms
Asian American Rom-coms almost always revolve around intergenerational drama. As Asian American stories seem to receive more and more attention, columnist Nadia Hsu unpacks why the rom-com remains entrenched in family turmoil.
Kit’s Controller Corner: With great power comes great responsibilityInsomniac’s contribution to the Spider Man universe
Spider Man video games are among the most beloved for their unique ability to seamlessly blend gripping storytelling with exhilarating gameplay. Video game columnist Kit Kumar CM ’26 dives into the beloved IP and how the narrative evolves beyond the silver screen.
Aaron Sorkin tells all: writing, managing criticism and why he loves what he does
On Nov. 7 at Scripps College’s Garrison Theater, Emmy-winning writer-director-producer Aaron Sorkin spoke with Claremont High School theater educator Krista Carson Elhai as part of the ongoing speaker series “Scripps Presents.” Sorkin shared wisdom and his struggles during his ascent in the entertainment industry.