What happens when a writer has too much good material? Otto Fritton PZ ‘27 returns with his not-so-weekly column, The Writing Process. In this edition, he covers Elmore Leonard, widely regarded as the master of crime pacing and dialogue. In “Get Shorty,” that tension manifests in Bo Catlett, whose unrealized potential becomes the novel’s most revealing loose end.
Arts & Culture
Looking for New York: A love letter to the rats of NYC
In New York, rats are everywhere. In Malibu, not so much. Why is it that we are so viscerally disgusted by rats, so instinctively opposed to their presence?
A Girl’s Guide to Terrible Men: Tony Soprano was never just for the boys
In her first column, “A Girl’s Guide to Terrible Men,” Bianca Mirica PO ’29 examines why women who love mafia stories are so often regarded as performative.
Off the Shelf: Tony Tulathimutte’s short story collection satirizes modern rejection
To kick off her “Off the Shelf” column, where she reviews books with a pop culture twist, Corina Yi dives into Tony Tulathimutte’s “Rejection.” The book is a reminder of everything not to do in the face of rejection — featuring lots of bad sex, unflattering moments, insufferable characters and riffs on millennial internet culture.
Last month, the Claremont Colleges opted into 100 percent renewable electricity. Here’s how student pressure made it happen.
As the co-leaders of the campaign, we want to clarify what this win means, why it matters, and how we got here. Our win is a testament to the power of grassroots student organizing. But despite our excitement that the Claremont Colleges have moved away from fossil fuel-driven electricity, we must recognize that this decision should have been a no-brainer for the Colleges.
Collaboration with University of Tokyo newspaper: The world of manga expands to the classroom
Founded in 1920 as the Imperial University Newspaper, the Todai Shimbun (University of Tokyo Newspaper, 東京大学新聞) now marks its 106th year as the newspaper of Japan’s leading university. We report on campus news, sports, culture, and academic affairs, while covering the university community with independence and informing students, faculty, and the wider public. Collaboration with overseas universities and the launch of our English-language publication reflects our continued commitment to accessibility and engagement with a broader global readership.
The Student Life and the Todai Shimbun are excited to connect student journalism in Tokyo and Claremont, California. Through collaboration across time zones and over language barriers, our cross-publication project aims to increase global understanding of different cultures and their distinct writing styles. We are happy to expose readers in California to the lives and perspectives of university students in Tokyo, and vice versa, building the foundation for future international connections!
More than a major: Finding identity and community in the 5Cs’ Chicanx Latinx Department
As her first year at Pomona comes to a close, Special Projects writer Alison Barrera PO ’29 paints a picture of the 5Cs’ Chicanx Latinx Department, speaking with students from across The Claremont Colleges who have found community in this space. “There’s an innate sense of community, passion and appreciation that exists among the Latines in the CLS department that I haven’t found anywhere else,” Barrera writes. “So, please, if you’re a first-year student, or just someone who has never taken a CLS course (or an ethnic studies course for that matter), give one a try. You might find yourself writing a 40-page thesis — or a TSL article — about it.”
City Limits: On the Los Angeles County line
Nicholas Steinman CM ’28 continues his examination of how City Limits inform our life in Claremont
Anime Film Features: Sealing the door with Suzume
In his final entry of “Anime Film Features,” columnist Joon Kim PO ’26 tackles “Suzume,” a movie he had always intended to watch yet never did up until now.
Inscriptions: Put down the book and pick up the goop
There was a bubbling cauldron of green goop sitting on my buddy Antonio’s fridge. When I asked him what the goop was, he laughed maniacally, adjusted his glasses and went back to working on his remote-controlled airplane.