One ton of food — equivalent to 2,000 full plates — was dumped by diners at Claremont McKenna College’s Collins Dining Hall last month, according to the college. The statistic comes as Collins enters its second semester of front-of-house composting, an effort spearheaded by the dining hall and student sustainability groups like the EcoReps.
Alongside the plate waste, Collins saw nearly 750 pounds of compost through kitchen scraps, leading to a total of nearly two tons that were ultimately composted, according to the Roberts Environmental Center.
News
Chau Vu ’26 becomes Pomona’s first CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher
Chau Vu PO ’26 was selected for the 2026 Computing Research Association Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award last month for her research in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Vu is the first Pomona College student to receive the distinction and the only awardee from a liberal arts college this year.
For Vu, the CRA award demonstrated that meaningful research can happen in a liberal arts setting. She attributed her national recognition to both her technical skills and her breadth of education.
Council on American-Islamic Relations designates Pomona ‘hostile campus’
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) designated Pomona College as a “hostile campus” in their December 2025 report that evaluates Islamophobia and free speech on college campuses. From 2024 to 2025, CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, ranked 51 universities as “unhostile,” “under
Claremont Laemmle 5 closes after 18 years, set to reopen under Regency ownership
On Jan. 28, the Laemmle Claremont 5 theater changed ownership after 18 years in the village. After years of post-pandemic financial difficulties, the space was bought by Regency Theatres, and is set to reopen after renovations to the space complete in May. Regency is set to reopen the theater in May, after adding reclining seats, tables and more food options to the space. Still, many 5C students were stunned by the sudden ownership change and closure.
CGU announces “AI for Humanity” partnership with tech company, Macnica
On Feb. 3, Claremont Graduate University signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to formalize a partnership with Japanese artificial intelligence company Macnica, aiming to expand research about human-centered, ethical approaches to AI while increasing professional opportunities for students.
They aim to develop an AI tool that would use data from class assignments to generate digital badges for students to show to potential employers.
Diego Rios’ death ruled homicide by LA County Medical Examiner’s Office
Diego Rios’ death has been ruled a homicide by the LA County Medical Examiner’s office, according to their report released on Thursday, Feb. 12. The ruling comes months after Rios died in police custody after being stopped by Corporal Benjamin Alba and Joshua Orona on Nov. 28. Since Rios’s death, 5C students have rallied with the Rios family to ask for transparency and the release of missing body camera footage. Diego’s official cause of death was ruled as cardiopulmonary arrest, attributed in the report to the “effects of cocaine and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the setting of prone physical restraint.” According to the medical report obtained by the Claremont Courier, “[t]he manner of death is homicide due to volitional human involvement regardless of the intent of any individuals’ actions.”
Sanctuary Coffee faces potential closure; owner amplifies mission
Sanctuary Coffee will close its locations in Honnold Mudd Library and on Foothill Boulevard at the end of the semester if they do not raise enough money by April, according to owner and Executive Director Dr. Steve Gerali. Gerali, a clinical counselor, youth minister and former university professor and dean,
Pomona ASPC and CSWA continue efforts to reinstate dining hall worker Rolando Araiza
ASPC unanimously voted to pass a CSWA-backed resolution that demands the rehiring of Frary dining hall cook and union leader Rolando Araiza on Thursday. The decision solidifies ASPC’s support in presenting the resolution to the Pomona College administration.
Since Araiza’s termination Jan. 29, CSWA has collaborated with students and dining hall staff to collect over 900 signatures from the 5C community in support of Araiza’s reinstatement.
“The support from the students was really powerful and heartwarming and meant a lot to the workers,” CSWA member and author of the resolution Elias Pleucker PO ’28 said.
Moving forward, ASPC President Grace Zheng PO ’26 said it will be up to the two sponsors, Murphy-Pearson and Vice President of Student Affairs Ireland Griffin PO ’26, to spearhead the next steps in fulfilling the resolution’s demands.
KGI PhD student’s startup wins $40,000 Westly Prize for harm-reduction innovation
Farid Manshaii KGI ’28 received the $40,000 Westly Prize for Young California Innovators on Jan. 26 for his health technology startup Recalivape, a harm-reduction system designed to help people quit vaping. The competition for the award, run by the Westly Foundation, receives over 100,000 applicants and grants three unrestricted prizes to early-stage founders building social-impact ventures. Looking ahead, Recalivape plans to launch a clinical study in the coming months as part of Manshaii’s doctoral research. He emphasized that the company’s direction remains unchanged.
Dr. Ken Walden assumes role as interim Athenaeum director
On Jan. 5, Dr. Ken Walden assumed his position as the interim director of the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College, following the resignation of former director Priya Junnar. Walden has served as a seminary president, dean, associate professor, university chaplain and enrollment executive, which he said prepared him well for his new role. Violet Ramanathan CM ’27, an Athenaeum fellow, said she got a positive impression of Walden when she and other fellows met with him for lunch in early February, and that he would be “well-equipped” to connect with the many different speakers.