Pitzer Student Senate pushes to make all bathrooms gender-neutral
The Pitzer College Student Senate passed a resolution in support of re-designating all bathrooms on Pitzer College’s campus as gender-neutral Feb. 3.
Resolution 55-R-06, which “expresses support for and strongly urges the administration of Pitzer College to designate all the gender-binary toilet facilities as being gender-neutral,” was approved with a 23-2 vote.
There are 54 public bathrooms on campus. Thirty are already designated as gender-neutral facilities, and only one has multiple stalls, according to the resolution.
Vice President of Student Affairs Mike Segawa said he is not sure whether the proposal is feasible in terms of costs, because it would be an unplanned renovation, but he said that “on a philosophical level, I think it’s terrific.”
— Elinor Aspegren
ASCMC increases student fee
ASCMC increased its annual student fee by $40, from $245 to $285, at its executive board meeting Feb. 24.
The fee increase is the first in more than 10 years, and will raise approximately $50,000 annually in additional revenue.
— Marc Rod
Pomona to name new art museum after $15 million donor
Pomona College will name its still-under-construction art museum the Benton Museum of Art, in honor of Trustee Janet Inskeep Benton PO ’79 , who donated $15 million of the $44 million necessary for museum construction, according to a Wednesday press release.
“Art is a passion of mine as an adult, something I didn’t explore fully as a student, and selfishly I’d love kids today to have more of an opportunity,” Benton told the Los Angeles Times.
“My hope is that the new museum creates a stimulating environment for students to explore and engage with art in a deeply meaningful way,” she said in the press release.
Pomona plans to begin moving its collection from the existing museum into the new building this fall, according to the Times. The new museum will also host works from multiple notable alumni, according to the press release.
The new building is just one major coming shakeup for Pomona’s art museum. Dean of the College Audrey Bilger announced that Kathleen Howe, the longtime museum director, will retire in September, before the museum opens.
Pomona will begin a national search for a new director in a month, Howe told the Times.
— Marc Rod
Harwood Heist: Multiple reports of theft at Pomona
Multiple students’ electronic devices were stolen from Pomona College’s Harwood Hall Monday.
There were three cases of burglary and one case of grand theft — all of which remain open and have been forwarded to the Claremont Police Department, according to Campus Safety’s daily crime logs.
Luke Meares PO ’21 reported his camera and lenses stolen, which totaled $2,600.
Shaheed Muhammad PO ’21 had his iPad and wallet stolen after leaving his door unlocked for three minutes to go to the bathroom.
Two individuals were arrested for possession of burglary tools and attempted theft. One of those individuals was also arrested for trespassing.
— Laney Pope
Marc Rod PO ’20 is from Rye Brook, New York. He previously served as TSL’s managing editor, news editor, news associate and news writer.