Former CMC Student, Disney Star Joins White House Comms Office
Former Claremont McKenna College student and actress on Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up” Caroline Sunshine has joined the White House as a press assistant in the communications office, the White House announced Wednesday.
The 22-year-old is a former White House intern, and previously interned for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), the College Republican National Committee, and the California Republican Party, according to White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters.
Sunshine was also involved with the American Enterprise Institute and the Model United Nations team while at CMC, according to Walters.
TSL was unable to contact Sunshine for comment before press time.
— Marc Rod
CPD No Longer Investigating CMS Track Case
The Claremont Police Department is no longer investigating a reported assault on a Pomona student allegedly committed by members of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s track and field team as part of a hazing incident on the evening of Feb. 3.
The alleged victim decided he no longer desired to press charges against the students involved and the colleges have handled the matter internally, a CPD spokesperson told TSL.
The alleged victim did not respond to TSL’s request for comment on his decision.
Harvey Mudd College Dean of Students Jon Jacobsen previously issued a statement that multiple students had been reported for or self-reported honor code violations Feb. 3, but judicial board chair Charles Dawson HM ’19 wrote in an email to TSL that he could not comment “on the specifics of any potential Honor Code issue.”
Claremont McKenna College spokesperson Peter Hong told TSL that he was not aware of any additional developments in the case, including punishments issued by CMC to students allegedly involved.
—Marc Rod and Samuel Breslow
Pomona Elects New Senators
Pomona College voters chose a new group of senators to serve in ASPC for the upcoming academic year earlier this week.
The newly elected officials include President Alejandro Guerrero PO ’19, Executive Vice President Johny Ek Aban PO ’19, VP of Academic Affairs Meredith Simpson PO ’19, VP of Campus Events Jorden Favors PO ’19, Commissioner of Clubs and Organizations Hans Zhou PO ’20, Commissioner of Community Relations Samantha Borje PO ’19, Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Juste Simanauskaite PO ’21, Commissioner of External Affairs Alezandro Ruvalcaba PO ’21, Commissioner of Sports Winston Nelson PO ’21, Senior Class President Laura Zhang PO ’19, and Junior Class President Perla Grimaldo-Ramirez PO ’20.
Soleil X Ball Van Zee PO ’19, Bradley Druzinsky PO ’19, and Elvis Kahoro PO ’20 were also elected as representatives on trustee committees.
Aban, Simpson, Simanauskaite, Nelson, Zhang, Kahoro, and Ball Van Zee all ran unopposed.
— Marc Rod
Pitzer Student Initiative Fund Completes Projects
Pitzer College Student Senate’s Student Initiative Fund has completed several of the projects planned for this semester, SIF Committee chair Isaiah Kramer PZ ’20 announced in an email to Pitzer students.
The SIF has paid for the construction of a 12-person hammock structure, free bike equipment available for students to borrow, a punching bag setup in the Gold Student Center gym, and a new hammock on Pitzer’s Mounds.
Kramer wrote that he expects the SIF will complete “two to three more big projects … this semester.”
— Marc Rod
Pomona Dining Hall Workers Recognized For Unionization Efforts
Pomona College dining hall workers will be honored for their unionization efforts during the 14th Annual Cesar Chavez Breakfast fundraiser, which will be held Friday in Pomona.
The breakfast, hosted by the Latina and Latino Roundtable and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, generally raises $20,000 for scholarships and other funding for the Latina and Latino Roundtable, according to President Jose Calderon.
Chavez’s grandson Andres Chavez and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis are expected to attend.
— Marc Rod
Pomona Clock Tower Chiming Again
Pomona College’s Smith Clock Tower has often stood silent in recent years, but the 2,350-pound bell at its top is now chiming again following the completion of repairs.
“The equipment for operating the chimes is very old and repair parts are virtually non-existent,” wrote Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Campus Services Bob Robinson in an email to TSL. “It took some time to locate parts and staff who could perform the repairs.”
The 125-foot tower was completed in 1961, according to Pomona’s official timeline.
Flouting Pomona tradition, the tower is currently chiming on the start of every hour rather than the 47th minute, but Robinson said this is just a temporary measure while crews see if the repairs hold.
Robinson also crushed the dreams of any Sagehen hoping to climb to the top. “Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide that kind of access,” he wrote.
— Samuel Breslow
HMC Receives National Science Foundation Grant
Harvey Mudd College professors Lisette de Pillis and Tanja Srebotnjak received a National Science Foundation grant to fund student research involving data science in life science, environmental science, according to an HMC press release.
The project, which will run for three years, will allow students to learn data science techniques in several concentration areas, with a focus on practical research. It will also involve 10-week intensive summer projects for nine students each summer.
— Marc Rod
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.