The Occidental Weekly

Top Story

Happy Holidays!

The Occidental Weekly is taking time off to celebrate the holiday season

We will resume publication on 8 February 2012.

If you have questions, please email weekly@oxy.edu.

Anonymous Writing Not a Responsible Mode of Free Speech

Writers should hold themselves accountable for their words and opinions and avoid publishing anonymously.

Students Arrested in Occupy Raid

Four Occidental students and one alumni (‘11) were arrested for "failure to disperse from an unlawful assembly" early Wednesday morning while acting as peacekeepers at the police raid on the Occupy Los Angeles encampment. All students have been released at this time, after posting bails between $100-$5000.

New Website Slated to be Completed in June

The web redesign committee recently released a mock-up for the proposed homepage of Occidental's new website, expected to be launched in the early part of this summer. Web Committee Chair Brett

Blending Wit, Drama in Occidental’s Latest Play

Occidental's most recent play is perhaps best summarized by its modern incarnation of "King Lear's" Fool, William the Waiter (played by Jack Sutorius ‘11). In perfect irony, the lowly servant is the most intelligent when it comes to dealing with the show's various comedic standoffs, and frequently homages the production's title in his anecdotes with a simple, "you never can tell, sir."

The proverb makes sense in the context of the show, you never can tell what angle the play will take next. "You Never Can Tell," directed by Professor John Bouchard, truly breaks out of the categorical restraints of any one genre, fusing classic wit and intriguing drama to create a distinct final show.

President's Day

Two-and-a-half years after being named Occidental's fifteenth president (and fourth in just five years), President Veitch invited the Occidental Weekly to shadow him for a day. A look inside—and out of— the top office on campus.

Features

President's Day
Eight hours (and then some) with Jonathan Veitch

Two-and-a-half years after being named Occidental's fifteenth president (and fourth in just five years), President Veitch invited the Occidental Weekly to shadow him for a day. A look inside—and out of— the top office on campus.
Voices of Occidental
Students and faculty speak out about diversity on campus

Throughout November, the Occidental Weekly asked students and faculty about their experiences with racial, ethnic, gender and intellectual diversity on campus. Their responses paint a colorful picture of the current landscape of diversity at the college.
Advice from alumni
Four college graduates share their experiences and words of wisdom

Last week, the Occidental Weekly caught up with four college alumni to ask them how they're doing, what they're doing and what current Occidental students should be doing now and after Occidental.
With 31 Paths of Study, Students Face 'Major' Indecision
Non-traditional programs set Occidental apart within the liberal arts

One of the many benefits of the liberal arts experience is the flexibility of the academic programs liberal arts colleges can offer. Whereas large state universities present students with a rigid list of concentrations and expect them to choose one, Occidental emphasizes fluid, adaptable programs of study. Students, by selecting their own individualized academic plans, are challenged to customize their college experience. At Occidental, 30 percent of declared students are majoring in economics, DWA, biology or psychology, but small programs like Chinese, Classical studies and linguistics are thriving.
When There's Sense In Crying Over Spilled Milk
Food stamp competition challenges participants to subsist on $4.50 a day

For Food Justice Month this past October, students participating in Occidental's first-ever Food Stamp Challenge were pressed to spend no more than $4.50 -- the daily payout of the government's food stamps program, S.N.A.P. -- on food for the day. Although some participants slipped up, most stuck to the S.N.A.P. budget and learned about themselves and their own eating habits along the way.
Spreading the Spoken Word, With Soul and Swagger
New club introduces high-energy slam poetry to campus

Until last year, Occidental lacked a spoken word presence on campus, apart from occasional performances at open mic nights. But in fall 2010, Sarah Winters, Elinor "Nora" Utevsky and Maya Morales formed Occidental's first Spoken Word Club, where, as Winters describes, participants use the art form to "understand each other better" and "make sense of our lives."
Eagle Rock “Can’t Help Falling in Love” With Performer
Veteran Elvis impersonator makes Eagle Rock Farmers Market his stage

Donovan Chavez has been impersonating Elvis every Friday evening at Eagle Rock's farmers market for as long as anyone can remember.
"Our biggest mistake was being born in Pakistan"
Abroad in India, Lizzy Dutton meets a group of Pakistanis in peril

After meeting with a displaced group of Pakistani refugees in Jodhpur, India on Oct. 6, Occidental junior Lizzy Dutton penned a resonant reflection on the experience.
The Wheel Life
Inside L.A.'s only women's roller derby team

For the Angel City Derby Girls, derby is everything and everything else is just what pays the bills.
Saturday Night Deprived
When weddings take over the Marketplace, many students say "I don't"

Each Saturday at 2 p.m., the Marketplace closes early, leaving scant options for students who want an on-campus dinner or—for those who stumbled down to "breakfast" at noon—a late lunch. While parties and other events frequently occupy the space during this time, many students are left wondering why this vital campus facility closes on Saturdays and what goes on when students aren't allowed inside.