Tennis is usually viewed as an individual sport, a one-on-one battle between a player and their opponent. For the Occidental women's tennis team, however, 12 student-athletes find that despite often playing on separate courts, they are able to function as one cohesive group. "What is most important is that we are one team unit—which is sometimes hard in such an...

Tonight, the men's college basketball Final Four tips off in Indianapolis, where last Thursday, the state legislature passed a "religious freedom" bill that will effectively allow "businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers," according to CNN. Given the timing of the Final Four with the passing of this law, sports' role in opposing homophobia has a chance to be...

It was the last two minutes of the game, and the Occidental women's water polo team (1-19 overall, 0-3 SCIAC) was in a stalemate against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) at 10-10. While spectators discussed the possibility of overtime, CMS's Haley Connor made one final score to cinch the Athena's victory."Claremont presses very hard and their defense was aggressive," Interim Head Coach Jon...

Disclaimer: There will be much nerdery in this post, and it will become quite evident that some person in particular is a very devoted fan of The Chronicles of Narnia. Susan Pevensie of The Chronicles of Narnia is a problem for feminists, summed up nicely by J. K. Rowling. There comes a point where Susan, who was the older girl,...

Imagine hurriedly stopping at your local coffee shop on your way to work in the morning. Bleary-eyed and un-caffeinated, you approach the counter. Let's say you order a double shot latte. Now imagine that instead of asking about your milk preference, the barista asks your opinion on race relations in America. Until this past Sunday, this was exactly what Starbucks...

“In case we have forgotten, because we keep hearing that 2014 has been the warmest year on record, I ask the chair, you know what this is? It’s a snowball. And it’s just from outside here. So it’s very, very cold out. Very unseasonal. So here, Mr. President, catch this.” And there it was. In the middle of his speech,...

Pedestrians walking along Eagle Rock Boulevard Monday night likely noticed the smell of frying oil, warm cheese and curry wafting from the parking lot of All Star Lanes bowling alley. The band of aromas came from about eight food trucks ringing the lot. In the middle, vendors sold wares including jewelry, cake pops and clothing. A DJ set the tone...

Spoken word combines social justice and activism, poetry and performance. It is an art that, at its best, exposes the performer’s vulnerability as a way to connect people. In 2010, Occidental's Spoken Word Club brought this art form to campus, and now, members are competing on a national stage. This past week, Occidental’s spoken word team—comprised of members Daphne Auza*...

The photographs are haunting both in what they depict and what they predict: Low-lying slums inundated by water, the destruction of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward following Hurricane Katrina, the impending peril of a tsunami impacting Southern California. The Annenberg Space for Photography’s current installation, "Sink or Swim: Designing for A Sea Change," explores the reality of sea level rise...

Often, even among people who consider themselves socially aware, many question how early is too early to expose children to the social reality of the spaces that they occupy. Many argue that children should be allowed to be innocent as long as possible, functioning under the notion that childhood and innocence are innately intertwined. However, I contend that this is...