For most Occidental seniors, finishing their senior comprehensive project marks the end of a busy year. For Art History and Visual Arts major Ryan Metzler '14, the completion of his final project—a documentary short called "Eth'No'Representation"—was just the beginning. Now, Metzler boasts national Student Academy Award finalist honors, and, in February of 2015, will be the first Occidental student to...

Director Michaël R. Roskam's latest film, "The Drop," featuring James Gandolfini and Tom Hardy, may seem like the stereotypical Brooklyn mob crime thriller, complete with mysterious twists and turns. But smooth craftsmanship, powerful performances and unflinching tension make it well worth a watch. The plot revolves around Bob (Hardy), a bartender at a neighborhood favorite in the wrong part of...

"Destiny" was one of the most highly anticipated games of all time—so hyped that consumers were willing to buy the game before any reviews were published. Gamers called in sick to their jobs, waited in line and spent their hard-earned $60 on what they believed would be the game of the year. But when "Destiny" turned out not to be...

Among the bars and boutiques that occupy Highland Park, one can find a hidden, baby blue French bistro: Ba. Although it is better known for its classic Provence-inspired dinner menu, boasting truffled risotto and coq au vin, my favorite part of Ba is their brunch menu, which appears every Saturday and Sunday morning. In Los Angeles, going to brunch never...

Ready to graduate? It may be odd to think about post-graduation life during orientation, but ask any graduate and they will say that the next four years will fly by. Here are the answers to some burning questions incoming students may have, courtesy of recent Occidental graduates. What are you doing now?CJ Cruz ‘14 (economics): “I'm currently interning at the...

Only a week into my study abroad program in India, I experienced the most intense moment of culture shock I have ever felt. When an elderly couple whom I call Auntie and Uncle invited my host family over for lunch, I felt like I had teleported suddenly, like the scenes in Monsters, Inc when each door opens to a random...

President Jonathan Veitch addressed a near-capacity Choi Auditorium on Wednesday in his first public meeting of the year. He outlined his goals for the coming year: making an Occidental education more affordable and Occidental athletics more competitive; decreasing the average age of Board of Trustees members and increasing the longevity of the Occidental staff, and meeting a new fundraising goal...

My first instinct was to begin writing this post in French – a good indicator of what happens when one is dropped in a foreign country and tries to speak the language. First, it's exhilarating. My brain is working in French! Exhausting. Got to keep this up! And frustrating. Now I can't even remember some words in English! But sitting...

The Galapagos are an archipelago of volcanic rock 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador and have a special place in scientific history as the location where Charles Darwin tested and developed his theory of evolution. This semester I will be studying evolutionary biology and ecology in the Galapagos Islands through Universidad San Francisco de Quito. As so famously supported...

Occidental athletics ended their search for a new full-time conditioning coach this past August with the hiring of Dr. Melinda Houston. The staff did not have to look far, as Houston has been a professor within the Occidental Kinesiology program for the past four years. Houston hopes to update athletes' current conditioning program with more of an emphasis on mental...