Occidental’s Communications, Marketing, & Community Relations department is in the preliminary phase of a conceptual and visual makeover of the college's image to bolster its reputation in the collegiate community and the general population.“We don’t really trumpet ourselves all that much,” Brett Schraeder, Occidental’s vice president for strategic initiatives, marketing and communications, said. “We have to be a little bit...

The La Verne Leopards pinched a hard-fought 75-73 win against Occidental men’s basketball in last Thursday’s conference matchup. Minutes before tipoff, Rush Gymnasium echoed with the rhythms of the Occidental Drum Line and the taunts and cheers of Occidental sports fans—most conspicuously football and soccer players—reviving the energy that waned in Rush Gym during winter break competition. Going into the...

Growing up with relentless rain and snow in Massachusetts, I never experienced the kind of panic that currently surrounds California’s water shortage. But after a short time at Occidental, I have quickly come to realize that Occidental, in conjunction with the greater Los Angeles community, needs to drastically reduce the amount of water it wastes on landscaping. According to a...

Eight members of the Occidental football team have been put on extended probation until May for complaints stemming from parties at their house, commonly known as ATO. According to ATO resident Nick McHugh (senior), neighbor Mo Oxford filed a noise complaint with Campus Safety over the house's most recent theme party, "Safari." Officers documented the residents for breaking several of...

Roughly 1 percent of Occidental's endowment—$3.5 million—will go towards funding campus sustainability projects, thanks to a measure approved by the board of trustees in October. Occidental’s Sustainability Committee created the newly-funded Green Revolving Fund (GRF) in order to make campus greening initiatives more economically feasible for the college, according to Sustainability Coordinator Emma Sorrell. The GRF will provide loans for...

While Occidental students may be too old to trick-or-treat this Halloween, amusement parks and hayrides are an age-appropriate alternative only a short drive from campus. Our writers mustered up the courage to visit Universal Studios, Six Flags, the Haunted Hayride and Knott’s Berry Farm to give their fellow students the low-down on nearby Halloween attractions. Universal Studios Halloween Horror NightHalloween...

Like many college houses, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity house can be a scary sight of reeking sports gear, blasting music and rowdy students. But next week it will become truly frightening, when every wall is covered with black tarps and the kitchen is transformed into an eerie labyrinth for the annual SAE haunted house. This year, the fraternity...

In response to the record number of students participating in Spring and Fall 2014 Greek recruitment, Occidental’s Greek Council has invited the cultural sorority Delta Sigma Theta to Occidental and will choose a new social fraternity to invite as well. According to Assistant Director of Student Life, Student Activities and Greek Life Diego Silva, the Greek Council is also considering...

Two weeks ago, I woke up in Stearns Hall feeling as if I was being suffocated. Drenched in sweat, I regretted my decision not to crash in my friend's air-conditioned room in Berkus Hall. Residents of Stearns, Chilcott, Stewie, Pauley, Haines, Berkus House, Food Justice House and Pet House were also forced to survive the heat wave without air conditioning...

Occidental Campus Dining incorporated a new labeling system in the Marketplace on Sept. 18 to increase students' awareness of food justice and sustainability efforts. The small, multi-colored labels—such as one near the salad bar mixed greens reading “RFC compliant: 250 miles”—indicate which options qualify as "real food" based on the Real Food Challenge (RFC) criteria. The RFC is a national...