Yesterday, I visited an organization that completely counters everything the American education system stands for and teaches us to aspire toward. The Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan seeks to remedy issues from education, to clean water access to women's empowerment. The founder, Bunker Roy, explained many of the programs and goals in an awesome TED talk. The campus sits at...

On my first day of formal classes, I watched Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk titled “The Danger of a Single Story.” Adichie points out how we often receive only one view or one image of a place, person, event or culture, and then assume that to be the only narrative. It is an idea I keep revisiting while I am here,...

My program embarked upon a weeklong excursion to the edge of the Thar desert this week, during which we visited a variety of organizations that address development issues in the western state of Rajasthan. Education appeared as a common theme in many of these visits, especially when discussing women’s empowerment. Among development scholars and workers, giving girls the opportunity to...

I encountered more foreigners in one weekend at the Taj Mahal that I have in my entire time in Jaipur. The most obvious sign of a foreigner in India? Clothing choices. As fellow exchanges students and I glowered at tourists’ short shorts, skimpy tank tops and--to our horror--a woman wearing a sari with only a bra underneath, we became more...

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...

Students gathered on Branca Patio under Los Angeles' starless sky Thursday night for a medley of student performances that included beatboxing, stand-up comedy, a cappella and guitar solos. This open mic, co-hosted by the Green Bean and Raw Records, was the second of the semester and marked the last event in the Green Bean's spring series, ending the yearlong event...

Director of Campus Safety Holly Nieto announced earlier this month that she will be retiring at the end of the semester. A presence on campus for the past 36 years, Nieto became known this year for her "Oxy has a plan for that..." emails about emergency preparedness. She also received and compiled data for Clery Act reporting. An April 1...

The Associate Students of Occidental College (ASOC) General Assembly hosted a conversation between students and Ruth Jones, the school's new Title IX coordinator, Thursday. Jones explained the work she has engaged with since her start at Occidental in February and took questions from the audience. Fourteen students attended the event, eight of which were ASOC members. Jones explained that the...

Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Hanna Spinosa and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Jorge Gonzalez delivered a presentation at the second campus-wide diversity conversation of the semester Thursday. The two deans provided updates on the progress that has been made since the last diversity meeting on March 25. Over 70 people attended the meeting, including...

The benefits of reading extend far beyond the academic sphere. Unfortunately, students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) lack access to these benefits due to the closure of about half of the public elementary and middle school libraries. The positive externalities of reading are especially strong for children, who can find solace in a relatable character or glean...