President John Brooks Slaughter in 1988
The Journey of John Brooks Slaughter
Occidental's 11th president arrived on campus in 1988 amid national fanfare and great expectations—and in the 11 years to follow, John Brooks Slaughter brought out the best in Oxy

Occidental magazine brings you campus news, in-depth features, and profiles of exceptional alumni. For the 2023-24 academic year, the magazine will publish two print and digital issues (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) and two digital-only issues (Summer 2023 and Winter 2024). 

Seven years into his presidency, Remsen Bird began keeping a journal detailing the activities and expectations of building a college. In this never-before-published account, he chronicles...
WinterMag_GoingGlobal
The conversion of Johnson Hall into a high-tech learning environment and the addition of world-class scholar Sanjeev Khagram to the faculty signal Oxy's commitment to creating a cosmopolitan...
An oral history project spanning seven decades of alumni reveals the timeless ties that bind the Occidental community
Jessica Schneider, Campaign Semester
From meeting the president to dressing up as reindeer, Campaign Semester was rewarding and unpredictable
New additions (and new editions) from Oxy alumni and professors
Putting Oxy's endowment numbers under the microscope, dissecting the magazine's National Enquirer moment, and correcting a few stats on our inaugural Hall of Famers
Integrating new tools into our classical liberal arts model will enhance Occidental's niche in the intellectual marketplace
Professor Regina Freer, Occidental College
Politics professor Regina Freer—a political bystander turned L.A. insider—brings the heart of a community activist to the dynamics of city planning
Occidental College President Jonathan Veitch
President Veitch charts a course for the future of the liberal arts and sciences that buoys Oxy's strengths and dives into both local and global initiatives
President Emeritus John Brooks Slaughter
Concurrent with President Richard Gilman's retirement and John Slaughter's inauguration, Occidental marked its centennial year with a revitalized mission and unforeseen challenges. Oxy's key...
MarchFourth Marching Band leader John Averill '89
Wrangling 40 mismatched musicians is no easy task, but MarchFourth Marching Band leader John Averill '89 keeps them moving in step both literally and artistically
Pierce Brooks '49, The Onion Field
Utilizing patience, persistence, and imagination, Pierce Brooks '49 collared many a felon by outthinking his prey
Bill Redell '64 may have the toughest job on campus this fall—stepping onto the field following the dismissal of veteran football coach Dale Widolff. But his love for the game brought him...
Trustee Donn Miller was instrumental in bringing John Slaughter to Occidental; Stan Weston '55 built a number of Oxy landmarks
Dale Widolff was in his first season as head coach of the Occidental football team when NFL players went on strike, creating the unlikely opportunity for the Division III Tigers to play on...

Features

Lori Howard ’81 of Pinch Me Provence
A Pinch of Provence
Lori Howard ’81 kept a place in her heart for France following her study abroad experience at Oxy. Now she’s curating custom holiday experiences for a growing clientele in the French...
Minnesota Court of Appeals Judge Keala Ede
Longboard of the Law
As the first Native Hawaiian judge in Minnesota history, Keala Ede ’00 brings a commitment to justice to his courtroom—and a taste of surf culture to the shores of Lake Superior
Members of the Occidental Class of 2027
New Faces of 2027
Occidental’s 140th-anniversary class is among its most diverse—and they have a lot to say about everything from activism and athletics to culture and chocolates
Roland Griffiths '68
The Other Side of Roland Griffiths
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine professor, who died in October, was lauded for his ‘mind-blowing’ studies of psychedelics. But Barry Sears ’68 remembers his ‘wicked sense of humor’

First Word

From the Quad

Coach Rod Lafaurie and members of the 2023 men's soccer team
Kicking and Dreaming
From its first SCIAC championship to a berth in the Sweet 16, Oxy men’s soccer soared to new heights this season. But Coach Rod Lafaurie and his players are hungry for more
Adam Kinzinger, 2023 Jack Kemp ’57 Distinguished Lecturer at Occidental College
Making the Case for Democracy
Jack Kemp ’57 Distinguished Lecturer and former Congressman Adam Kinzinger has a message for students: “You will be the generation that changes everything”

Mixed Media

A performance of Fetch Clay, Make Man featuring four Black actors onstage
Power Dynamics
Exploring the unlikely friendship between two Black cultural icons—Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit—professor and playwright Will Power’s Fetch Clay, Make Man packs a punch with L.A...

Oxy Talk

Professor of History Emeritus Wellington Chan
One for the History Books
An estate commitment from Gary Kaplan ’71 honors Professor Emeritus Wellington Chan—whom he helped bring to Occidental more than 50 years ago
Assistant professors Sohaib Khan (religious studies), Season Blake (philosophy), Jamie Amemiya (psychology), and Zachary Silver (psychology).
Thinking Globally
Occidental’s largest-ever cohort of new tenure-track faculty brings a world of ideas to the classroom

Last Page

Dean of Students Emerita Brig Knauer
Flowers for Brig Knauer
Over 25 years of leadership in Occidental’s Office of Student Affairs, Brigida Knauer (1935-2023) shepherded residential life into the modern era
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