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). 

Luvable Dog Rescue
Liesl Wilhardt ’91 has rescued thousands of dogs from abuse and neglect—and an environmentally friendly expansion promises to help even more
Joellen Anderson
How far will Joellen Anderson ’11 go to find forever homes for 10 stray dogs? 8,000 miles by air—and another 1,600 miles by land. Here’s the incredible tale of the Canine Caravan
Jonathan Veitch
The Joy of Thursday Nights in Class
Carolyn Adams
Carolyn Adams' maternal ways; religion's ties to Oxy and the Constitution; and more responses to the Fall magazine
Frank Lambert
The lasting joy of Frank Lambert’s 100 years on Earth was ‘teaching organic chem at Oxy’
James Lare
From urban studies to government internships, professor of politics emeritus James Lare ’55 opened new doors for generations of students
Obama Scholars
As Occidental welcomes its first Obama Scholars to campus, program administrators and three seasoned seniors forge a sense of community built upon the ideals of the initiative’s namesake
David Plouffe Obama Scholars Speaker
Former Obama insider David Plouffe talks about elections past, present, and future as the 2020 race fast approaches
Heartlock Mixed Media
New books, articles, and films from Oxy alumni and faculty
Micol Garinkol, Jacques Lesure
Seniors Micol Garinkol and Jacques Lesure bring new energy to the table in conversations with senior administrators as they work to awaken interest in the potential of student government
Shanda Ness, Oxy Athletics
Shanda Ness will join Occidental in March as the College’s new athletic director.
Glen Johnson
There were few bigger Oxy boosters than Glen Johnson ’61—and that’s not hyperbole
Kevin Bryan Musician
Kevin Bryan ’87’s trumpet case was “merely an extension of his arm,” says fellow musician and freshman roommate Jack Lees ’88
Alvin Hudson
Remembering Alvin Hudson, emeritus professor of physics
Brian Newhall
A host of Oxy hoops greats return to campus to surprise men’s basketball coach Brian Newhall ’83 in commemoration of three decades on the hardwood

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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