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). 

Any Given Saturday: The Task at Hand
Facts and figures pertaining to all things Oxy
Two sides of the coin on the football debate, and timely questions about climate change
A master class with Esperanza Spalding, an Online Pacemaker award for The Occidental Weekly , and a reprieve on sharing your personal user data online
Senior Claire Strohm kills, women’s soccer standouts thrill, and Oxy’s cross country squads aim for the top of the hill in fall sports action
As its staunchest advocates will attest, the Barack Obama Scholars Program expands the legacy of the nation’s 44th president, builds the bench for public service and civic engagement, and...
In just four years, Bombas has sold 5 million pairs of socks and given away 5 million more—but Andrew Heath ’04 and brother David are only getting started
Entrepreneur and sociologist Kevin F. Adler ’07 tackles the nation’s homeless crisis by rebuilding social support systems and reconnecting loved ones—one Miracle Message at a time.
Ambitious, thoughtful, quirky, worldly—and smarter than most of us were at that age—the third-largest entering class in Oxy history is ready for its closeup
Chris Brickman
Responding to shifts in the retail landscape and partnering with online influencers, Sally Beauty Holdings CEO Chris Brickman ’86 strives to make believers out of analysts and investors
For students and faculty across multiple disciplines, climate change is real—and they’re exploring solutions through classroom study and field research
With an ingredient list high in protein and low in “weird stuff,” Anthony Ostland ’08 and Michael Winchell ’07 create a protein bar to their liking
New deans Wendy Sternberg and Rob Flot discuss the opportunities and synergies of building bridges between faculty, students, and the offices that support them
From the arts and sciences to computer science and religious studies, Occidental’s latest tenure-track appointees run the academic gamut
Frederick Douglass
New books, music, and movies with an Oxy connection

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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