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). 

President Jonathan Veitch
Stay Close—Your Alma Mater Needs You
Joshua Medina, Moore Lab
Joshua Medina ’19 has developed a new technique for documenting the colors of bird plumage in 3-D
Veterans housing
A renewed commitment to military veterans—complete with a dedicated housing unit—provides a sense of community to servicemembers making the transition to college life
Jaden Burris
Ilah Richardson ’23 and Jaden Burris ’22 were deeply immersed in the Oxy community—and their deaths three weeks apart left a hole in our hearts
Taylor Pool 1931
Late-night swims! Inner tube water polo! And ... Ben Affleck's biceps?
Shanda Ness, Oxy Athletics
As her one-year anniversary approaches this month, Ness reflects on the state of Oxy athletics
Addie Alexander, Occidental Class of 2023
The Class of 2023 has a little bit of everything going for it—and brightness is definitely in its DNA
Admission, Occidental College
With a nationwide scandal putting the college admission process under scrutiny, how does Oxy’s team piece together each incoming class? Simple answer: There are no short cuts
Joseph Zacek, James McKelvy, James Ferguson, Robert Knox, Joseph Stenek
Alumni notes on Professor Mabel Barnes and educated guesses for our headshot gallery
Richter Research, Hannah Hoefs
Oxy’s Richter Research Program takes faculty and students on an international field trip
Jackie Provost
From Summer 2001: With physical prowess, fierce defense, and a killer glare, Oxy water polo sensation Jackie Provost ’02 turns goaltending into an art form
Commencement 2019
A little rain couldn’t stop the confetti—or Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti—as the Class of 2019 roared into the world on an unusually blustery day
Summer Research Program
Oxy’s Summer Research Program marks 20 years of explorations, observations, and presentations
Media Arts & Culture
Oxy has prepared half a century of students for careers in every facet of media arts and culture. With more creative options than ever, how will future generations of graduates respond to...
Campaign Semester Minnesota
Eighteen Campaign Semester students spent 10 weeks in the trenches of some of the most competitive races in the land. What did they learn about politics, democracy, and themselves?

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
Contact Occidental Magazine
Arthur G. Coons Administrative Center


Office of Communications F-36
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles CA 90041-3314