"Mother of Lions," by Robert Martinez
Living in a Wildlife Corridor
An immersive exhibit at Descanso Gardens underscores the diversity and proximity of Southern California wildlife—and the efforts under way to improve their mobility

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). 

De Mandel Aquatics Center
Alumni feedback on the Winter magazine, the new pool, and Oxy's next president. Also: How did we put this issue together?
Dan Fineman, Adelaida Lopez, Linda Lasater
Professors Dan Fineman, Adelaida Lopez, and Linda Lasater had a lasting impact outside the classroom—just ask their students
Joshua Medina, Moore Lab
Joshua Medina ’19 has developed a new technique for documenting the colors of bird plumage in 3-D
After We Leave, Aleem Hossain
Assistant professor Aleem Hossain realized a dream when his first feature film was released theatrically in February—just before cinemas suddenly closed
Humbug! Wendy Jean Katz
From New York City's "penny" papers to feminist manifestos for the revolution: new books and music by Oxy authors
Alumni Seal Honorees Occidental College
With plans for Alumni Reunion Weekend on ice, this year’s Alumni Seal recipients reflect on their Oxy experience and their daily routine in “the new normal”
President Silas Evans in 1918
The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918–19 claimed the lives of more than 675,000 Americans and shut down the College for seven weeks—but it could have been even worse for Oxy
Day For Oxy
How the inaugural Day For Oxy shattered all expectations—and established "a new tradition for the College"
April Banks, Oxy Arts
With a rich menu of contemporary programming, the College’s Oxy Arts initiative nourishes socially conscious dialogue between the campus and community
Dan Springer DocuSign
At the height of his career in 2014, Dan Springer ’85 stepped away from the daily grind to raise his two sons. Then a dream job with DocuSign lured him back to the office—and personally and...
Kayla Nolan, Girls Gotta Run
Using running as a foundation for a better life, Girls Gotta Run executive director Kayla Nolan ’11 brings hope to school-age girls in Ethiopia one step at a time
De Mandel Aquatics Center
What holds 598,000 gallons, contains 15 lanes, and has a capacity of 188 people? (Hint: It’s not your grandfather’s pool.)
Thorne Hall, Oxy Admission
Oxy’s Doing Fine With a Clear Bright Line
Alumni appreciations of music-minded professors emeriti Allen Gross and Tom Somerville
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

Features

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’
Occidental's Philosophy Department faculty
The New Philosophers
Building on an academic legacy as old as the College itself, Occidental’s Philosophy Department has evolved to include a mix of voices far beyond the traditional canon
Dr. Roland Griffiths '68 in 2009.
Into the Mystic
From Spring 2009: After a lifetime of rigorous research on the effects of drugs on animals and humans, neuroscientist Roland Griffiths ’68 meditates on the spiritual powers of hallucinogens
Gay and Lesbian Association members in 1984.
Rainbow Connections
Nearly 40 years after its formation, Out@Oxy has a new name and a renewed mission—to support Occidental’s LGBTQIA+ student community and curate a queer history of the College
Meko Winbush '03, winning director of Project Greenlight
All Eyes on Meko
Winning Project Greenlight and making her first feature film has opened doors for Meko Winbush ’03. In return, she endured eight months in front of the camera

First Word

From the Quad

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

Anna Dalton '12 competing for Oxy in 2011.
Setting the Pace
Anna Dalton ’12 traded the tracks for the trails and is climbing the ranks of competitive technical runners
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

Occidental College Professor of Chemistry Frank Lambert
Lessons From Lambert
Fifty-seven years after an ill-fated grade placed his academic dreams in jeopardy, Dr. Elliott Oppenheim ’69 recalls the counsel of his mentor, Professor of Chemistry Frank Lambert
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