Occidental College

Over the past century, scores of members of Occidental alumni have served their country with great distinction in al branches of the U.S. military. At least 65 Oxy alumni gave their lives in service to their country. This Memorial Day, we gratefully acknowledge their sacrifice.

The anticipation, the reunions, the emotion... it was a Commencement like no other. We're looking forward to celebrating our graduates again on June 12! This time with the long anticipated reunion of the Class of 2020.

As co-leader of the Taking Stock Study, Bhavna Shamasunder, associate professor of urban and environmental policy at Occidental, is bringing awareness to the health inequities potentially caused by personal care products.

As part of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are highlighting some of Oxy's most notable AAPI alumni. Lillian Sing ’64 was born in Shanghai. During World War II her family fled to a neighboring city where they lived until Lillian was a teenager. She immigrated to the U.S. just before entering high school. At Occidental, Lillian was a psychology major and was active in community service. Five years after graduating Oxy, she and other leaders in the Asian Ame...rican community founded Chinese for Affirmative Action to provide equal employment opportunities for the Chinese American community. Lillian went on to earn her masters in social work from Columbia University and a J.D. degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law. She founded the first Chinese American bilingual preschool in San Francisco and in 1981, became the first Asian American judge appointed to the San Francisco Superior Court. In 2001, she was commended by the City and County of San Francisco for her pioneering advocacy on behalf of Chinese Americans, working to stop the systematic denial of equal opportunities for Chinese Americans. In her over 30 years on the bench of the San Francisco Superior Court, she developed a reputation for even-handedness and integrity, innovation in the courtroom, and encyclopedic knowledge of the law. Judge Sing retired in 2015, leaving a trailblazing legacy and continuing to work for justice, including her leadership in the Comfort Women Justice Coalition.

Our virtual alumni reunion will include a scholarly lecture by Professor Erica Ball, the Mary Jane Hewitt Department Chair in Black Studies, on June 11. Register today for a full weekend of events, premieres, and on-demand content. https://www.oxy.edu//06/virtual-alumni-reunion-weekend-2021

Historian and author Keisha N. Blain joins the Oxy community for two events this week as this year's Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence.

This year's Wanlass Artist-in-Residence Carolina Caycedo has designed an exhibit to be experienced street-side, opening today at Oxy Arts on York. "Care Report" offers a visual lineage of feminist-led environmental movements across the globe and celebrates the expansive and often invisible power of physical, political, and domestic labor performed by womxn. Learn more about the exhibit from the artist: https://youtu.be/4ruW6CBqLHM

As part of Black History Month, we are highlighting some of Oxy’s most notable Black alumni. When Gene Grigsby '66 arrived at Oxy in 1962, he was one of two Black students in his class year. His life in Eagle Rock regularly brought about racist confrontations and was a "frightening, frustrating experience," and yet, Gene says, "Oxy prepared me to be competitive with anyone, anywhere. The challenges shaped my strengths." The three-sport athlete made history at Oxy by helpin...g to break the color barrier in theGreek system, joining Phi Sigma Omicron. Grigsby spent three months in Egypt as part of Operation Crossroads Africa. The sociology/psychology double major went on to earn a master's in psychology at UCLA and became a successful urban planner and UCLA professor. But his lifelong goal to serve the "have-nots" led Grigsby to focus on healthcare issues of the underserved as the CEO of the National Health Foundation. He continues to make a difference as a trustee emeritus and an Oxy alumni leader. See more

Economics major Jordan Walker '21 has been named Occidental's 18th Luce Scholar. The prestigious award will allow Walker to spend a year in Asia studying transportation and urban planning.

Thanks to the many alumni who shared their Occidental love stories in an earlier post. Happy Valentine's Day to all! Take a look back at the so-called "Oxy Statistic" in this 2018 piece from the student newspaper, The Occidental: www.theoccidentalnews.com//02/13/xoxo-oxy-love-stories-quad

It's been a year of great challenges, but Oxy has been inspired, energized and filled with hope by the support from our community. Student success has been made possible through the Oxy Fund, consider a year-end gift today.

Art News has ranked "In Plain Sight," the summer activation and social practice artwork which was sponsored primarily by Oxy Arts, as the #4 most defining artwork of 2020. "In Plain Sight" inspired Oxy Arts' exhibition collaboration "WE LIVE! Memories of Resistance" this fall. View a 3D walkthrough today.

Through a new preceptorship program in partnership with Huntington Hospital, 25 pre-health students received invaluable access into the medical field this fall, from Zoom-ing into rounds at the hospital to seeing public health and socio-economic issues at play in the pandemic.

As the son of undocumented immigrants, Manuel Bernal '87 understands that generosity is what makes higher educationand career opportunitiesa possibility for so many. His financial aid package at Oxy provided a pathway to giving back through community organizing and economic development programs. Now with the capacity to continue the cycle, Manuel is joining the #OxyForGood campaign.

Providing an Occidental liberal arts education, even remotely, is only possible because of the support of Oxy alumni and families. Consider making a gift today and imagine a bright new year for Oxy students.

Oxy students have reached the last day of finals, no small feat as they navigate a temporarily remote environment. Meet a few of this year's first-year and transfer students who are attending classes from around the world while all sharing the Oxy experience.

Occidental was deeply saddened to learn of Psychology Professor Andrea Hopmeyer's passing on November 20 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Our students, staff, faculty and alumni will greatly miss her, and our thoughts are with her friends and family. The Psychology Department will be holding a Zoom memorial for Professor Hopmeyer this Friday, December 11. Oxy community members are invited to join.

This holiday season, we're dreaming of a winter wonderland filled with friends, fun and warmth. Wherever this season finds you, Occidental wishes you health and peace.

The challenges that 2020 has brought us all are seemingly endless, and Oxy faculty have been among those most impacted. Faced with the new realities imposed by the pandemic, faculty have embraced technology to reimagine their classrooms and create new opportunities for students to learn, think and grow.

Congratulations to Oxy's associate dean for curricular affairs and professor of mathematics Ron Buckmire, who has just been named the first-ever vice president for equity, diversity, and inclusion at the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

History is happening now and Oxy Special Collections & College Archives is building our history. The community is invited to contribute and preserve the voices, stories and evidentiary documents from the current pandemic.

Throughout Oxy's history, alumnae have made significant change in the world through their values, their vision and their voices. On November 12, Oxy trustee Gloria Duffy '75 welcomes fellow Oxy women for an important conversation on their philanthropic efforts.

For first-gen students, college comes with unexpected obstacles in uncharted territory. Today we celebrate all the decades of first-gen students who have made Oxy proud and whose talent and hard work have made the world a better place. #CelebrateFirstGen This year, Oxy introduced a new First-Gen coalition of staff, students and faculty to more fully invest in the success of our first-gen students.

Come to get your votes in, stay to get a peek of the revamped Gilman fountain. Occidental is a Vote Center for L.A. County voters and will be open until 8 p.m. tonight. Find voter resources at our OXY Votes webpage. oxy.edu/student-life/involvement/our-programs/oxy-votes

Every two years, Oxy students can earn a full semester's credit through an immersive experience volunteering with political campaigns. Getting out the vote remotely, Campaign Semester students have adapted to the demands of conducting politics in the middle of a pandemic.

Happy Thorne Hall-oween!

Using a mix of Zoom, Ninja, Discord, and YouTube, the Occidental College Theater Department has put together an innovative show, Scenes of Metamorphoses," debuting tonight. Performances take place October 29-31 at 7:30 PDT. Get a sneak peek of the reimagined Greek myth in the photos below! Reserve your tickets at oxy.edu/events/2020/10/scenes-metamorphoses.

Ming Cho Lee '53 is credited with transforming American stage design in the 1960s and 70s. When the future Tony winner arrived at Oxy in 1949 his father wanted him to become an accountant, but with the encouragement of Theater Prof. Omar Paxson ’48 he turned to a career in the stage instead. We mourn his loss this week and send our condolences to his friends and family. Read more about his life and time at Oxy in our 2015 magazine feature: oxy.edu/magazine/summer-2015/becoming-ming. https://www.nytimes.com//10/26/thea/ming-cho-lee-dead.html

Many of us are familiar with Oxy's landmarks like Thorne Hall and Hillside Theater, but as part of this year's Homecoming at Home program, we had a chance to go inside the more hidden spaces that might not be so familiar. Associate Vice President of Facilities Tom Polansky takes viewers on a tour of Clancy Morrison's former apartment, the original pipe organ space in Thorne Hall, and even a stop by Oxy’s infamous tunnels. Thanks to Sam Bergen '04, one of Oxy's original intrepid tunnel explorers, for joining this weekend's event. If you missed the tour, here's an encore viewing.

The famed Oxy Glee Club will premier a new selection on Facebook Live, recorded remotely with students scattered across the country. They will continue the Homecoming tradition by singing Oxy Fair and Io Triumphe, and following the performance, Professor Desiree LaVertu will host a Q&A with Glee Club students.

For this year's Homecoming at Home, the famed Occidental College Glee Club premieres a new selection of songs, recorded remotely with students scattered across the country. They will continue the Homecoming tradition by singing Oxy Fair and Io Triumphe, and following the performance, Professor Desiree LaVertu will host a Q&A with Glee Club students.

Oxy's Early Decision I deadline is approaching! Explore life at Occidental in our latest publication for prospective students and find out how to begin the journey to Oxy. issuu.com/occidentalcollege/docs/roadpiece_issuu