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The Student Life The student newspaper of the Claremont Colleges since 1889. The Student Life is the oldest college newspaper in Southern California.

Established in 1889, TSL reports on all seven of the Claremont Colleges. TSL is a student-run organization. We hire each semester, and we welcome students from any of the 7Cs to join our editorial, visual and audience desks.

The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act on July 3 has many implications for the nation: It strips healthcare and...
08/08/2025

The passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act on July 3 has many implications for the nation: It strips healthcare and SNAP benefits from millions, thoroughly changes federal financial aid, gives the most significant tax cuts to the top 5 percent and repeals most climate change initiatives, just to name a few. But the cherry on top for Jun Kwon PO ’28 was the response to H.R. 1, Section 70415 from Gabrielle Starr, the president of Pomona College: “This is welcome news to begin the holiday weekend. I hope you enjoy a fabulous 4th of July and thank you for all that you do to advance our extraordinary mission.”

Starr’s celebration of the bill and her follow-up email, illuminates to Kwon and the wider Pomona community her inability to recognize the far-reaching impacts of the bill for low-income families and students.

“I am, however, raising concerns about Pomona’s inability to direct its attention and resources to students affected by pressing federal changes,” Kwon writes. “You drew a line that we did not ask for, and you now stand on a side that alienates your student body.”

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Words by Jun Kwon | Graphic by PJ James
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

On Friday, June 20, TSL crossword constructor Adrianne Baik HM ’27 made her New York Times crossword debut.Her debut is ...
22/07/2025

On Friday, June 20, TSL crossword constructor Adrianne Baik HM ’27 made her New York Times crossword debut.

Her debut is further distinguished by the poignant dedication of the puzzle to her close friend, Arjun Vattipalli HM ’27, who passed away last fall. She shared that creating the puzzle served as a tribute to her friend's memory, as well as a celebration of the bond they shared through their mutual love of puzzles.

“The fact that we could do puzzles together and I could talk about it with him and he was very much excited about it motivated me to keep making them,” Baik said. “I think when someone believes in you then it gives you the courage to keep trying.”

Her success in The New York Times is only the beginning. With more puzzles already in the works and one set to be published on Sunday (the most challenging day of the week for New York Times puzzlers), Sept. 21, Baik is looking forward to continuing to construct crosswords.

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Words by Dania Anabtawi | Photo courtesy: Adrianne Baik
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

You’ve seen the fliers dotting the boards in the halls of the Nucleus and Estella advertising mysterious summer opportun...
22/07/2025

You’ve seen the fliers dotting the boards in the halls of the Nucleus and Estella advertising mysterious summer opportunities, maybe you even fought through rounds of interviews yourself to no avail. Fear not, Malin Moeller SC ’27 answers the question on the minds of many: What is summer research even like?

“It's definitely been fun to be here in Claremont at a different time,” a student researcher, Ainsley Murphy SC ’26, said. “It's nice to be in Claremont and not have so much to worry about and to just enjoy my time here.”

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Words by Malin Moeller | Graphic by PJ James
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

Were you a part of TSL? Want to reconnect with fellow TSL alum and current TSL students?We are excited to announce the l...
15/07/2025

Were you a part of TSL? Want to reconnect with fellow TSL alum and current TSL students?

We are excited to announce the launch of our new alumni emailing list! With this network, you can see the hard work and aspirations of current students working in the field as well as reconnect with fellow alum. We hope to use this emailing list as an opportunity to speak directly with you and hear more about your stories when you were a part of TSL. Whether you’re a recent grad or long-time alum, all you have to do is join now!

We can’t wait to start this conversation with you!

Pomona and Pitzer Colleges finished the year as top Fulbright-producing institutions, maintaining their reputation amids...
11/07/2025

Pomona and Pitzer Colleges finished the year as top Fulbright-producing institutions, maintaining their reputation amidst unprecedented uncertainty for the program. 18 Pomona students and 18 Pitzer students were awarded the prestigious fellowship this year.

“It was a lot of waiting,” Jack Pine PZ ’25 said. “I sent in my application sometime in October, and then I didn't hear the decision until the week before graduation … In April, I was convinced that this program was going to be off the table.”

After a federal funding freeze in February by the Trump Administration, many applicants were forced to consider other options, including awardee Kaylin Ong PO ’25.

“Frankly, choosing to do the Fulbright is still a huge risk in my opinion but one that I feel will be incredible for my personal and professional life,” she said.

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Words by Dania Anabtawi | Photo Courtesy: Modernmunir
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

Interested in publishing your writing/photos/graphics during the summer? The Student Life is accepting submissions! We a...
09/06/2025

Interested in publishing your writing/photos/graphics during the summer? The Student Life is accepting submissions! We are accepting investigative pieces, guest opinions, photo essays and cartoons. These should primarily relate to the 7Cs, but can include national news or covering stories from your local community. Pieces published during the summer can be added to your portfolio and will be published only online.

Submit today with the link in our bio!

For more information or to ask any questions, send us an email at [email protected]

Watching sports is much better with a great commentator, regardless of the level. The 5Cs have some of the best commenta...
14/04/2025

Watching sports is much better with a great commentator, regardless of the level. The 5Cs have some of the best commentators in the Division III game, many of whom are former athletes themselves. Matt Eichner PO ’26 was forced into early retirement by injury and took up the mantle of the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) men’s baseball commentator.

“I get to be around the guys, kind of be around the game, since I’m not playing,” Eichner said.

The 5C commentators bring a new voice to varsity sports at the 5Cs for athletes, family and friends.

“I do it to be able to amplify the voices, just the hard work that everyone puts in, because I feel like DIII athletes go unnoticed,” Helfrich said. “They put in so much time … and it’s good to have someone narrating the story.”
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Words by Sebastian Groom | Photo by Sarah Ziff
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

Following a funding freeze on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by the Trump administration, 5C students are facin...
12/04/2025

Following a funding freeze on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by the Trump administration, 5C students are facing uncertainty as research budgets decrease across the nation.

Jon Moore, an associate professor of biology and laboratory coordinator at Pomona College, detailed the impacts he has seen on graduating seniors and recent alumni, citing instances of alumni having been laid off from NIH jobs and current seniors having lost opportunities to pursue postgraduate education.

“It stands to reason that between all these people with some experience after college, who are now out of a job … or graduate admissions, they’re now all looking for the same job, and it’s going to be harder,” he said.

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Words by Dania Anabtawi | Graphic by Emma Choy
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

With students at the 5Cs beginning to submit their financial aid applications and federal funding for higher education g...
12/04/2025

With students at the 5Cs beginning to submit their financial aid applications and federal funding for higher education growing increasingly uncertain under the Trump administration, many students have begun to question how their aid packages might be affected.
Interviews with the various offices of financial aid at the Claremont Colleges have shed light on how this process is being handled at the college administrative level.

“The way we determine students’ eligibility for aid is going to stay the same,” Paul Dieken, director of financial aid at Pomona, said. “We are not going to be making any changes.”

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Words by Patrick McDowell | Graphic by Sasha Matthews
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

In the future, how will humans deal — or not deal — with climate change and the threat of extinction? Reading the sci-fi...
10/04/2025

In the future, how will humans deal — or not deal — with climate change and the threat of extinction? Reading the sci-fi novelette “Stars Don’t Dream,” which spans three hundred million years and tracks five people’s mission to ensure the survival of life in the universe, Vivian Fan PO ’28 examines how stories can inspire action.

“‘Stars Don’t Dream,’ encourages us to look at humanity on a larger scale than the length of our individual lives,” Fan writes.

“It’s an empowering reminder that no matter how insignificant or hopeless our efforts may seem today, they may prove impactful in the future.”

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Words by Vivian Fan | Graphic by Shixiao Yu
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

Harvard & Yale, which opened its pop-up location on February 16th in the Claremont Village, has grand aspirations for th...
10/04/2025

Harvard & Yale, which opened its pop-up location on February 16th in the Claremont Village, has grand aspirations for the future.

“A big part of what we’re trying to do here is bring the retail and coffee experiences together,” Frank Rodriguez, the owner of the shop, said.

In addition to selling apparel and beverages, Harvard & Yale plans to highlight Claremont artists, an effort not lost on its customers.

“I think Harvard & Yale is really making an intentional effort to foster community, not only with customers, but also artists and other business owners,” patron Julia Blakely PO ’27 said.

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Words by Noa Polish | Photo by Evelyn Harrington
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

Saturday, March 29, marked the Claremont Art Equity Initiative’s (CAEI) first major event as a new and emerging club at ...
10/04/2025

Saturday, March 29, marked the Claremont Art Equity Initiative’s (CAEI) first major event as a new and emerging club at the 5Cs. More than 75 students and Claremont community members gathered on the rooftop of the Kravis Center for a silent auction of student artwork.

“This was my first time making ceramic sculptures,” Emily Gao PO ’26, who showed three sculptures in the auction, said. “I’ve never participated in an art auction before, and I wanted to see what it would be like and support my friends.”

The CAEI hopes to provide opportunities and spaces for students interested in arts management and other work that combines art with business.

“We’re really about bridging that art history and economics gap and bringing a difference to philanthropy,” co-founder Tiffany Choi CMC ’27 said.

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Words by Keeana Villamar | Graphic by Sasha Matthews
Read the full story at the link in our bio.

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