From May 2019 to May 2020, I was the managing editor for the Life & Style and Opinions sections of The Student Life, the Claremont Colleges newspaper. During my time as a writer and editor for the publication, I've written about a range of topics, including on-campus initiatives, events, and student profiles — read some of my work below. In addition to editing, I also helped to manage logistics, finances, and social media for TSL.
On-Campus Happenings
When college matchmaking service Datamatch landed in Claremont for its second year, just in time for Valentine's Day 2020, I wrote about its mysterious love-making algorithm as well as the survey's hilarious questions. I received much insight on the service from two "Supreme Cupids" — Harvard seniors who led the matchmaking (read: app-building) effort — and discussed the development of the humorous Claremont-specific survey with the editor-in-chief of The Golden Antlers, the Claremont Colleges' satirical newspaper.
Citing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scripps College senior staff announced the temporary closure of the college's beloved coffeehouse in a virtual town hall with students in June. Fellow editor Yasmin Elqutami and I wrote and spoke to Motley managers about losing this hub of camaraderie, community, and caffeine, and what the closure meant for the cafe's future.
Following the Intercollegiate Ballroom Showdown hosted at Pomona College in October 2019, I sat down to have a chat with Denise Machin, director of the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company. We discussed sending the CCBDC team to Nationals, the importance of inclusivity, and her favorite memories from her six years in Claremont.
Student Profiles
When Scripps College student Chantal Balta began falling in love with playing the flute as a 6-year-old, she had no idea her passion would lead her to the United States Air Force. Shortly after graduating high school, she was invited to audition for the Air National Guard's band, and needless to say, she fluted for the moon and succeeded.
It turns out that the Claremont Colleges are home to a thriving group of student haircutters, so I chatted with a few of them and wrote about their skillset, how they first started their side hustle, their relationships with customers, and the process of creating makeshift hair salons.
Theater
The classic Shakespearean tragedy "Macbeth" was showcased at Pomona College's Seaver Theatre in March 2020. I interviewed director Diana Wyenn and the show's main cast members, and together we discussed the production's thematic applications to the current political world, its use of updated gender pronouns, and the creative set and sound design elements.
A Pomona College production of Nikolai Gogol's satirical play "The Government Inspector" was shown in November 2018. I wrote about the chemistry between the characters (the country squires in particular) and their complex motives, and also spoke with the show's director and leading actor on their goals for the production.
Food
Shortly after Paradis opened in Claremont in December 2017, I made a visit to the ice cream café and chatted with owner Stanley Soebianto about Paradis's ice cream flavors, ingredients, and one unexpected offering — "Selfieccinos." Yes, you read that right — it turns out that Paradis can print any picture onto the foam of a drink through a combination of coffee extract imprint and inkjet technology.