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Celebrate the first three weeks of classes with us by learning some new details about your RAs! ALEXAN KENDRY Marisa Mestichella Pronouns: she/her Major(s): Government & Economics with a Legal Studies Sequence Heyyy CMC! I’m Marisa and I’m ecstatic to be one of the Alexan Kendry RAs in the fall. I’m originally from Seattle so I can’t get enough of the SoCal sunshine. I am an explorer at heart, and love to get outside for hiking adventures, LA city crawling, or day trips to the beach. At CMC I’ve had some amazing experiences like traveling on the Appel Fellowship to interview street performers and learn their stories, as well as writing for The Student Life and the Lowe Institute (shameless plug for TSL and Lowe Down student blog), and co-founding the Sunrise Claremont Colleges, an inspiring environmental action community. After changing my major 4 times, I eventually declared as a Gov & Econ major with a Legal Studies sequence because I wanted to have the tools to understand and make positive contributions to my community. Outside academics, I am a lover of sports, music, and good food. I played soccer with the CMS Athenas, and I sing with Mood Swing, a 5c acapella group. I’m always down to talk sports over a good boba tea, play some pick-up soccer, or have a jam sesh. Alexan Kendry squad, get ready for cookouts and pool days - I can’t wait to get to know everyone!! Max Weirauch Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): Double Major in Economics and German Studies I'm an international student at CMC involved with Admission, ResLife, CARE, Claremont Marketing Group and an avid inter mural soccer player. I'll be the RA at the off-campus Alexan Kendry Apartments and looking forward to build community together with my Co-RA Marisa. I grew up in Hamburg, Germany and attended high school in the Bay Area for a year. SENIOR APARTMENTS Anna Green Apartments (651) Pronouns: She/her/hers Major(s): Government and Gender Studies Hi CMC! My name is Anna and I am so excited to be one of the RAs at the Senior Apartments this fall. I am a Government and Gender Studies major from CT, but on campus I can usually be found recording episodes of Free Food for Thought on the second floor of the Atheneum, waiting in line at the Motley, or making PB toast at Collins' snack. I love being outdoors, reading, and my favorite form of procrastination is making Spotify playlists, so send any music recommendations my way. I can't wait to be back on campus, reuniting with familiar faces, meeting new ones, and (hopefully) getting to see people IRL instead of over Zoom. Please stop by my apartment any time for a cup of coffee or to try my latest cooking project! My door is always (metaphorically) open. T.J. Askew Apartments (661) Pronouns: he/ him/ his Major(s): EEP Hey everyone! My name is TJ and I'm hyped to be one of the Senior Apartment RAs this year! I grew up in Papua New Guinea until the age of 11, when I moved to San Diego, CA. At CMC, I play on the Men's Basketball Team and manage the Natural Science team at the Roberts Environmental Center. Academically, I study Environment, Economics, and Politics with a Sequence in Data Science. Some of my favorite hobbies are backcountry backpacking, surfing, and being called mijo by the Collins workers. Alicia Reynaga Apartments (671) Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Media Studies and Spanish Hey Everyone! I’m Alicia, and I am from Pasadena, CA. I am super excited to be one of the RAs of the Senior Apartments! I am a Media Studies and Spanish dual major. During the pandemic, I studied abroad for a year in Madrid, Spain, and Havana, Cuba. I have also lived in Barcelona for two summers. In addition to working as a DOS assistant, I am a part of the Kravis Leadership Institute, a member of the 5C Dance Company, and a Spanish TA. I have worked in nearly every office on-campus, and I am so excited to be a part of such an incredible family of RAs this year. On-campus you can always find me sipping on a matcha latte in DOS or working the hub. Feel free to stop by my apartment whenever to chit chat and chill! Adhitya Venkatraman Apartments (681) Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): PPE and Data Science Hello everyone! My name is Adhitya, but you can call me Adhi. I hail from San Jose, California and I'm really pumped to be back in Claremont this fall! On campus, I study PPE, work at the Rose, and frequently miss serves in intramural volleyball. I'm hyped to be one of the RAs for the Student Apartments! My door's always open, so stop by anytime to chat or hang! Pumped to see everyone in-person very soon! APPLEBY Eric Warmoth Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): Environmental Analysis + Public Policy Hey! My name is Eric and I will be the RA for Appleby this year! I'm from Los Altos, California and I'm an Environmental Analysis and Public Policy major. I'm looking forward to returning to the pool to play water polo for the Stags this fall, and on campus I'm also a Co-President of Sunrise Claremont Colleges and a Tour Guide/Senior Interviewer. My favorite study spot is the Lower Kravis classrooms and I will always defend this (also come to ASCMC Senate down there). I am a committed reality TV fan and I even joined CMC's first on-campus season of Survivor. I'm really excited to continue some awesome Appleby traditions like Hump Day, so get ready for a great year! See you soon CMC! AUEN Brandon Rho Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): 3+2 (Econ+Engineering) Hello! My name is Brandon Rho. I'm from Orange County, California and am an incoming senior. Over the fall, I will be an RA for Auen along with my co-RA Janise Waites! I'm also a member of the CMS baseball team! During my free time, I love to play sports and hike, so if you need any advice on which routes/trails to take in Yosemite, or how the baseball season is going (Go Dodgers!), feel free to ask me! Video games are a hobby of mine, and I can go for hours on end ranting about the upcoming AAA games and underrated indie games on Steam! Janise Waites Pronouns: She/Her/Hers Major(s): Government with a Leadership Sequence Hi! My name is Janise and I use she/her pronouns. I’m a Government major with a sequence in Leadership who also spent a semester "abroad" on the DC program. I’m from San Diego, CA. On-campus, I am a Career Services Mentor at the Soll Center and I used to play rugby with the Claremont Foxes before an injury. I am also the manager of the CARE Center and love working with the fellows and meeting new people. (And Free Food!) Catch me in Stark computer lab writing my thesis this fall, (I have no self-control so I'll talk to you for hours). Please come by if you want to give me music or tv show recommendations, want tips on how to navigate college, want to talk about your passions, or play cards! Can't wait to see you! BECKETT Jamie Bitz Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): International Relations and Film with a Leadership sequence Hey everyone! My name is Jamie and I'm so excited to be one of your Beckett RAs! I may not have had to endure the Great Beckett Flood, but this dorm is a survivor and I'm so proud of her :') I'm a Film Studies and International Relations dual major with a Leadership sequence but also almost definitely the only person you know from South Dakota. I'm also a Gemini Rising, so do with that what you will (I say as if I have any idea what my chart means). You can pretty much always find me with a coffee in hand (I drink more library iced mochas than I do water), running off to watch my latest film obsession (yes I did in fact watch all 15 seasons of Criminal Minds in one month), or talking about my most recent trip abroad (Tunisia was amazing and I WILL be going back). I have the obnoxious habit of overdressing for literally every event, but I can make up for it with my breakfast sandwich machine that's open for everyone's use, of course, and my 50+ playlists for every mood imaginable (including the infamous "green beach on a saturday night"). I'm literally up until 3 AM every night, so when I say stop in and chat anytime, I mean it. Can't wait to meet everyone in CMC's most loved lounge! :) Keir Keenan Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): Economics & Engineering (3+2) Hey everyone! My name is Keir and I am so excited to be one of the RAs for Beckett along with Jamie! I am majoring in Economics & Engineering (3+2) and love to get involved on- and off-campus. On campus, I am either leading a campus tour or at Roberts playing basketball with friends. I also love taking trips to the beach or Joshua Tree, going on hikes with friends, and staying fueled on Yerba Mates (mint is the only way to go). Feel free to stop by my room whenever and talk about anything, I am really excited to meet all of you! :) BENSON Luke Lenhart Major(s): Econ/Math Hey there! My name is Luke – born and raised in Los Gatos, California. I am excited to meet you all as one of your RAs for Benson. You can usually find me at Axelrood practicing for the swim & dive team, in Roberts working out or playing intramurals, or geeking out over the sheer amount of knowledge in the library. I am also involved in CCG and major in math & economics. I enjoy getting out in the mountains whether it be backpacking or skiing – and you’re welcome to join any time! I absolutely love board games (and am a bit competitive), so stop by any time for Catan, cards, chatting, or snacking. Excited to see all of you in-person! Dorcas Saka Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Science Management Hello everyone! My name is Dorcas (she/her), and I am super excited to be one of the RAs for Benson! A little bit about me- I am a Science Management major with a public health concentration on the premed track. I have an interest in the intersection between business and healthcare. I’m originally from Nigeria but grew up in New York City. On-campus, I am a vice president on the College Programming Board (CPB), a student researcher in a microbiology lab, a senior interviewer, and a member of various other clubs. You can always find me in Heggblade (the DOS building) when I am not in class or on my bed with my 10 pillows and too many blankets to count. Feel free to stop by my room anytime (I’m always awake) to chat, study, or just grab some snacks (I have a large selection)! I am looking forward to getting to meet and know you all! BERGER Caitlyn Arce Pronouns: She/her/hers Major(s): International Relations Hi my name is Caitlyn! I’m majoring in International Relations with a focus in Environmental Studies. I’m super excited to be the Berger RA and meet you all! On campus I’m involved with CMC’s College Programming Board and Claremont Sustainable Consulting. In my free time, you can find me lounging on Green Beach, working out at Roberts, our hanging out and studying at the Hub. If you’re ever in the mood to go on a hike, play some tennis, or have a dance party, I’m your girl! Tyler Craigwell Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): Philosophy & Public Affairs What's up everybody! My name is Tyler Craigwell and I am excited and honored to be one of your RAs for the Dirty Berg(er)! I am from New York, born and raised, but LA isn't half bad. I'm majoring in Philosophy & Public Affairs (Fancyspeak for Phil, Govt, Econ) so drop by and we can talk about anything and everything, from the weather to the deepest rabbit holes we can find. On campus, you'll find me all over the place from performing dark arts in the Student Investment Fund, making our experience better with ASCMC, building the future in the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, promptly delivering the smoke in Claremont Lions Rugby, or giving Live Nation a run for their money in Quantum. As you can see I love to be involved and that is a testament to the energy and variety found at CMC! Outside the clubs and classrooms, you can find me hanging with friends, trying new foods, attending concerts, gaming, jamming out, impromptu napping, reading etc. So, Berger or not, you are more than welcome to join the family where you can find all the vibes represented. We are here for a good time and a long time. Excited to meet you all in the Fall and don't be a stranger! BOSWELL Jennifer Bernardez Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Psychology Major, Computer Science Sequence Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer Bernardez. I am from Seattle, Washington, and I am so excited to be the RA of Boswell! I am studying Psychology and Computer Science and am extremely passionate about technology, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and leadership. On campus, I am an Admissions Tour Guide and Senior Interviewer, CARE Center Fellow, and Kravis Leadership Institute (KLI) Institute Fellow. In my free time I love taking photos, playing tennis, and cooking. As an RA, I am so excited to meet tons of new people, welcome our two new classes to campus, and host some amazing events! I cannot wait to see all of you on campus in the fall! CLAREMONT Ashley Wang Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Econ-Accounting & Data Science Hey everyone! My name is Ashley Wang and I will be the RA of Claremont Hall! I’m from Pasadena, CA and I’m majoring in Econ-Accounting with a Data Science sequence. I love camping, being in nature, playing tennis, going to concerts, and reading. On campus, you’ll find me in Bauer Reading room or watching the sunset on Marston Quad. I spent most of the pandemic back home and in San Diego so I’m super excited to return and welcome everyone back to campus! Please swing by Chall to see me and say hello! :) CROWN Josiah Tarrant Pronouns: He/Him/His Major(s): Economics w/ Leadership Sequence CMC!! My name is Josiah and I’m stoked to be one of the Co-RAs of Crown. I am from Westport, CT, about an hour outside of NYC. I like to think that my vibe is New York intensity meets California chill. I’ve got an awesome 14-year-old brother with a big personality who took over my room and wouldn’t give it back during the pandemic (doesn’t that just sum it all up)! While I no longer swim competitively, I still haven’t kicked the early wake up habit so find me at Collins at 7:30am. I study Economics at CMC and I may be the best ice cream scooper you ever meet. I geek out over music (and concerts!), cooking and food, laughing over the little things, technology, CMC Admission, and ITWP (iykyk). My favorite part of CMC is the people I’ve met, and yelling “hello” across campus is one of my things, so yell back! Hyped to be back on campus! See you soon! Hannah Zhang Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Math + Econ + data science seq Hi! My name is Hannah and I'm so excited to be one of your co-RAs of Crown!! I'm from Arcadia, California and currently a Math + Econ (pending data science seq?) major. On campus, I'm involved in CPB, APAM, and SWS(lots of acronyms haha). One of my favorite hobbies back on campus is exploring new study spaces at the 5C's--my top ones have been Estella (previously Milikan) at Pomona, the hub, and Crown lounge (best lounge/dorm on campus hands down). I'm also a huge foodie, and am always down for a trip to the Village to get some good eats! In my free time, I also love binging reality TV(the trashier the better)like the Bachelor, Love Island, and more. Feel free to stop by 2nd floor Crown, and can't wait to meet/see you all again back on campus! FAWCETT Sophia Ramirez-Brown Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): PPE and International Relations Dual Major Hi everyone! My name is Sophia RB (or RB if you know one too many Sophias) and I am so excited to be one of the Fawcett co-RAs!! I'm a PPE and International Relations Dual Major, so come talk to me anytime about politics. I'm a born and raised LA native and a huge coffee fan, and you can always find me at one of the many cafes on/around the 5Cs. I was super fortunate last fall to study abroad in Seoul in the midst of the pandemic, and spent last spring taking online classes in Eugene, Oregon. Though I love to travel, I cannot wait to be back on campus in the fall! In my free time I love to hike, explore local restaurants, watch Netflix, and volunteer at the Children's School on campus. Regardless of if you're my resident or not, I would love to chat (or binge Bob's Burgers) with you, so come on by! Natasha Wong Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Computer Science and Asian Studies Hello hello! My name is Natasha Wong and I’m stoked to be your RA for Fawcett (I promise, we’re about to get Fawce-lit). I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and over the past year, I’ve unfortunately gained the ability to convert time quickly between Pacific and Malaysia time. I’m a computer science (at Mudd) and Asian studies (at Pomona) double major, and I’m not looking forward to having to speed walk between the two soon. I am looking forward though, to grabbing boba with people (literally anytime at all), being reunited with my guitar I bought right before leaving campus (also big on music so send me any music recs at all), and meeting all of you (woo!)! Outside of the classroom, I’m part of the Roberts Environmental Center, Claremont Consulting Group, and Claremont Christian Fellowship. Being at home over the past year has made me incredibly excited to meet people, so Fawcett resident or not, swing on by to the room with *the best* views on campus – Fawcett 806 anytime! :) GREEN Sam Harrison Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): RDS BA/MA Economics, Finance Howdy! My name is Sam and I will be the RA of Green Hall for the 2021-2022 school year. On campus I play on the CMS Men's Water Polo team and serve as Executive Vice-President of ASCMC. In my free time, I like to play Super Smash Bros. and go surfing. A fun fact about me is I've only ever lived in Green Hall on campus, and I will never have done room draw (Green 216 for life, shoutout Andrew Winssinger CMC'22)! I'm super stoked to meet all the future lovely Green residents and friends of residents :) Here's to the best dorm, and best year yet! MARKS Chase Mendell Pronouns: He/Him/His Major(s): Environment, Economics and Politics Hi everyone! My name is Chase Mendell. I am super excited to be the Marks RA!!! I am from just outside Philadelphia. Fun fact: HBO's "Mare of Easttown" was filmed right by my house. I am an EEP major with a sequence in Data Science. Outside of class, I work at the Roberts Environmental Center, lead OI trips and procrastinate my work by going to the beach as much as possible. I have a mild coffee addiction so feel free to stop by if you want some cold brew! Jocelyn Song Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Media Studies and Economics dual major with an Asian American Studies sequence Hi everyone! My name is Jocelyn Song, and I’m super excited to be one of the new RAs for Marks! I’m from Monterey Park, CA (basically East LA) and I’m dual majoring in Media Studies and Econ with an Asian American Studies sequence. On campus, I’m either shooting hoops with my teammates in Roberts, meeting up with the APAMily in CARE, getting my ~almost daily~ fix of overnight oats at the Hub, or procrastinating at a table near the Kravis faculty offices. In my free time, I love watching films/TV (psycho thrillers are my fav!), going on boba runs, and having long late-night talks. With that being said, please swing by Marks to chat about anything! Can’t wait to meet y'all and see your lovely faces in person!! :) PHILLIPS Leila El Masri Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Chemistry-Government dual! Hey guys!! My name is Leila and I'm originally from Houston, Texas (Texas forever bb). I'm so excited to be the RA of Phillips this year! On campus I'm a chem-gov dual major and I'm super passionate about environmental chemistry- you'll find me doing research at Keck on wildfire emissions! If I'm not doing research, catch me at Axelrood pool getting some yards in as a member of the CMS swim team, planning the next Middle Eastern culture event on campus, or arguing over which dining hall is truly the best. As a member of the Yelp Elite Squad I'm always talking about food, so if you need some good recs head my way! I also LOVE watching The Office and Seinfeld, and I'm obsessed with Pepo Melo in the Village (peep me with the gals on Sundays). Hop on over to Phillips because my door is always open and a plethora of TJs snacks are always on hand!! I can't wait to see y'all soon! Leila ;) STARK Luke Webb Pronouns: he/him/his Major(s): Econ-Accounting What up! My name is Luke Webb and I am going to be the RA at Stark Hall and I am unbelievably stoked about it. I cannot wait to get back to campus to see everyone and have a great last year. A little bit about myself is that I have a dog named Bear who is a labradoodle with a huge nose, I have a collection of, at the time that I am writing this, 62 Cheez-It boxes, I am a huge Phoenix Suns fan and their playoff run has been absurd, my Chipotle order is a bowl with white rice, both beans, sofritas, veggies, lettuce, mild salsa, medium salsa, and guac, lastly, I am the self-proclaimed best Super Smash Bros Ultimate player at the 5C's and I welcome any challenge. Hyped to be the Stark RA with the amazing and wonderful Avi Gupta and looking forward to a great year! WOHLFORD Aditi Chitre Pronouns: she/her/hers Major(s): Neuroscience and Philosophy Hi everyone! I’m Aditi, the new RA for the best dorm on campus. I’m from a quaint little town in SoCal called Claremont, am a Neurophilosophy major, and am planning on going to medical school. I’m interested in the intersections of healthcare, technology, & society, and am passionate about veganism, the Oxford comma, and sleeping. I love being active by running around Claremont or even trekking to Mudd for dinner. On campus you can find me studying at Poppa or Honnold, laying by the Scripps pool, or sticking people’s heads with EEG gel in lab. I also run the Claremont Colleges EMS, an amazing community for pre-health students. Off campus you can almost certainly find me eating açaí bowls at Pepo Melo, chilling at the beach, or doing my laundry at home. Come by Wohlf literally anytime to talk, vent, or share indie/rock/R&B song recs!

August of 2017, it was a perfect 85-degree day. The dry California dessert glistening as the airplane landed in Ontario. A student struggles with their oversized luggage into a car with destination Claremont Mckenna College in mind. This student was initially fearful of the big upperclassmen, but cautiously excited for what lied ahead of them in their mid-quad double. Would their roommate be nice? Messy? Early sleeper? Party animal? As Mom walked out of their roughly decorated room that day, they were comforted by the fact that they were wearing their very nicest and newest outfit –shorts from Nordstrom and new Adidas shoes. Walking out of their room, they heard a loud: “WELCOME TO CMC!!!!” It was time to join their WOA trip and to meet some other new faces. The new student wondered: “Where am I? How did I end up here? Maybe I should have committed to USC. People seem WAY too happy here.” As they got on the bus to attend their rafting trip, listened to stories of Russian National anthems, crazy high school party experiences, and played lots of mafia games. They heard endless stories of Pirate Party and FYGs who woke up in bushes – do people even study here? Upon getting back on campus, this first year saw more upperclassmen on campus, moving in big couches and massive speakers into their North Quad rooms. It was unbelievable. Their rooms seemed so fun. When class registration arrived, every class was full, except for the 8:15AM FHS class. “Whatever, I had to get up at 6:30 in high school anyways.” (BIG mistake). This student’s FYG had to calm them down – “Don’t worry, just PERM your way in. Don’t worry about it!” 6:01 hit. Wearing a swimsuit in broad daylight, a slip-n-slide, champagne bottles, and great EDM music? The first year’s FYGs were not just amazing during WOA, They knew how to get their FYGlets in order. It was time to dance and meet other first years! Club interviews began to start. Rose, SOURCE, CCG, SIF. SO MANY ACRONYMS. There was no time to prepare. It was application after application. All the club leaders seemed so friendly, but the clubs were so intimidating. Interview after interview, they finally got into SIF after zero investment experience. Midterms happened… Best erased from memory. Scripps steak and salmon night was non-negotiable. Mudd burritos were even better. Poppa was a little intimidating, since all the seniors hung out there. Marks lounge seemed like a safer bet. Getting a skateboard seemed like the right move. “Let’s get a meal some time!” was said too many times. Roberts was going to be a daily activity (lol). Upon the last week of the first year, this once young student had grown up a bit. There was so much time left, though! Next year, they wanted to join ballroom dance. They wanted to have a room where everyone stopped by to say hi. They wanted to read more on the weekends outside on Green Beach and actually follow up on their dinner plans. They wanted to make it to Frank breakfast and spend more time at the Pitzer pool. Three more years! First year was a success, but for now, it was time to study for their three midterms. Two years later, this once young student had somehow grown up. As they moved in their massive speaker and couch into their North Quad dorm, they didn’t think twice. There was half of college left to enjoy! This year, they would take upper-level economics classes and start looking for a serious junior internship. It was time to take leadership positions in their clubs and attend the Ath talks. With many friends in their room after moving in that night, they knew that they never wanted to leave. Fast forward to senior year, they realized… There was a final Scripps steak and salmon night. There was a final Roberts workout. A final SIF meeting. A last day with their roommate in North Quad. A final Frank Sunday morning brunch. A final Poppa study session. A final late-night talk with that special someone. A final in-person class with their favorite professor. A final Pirate Party. A final goodbye. But in those three years, this student grew with their class and found their place on campus. Hit by a virus in the middle of their junior year, they were confused but still excited. “There’s always next month. We’ll be back on campus in no time. Goodbye isn’t forever. CMC will be back at the latest by our senior fall!” As time away from campus extended, the student learned to Zoom through classes. They moved into a house with a few friends. Class group collaboration no longer meant meeting in the library. Instead, it was in a scheduled Zoom link. This once young first year made the most of their college experience during the pandemic. They learned how to socially distance but remain social. They got vaccinated. They went to the beach and went on hikes. They went skiing. They road tripped to Joshua Tree. They learned to love boat rides. They met new friends. They became a quarantine chef. They watched all of Love Island. They helped out at home. They learned to hangout in Arrow Vista and College Park instead of North Quad. This student found their place on campus over the course of four years. They gained and lost friends along the way. They networked and got internships. But most of all, they looked back and said that CMC was the best thing that ever happened to them.

Following the tradition established by Claremont McKenna seniors many years before us, the Class of 2021 presents its six-word memoirs. In a virtual senior year ravaged by the COVID-19 global pandemic, we were able to collect more responses than ever before. Our conclusion? The Class of 2021 is more resilient and cohesive than we ever could have imagined. From sentimental on-campus activities to insatiable hunger and thirst during late nights to complete inside-joke gibberish, we present the concise, yet all-encompassing quotes from the senior class of 2021. To whom it may concern, please remember us for our fun-loving, work-hard, and positive attitudes. We didn’t deserve a senior year like this, but we made the most of it. Goodbyes are not forever. We will be back soon. Compiled by David Ying ’21. Abby DeShazo: Wohlford205: we'll plan parties & nurse hangovers Abby Gilliland: I did not kill the bunny. Adrienne Kafka: Come to Collins, it’s Little Italy! Alejandro Posada-Sanchez: Wheres the Vegas Money? Alex McDonald: Hey JT, aim for the bushes? Allison So: Stop hating on my scooter! Amanda Huang: i think we all sing Amelia Ayala: Send Lins at 5 for din? Angel Ornelas: Fancy dinners and good food at Ath Angela Chen: Coffeeshop? Sunrises? Meet at Fawcett 808. Anisha Advani: CMC: Crown, Keck, Friends, Dance...Repeat! Anna Green: It's not easy being Green Anne Jang: I mean, I'm not not down Barron Banta: Time to light the beacons Brandon N. Piel: Yada yada guacamole smiles Bactrian camel Brandon Ruiz: Wait when is that due again? Bryan Williams: Take me back to snack Caitlyn Louzado: I'm giving up meat next week Cameron Hamson: Tired, stressed, cold brew, can't lose Cameron Hendrickson: I’m gonna be at the Motley Cameron Lauren Gonzales: Let's day drink, then Pitzer pasta? Camrion Davis: Stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold Caroline Cox: I like it rough but my lentils tender Caroline Houghton: 50 degrees, bring a winter coat Carolyn Weisman: It’s Carolyn not Caroline Chahat Kaur: Everything at once. Yes, its doable :) Chance Sears: the challesseum, ever heard of it? Charles Streator: Had Bar in Room, Not Books Chris Hu: Meet you at South Quad! Christopher Box: Stratospherical study habits, stags. Collins now. Cindy Duong: I haven't really thought about it Clayton North: late nights end on crown roof Coleman Cornell: These freshman took our snack table... Daniela Finkel: Sorry I think you're still muted! David Chen: Yes, I stash pineapple dole whip. David Ying: Boz101 #imnotleaving Diana Hernandez: Aveces lloré, aveces dudé, pero nunca me rajé Emily Bhatt: I'm taking a 30 minute nap Emily Howard: probably with the same 7 people Emily Pugh: That girl who lives at Pomona Emma David: Can I wear sweats to that? Furaha Njoroge: It isss what it issss. Gabriel Blum: Uh oh, I PPE'd Georgia Dietz: Eat. Sleep. Repeat. At the Hub. Georgia Wood: Maxwell I messed up again Grace Pratt: Missing Sunday Morning(s) with the Nas Hank Snowdon: CMC senior allegedly graduates Harrison Hosking: At Snack, 4seater - everyone is here Hephzibah Oyibo: "let's grab a meal" Isabella Maramica: Guys, I'm not a corporate sellout... Jacob Adolphe: Did unspeakable things for Collins cookies JaDa Johnson: H-Town, Hold It Down Jake Leischner: Third Most Popular Boy in School. Jason Newman: Its 2pm on a Tuesday Jennifer Collao: where's the Vegas money? Jennifer Franklin: Anyone want to go to In-N-Out? Jennifer Zhuge: Hoch at 6, grutoring at 7? Jeremy Seow: I wear many hats Jessica Fox: Do you want that on flex? Johnson Lin: Yours Truly Jordan Venglass: Send me a GCal invite? Joseph Deleon: Long story short I survived Josh T Meadows: Yes I should have already graduated Josh Tatum: With great power comes great responsitrilitrons Joshua Rodriguez: Can I get an extension, please? Josie Savaria-Watson: the first 2.75 was really great Juan Diego Herrera: Party? Sorry bro, got CS homework Julia Catolico: I still don’t understand consulting Julia Hwang: Alright, who stole my scooter? Anonymous: I'm quitting when this vape dies Kalee Cummings: I'd rather be at McKenna Palooza Kate Parrish: What even is a sagehen though Katherine Adelman: Just a girl and her blanket. Katrina Ostrom: A one hip wonder! Kelly Keene: Have courage and be kind Kiubon Kokko: Let's jump out of a plane. Koss Klobucher: Easy peasy difficult lemon difficult difficult Kyrellos Ibrahim: You haven’t started the reading yet either? Laky Li: Friends are the family you choose ❤️ Lauren Gode: lobotomy, acron, binchy, bonchy, gorl Lauren Trihy: CMC Advocates' Hotline is 909-377-2400 Lauren Widasky: fancy little dinner party... who's down? Leana Jacobs: Hub chicken tenders calling my name Lincoln Bernard: Single-digit hour wakeup? That's too early Lizzette Roja: I can't believe I did that Luke Dhillon: I go to snack to socialize Luke Ostrander: Whatever you do, go all in M. Matt Sill: Oh four, twenty-eight, nineteen <3 Maezelle Millan: I'm just here for Roberts Pavilion. Matiss Ozols: My accent’s fake, I’m Latvian, Sorry Matty Grundlingh: I'm doing the best at this Max Dawson: I'd live at the hub Max Fisher: Here for a good-time, not long-time Maxine Baghdadi: Chicken tenders and curly fries please Megan Perron: Please change EEP to PEE Meyya Muthiah: Been in Claremont 2/4 years hehe Michael Hess: Sorry, I can't. I have lab. Mimi Thompson: Please don't forget me: Mimi Thompson Mrinalini Bhushan: There's a party in my head Nandeeni Patel: D3 competitive napper. Natalie Gould: Do I still go to CMC? Nicholas Mendez: Lads and Gals it’s been fun Nick Britt: Grub? Mongolian Stir Fry? Nicolas Ludwig: Welcome to the DL, full bass Nina Samko: I had 4 cups of coffee. Olivia Ison: Sponsored by Diet Coke. Olivia Snell: Could you take my survey? Patricio Madero: This GE is so useless Renee Perper: Oh, you mean Toaster's mom? Rishi Raj Deva: quick motley break? **4 hours pass Robert Cain: Find me in the Hub Sabrina Hartono: I'm sorry, can't tonight; I have Ath Sam Fiske: This is a six word memoir Sami Murphy: Don't tempt me with a good time Satya Mindich: Fancy breakfast day is every day Sean Pine: Real friends Late nights Birch lab Seoyoon Lee: Thank you CMC. We'll miss you. Sevion DaCosta: Tomorrow isn't promised, not even today Shanil Verjee: Deep breath. Chin up. Hub quesadilla. Simran Arora: lets go get pepo melo? Skyler Addison: I'm not turning the music down Spencer Lang: Mudd breakfast -- always worth the walk Stuti Grover: I'm not feeling very worky today Teressa Ulrich: There’s a dog on campus? Where?! Theodore Chamberlain: It's simpler than they tell you. Tori Johnson: Umm...to echo that idea... Tumisang Michelle Mosedame: Econ bro money without the attitude Uddhav Gupta: Will I regret these six words? Vera Kratz: In Mailroom, wanna grab Frary takeout? Vi Nguyen: Shoutout to the history department :) Walter Brostrom: Garlic? Wendy Torres-Badajoz: It is what it issssssss Will Birchard: Pritz and Roberto's are my home Xinran Xing: Come to College Park - I'll cook. Xinyi Zhang: The AC has its own temper Anonymous: I'm quitting when this vape dies Yusuf Ismaeel: A very hazy four years Ziad Badr: Hot take: Collins best dining hall

It's nerve-racking being a freshman, especially in this pandemic. Everything about CMC and remote learning is new for you. It's impressive when first-year students step out of their comfort zones, especially by doing things such as running for class president! In a remote setting, it can be challenging to get to know your peers. So, let's read what they have to say! Lexi Punishill What’s up Stagthenas!? I’m Lexi Punishill and I’m hoping to get your vote for first year class president. I knew I wanted to attend CMC from the second I set foot on campus. I fell in love with the environment and felt instantly at home. My goal as your president is to make sure we continue to promote that welcoming environment amongst everyone in the student body. I want to make sure that everyone feels at home at CMC. We as a class have already had engaging and reflective conversations, and I want to not only continue having those discussions within our class, but to promote those open and productive conversations to members of the student body and faculty. I am a huge promoter of freshman bonding activities. I have loved getting to know all of you through our Zooms and I want to keep that attitude and excitement going. Whether it is virtual events (synchronous and asynchronous) or hopefully physical in the spring, as your president I will make sure that this class stays as strong and tight-knit as possible. We will continue to have more class zooms within CMC but also as a 5C community. We have already established ourselves as the most cohesive class that CMC has seen to date, and it is my desire as President to keep it that way. I am beyond committed to being the voice of the Class of 2024 and making sure that everyone has a voice in making the CMC environment a better place. I am so happy to be at CMC and I want to guarantee that everyone feels the same way. Vote for a president who will continue to make CMC the best place to be! I am always open to chat so DM/text/snap/email with any questions!! Bertha Tobias When I initially read the email about First Year Class President, my intuitive response was to ignore it and go about my day. I justified my fear with the fact that I’m not American, and subsequently that the Class of 2024 wouldn’t buy into the leadership of a sub-saharan African student. This self-doubt is exactly why I decided to run. CMC is a place where all of us should feel fully, genuinely and authentically at home. A space where each one of us has the tools to thrive academically, socially and mentally. Having graduated high school in China, I’m acutely aware of the importance of bridging cultural and social gaps, and existing alongside each other as full humans. My strong conviction to ensure that CMC remains inclusive and healthy has effectively informed my three campaign pillars: Institutional cohesion: fostering community through establishing meaningful links between different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the class of 2024 through efforts such as online game nights, Zoom karaoke, online multicultural training and anything you deem necessary as a year group Intentional inclusion: the strategic and targeted acknowledgement of everybody’s identity through initiatives such as culture weeks dedicated to expanding our collective knowledge bases of the sociopolitical identities represented in our class and protecting low income students who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 Overall representation: active representation to executive leadership of different parts of our unique individual experiences through policy formulation and implementation which recognizes the importance of racial, ethnic, regional, socioeconomic and mental health struggles I’m not going to promise a dramatic transformation of our class experience. What I will promise, is to use my professional experience, passion and conviction to improve our experience of CMC, online or offline. Whether or not you elect me as your FYCP, I hope my running reminds someone that they’re valid, that their presence is valued and that CMC‘ 24 is home to all of us! Yours in all things authentic, Bertha Tobias Find out more about Bertha on www.berthatobias.com Theo Siasat Dear Class of 2024, My name is Theo Siasat and I’m from Glendale, California. A little bit about me: in my free time, you’ll catch me working out, attempting to learn the piano or listening to Playboi Carti, The Weeknd, and Frank Ocean. During high school, I was a basketball captain, principal string bassist in the orchestra, interned for my Congressman, and founded my school’s first Mental Health Awareness Club. And now, I’m running to be your first-year class president. I look forward to meeting and hearing from every single one of you! As a first-generation, low-income student, I understand the numerous challenges that come with college, even when it’s virtual. I will advocate for all underserved and disadvantaged students. As a member of the Academic Working Group at CMC, I already know what working with faculty to enact real change looks like. I also hope to highlight the diversity that makes our class so great, by spotlighting groups like Mi Gente, BSU, SAGA, APAM and more! I have so many ideas for us to connect during this time. Just to name a few: Redemption Prom! CMC Class of ‘24 merch, designed by us. WOA Trips (hopefully) in the spring! 5C Connections! More accessible virtual events to accommodate people from all over the world. These are only my ideas, though. I want to know what you want out of our first year at CMC. I want to represent the whole class and your ideas, dreams, and wishes. I want to bring a culmination of your voices to the forefront of ASCMC. I’m open to feedback from any of you. Feel free to email me at tsiasat24@cmc.edu or dm me at @theosiasat on Instagram. And remember, a vote for T is a vote for yee! Liann Bielicki Hello hello, fellow first-years! I’m Liann Bielicki, and I’m running to be your class president. I’m from the Bay Area, but I’m itching to be on campus with you all in Claremont. In high school, I worked for the community engagement program at a local museum and successfully led clubs like Speech and Debate, Model UN, and Mock Trial. Lately I’ve found myself thinking about how our class functions, and how us students can build each other up. My campaign values are community and accountability. Specifically, I’m interested in how, as FYCP, I can develop virtual events and represent our class’ needs with an eye towards sustainability, mental health, and inclusion. For instance, I want to move away from Zoom as a default by providing both synchronous and asynchronous activities to better accommodate schedules. I believe that there is amazing work being done for sustainability and mental health, but that existing projects need fresh eyes and expansion. I want to interrogate how CMC can become more environmentally friendly, and how mental health resources can be demystified and destigmatized. I know how to manage a budget, plan events, and advocate for all of your needs. And I already have a plan of attack. I know that candidates can start blending together. We’re all dedicated, experienced, and capable; after all, we’re CMCers. But I can make you a unique promise, on top of my comprehensive campaign details. I want to be the mouthpiece for our class’ issues and wishes, so I plan on taking the initiative to talk with every single first-year. I want to truly represent you all. With that in mind, feel free to message me any time-- and vote for me this weekend for FYCP! Zane Yamamoto Hey guys! I’m Zane Yamamoto and I’m running to be your first-year class president. I served as class president for three years at my high school, and I helped to overhaul our student government into an organization that actually had a meaningful voice with the administration, advocated for students’ needs, and worked to find common ground. If there’s one thing this pandemic has made clear it’s that we need to THINK BIG and BE BOLD. We can’t approach this like a normal year because it isn’t. We have to innovate, improvise, and improve upon the structures and systems already in place to create a CMC community that thrives digitally and feels like home to students from all walks of life. As I’m sure you guys are tired of hearing already, I’m from Honolulu, Hawai’i. I don’t emphasize this point to invoke images of hula dancers, ukuleles, and surfing. I do it because growing up in Hawai’i, I was surrounded by other people of color. I got to see people with last names like mine hold political office, lead businesses, and serve as community leaders. And I witnessed people from cultures across the globe who didn’t just coexist but thrived together. Now, there’s still a lot of work to be done, but that’s just how CMC will be. I won’t promise that if you vote for me, you’ll wake up the next day in a utopia. Change and progress won’t happen overnight, regardless of who you vote for. But I can promise that I can help lead that effort, day in and day out, to forge the kind of class WE want to see. Aloha, Zane Yamamoto Kenneth Owusu Hi, my name is Kenneth Owusu and I am running for your First Year Class President (FYCP)! This year has been a shared experience unique to the CO’ 2024. The impacts of a pandemic turned our lives upside down and tragic events called for us to re-examine America as we know it. We’ve had to be the most innovative class yet to deal with all this change- which I am proud to say we embraced beautifully. We’ve done an amazing job connecting online and engaging in difficult conversations and my wish is to continue to embrace change and improve our community with your help. I was born in Ghana and live in the Bronx, New York City. I like to say I don't really have a hobby because I prefer doing and trying new things (the more adrenaline inducing, the better). I spent most of my time pre-Corona trying different restaurants around NYC. As of now, I spend my day (when I’m not doing work) cooking, making bracelets, listening to Philosophize This, and scrolling through TikTok (probably my favorite thing to do). I haven't declared a major yet but I am thinking of PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), PPA (Philosophy and Public Affairs), International Relations or some combination of those subjects. I spent my high school career exploring different subjects of interest through outside programs such as interning at the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art), MedDocs- where I studied Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Neurology at Mount Sinai hospital, taking a course on psychology at a local college, and last year I had the opportunity to travel to Italy as a student diplomat to learn about sustainability and the ongoing slow food movement. My interests are all over the place and I love talking about them so please DM and let's chat! As FYCP, I plan to: Expand the current anti-racism initiative to address other forms of prejudice and encourage intersectional activism to creates lasting change; Encourage an environmentally conscious campus community; Actively listen to and address the unique needs of the CO’24. My initiatives are meant to build and advocate for a more environmentally and socially sustainable campus community as well as to be the person you can rely on to act as your voice. If this is what you want, vote Kenneth for FYCP! Michael Gadinis Hey everyone! My name is Michael Gadinis and I’m running to be your first-year Class President. Since I only have so many words, I’ll give a quick description of who I am. I’m from Syosset, New York, I love animal crackers and cake, I have a dog named Shadow, and I work at Starbucks. Outside of these random facts, why should you vote for me to be your first-year Class President? The main reason I think I’m the best candidate is that I’ll be a representative of the class just as much as I’ll be a president of the class. I have a lot of ideas I’d implement in our first year, including: holding elections for cabinet members instead of appointing them, ensuring we have an in-person club fair catered specifically towards our class, and holding synchronous and asynchronous events to keep us all connected with each other during this online semester (Zoom calls, class-curated playlists, games of Among Us, etc.) But more importantly, I’ll fight for our class. If there’s a class-wide event you want to see happen, I’ll make sure it happens. If you’re having issues handling hardships this pandemic brings and being a full-time student, I’ll be there to help you gain access to whatever support you need. If there’s some sort of institutional change you want to see within CMC, I’ll fight until we see that change occur. Even though we’re only one month into our virtual first semester, this class already means a lot to me. I’ve loved getting to know you all through classes, group chats, and Zoom calls, and so I’d love to represent you all as your first year Class President. If you have any questions about my platform or just want to talk, feel free to reach out to me at mgadinis24@cmc.edu or through my Instagram (@michael.gadinis)!

We're proud to introduce the members of our Editorial Board. The new editors are enthusiastic about a variety of topics, and hope to bring you reliable and relatable content. Evelyn Zixuan Wang ‘22 Editor-in-Chief Evelyn is a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major from Tianjin, China. In this remote semester, she misses Californian sunshine and the Korean tofu soup places near Claremont. She wants to bring CMC the most authentic and up-to-date content in the most interesting way possible. When Evelyn is far from home on campus, she finds CMC to be her safe harbor where she can be her true self. As Editor-in-Chief, she wants to make The Forum a safe space for everyone to have themselves heard by their community and a space for great storytelling. Georgia Tuckerman ‘22 Managing Editor and Opinion Editor Georgia is a junior at CMC from Columbus, Ohio. She is majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Spanish. At CMC, she is also a member of the CMS Women’s Tennis Team. Georgia believes that the goal of journalism should be to help people and not hurt them. She wants the CMC Forum to be a unifying and inclusive force on campus. In her free time, Georgia loves to hike, watch Ohio State football, and eat ice cream. Miriam Farah ‘23 News Editor Miriam is a sophomore majoring in Public Policy and History from Redondo Beach, California. She has enjoyed journalism since high school, and she is happy to continue that passion at CMC. She looks forward to covering campus news, especially during this online semester and the current political climate. In her free time, you can find her eating acai bowls at the beach, making (a lot) playlists, and reading! Feel free to talk to her about any story ideas! Chandler Presson ‘21 Life Editor Chandler hails from North Carolina, the land of humidity and hushpuppies (if you don't know, look them up for your own good). A senior majoring in History and Literature, Chandler loves to write almost as much as she loves to read. When she isn't procrastinating through reading the New Yorker, you can find Chandler consulting students at the CWPD or in line at the Motley. As a Life Editor, she hopes to assist her fellow writers in authentically sharing their experiences as CMC students. Anya Syed ‘23 Copy Editor Anya Syed is a second-year International Relations and Economics major. Growing up in London means that she loves to eat good food and explore new areas. Anya is very excited to be a copy editor for the Forum this year, and she will make sure it is fun and easy to read! Maria Emilia Piacsek ‘22 Photo Editor Maria Emilia Piacsek, but most people call her Mila, is proud to call Sao Paulo, Brazil home. A junior at CMC, Mila is an International Relations major with a Human Rights sequence. During her first year at CMC, she loved her job as a photographer for The Forum, so she cannot wait to be the new Photo Editor. She wants everyone to feel free to approach her during events so they can be featured in The Forum! Brandon Mitchell ‘21 Web Manager Coming from Seattle, Brandon Mitchell is a senior majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. He enjoys playing baseball, hanging with friends, and watching repeats of The Office. He hopes one day he will have a major impact on the world through tech and science. David Ying '21 Business Manager Coming from Illinois, David attends Claremont McKenna College in the pursuit of widening his domestic and international perspectives. Apart from just writing, he enjoys surfing (currently learning), archery, watching Patriots football, hiking, and exploring LA. He is also well-versed in ballroom dancing, especially the tango and the waltz. While he is not being active, you can find him either sleeping, eating, or brainstorming his next Forum piece. Zachary Davis ‘24 Social Media Manager Zachary Davis is a first-year at CMC from North California prospectively majoring in PPE with the Legal Studies and Data Science sequences. Zac's excited to join campus for the first time as a student. Beyond the Forum, you'll see Zac on virtual campus at Kravis Lab, CMG, CCC, and Vector Data Analytics. In Zac's spare time, Zac coaches debate, writes, and sings!

Continuing a CMC tradition that started in 2012, The Forum asks graduating seniors to reflect on their time in Claremont and write a memoir in six words or less. The result is a medley of emotions, snapshots, and inside jokes. Here is Class of 2020's contribution to the tradition. Aary Sheoran: CMC, have you considered being better? Alan: Life moves pretty fast - Henmedy Forever 😎 Alanna DeMuro: Sorry I can't, I'm at Mudd Alex Rose: Senders gotta send, so send it! Alisandro Fernandez: It's the Journey not the Destination Allie Gould: Made all my friends in Poppa Allie Hill: I’m sorry, I was taking a nap! Amanda Han: ...I got it from the Ath Amanda Kandasamy: I'm not leaving, yes you are. Angélica Campos: Real clown girl shit. Anita Frances: Sleep? Don’t know her! Anna Beth Burniston: Should I do my hiccup cure? Anna Graves: I like collins chicken, don’t hate. Annette Wong: Econ bro? More like media hoe. Autumn Olivia-Noori Khym: Vou ter saudades de você CMC Becky Chung: It's because I'm a Leo Ben Dibble: Tom Brady takes cold showers Bianca Carrizal: I do be feeling many feelings! Biniyam Asnake: I can handle the technical side Brian Flores Luna: Hello Hello! Bridget McCarthy: Sco Nas, am I right ladies? Bryan Douglas Carlen: Hub chicken tendies and fries please Bryn Edwards: Got Pressed and outplayed the playas Cameron Cash: I probably said hi to you Chloe Vich: Sorry I can't, I have dance. Claudia Chandra: The best is yet to come Colleen Brennan: You're married?! Yep, five years now. Connor Gaskin: Servando’s and Liqourland. Automatic. Still is. Connor Sinclair: I played CTE and got football Crystal Salinas: Wait, can I record a 1SEC?! Dhara Singh: Reading Room bathroom dance party? Dina Rosin: College with my 1300 best friends!!!!! Erin Alexander: Lab can wait...going to Australia Frankie Rayis: No, I will not play VossiBop Gabby Clouse: I still don’t believe in Econ Gauri Taneja: Yeah it's due at midnight, heh Gemma Sykes: John Rawls is my celebrity crush Gloria Bates: Dream a little before you think. Grace Kelleher: Who gave me permission? Hanna Shiferaw: It do be like that huh? Hannah Alderete: Sorry I gotta go to war Hayley Giffin: Let's pregame then hit the hub! Hazal Su Dinc: Wanna drive to Hoch? (from Wohlf) Hunter Kettering: Either nerd out or go out Isaiah Tulanda: And it was all worth it :) James Dail: 4 more years Janeth Garcia: I’m omw back from the village! Jenny Gurev: Sorry I’m at the climbing gym Jess Selig: To make a long story longer Jessica Kim: Lived in Beckett my whole life Jocelyn Crawford: Peace out boy scout Joe Noss: Can't sleep when you're having fun Johnny Villaseñor: Sorry for busting your parties #1AMquiethours Joshua Graves: CMC is the place for me! Julian Rothschild: Graduation cap, never worn, for sale. Julie Tran: Is it a four loko night? Katie Callaci: Better have mozzarella sticks at Collins Kendall Hollimon: Make sure to plan ahead so Kira Weiss: Want to sneak in the pool? Laleh Ahmad: Ily CMC but do better please Lena Mersereau: Lemme hear you say wayoh! Wayoh! Lia Gagliuso: It’s hard being a science kid Lina Aluzri: Which new sneakers should I get? Lindsey Seidner: Let's send PZ caesar salad night Linnea Uyeno: I will miss Collin’s Breakfast Lisa Hao: Somewhat fit and a little flirty Lizzy Riffle: Consent is mandatory bitches. Luisa Valles: Good vibes save lives #Green104 Luke Livingston: This party’s dead, let’s hit Sanamluang Luke Scanlan: Poopy Boys for life Martha Baker: Happy Humpday Appleby! Love Queen Bee Maya Love: God is greater than the highs & lows Mayra Perez: Does the hub have hot cheetos? Medina Latic: Sustained by Augies' honey cinnamon latte Megan Tankersley: I’ll send you a gcal invite! Mel Wolfe: Hang on, helping Joe with something Mia Prine: Is it Thursday yet? Michelle Nguyen: Just woke up from a nap Mitchell Black: Stir the pot. Bury the lead. Monica Lopez: Goes to library, only watches Youtube... Nick Sage: Have you considered majoring in History? Nirel JonesMitchell: All-nighter? Down. Coffee or vodka? Rachel Alaynick: Time to go to hell job Rachel Lim: Want to come feed the chickens? Rhiann Holman: Lots of memories but not enough Ricardo Mateos: Mandamos el dia a la verga? Richy Chen: Made friends. Suddenly separated. Scattered globally. Sahil Sinha: I didn't think to not. Sally Carlson: In Green 104, bring friends Sam Whittemore: Yea, I've never met that person Santiago David: I didn't do it, Vicky did Sara Reid: Pain is temporary, gpa is forever Sarah Tocher: Fuck corona. Sco nas Sarah Tritschler: At hub if u wanna join Savannah Green: I promise Auen is fun, buddy! Shannon Steele: Work hard, party harder, get cat Shreya Bhatnagar: At least I’ll always have Snapchat memories Sofia Trigo: Meet me at the hub! Sophia Krivatsy: Dude don’t stress it’s all good Sophie Boerboom: College ends, Chaco tans are forever Sydney Baffour: Here she learned who she was. Tobin Hansen: Grab me from Ryal before Collins Tyler Chen: Where the Poopy Boys at huh? Vicky Flores: I didn’t do it, Santi did Vin Srikanth: C'mon bro lets go to TNC Whitney Lieberman: Four lokos, blacking out, then Applebee’s..? Will Sileo: Still gonna scend it! William L. Jacob IV: Grateful, Happiness, Kindness, Optimism, Pitzer Pool WM: Come through, I'm DJing tonight Zane Tolchinsky: Philosopher? What, I barely know her! Zenaida Huerta: You worried about the wrong PPE

The Class of 2020 marked today’s important date with a zoom call to celebrate and commemorate their transformative time at CMC. Some members of the class gave speeches and toasts, check them out below: GABE GLUSKIN BRAUN ON THE VALUE OF AN EDUCATION: During the time we were lucky enough to attend Zoom university I started to appreciate even more what makes our education so impactful and valuable. The close proximity we get on campus, the conversations and interactions all form a physical academic community that cannot be truly replaced from afar. I think it’s wild that college is this set aside time to think and read and learn, in some ways insulated from but very aware of the world. I think that’s what makes us grow, having the opportunity and privilege to push our boundaries, in class and out, in an environment that encourages our curiosity, allowing us to experiment and discover who we are, and who we want to be. I see that not just in classes and homework but in the movements and organizations that we were all a part of, how we supported each other through personal trials and national crises. Hannah Arendt said that “Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it.” I am grateful and indebted to all of you for leaving me with the love and drive to do just that. Thank you, to each of you for being a part of this journey of education, and for imparting on me the joyous burden of responsibility. COLTON SMITH ON THE CMC COMMUNITY: Hey everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Cole smith. To be honest, I was a little surprised I was asked to do this. We’ve all had our struggles throughout our time at cmc. Whether that be from a sports injury, really struggling through a class, or yelling at dos outside a party because they want to shut you down. But throughout all of our struggles, we have been surrounded by the most hard-working, most caring groups of people I have ever been a part of. Where I grew up, it wasn’t “cool” to be involved in school. But, my perception of being involved changed immediately when I stepped on campus. And a large part of that is due to our mentors and those who came before us. They taught us how to interact in the professional world. How to get a job. And most importantly, how to leave every place we touch and every group we interact with better than we found it. And those are two things I believe we did a great job of. Not only, leaving CMC and all the groups we were part of better off, but also teaching those who are coming after us how to do the same. So here’s a toast to our mentors and those who came before us, a toast to our families who supported us throughout this journey, and most importantly to us, because we are finally done. CRYSTAL SALINAS AND SOFIA TRIGO ON FRIENDSHIP: For those of you who don’t know us, I am Sofia Trigo and I am Crystal Salinas and we are so excited to be doing a senior class toast celebrating our amazing 4 years together! You might be wondering why we are speaking to the class of 2020 today, well we don’t know either but we do know we wanted to talk to you about something we took out of CMC, and I’m sure many of you have too: friendship. Looking back on our time in college, Crystal and I often think about how lucky we were to be placed together as freshman year roommates. After WOA, we instantly clicked and ending up spending most of our time together: from attending ath talks, to cheering at CMS games, to even playing ping pong in robert. We have CMC to thank for the friendship we walked away with today. This kind of bond is not exclusive to our friendship. We know all of you have met YOUR PEOPLE. No matter where you first met: in class, at the hub, in the lab, or on the field - CMC is what brought you together. This especially seems to be the case for the class of 2020. As we close this chapter of our lives, look around (even if it's on zoom) because these are the people who have made your experience what it is today. No doubt this past year has been a whirlwind. None of us could have pictured where we are now, but, as we Mark Our Moment we hope you think back to your favorite 601 or pirate party and remember all the people you shared it with. We also hope you know that if you get that new promotion, travel the world, get married, have kids, and of course, make mistakes - you remember the friends you’ve made at CMC will be there for you through thick and thin. We want to thank the class of 2020 for being the best and most resilient class CMC has seen yet, and we can’t wait to see where these friendships take you! Congratulations yet again class of 2020! Crys and I can’t wait to see you at the one year reunion - we will be waiting at Union! Congrats Congrats! ISAIAH TULANDA ON BEING YOURSELF: Congratulations, Class of 2020! I stand here, virtually, in front of you today to say something real corny, and I have two minutes so you’re just going to have to bear with me. We all have a superpower that we were born with. It took us a while to figure it out, but now we have a pretty good handle on it. It is the power of being yourself. We’ve all had to go our own way, some of us coming in with a 4, 5, maybe even 10 year plan, while others didn’t even have plans for dinner. And yet we are still here. And regardless of where you began, your plan had to change along the way, because you had to change along the way. We’ve spent the past few years growing into the people we were meant to be. Be proud of the journey you carved out that’s led you to where you are right now. Family and loved ones, too, because you have been an immeasurably essential part of our journey. There has been failure, confusion, doubt, tears, long days, and even longer nights. That does not even tell half the story. And despite all that, you’re here. That’s pretty super if you ask me. Celebrate your successes because you did that. We have established ourselves in classrooms, extracurriculars, social settings, and professionally, each of us bringing a unique skill set and perspective. Even as we were establishing who we were to ourselves. Trust this ongoing process of self-realization as you leave CMC and make your impact on the world, it’s gotten you this far, hasn’t it? You would not be here if you did not belong. (Imma say it, imma say it and I’m not sorry) #CMCIsUs. We have each left our own indelible mark on this campus, and these contributions of our selves will live on forever in the hearts of our classmates. I’m nearing the end of my time, but if you’ll allow, I want to leave you with a brief story housed within my soul. It’s the story of a four-year-old kid with a fairly persistent stutter and dreams of going to college. Though the two aren’t mutually exclusive, the former made him question his ability to reach the latter. Kids made fun of him, teachers corrected him, and he couldn’t understand why the ideas in his brain could not connect with the articulations in his mouth. But he kept going. The following years consisted of pursuing his interests, including public speaking, debate, and even improv comedy in college. He grew out of his stutter, but the disposition remained the same. This story isn’t about overcoming, but embracing who you are as you are, and remaining dedicated to your path even when it’s hard. Because you’ll know. (I found that story on Facebook this morning and thought it sounded pretty good haha). In all seriousness, as the kid got older, his dream became speaking at his college graduation. And even though this isn’t quite the same, I want to thank you all for helping one of my dreams come true. Thank you Laleh, classmates, peers, friends, the Dean of Students staff, and my family. Thank you. JULIE TRAN ON CMC GIVING YOU A VOICE: Hi everyone, it’s Julie! It’s kinda crazy how college is ending like this, but I wanted to remember how crazy this whole college thing was when it BEGAN too. I mean, the first year of CMC was a lot. We learned about leveling up and then we made it a joke and used it way too much. High school relationships were dropping left and right. We saw history being made as Trump got elected. I remember the next day, in Valenza’s class, we silently listened to Beethoven in the dark. here was that off-campus party, Meltdown? There was EDM, someone puked in the jumper, Caity Kwun tried to get a drink with her fake ID and the bouncer was like “Wyoming? Really?” And I thought, “Oh my god… it’s so exciting to watch other people break the rules!” Speaking of breaking the rules, that scavenger hunt had to have broken some rules of social decency. What the hell! I was really scared and overwhelmed, but I remember as I was leaving my dorm with my trash can, my RA Parker, bless her soul, said, “I would do anything to be in your position again.” So while the ambush in Flamson Plaza was really scary, I was also really excited thinking about how this wild group of people in this intense environment were going to be my world for the next four years. Looking back on how we started CMC made me realize I had a lot of good times. I also realized though that while I remember having fun and meeting amazing people, I was also intimidated and kinda terrified a lot of the time during that first year. I didn’t like making eye contact with anyone as I was walking to class. And I also couldn’t find the courage to speak in class. For class participation, I was so scared of sounding dumb that I would write down what I wanted to say word-for-word on a sticky note and then try to be sly as I read off of it. I was just scared of speaking about my opinions, especially to people who weren’t explicitly and openly my friends, shout out to Ronald McDonald 2 best WOA trip ever. I think that’s just a theme of how I started CMC. I came in and felt really behind. I don’t know in what exactly, but just like I needed a lot of work to catch up with everyone. And I think that made me not really believe that my opinions mattered or that I had good ideas. I just felt really uncomfortable with myself, especially seeing how all the people I was surrounded with were so fun, intelligent, clever, and charismatic -- not you though Dre, I mean like everyone else. But yeah, I was like, damn, what the hell. I felt like the ugliest contestant on the bachelor. What kinda joke was this?? But what the last four years have taught me and what my friends and so many people in the senior class have taught me, whether through class, work, CWPD appointments, unplanned but equally fun Ath dinner dates. I loved all of those moments, even though sometimes they could have been uncomfortable at first, they almost always ended up being nice, uplifting, and endearing. And all of these relationships made me realize that it was okay to feel uncomfortable. It was okay to stutter or not have an answer or say honestly I still don’t understand the stock market and I took a personal finances class. And all of this just made me realize that no matter where I came from or who I was with or where I was at, maybe I don’t have all of the answers but I do have a voice -- super cheesy, not sorry about it. The relationships I’ve made here have made me realize what my voice was, helped me see value in what I had to say, and made me comfortable with myself in every situation. So I wanted to toast to all of the ways in which we have built each other up, hyped each other up, challenged each other, validated each other, danced with each other, embarrassed each other. Speaking of embarrassing, Hannah, remember when you were blonde?? But let’s toast to giving each other the confidence to use our individual voices and be who we wanted to be. Thank you! MAYA LOVE ON RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP: Hello, Fellow 2020 graduates, My name is Maya Love, and I want to echo everyone in congratulating you all for graduating during a time that demanded resilience and adaptability through a lot of uncertainty. In order to capture the spirit of hope and responsible leadership as we all tackle and conquer different paths in our life, I will read a poem by Beah Richards: Today Today is ours, let's live it And love is strong, let's give it A song can help, let's sing it And peace is dear, let's bring it The past is gone, don't rue it Our work is here, let's do it Our world is wrong, let's right it The battle hard, let's fight it The road is rough, let's clear it The future vast, don't fear it Is faith asleep? Let's wake it Today is ours, let's take it Though we are in different parts of the world, I am honored and proud to graduate with the Class of 2020 who graciously took on the challenge of finishing strong during a pandemic. Be blessed and lets toast to our accomplishments! Maya Love CONNOR GASKIN AND MAX KIRSCH ON FINDING CMC ANYWHERE: MAX: Hello Class of 2020, for those of you who don’t know us, I’m Max Kirsch CONNOR: and I’m Connor Gaskin. MAX: Connor and I were also quite surprised when Laleh asked Cole Smith to give a toast, and We greatly appreciated his thoughtful and kind words. Thank you Cole. Today is a unique day, the virtual celebration you will likely never forget. In that spirit, Connor and I have put together a short list of rules for life after college that we, too, hope you will always remember. CONNOR: Rule #1: Find your Green Beach. Remember to unwind after a hard week of work, whether that’s hanging out with your friends at a bar in your new neighborhood or grabbing some rays at the park or a beach. MAX: Rule #2: Find your Athenaeum. Continue to challenge personal beliefs, and learn new things you never dreamed of studying, whether that's finding a unique museum or sharing conversation with roommates over a delicious meal. CONNOR: Rule #3: Find your Roberts. The importance of Self Care should continue as a top priority after leaving campus, whether that’s getting your sweat on at a new gym, or exploring your surroundings to discover new hiking trails as if you were back at Mt. Baldy. MAX: Rule#4: Keep your people. We’ve all been lucky to meet some of the most amazing people during our time on campus. Whether you’re moving thousands of miles away or staying here in California, stay in touch with the people you’ve gone to class with, shared meals with, and even cried about the thesis with. Your Claremont family will always be there for you during the lowest and highest of times. CONNOR: Here’s a toast to each of us finding our Claremont wherever our future endeavors lie, and to each of us keeping in touch with the people that have changed our lives over the past four years. Cheers! LIZZY RIFFLE AND GRACE KELLEHER ON THE CLASS OF 2020’S LEGACY: We will certainly be recognized as the corona class but we want to remind you all of the other kick ass the legacies of the Class of 2020. You might want to pour yourself another drink though, because we’ve got a lot of legacies to go over. Let’s start with our athletic achievements. Our grade had not only the first CMS team with an NCAA Women’s team championship title from our Volleyball Athenas, but we also saw NCAA wins that same year from women’s golf and tennis. Keep in mind there have only been seven total national championships in CMS history including these three. In addition to this, there have been 43 CMS SCIAC team championships in three and a half years and we *were* on track to win a few more this Spring. We also have 12 All American athletes in our class, many of whom have received this honor multiple times. Now on to student groups. CPB had a 20% budget increase from Chodosh to support a necessary vibrant social scene that doesn't center around partying. They also grew the reach of their organization by adding 3 new positions to their board and expanding social media presence. Our senior SOURCE leaders led an internal review of KLI, resulting in the productive split of KLI & Kravis Lab. SOURCE also hosted the first non-profit volunteer fair to encourage students to help the greater community. Last year, our class helped to win WorldMUN, and MUN is poised to finish in the top 10 for national rankings this year. Students from our class also helped to grow Under the Lights to provide a larger artistic presence on campus, with increased theater productions and support for student-led music groups. And it was members of our class that founded Claremont Apparel, which gave female students in Claremont Women In Business the opportunity to learn how to develop and operate a startup. Under our class leadership, Advocates has created a culture of consent and support for survivors that did not exist before its inaugural year - our freshman year. It has grown from 14 students to over 55 that support survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence through their healing process. They have worked to increase consent culture through hosting events like Sex Week, revamping orientation programming, securing teal dot training for all sports teams, and lifeguarding at every major party. It’s clear that campus is a much safer and more supportive place, not only for survivors but for all students. Our class was also the first with two female Ath Fellows since 2002 and made the Ath more accessible by implementing a less formal dress code. Before our junior year, there wasn’t much of a space for humanities students at CMC, but the work of the Gould Center student leaders has created avenues for engagement with the humanities through programming initiatives, research opportunities, and summer experiences. Our classmates also spearheaded the increase of mental health resources on campus with the introduction of FreshCheck Day and Mental Health Mondays. We also want to recognize the leadership our class has taken in affinity groups. One of our peers Bianca put it best. She said: “These students emphasized the importance of visibility on campus, and were trailblazers for the growth of each of these organizations. They collaborated with each other to host events circled around inclusivity that helped each community become stronger. I truly believe the affinity groups on campus are in a better place because of the leadership from our class.” Not only have our classmates been leaders in existing affinity groups, but members of our class also founded the Black Women’s Collective to highlight the leadership and excellence of black women at the 5Cs and create a supportive space in which resources can be shared. Many of you might not know this, but 1Gen didn’t become an official CMC chartered club until Spring of 2018. Entering college as a first generation student can be especially daunting, but the leaders from our class have built it into a resource for these students as well as a community they can identify with and feel empowered by. We also want to take this moment to recognize the 28 first generation students that are graduating today. Students from the class of 2020 were also some of the first CARE Fellows, and their staff has doubled in size in our time at CMC. Their work has helped to create a safe space on campus for students of all backgrounds to openly share their identities with others, and engage in open conversation and community healing. Without their dedication, the CARE Center would not be what it is today, and our community is better for it. Additionally, members of our class have implemented changes in the Admission’s Preview Program, a fly-in program that gives high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education the opportunity to experience CMC. With these changes, prospective students now interact with CMCers one-on-one, affinity group leaders, and even President Chodosh during their Preview visit. The successful efforts of these leaders are reflected in CMC’s increasingly diverse incoming classes and their long-lasting friendships that formed during Preview. We also had an amazing cohort of RA’s this year, and for one of the first times, a majority of them were people of color. The RA cohort’s mission was to create spaces for everyone’s stories, and it’s clear from student feedback that this was not only achieved, but also they inspired underclassmen of all identities to take on leadership positions at CMC. Now let’s talk about our elected representatives: Not only did we have the only female senior class president during our time at CMC, but it’s because of her that we had such amazing programming, not only this whole year during which she chose better venues for senior events, but especially in our last few days on campus, our time in quarantine, and this moment we have together right now. Under Class of 2020 leadership, ASCMC Exec Board and Senate passed a new mission statement, diversity statement, and non-discrimination policy, as well as a resolution process which formalizes a path for students to raise their voices about issues. They also made ASCMC parties more accessible by removing the financial barrier to entry. ASCMC also partnered with CPB to host a wellness week and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Advocates. During our first year at CMC, not a single woman ran for an elected position on ASCMC. Members of our class addressed this by hosting a women in leadership conference called ElectHER in 2018. Our class has had two female ASCMC Presidents since then, one of whom was the first black female ASCMC president ever. As we graduate, we now have many incredible female leaders who we’d like to celebrate. Please raise your hand, your actual hand not the react button, if you are or have been a female leader at CMC. And these are just some of the many legacies left by our class. There are many academic and professional triumphs you all should be celebrating as well. We know that creating these types of long-lasting impacts on campus culture and resources is not always easy. In moments of frustration, I always took a step back and remembered why I was doing it. The specific reason might look different for each person, but in essence, it always boils down to the fact that we care about our fellow students. Each of us recognized some need in the community and worked hard to fill that gap. And we did this not just for ourselves and for our classmates, but with the hope that future students will experience a better version of CMC from the moment they step on campus. They will hear stories of the “old days” when these resources and norms weren’t in place, when past students had to fight hard to make these changes, and they will feel empowered to do the same. For better or for worse, CMC gave us full responsibility and autonomy as student leaders. It taught us to be confident in our convictions, advocate for our ideas, and recognize when we needed help. More importantly, it showed us that we *did* have the power to make lasting change, if we were passionate and continued to bother the right people. Of course, this glosses over many of the hardships - the times when the administration did not understand, when you couldn’t secure the funding you needed, or when you felt the deep frustration that comes from making a large scale change. But this also showed us the reality of breaking institutional norms. I can proudly say without a doubt that CMC today is a better place for students than it was four years ago because of our class. It is not just the leaders who spoke up in the first place to make these long-lasting changes possible, but those that joined in the fight, engaged in necessary dialogue, and consistently showed their support. The skills we have learned here will serve us well beyond our time at CMC. We have strengthened our muscles of flexible leadership, advocacy, empathy, and persistence. If we want to continue to make change in the real world, which I imagine most of us do, we are well-equipped. In many ways, CMC was just the practice round. Based on what you’ve accomplished here I can’t wait to see what you do in the real world. Let’s raise our glasses to the Class of 2020, who knows more than any other class what it means to get dealt a shitty hand and make the most of it. Cheers! LALEH AHMAD ON SENIOR CLASS REFLECTIONS: Last year, when I got elected, I was told multiple times to be ready for the fact that senior class president is a thankless job. I was warned a lot of times that people just get mad and no one thanks you. That has not been my experience. I have encountered overwhelming gratitude from the class of 2020 and I am so grateful to have been able to be your senior class president. This isn’t what it should be, but I think it’s something to be able to come together and laugh together in such scary times. You’ve already heard this from me in that embarrassing but incredible video, but I love this class deeply. And so, since I’ve already experienced gratitude from this class, I think some thank yous are in order for you all. Thank you to class cabinet, the ascmc seniors and my apartment mates for helping me plan all the events. Sophie, Nick, Luisa, Allie, Kylie, Dre, Lizzy, Rachel, Caity, Dina, Bryan, Chandler and Lisa- I would not have been able to do it alone. Thank you to Nezihe for taking so many pictures and videos throughout the year and compiling them into such a messy and beautiful video for our class. Thank you to all the people who took the time to make toasts today and make this a good memory for our class. Thank you to all the drunken fools who came up to me after events and told me I was awesome and cool and doing great. Thank you to all the people who had such chaotic energy at 200 and 100 Days, who made them the incredible nights that they were. Thank you for fundamentally changing CMC. Lizzy and Grace have already said this but I cannot even begin to describe how the class of 2020 has transformed CMC with its leadership, kindness and brilliance. Thank you to everyone who threw parties and events through the year, thank you to everyone who made senior year as fun as it was. Thank you to all the people who came together on our last nights of college to celebrate together, dance together, laugh together and cry together. Thank you to everyone who respected what I said even when they didn’t like it. Thank you to the class of 2020 for growing with me, learning with me and celebrating with me for 4 years. Thank you to the class of 2020 for making CMC a home. As we all go out into the real world, please remember all that you accomplished and all the friendships you built. Remember that COVID-19 does not diminish the life changing time you had at CMC, and all the lives you changed. And so, thank you for tuning in to this irregularly scheduled programming and being the best class a girl could ask for. Goodbye everyone, and I’m sure I’ll see you all again soon.

The Resident Assistants for the new year have just been announced, and they will be starting their RAships after Spring Break. The room draw process will take place shortly after that. Check out these profiles to meet your new RAs! APPLEBY Leana Jacobs Hi friends! My name is Leana and I’m super excited to be your new Appleby RA! I’m a first-generation college student from Los Angeles, California and am majoring in Econ-Accounting. Some of my favorite shows include You, Stranger Things, and all three Bachelor series. If you guys have suggestions for me, please send them my way! Skills include being able to quote every episode of Spongebob and scarfing down on Wingstop wings at an alarming rate. On campus, you can find me catching rays, stocking up on Collins’ cookies, or being dragged across Parents at 8 am by my friends for a workout. I’m always here for you guys, whether that’s as a gym buddy or someone to wait in Frary’s omelet line with :/ Come stop by my home on Apple-beach anytime to grab, sip, or spill tea! Snacks, workout plans, advice, and hugs will be provided. See you all super soon! Love, Your new Queen 🐝, Le! AUEN Brandon Mitchell Hi everyone! My name is Brandon and I am ecstatic to be one of the RAs for the Golden Tower: Auen! I am dual majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science so feel free to ask any questions about either. On campus, I am either on Arce Field playing baseball for the Stags, hacking away like Gilfoyle from SV, or at Roberts working out. I also enjoy going to concerts, hiking with friends, and drinking ridiculous amounts of cold brew. Feel free to stop by my room whenever and talk about anything! I am really excited to meet all of you :) Taite Jorgensen Hi! My name is Taite Jorgensen am I’m the new Auen RA with my co-RA Brandon! I’m from the best city in the world - San Diego! When I’m home, you can catch me at the beach and eating at my favorite restaurants (lots of cinnamon rolls and Italian). I am majoring in Organizational Studies and minoring in Leadership sequences. I also was an CMC Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and feel really passionate about making our campus a safer, more comfortable place for all members. For the past four summers, I have interned at a digital marketing agency and focused on marketing strategies, advertisements and social media! I don’t know what I want to do with my life after CMC… but hopefully it’s something in the fashion industry! In my free time, I love finding new food places, taking film photos, and relaxing with my friends. Feel free to stop by my room for snacks or to watch the Office with me! BECKETT Maezelle Hope Millan Hey hey! My name is Maezelle (like Hazel with an M), and Taylor and I are the new Beckett RAs! I am majoring in Econ and Phil with a Leadership sequence. I am also part of the CMS Women’s Basketball team and SOURCE Nonprofit Consulting. In my free time, I like to watch NBA games, listen to old R&B, talk faith and philosophy, play card games, dance to Beyoncé, and go on food explorations! I’m hyped to get to know all my Beckett Boos! But resident there or not, come swing by and chat with the coolest RA team! Taylor Jackson Hey y’all! I’m Taylor, and I’m from Chicago! I’m a Russian and Eastern European Studies and International Relations double major (I know it’s a mouth full). I spent my sophomore spring and junior fall semesters abroad in Russia, and it was crazy! I’m so excited to be the co-RA of Beckett, and even more excited to get to know all of you. Feel free to swing by Beckett and chill with me! BENSON Mohamad Moslimani Hello everyone! My name is Mohamad Moslimani. I am from Queens, New York City, and I am hyped to be one of the Co-RAs of Benson Hall! I lived in Benson in my Sophomore year and can't wait to move back in. Some more info about me: I am a PPE Major who might just tack on a sequence at the last second. Although currently I just work as the Student Manager to the CARE Center, I've previously worked extensively in QuestBridge and with a variety of other affinity groups, planned and led the Alternative Fall and Spring Breaks, been a FYG, and hosted events like QuestGiving for students who stay back on campus. In my free time, I love to watch Netflix and Hulu (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? SLAPS. Saiki K? SLAPS. Castlevania? SLAPS. The Good Place? SLAPS. My Hero Academia? SLAPS. Steven Universe? SLAPS.), replay the Kingdom Hearts series, go to Menkoi Ya and Kazama Sushi in the village, live vicariously through my own Amazon wishlist, and find new music on Spotify! As a low-income student, I have taken advantage of DOS funding, SIE funding, Kravis funding, PPE funding, the Yonsei Program, the Washington Program, and I have bothered the Director for Fellowships and the Center for Global Studies with more things than you can imagine. I am passionate about access to resources for students from marginalized backgrounds (getting what's yours), being a friend to anyone who needs one, and not letting anything bother me without first asking "Does this affect my credit score?" Please come by if you wanna try giving me new art to consume, want tips on how to navigate college and the world beyond, want to talk about your passions, or just want to hang out. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon! Georgia Wood Hey y'all! I'm Georgia and I'm a born and raised Jersey girl living in Anaheim, CA. I'm one of the new Benson Hall RAs! I am a Government and Psychology dual major with an interest in counter-terrorism. On-campus I am a Success Consultant in DOS and I used to play rugby with the Foxes before an injury. I'm the biggest LA Kings hockey fan (yes, we're bad, don't talk about it) and hockey is the only sport I will watch on TV. I love everything country and country music and you can catch me in my cowboy boots line dancing on weekends (currently in search of the perfect cowboy hat). I am so excited to be a part of the 20-21 RA cohort and can't wait to get to know all y'all! BERGER Emily Pugh Hello friends! My name is Emily and I’m just a curious soul from small-town Georgia who wants to see the world. My family is one of the most important things in life to me along with dark chocolate, ambitious checklists and anything pastel. In the mornings you can catch me running around Claremont or eating a mostly-healthy breakfast at Collins. I also love getting out into either nature or the city on the weekends and hope to conduct research in China before going to grad school. Please swing by anytime to chat about study abroad, starting your own podcast or whatever random thing is going on around Claremont! Wendy Torres-Badajoz I’m Wendy one of the new Berger RA’s. I’m an LA local like actually LA not the surrounding area .. lol anyway and maybe the biggest dodger fan ever. I’m a Philosophy History dual major and spent a year abroad on the DC program and then in Cuba. On campus I do a lot of work with admissions and the preview program and have been granted SIE twice, fingers crossed for a third time! Off campus and during breaks i’m an older sister, dog mom and puzzle enthusiast. I’m also crazy organized: I’m talking g-cal, planners, color coding, the whole thing. So if you want to chat about any of these things, build a 5,000 piece puzzle or need help getting organized lmk, whether you live in Berger or not. BOSWELL Declan Judge Hi everyone, my name is Declan and I’m from Boston, Massachusetts. I’m currently studying Economics and Finance here at CMC. I played football here for the Stags and love watching and playing all sports. I enjoy having fun with my friends whether on the field, in the classroom, or off campus. One of my favorite parts about CMC is the accessibility of seeing a concert in LA, or doing quick weekend trips to Mammoth or Vegas. I think myself along with the others within the cohort have a good understanding of the social, academic, and personal struggles that come with being a college student, and hope that those living in Boswell or elsewhere on campus will feel comfortable talking with me and/or the other RA’s. I’m really excited to be the RA of Boswell, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone! CLAREMONT HALL Mimi Thompson My name is Mimi and I am so excited to be your Chall RA! Dorm events are my favorite thing, so get ready for scavenger hunts, trivia nights, and bake-offs. I’m a Literature and Psychology major who has a passion for theater, so I am always either reading Shakespeare or Austen (out loud, with the accents, of course), or scamming people with my psych studies. Bangkok, Thailand is where I call home and I love being with my family. My sister, Lucy, is coming to CMC next year, and can definitely share all the crazy adventures my family gets up to! On campus, you can find me in Ryal, getting glittered up for a party with friends, or watching The Vampire Diaries. Being an RA has always been a dream of mine and I’m so grateful for this incredible opportunity. CROWN Max Dawson What’s up CMC!! My name is Max, I’m from San Diego, CA, and I’m SO excited to be one of Crown’s new RAs! I lived in Crown triples for two years (no, I can’t tell you why) and I’m thrilled to be back in the best dorm on campus! I’m majoring in the BA/MA program with a math dual, and am the CFO of ASCMC and CIO of SIF – if you couldn’t tell, I spend WAYYY too much time in Excel. When that’s not happening, you’ll find me playing pool at the Hub (shoutout to Josh Meadows), or at Roberts training for American Ninja Warrior. I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and getting closer with the ones I already know: stop by my open door hours whether you’re a Royal or not! You KNOW the biggest rooms on campus have space for extra snacks… Emma Finn Hi everyone! I am Emma Finn from Westport, CT. I am a science management major with a biotechnology sequence. On campus, I run 5C EMS, work as a career service mentor, and work as a student researcher in an organic chemistry lab! I love being outside, playing sports, cuddling dogs, and journaling:) I am also a transfer student, and feel very lucky to have ended up at CMC after taking a winding path. Please come by Crown to see me- I love meeting new people! FAWCETT Josh Meadows CMC! My name is Josh Meadows, I’m from Washington DC, and I’m incredibly pumped be one of the new Fawcett (Fawc-LIT ) RAs. I lived in Fawcett for the fall semester last year and I absolutely loved the dorm’s scenic views and close-knit community. On campus I’m an Organizational Studies and Philosophy Dual Major and I work for RDS in the Soll Center. On any given day you can find me walking around campus with an iced-coffee or at the Hub distracting my friends and playing pool (shoutout to Max Dawson). I can’t wait to connect with everyone on campus, chat, and share some of my many strong opinions including that pineapple belongs on pizza and that regular Cheetos are better than hot Cheetos. Talk soon! Josh Dri Tattersfield Hello friends!! My name is Dri, and I am super excited to be the new Fawcett RA! I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan (the birthplace of boba!) and now live in Portland, Oregon (the birthplace of Raining Every Day). My pronouns are they/them/theirs and I'm always down to talk about gender identity with anyone that wants to learn more. I am a Physics and Philosophy major who is really interested in how science shapes + is shaped by society. I am also a fellow at the CARE Center and love stopping by there for dope conversations and yummy food (that 12/week meal plan...)! On campus, you might find me volunteering at the farm, performing spoken word poetry, or laying in the grass. Talk to me about studying abroad in Tanzania, Studio Ghibli movies, Avatar the Last Airbender, and making comic books/zines! I am SO STOKED to get to know you all - hit me up anytime to hang at the Motley/Augies, make art, or just chat in my room (I have many comfy floor pillows)!! GREEN Naseem Nazari Hi everyone! I am Naseem, the new RA of Green. I am from the far far away land of Claremont, CA (yes, people actually live here). On campus, I am a PPE major, research assistant at the Rose, and tour guide at Admissions. I have a really cute puppy named Jooni and am planning play dates for her and Theo on Green Beach; stay tuned as the world's cutest love story unfolds. I love fresh air (fun fact: my name actually means fresh air in Farsi), traveling, and doodling. I am always looking for new music, so please hit me with some recs. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so if you see me at Collins in the morning, feel free to say hello :) MARKS Robert Cain Greetings, friends and future residents! My name is Robert Cain, but my friends call me Classy Cain. It is with deep excitement that I relieve the current RAs and assume their position as co-RA of Marks Hall alongside the fabulous Elena Castellanos. Less thrilling news is that I call Little Rock, Arkansas home, but thankfully, my birth certificate reads Sacramento, California. At CMC, I am majoring in Applied Mathematics and Media Studies with a to-be-determined Data Science Sequence and an obsession for TV dramas. My current favorites are Pose, How to Get Away with Murder, and Shameless. I also work at DOS as a student assistant, and if you see me engaging in sarcastic commentary or hear my loud laugh, please say hi! If not in DOS, you will usually find me working at the Hub, tanning near the fountains, or watching an episode of Wendy Williams. I am passionate about fashion, photography, and international travel as I serve fits regularly and recently returned from a year abroad in Thessaloniki, Manila, and Prague. If you need fashion advice or tips on studying abroad, hit me up. I am super excited to meet you all! P.S. My pronouns are he/him/his. Elena Castellanos Hi Friends! My name is Elena, and I’m an LA local. You can typically find me watching the newest Netflix food show, drinking oat milk lattes, and biking to Trader Joe’s (but not always at the same time). On campus, I study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and I am a fiend for urban planning and design. I’m so excited to be one of your Marks RAs! Get pumped for some fun, relaxing dorm events — avocado toast included. I can’t wait to get to know you all over a coffee at Augie’s. PHILLIPS Lizzette Rojas Hello everyone! My name is Lizzette Rojas, but I sometimes go by Liz. I'm an Econ-Accounting major from Houston, Texas (so you know I'm H-town 'til I drown). I lived in Phillips my Freshman year, strayed a bit my sophomore year, and am now back with the Pham! I am SO excited to be an RA and to get to know everyone. On campus, I'm involved in 1Gen, FYG, the CAA, and in CMS Intramurals. In my free time I enjoy being active- whether that's playing volleyball, working out, or just walking to Mudd for dinner. I am passionate about animals and the environment and can whip out animal facts at any given moment. I have an unhealthy addiction to coca cola and pickles, so you know I'm always stocked. If anyone ever wants to stop by for a pickle, a good laugh, or some quality phamily time, my door is always open! <3 STARK Placide Gatabazi Muraho mwese! (Google is your friend) My name is Placide Gatabazi and if you can't tell from my greeting or last name, I am from Rwanda. I am a Science Management major with a Computer Science or Data Analytics track. You will find me at the library most of the afternoons and evenings trying to study or just bored and reading Malcolm Gladwell's book or piece. What do I love? I would talk about Rwanda for the whole day, I love dancing to Afrobeats, I love making some risky investments, and LOVE listening to other people's stories. Feel free to stop by my room to have a sip on some of the finest juices from Rwanda or talk about anything. Thrilled to be back in Stark! Go STARRRK! Lupe Valente Hello everyone! My name is Guadalupe Valente (but please, call me Lupe) and I am one of the two new Stark RAs! I am from East Los Angeles, California and am dual majoring in Mathematics and Spanish. Although I like to think I spend a good portion of my time studying, I’m actually pretending to do work at the Hub while sneaking fries from my friends. I have a clear obsession for succulents and flowers and try to collect as many leafy friends as I can. And even if I may not look it, I try to hit the gym a few days a week to make up for my taste for snacks - so be assured, I will always be packed with goodies to eat and snack on in my room! If I’m not at the Hub you can probably catch me working at the C.A.R.E Center, Admissions or giving tours around campus. I'm so excited to get to know as many of you as I can! STUDENT APARTMENTS Mitchell Kirsch Hello everyone! My name is Mitchell Kirsch and I'm from Atkinson, NH. I am a passionate sleeper and love eating vegetables. Academically, I geek out over Psychology and Economics, but I love learning about optimal human performance the most. During my free time I take full body ice baths, walk around barefoot, go bird watching, and look for opportunities to compete. I am a shooting guard on the CMS Men's Basketball team and spend many hours a day in Roberts Pavilion! I am super excited to be one of the three RAs at the Student Apartments! Please stop me on the path and say hello! If you're reading this, I challenge you to get 9 hours of sleep tonight. Sevion DaCosta Hello all! My name is Sevion – but you can also call me Sev. I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada (yes, Drake is my cousin) and I am a PPE major with a Legal Studies sequence. I am very excited to be one of the RAs of the apartments along with Caitlyn and Mitch. On-campus I am the President of the CMC Mock Trial team (feel free to reach out to me if you’re interested in joining), an avid New England Patriots fan and am always happy to talk about sports, movies, cooking, or anything else. Feel free to stop by the Apartments to say hi or stop me whenever I’m passing by! Caitlyn Louzado Hi everyone, my name is Caitlyn Louzado and I am from Pune, India. I am super excited to be an RA at the Senior Apartments along Mitchell and Sev! My majors are Economics and Psychology and I am especially interested in the environmental and the educational sector. I enjoy playing piano, painting and eating anything chocolate related. You can always catch me on Kravis fourth floor for a good sunset or at Frary breakfast. On campus, I am part of the mock trial team, make pastries at the ath, and am actively involved with ASCMC. I love going to new places, pushing myself out of my comfort zone (like the time when I skydived) and meeting new people! So come through to the apartments whether you’re a senior or not and I will provide the Indian snacks :) Always here for a good conversation and I am looking forward to this new role on campus. WOHLFORD Salomé Lefort Hi everyone, I am so excited to be your new Wohlford or as I like to call it Wohlf pack RA, woof woof . My name is Salomé or better known as Sal here on CMC's campus and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. You might not recognize me because I was working away in politics in Washington last semester (No I cannot and will not be president). Catch me sounding mad but really joking with my mom on the phone in French, watching an absurd amount of reality television, and wearing sneakers to business casual events (oops). On campus I work at DOS and the Office of Events at that building really far away. I have also been a part of ASCMC, and am still a proud member of 1-Gen! Please say hi if you see me on campus or dancing till I drop on a weekend night and I am so pumped to be your new RA!

Most students will remember the anticipation of waiting inside Heggblade, watching rooms on the monitor slowly turn to red, signaling the room they wanted was no longer available, and having to quickly come up with another plan of action. Fortunately, no student will have to wait inside Heggblade for their turn because Room Draw selection will be online! In August 2019, Residential Life introduced a new online software program called Residence, and this is where Room Draw 2020 will take place. Room Draw is essentially the same as it always has been--the only exception is that you get to do everything from the comfort of your own room. For first years or anyone confused about how room draw will be happening next month, I’m here to break down all the nitty-gritty details of the process to hopefully ease any anxiety you might be feeling! When is Room Draw? ResLife has not released the official time slots for Room Draw, but expect it to be happening the week of April 13th-April 17th. All students who are not retaining their rooms, who were not approved to live off-campus, who did not get an apartment through the Apartment Selection process, or who did not select a room during Sub-Free Selection must participate in Room Draw. How do I know when it is my turn to select my room? All students will be given a random computer-generated number. Along with this number will be a selection time. The selection time is what you want to pay the most attention to because it is the exact time you will be allowed to access Room Draw. ResLife has not given a specific date for when the numbers will be sent out, but you will have plenty of time between finding out your number and Room Draw to prepare. How are the numbers assigned? The numbers are randomly assigned within each class based on the matriculation class designations. This means during Room Draw week there will be one night dedicated to a specific class of students. For example, the first night of Room Draw will include all students who are deemed juniors and seniors (those who started CMC in the Fall of 2017 and Fall of 2016.) The SympleSelect process within Residence will have time closures for contingencies or updates that need to happen during the process. When the process is closed, you will not be able to access the site until it reopens. Room availability is updated in real-time. As students select spaces, rooms will be removed from the queue, including while you may be in the system making a selection. With that being said, ALWAYS have two back up plans in case your first choice is taken early on in the process. What if I want a roommate? If you would like to have a roommate for the 2020-2021 academic year, you must form a group via Residence. To form a group, enter into the Room Draw process in Residence and enter your roommate's code to send them an invitation to group with you. The system will automatically choose the earliest selection time from amongst the group members (i.e the time you pick your room is based on which roommate has the earlier time slot.) You will only be able to form a group with those students whose application has been submitted and approved. ResLife suggests waiting until the afternoon of March 13th to begin forming groups, as that is the deadline to submit housing applications. Can I draw into a double without a roommate? The simple answer: No. An individual student will not be permitted to draw a double without a roommate. Any students who do not have roommates arranged will be able to select into a room on the last day of Room Draw, but only after all other groups have selected their rooms. My friends and I want to live in North Quad, how does that work? In North Quad half-suites, groups of four students may draw into the traditional half-suites of either both north-facing rooms or both south-facing rooms. “Traditional half-suites” is basically the code word for every room that is not in the pod. Half-suite student groups may not draw into one northern room and one southern room in the traditional suites. This means you and your friends will either have your suite all on the north side or the south side of the dorm, not on both. In the pod suites (i.e the rooms above the lounges in North Quad,) groups of four students may draw into either both east-facing rooms or into both west-facing rooms. Just like the traditional half-suites, pod suite student groups may not enter into one eastern room and one western room in the pod suites. For the 2020-2021 academic year, Green and Wohlford pods will be male-designated and Boswell and Appleby pods will be female-designated. To exercise this housing option, the group leader for the group of four students will need to select the room at their designated time (i.e the group leader should be the student with the earliest time for your best chances.) If there are no half-suites available when your selection time comes, you will need to split up and follow the instructions for roommates. If any member of the four-person group withdraws from their selected room after Room Draw, the remaining roommates may be reassigned to a new location at the discretion of Residential Life staff (i.e make sure everyone in your group is 100% sure they want to live in North Quad.) Will block housing be offered next academic year? Block housing will not be offered because of the changeover to Residence. Auen and Claremont Hall used to offer block housing, but will not be possible for the upcoming year. There is no way to manage the system effectively because rooms need to be grouped together in as suites (as with NQ half-suites) and that is not possible with the way Auen and Claremont Hall are set up online. Can I know who will be living near me in my desired residence hall? Yes! ResLife has confirmed that boards of the outlines of each dorm will be available for students to see every night of Room Draw week in McKenna Auditorium. Residence does not have a feature that allows that, but ResLife understands it is an important part of living in the CMC community. I hope this answered some of your questions about how the process works and what it will look like this year! If you have any other questions feel free to ask Jennifer Guyett or Victor Diaz in the Dean of Students Office. However, do not waste your time, or theirs, asking about your “chances” of getting a specific room; the process is all about the unpredictable nature of human behavior. Your room and where you live on campus is what you make of it, so plan ahead and have a positive attitude to save yourself some stress.

Many CMCers can no longer remember their daily routines as first-year students. How did they balance their time? What were their priorities? Two first-year students shared a day in their lives as an example of the average first-year's day. Both students report having a sufficient amount of free time each week, spending time with friends, reading, sketching, watching television, or online. In addition to having jobs, both students begin their day by working out at Roberts Pavilion during the school week. Outside of class, they are involved in clubs and attend events occasionally. For instance, one first year's schedule is as follows: 7:30-7:45 a.m. She wakes up, goes to the gym, and then showers. If time permits, she completes some homework before class. 11:00-12:15 p.m. She attends the first class of the day. 12:15 p.m. She eats lunch and attends class afterward. "My afternoons and evenings are filled with pretty much just homework. If I have a club meeting for Psych Club or Power of Women (POW), I'll go to that. I'll go to events sponsored by Psych Club or POW. I should expand my horizons and go to more events. I try to go once every two weeks. I love going to the Athenaeum, so I also try to go once every two weeks," she said. Since CMC does not allow first-year students to have cars on campus, many don't leave CMC often. "I usually work once a week off-campus, but I don't go to the Village that often. I go maybe once a month. I don't have a car yet, so I don't get off campus that much. But, I do go to events at other schools or see friends there," she said. To reduce stress, she prioritizes spending time with friends and doing nonacademic activities. Finding a balance between being social and alone is a goal for both of these first-years, so they don't neglect their mental health. "I have a pretty good amount of free time right now, but this depends on whether I have a midterm that week because then most of my free time would be spent studying or working on a big project. But, I do try to allow myself time to visit friends or relax by watching TV just because I'll go insane if I don't take a little bit of time for myself," she said. Despite experiencing pressure to always be productive, she feels that she has options regarding her daily schedule. "For the most part, I would say that I keep myself pretty busy, and it's a lot of work, but it's manageable. If I'm sitting around and I don't have anything to do, there's usually some reading I could get ahead on if I want to be productive. If I don't want to be productive, then I can relax. It's nice to have that option," she said. 10:30 p.m. To get a full night's rest, she tries to get to sleep by 10:30, which is early by most CMCers' standards. Another first-year student researches for an economics professor on Mondays and works at Roberts Pavilion on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Her schedule on Mondays and Wednesdays is as follows: 7:30-10:50 a.m. She hits the gym bright and early, followed by breakfast and a shower. Both students prioritize exercising in the mornings to increase productivity, alleviate stress, and maintain their physical health. 11:00-2:30 p.m. She attends her first class, grabs a quick lunch, and heads to her 1:15 class. 2:45-4:00 p.m. With a heavy class load on Wednesdays and Thursdays, she then goes to her last class of the day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she attends only one class and participates in Mock Trial and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) as a Fellow. With a few hours of free time each day, she believes that most first-years are trying to learn effective time management skills. Since living on-campus allows them more free time, both are trying to balance their time since their time was more structured in high school. "I feel like [my time management] could be better. I feel like I'm struggling to understand what my priorities are and what I want to get out of the college experience. There is a continual change in perspective between, 'Oh, I should be going out more,' or "I should be sleeping more.' One thing I feel that I may have neglected is my own personal care just because I'm in this world where I feel like I have to meet new people and do more work or be consistently productive. My personal care has suffered, but I'm still working on balance. It's a work in progress," she said. During her free time, she finds herself on campus talking to friends or watching television; she also exercises to destress. "I go to my Institute's events, but otherwise I go to events very minimally. I've been on a couple of CPB events. I've been to the Atheneum three times. I go to the Village sometimes. I've been there maybe two or three times. I go out with my friends almost every weekend night. And, I go out to bigger events probably once a week," she said. Since coming to college, she struggles to prioritize her favorite hobbies, including drawing, due to lack of time and motivation. With different Claremont Colleges continually hosting events, both students are trying to balance productivity and self-care. "I think I need more creative outlets. For me, I would go back to sketching or doing some reading for pleasure. I have to decide to prioritize myself, and I think I'm not the only one who has difficulty doing that in a new environment. We all want to do our best and feel comfortable with others, so we kind of neglect how we feel about ourselves," she said.

“The journey is often followed by a lot of sweat and tears, and the constant struggle to stay above water while everyone else is simply floating.” - Diana Hernandez ‘21 Your first semester in college is always rough. It’s nothing like high school; everything isn’t done for you. Yes, you get freedom, but with that comes more responsibility. This might shock some students when they first join a college community, but with the right resources and guides, freshman year can be less stressful. Now, imagine coming to campus with no previous knowledge on anything “college.” Imagine stepping onto one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, treading territory that has never before been navigated by either of your parents. Now, imagine being surrounded by people who have totally different experiences from you, constantly hearing personal stories about college and receiving assistance with their college applications from their parents. Feeling overwhelmed? Well, this is the experience of numerous first generation students when they first arrive to campus. At Claremont McKenna College, ranked #7 in National Liberal Arts Colleges on US News, approximately 18% of the student body are first-generation college students, meaning they are the first in their immediate family to attend college. Their status as a first-generation student presents these students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pave a path for themselves and their future families. Nevertheless, many of these students still face obstacles before and after arriving to campus. One preliminary obstacle many first-gen students face is having limited access to information about the college and the application process. Additionally, interacting with students who have college educated parents can be a bit challenging because of the different mindsets established from both experiences. Ultimately, the first-gen experience is still an existing challenge for many students. We must understand the contrast between first gen students and their counterparts in order to better grasp how life is different for first-generation college students. It is always a struggle for any college applicant to identify a good fit and an affordable option. However, for first-generation college students, it can be even more challenging because they often lack family members with enough knowledge on the college application process to assist them. Salomé Lefort ‘21, discussed her experience as a first-generation student at CMC, stating that “it was very hard because not only am I a first-generation student, but I am an immigrant to this country, so I wasn't able to look to my parents for help. I wasn't coached very well on where to apply and how many schools to apply to. So a lot of the process was done by my mom and I on random websites. I was very lucky to stumble upon CMC!” It seems to be a pattern of many first-generation students to state that they were “lucky” to have found their school, their scholarship or their scholar program. Many students in this position with limited familial guidance are often aided the most by these outside sources. Counselors, for example, sometimes are the push factor that motivate many first-generation students to step out of their comfort zone and do what their parents didn’t have the privilege to: pursue higher education. “I was fortunate enough to be a part of a first-generation scholarship program in my high school,” Jen Petrova ‘19 said. “The Schuler Scholarship Program gave me the academic and financial support I needed to be able to apply to colleges. Without their constant education, help, and guidance, I do not know if I could have found myself at a private, liberal arts college,” she said. The Schuler Scholarship Program exposed Jen to academic opportunities and educated her on how she could obtain them. Petrova considers herself one of the lucky ones. However, a students’ future shouldn’t be based on “luck,” because all students should have the same access to resources necessary to make informed choices. It is important to note and consider that many first-generation students, though not all, have parents who are immigrants to the U.S. Therefore, their expectations for education are usually high. One could argue that their path to success is not often due to luck, but due to the motivation of fulfilling their parent’s goals. Many immigrant parents moved to this country to set a path for their children. Petrova can say that her parents wanted her to have the American Dream. They wanted her to do what they couldn’t in their country, and set a good example for her sister. Therefore, there is a lot more at stake for first-gen students. For some, pursuing higher education is an expectation in their family. Not going to college means that all the trouble and hardships that their family has undergone would result in the opposite of what they hoped for their children. The expectations are all on the student: they are the generation to change the impact of education in their family. There is also the question of what resources and guidance are provided for first-generation students when they finally arrive to campus. Figuring out the college application on their own was only the first step. Now, they have to navigate their first year on a campus that is different than high school. All the new rules and expectations can be overwhelming. The difference between them and those that aren’t first-generation is that they don’t have easy access to advising on navigating this new territory of life. Lefort, having experienced this feeling first-hand, noted how lost she felt during her first-year. “One of the funniest stories I have is when I first arrived to college, I got a concussion and school-wise it wasn't going very well,” said Lefort. “ Someone had given me the advice of going there and talking to a dean. I was confused and so I called my mom and I asked her, ‘Hey mom, what is a dean? What do they do?’ And she just responds, ‘I have no idea.’ If she didn't know, how will I know?” This became a learning experience for Lefort, as she realized she needed to overcome her fear of reaching out to resources on campus for help. To combat the issue of limited resources for first-generation students at CMC, a group of first-generation students—Rafael Velasco ’19, Tony Chau ‘19, Devang Patel ‘19 and Tre Gonzales ‘19—created a club called 1Gen. The club provides resources to first-generation students in various ways, including arranging workshops for professional development and inviting 1Gen alumni to offer guidance. Ultimately, the club establishes a safe place at CMC for 1Gen students to discuss their experiences and build community. Last year, on November 8th, 2018, CMC celebrated National First Gen Day for the first time in its history. This day, created by the Council for Opportunity in Education in 2017, calls for universities all over the U.S. to celebrate first-generation college students on campus. Many campuses and communities are too often blind to the academic capabilities and gifts that lie dormant within so many first-generation students. This year, CMC students decided to overcome this stigma and celebrated these strong-willed students on our campus and showcase what it means to be first-gen on our campus. The private liberal arts college decided to address the issues and challenges faced by first-gen students. 1Gen leaders spearheaded this operation, illustrating CMC’s commitment to support 1Gen students. Other than providing an open-space for discussion, the day gave a sense of pride to many. Various students on campus proudly proclaimed themselves as first-generation students and embraced this part of their identity. Diana Hernandez ‘21, a first-generation student who attended most of the events on this special day, expressed how the celebration made her feel. “Sometimes we feel as if we don’t belong at these private institutions. People see us and underestimate our capabilities, but forget that we didn’t get here by chance. We were meant to be here. We are thriving and nothing will impede us from doing so,” Hernandez said. 1Gen also arranged events such as a class-registration drop-in event, which allowed for upperclassmen to help first-year students plan their schedule as they approached the dreadful day of class-registration. There also was a TNC and mixer, which allowed for the mingling of first-generation students from all the 5C’s. The club even planned a Friendsgiving, where the community and its allies ate delicious food, expressed what they were thankful for, and played ice-breakers. Some stated how they were thankful for the 1Gen community at CMC. Essentially, 1Gen has allowed for CMC to be a place that equips first-gen with the right resources to guide them through these challenging 4 years. The celebration of National First Generation day on November 8th allowed for first-gen students to celebrate their success as the first in their family to attend college and to acknowledge the guidance and resources available to them here. According to Lefort, “I do think there is a good amount of resources afforded to us, but I feel that they weren’t evident enough or talked about among our community enough my first year as they may be now.” Jen Petrova ‘19, a member and mentor for 1Gen, mentioned how the resources have grown significantly since her freshman year, and now as a senior, “she feels perfectly equipped to academically, financially, and socially thrive at this elite, private, liberal arts college. It is a liberating feeling to feel as though you are not thrown into an atmosphere that does not advocate for your success.” However, even when students are provided with the means to succeed on this campus, there will always be a sense of isolation from those who don’t identify similarly to you. Definitely, there are little to no discussions with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and no one really discusses how to be an ally to those of marginalized identities. Instead of allowing for a sense of inclusiveness on campus, at times there seems to be one of isolation. 1Gen has grown increasingly in number and events over the years. They are making strides to reduce this feeling of isolation by hosting discussions and acknowledging these communities. Lefort recounted how she did not truly feel like a first generation student until she got on campus and experienced severe symptoms of imposter syndrome. “When we moved me into college, it was very evident there was a lot I didn't know and I felt somewhat out of place at first which is something I didn't expect,” said Lefort. Placide Gatabazi ‘21 also spoke about how he felt like an outlier as a first-generation international student. “[Coming from Rwanda,] a major difference that I felt between me as a first-gen and international student and my peers was the financial capability,” Gatabazi said. “While others may choose to have dinner or lunch in the village as often as they want, I cannot do the same because I’m on a tight budget. Also, I get money to buy all my supplies and textbooks from on-campus jobs while some of my peers don’t have to work to buy what they need on a day-to-day basis.” This disparity between first-generation students and students with college educated parents is a common phenomenon within top private liberal arts schools like CMC. With this in mind, the first year for a first-gen student can be a completely different experience than that of a student with college educated parents. Their experience, however, allows them to independently foster growth in themselves and effectively aid those who will follow in their footsteps. Lefort, Gatabazi, and Petrova are some of these students, who can say they successfully completed their first year at CMC, regardless of the hardships. Now, they are willing to give advice to those students who are following in their footsteps, and to those experiencing exactly what they went through. “If a first-year student were to ask me how in the world I got through my first semester, I would tell them to push yourself to constantly ask for help and learn to advocate for yourself,” Lefort said. “I was so intimidated by professors and deans so I ended up not going to them when I really should have, so do not make my mistakes and go talk to people!” Petrova reiterated Lefort’s point of not being afraid to ask for help. “First, always ask for help! Do not be afraid to reach out to friends, professors, trusted adults. The playing field doesn’t start equal, it is up to us to ensure we get to the same level, and nobody can do that alone. And second, don’t forget about your identity and family and friends from home. College will change you, but it is important to balance both identities,” Petrova said. After high school is a crucial time for the shaping of identities. There is a variety of socioeconomic status, ethnicities, nationalities, races, religions, etc. Therefore, the pressure to shape your identity is high, and sometimes as students, we are inclined to forget where we come from. That’s why Petrova’s point of not forgetting your background and embracing your identity is essential to everyone on this campus. That’s why students should be encouraged to embrace their status as a first-generation student, as a low-income student, as a minority, as an international student… Embrace it and allow it to be the stepping stone to what will be a success story for years to come. Being a first-generation student on this campus should not be overlooked. To understand the experiences of first-gen students can allow for the opening of doors of inclusiveness on campus. No longer should the journey be “followed by a lot of sweat and tears, and the constant struggle to stay above water while everyone else is simply floating,” Hernandez said. To non-first generation students: take into consideration the experiences of those at this school. To first-generation students: go ahead and do you! Go from being a first-generation student to being a first-generation scholar.

It's nerve-racking being a freshman. Everything's new to you and all of a sudden you feel like a small fish in a large pond. It's impressive when first-year students step out of their comfort zones, especially by doing things such as running for class president. So, let's read what they have to say! Austin Topham Hi! I’m Austin, and I’m hoping to win your vote for first year class president. Like many of you, CMC was my dream school. And while being here really does feel like a dream, we can do better. For a college that is known for having some of the happiest students, we sure are stressed out all the time, even though the school year is just beginning. My priority as first year class president is to combat stress among freshman and work with ASCMC to better address mental health and wellness. Even before orientation is over, institutes are shoving application due dates down our throats, and the stress that I’ve seen put on many of my friends from those applications is unacceptable. The year is just starting, and academically, it’s only going to get harder, and I refuse to be president of a constantly stressed-out class. Some other long-term plans I have for this year include creating new study spaces and working with CMC’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee to better provide for our minority students. And of course, I’ll be there to create the best first year social events to celebrate as well. (5C tour-de-france-style skateboard/scooter dash???) While I have my own visions for how CMC can be improved, it’s crucial that my focus be on your dreams for CMC. Whether it’s a certain type of party you want, or an institutional problem you want addressed, it’s my desire and responsibility to amplify your voices as a representative of my fellow first years. I’m so grateful and happy to be here, and that means I’m also fully committed towards you guys and fully driven toward making this year the best it possibly can be. So let’s dream up our ideal freshman year together; dream up your CMC with me. Desmond Mantle My name is Desmond Mantle, and I’m running to be your First-Year Class President. I’m from Pasadena, California, and I love hiking, cooking, and editing grammar errors on Wikipedia. You might also know me as the guy who always dresses “business casual” to attend class. No, I’m not joking. I really am a pretty quirky guy. But as square as I may seem, I do get around (see what I did there?). I’ve already met a lot of you at parties, meals, classes, and in other settings, and it still amazes me how many cool people there are at this school. I’m a huge fan of First-Year bonding activities, but rather than force my ideas on you, I’d like to hear what you want from me. That’s why I’ve already set up a website where you can suggest ideas, ask me questions, or even just vent about something that’s bothering you. The URL is: dmantle2023.wixsite.com/cmc23 But the most important part of being First-Year Class President is understanding the need for a balanced budget. All of us candidates can promise you “free stuff,” but remember that it’s not really free. We all pay toward the $3,000 class fund with student fees (or equivalent work-study), so having somebody who’s financially responsible in charge of that money is the only way to make sure we keep getting to do fun stuff throughout the year. I’m the most qualified candidate to handle your money properly. I was treasurer of multiple organizations throughout high school, and I have experience turning an organization with debt into one with surplus funds. I’m willing to spend hours upon hours researching the best deals, so you’ll still get the fun stuff you want, just at a better price. Vote for Desmond Mantle for a balanced budget! Sarah Simionas Hey first-years! My name is Sarah Simionas and I’m running to be your class president. Here’s a little bit about me: I’m from San Jose, California and some of my hobbies are driving to the beach, hiking, hammocking, going to concerts, reading, watching movies with friends, and any sort of traveling I get the chance to do. The reason I’m running for class president is because I believe in community. The people you meet here at CMC are going to change your next 4 years, your opinions, and maybe your life. I want to give you the opportunities to create these relationships and the amazing memories that will come with. That’ll be through all sorts of class bonding events like class wide parties, events with other 5C first years, holiday/themed parties, career/academic interest events, movie nights, and more. I want your first year at CMC to be about you. All your ideas, all your concerns, all groups on campus, all your voices represented. I’ll do this by putting together a cabinet representative of all groups on campus, holding class meetings to get your opinions/ideas, having online resources to communicate with me and the cabinet, and more. Most importantly, I promise to be a friend first and foremost. I plan on continuing to connect with all of you in our grade, be here for any questions you have, and to put on events that’ll help you adjust to and have the best first year of college ever! Vote for the president who will always put YOU first. Vote Sarah Simionas for First-year President! Please reach out to me on campus with any questions or ideas :) Colin Sam CMC 2023, My name is Colin Sam and I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am looking forward to showing you all I have planned for the Class of 2023 this year. At my high school in Cincinnati, I was the student body president, and I was voted captain of Varsity soccer, Varsity basketball, and Varsity track and field. I am excited at the opportunity to continue to expand my leadership skills. However, the aspect of myself that I am most proud of is my ability to bond with people through community service work. In eight months at my high school, I was able to raise $6,000 for the American Cancer Society to help fund cancer research, as well as work with CancerFree KIDS. It’s become very apparent to me that some of the deepest and most meaningful bonding comes from looking beyond your own community and connecting with those who aren’t fortunate enough to go to an amazing college in Southern California. Some of my best friendships and connections have come from conversations about the ways we can better support our community as a whole through service work. I was fortunate enough to receive a memorial service award at my school for my extensive work with inner city Cincinnatians through a tutoring program as well as my contribution to the cancer foundation. Beyond community service, I also have plenty of ideas to help bring our class together rather than just awkward mixers, including sporting events and study or movie nights that are all optional. I do however go very far beyond my small ideas and would love the chance to talk with any of you more about my complete plan for our year. Email me at csam23@cmc.edu or come to Marks 317. Thanks, Colin Sam Julia Schulman What’s up class of ‘23! I’m Julia Schulman, but everyone here calls me Jules. I’m from the Bay Area (I know, shocker.) A few things about me: I own a few pups, I can make a mean cookie and I’ll dance to pretty much anything. When I first got the email about class president, what stuck out to me was the bit about facilitating class bonding. The CMC class of ‘23 has been a huge part of my experience here. My WOAmies got me through my homesickness with popcorn and Netflix. One of the best ways we all got to know each other was through different events and parties. I loved hosting things in my room because I got to meet people and make new friends. As class president, I can’t wait to host more events and make sure we have an inclusive and fun community on campus. Here are a few of my ideas. Free birthday boba! Movie nights on the field. Horror movie Halloween anyone? Party Suggestion Forms! Do you want a certain theme, music or dress code for a Class of ‘23 party? Let me know. I want to make party planning as inclusive and easy to participate in as possible. Events based on mutual interest: FIFA 20 Tournament Night, Bachelor nights, Ping Pong Play-Offs, The Office Marathons, Trivia Night and more! As Freshman Class President I’ll help out with those 3 am study sessions, organize events to help mitigate the stress of our first year on a college campus and make sure the class of ‘23 feels at home at CMC. Maureen Tchatchoua As you are new to CMC, I am too and getting the hang of things is something we’ll have to do together. As first year class president I cannot promise the world and beyond. What I can ensure though is my promise to always be a beacon of voice and diversity within the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College for all first years looking for it. I will ensure that as well as upperclassmen getting their agendas passed, first years will have the same equal opportunity. Being that we have only started our college career a few weeks ago, we are still within our adjustment period and it is completely understandable if you do not know what you’d like to amend or enhance within CMC as a whole. However, when the time does come where we have some constructive criticism towards our student body, I am willing and able to act on your concerns. Again, although we have only been here a few weeks, I believe unity is the best policy and it is ideal that we come together as a class to participate in activities like trivia nights, sporting games, or even movies on the quad where we share a quiet night under the stars because sometimes we just need a break from the pre-professionalism agenda CMC encompasses. These events not only focus on bringing us together but having fun while doing so. As first year class president I cannot promise the world and beyond but what I can promise you is my vocal character. If anything is not satisfactory for our class, I will be the voice to continuously speak at the table in order to amend the issue. Action will follow my words when you speak of a better way of living within CMC as first years. It is in our hands to begin our Claremont McKenna College career the right way, with me by your side as your advocate. Want Mo, Vote Mo.