The first few weeks at Occidental are jam-packed with activities. Consult this guide for the ten optional Orientation events that every new student should opt-in to.
10) Green/Eco Tour: Take a walking tour through campus to learn about how Occidental is going green. The tour takes students to places not normally seen on an average campus tour, including a glimpse of the solar panel array. These tours are available Saturday and Tuesday of O-Week.
9) Recreational Sports Open Gym: Spend a few hours at Rush gym enjoying a pick-up game with friends, accompanied by free In-N-Out. 7-9 p.m., Sept. 1.
8) First Generation Reception, Community Within a Community Mixer and LGBTQ mixer: Meet and mingle with students, staff and professors to learn about all of the resources Occidental has to offer. Check the Orientation schedule for times.
7) The Emperor’s New Clothes Encounters of the Third Kind: Laugh along with the current Occidental students and alumni performers of the Occidental Children’s Theater as they fly and tumble over and under each other to tell four wonderful stories. 6 p.m., Aug. 27, Johnson Student Center (JSC) Quad.
6) Oxy Glee Club Welcome Concert: Come to Herrick Chapel to listen to the beautiful music of the Glee Club, Accidentals and Cadence (the two a cappella groups on campus). This should definitely be a stop for anyone who is interested in auditioning for these groups. 7 p.m., Wednesday Aug. 27.
5) Fantastiprov: Come enjoy Fantastiprov’s first show of the year. Meet at the Samuelson Pavilion to watch (and possibly participate in) Occidental’s student improv group. 9 p.m., Saturday Aug. 30.
4) Late Night in the Quad: New to O-week, this night should be a blast. Enjoy a Cool Haus ice cream sandwich while playing games on the JSC quad. 10 p.m., Tuesday Aug. 26.
3) Walking Tour of Eagle Rock: Take a tour around the neighborhood of your new home! Stops include various Occidental favorites on Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards.1 and 2 p.m., Tuesday Aug. 26.
2) OxyPalooza: This event is Orientation coordinator and economics major Chloe Johnson’s (senior) highlight! Join O-team, KOXY and Raw Records in Sycamore Glenn for free food, live music, henna tattoos and a photo booth. 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24.
1) Square Dance With the L.A. Wranglers: Strap on some cowboy boots, throw on a flannel and get ready for one of the most beloved traditions at Occidental. A free dance performance to join in on and free ice cream to cool down — what’s not to love? 8:30 p.m., Friday Aug 22.
Even though Occidental is a small college, navigating thefirst few weeks here can be intimidating. With over 100 clubs and organizations on campus, there is something to choose for everyone. Joining one or more on-campus groups is a great way to keep high-school interests alive, or to try something new.
“Getting involved on campus is one of the most rewarding things someone can do while in college.” ASOC Senate President and Diplomacy and World Affairs (DWA) major Chis Weeks (junior) said via email.
The yearly club fair is a great place to meet with campus leaders and learn about all of the organizations in detail, but some try-outs and elections take place before the fair occurs on Sept. 11. Use this preview to get a sneak-peak at just a few of the activities that Occidental has to offer.
Love to Dance? Try Dance Pro
There are a number of ways to get into the groove at Occidental, and Dance Production (Dance Pro) is one that more than 250 students participate in yearly. Students ranging from novice to highly experienced come together to perform peer-choreographed dances for frequently sold-out crowds.
“I love the fact that Dance Pro allows me to get to know people I otherwise may not have gotten the chance to know outside of the classroom,” economics major and Dance Production Co-President Deon Summerville (junior) said. “The support that everyone gives each other within Dance Pro is unlike anything I’ve seen before – especially once we’re able to see the culmination of everyone’s hard work come to life on stage.”
There are multiple other ways to dance on campus. The Occidental Dance Team performs at football and basketball games as well as dance competitions and campus events. Auditions are on Aug. 27. Hyper Xpressions, a dance group that performs at sports games, events and an annual showcase in the spring, is holding auditions on Aug. 26. For those who want to learn more about dance, but are not quite ready to put themselves on stage, PULSE, a weekly hip-hop club, and Zumba Club are open to students of all levels of experience.
Dreaming of life in the Oval Office? Run for a position in ASOC
ASOC Student Senate and Honor Board are two ways students can help make an impact on important campus-wide decisions. The senate supports clubs and organizations and acts as the collective voice of the students of Occidental. Honor Board is a collection of elected jurors who hear cases of Code of Conduct and Honor Principle violations.
“I personally chose to get involved with ASOC Senate because of the potential it offered to make positive change on campus,” Weeks said. “I saw Senate as a means to learn more about the college and to find solutions to issues that students have with Occidental.”
Look out for announcements on ASOC Senate’s Facebook page to fill out petitions for candidacy in the coming weeks.
Still interested in assisting in campus-wide events in a capacity other than student government? Try applying for a position on Programming Board, the group of students who put together SpringFest, Fall Concert and other Occidental traditions.
Interested in social gatherings and philanthropy? Rush a Greek organization
Almost a quarter of the Occidental community have become members of eight (soon to be nine) chapters, ranging from national to local, single-sex or co-ed groups.
“Occidental Greek life emphasizes academic excellence, leadership development, equity, respect for diversity and philanthropy,” Greek Counsel President and biochemistry major Christian Wolfgram (senior) said. “Personally, I felt compelled to rush because I was hungry for ways to get involved in both the Oxy community and the LA community at large. The career development connections, life-long friends and lasting memories I’ve gained prove it was one of the best decisions I’ve made here at Occidental.”
While transfer students are permitted to rush during their first semester, first-year students must wait until spring rush. First-years, however, are permitted to attend pre-rush events in the fall.
Academic organizations are also available, including Phi Beta Lambda Business Chapter, and Alpha Chi Sigma chemistry fraternity.
Hoping to ward off the freshman 15?Take up a sport
Occidental has highly competitive varsity and club sports teams that compete with other colleges in the SCIAC and beyond. Many teams make it to conference playoffs, while some make it to NCAA playoffs or win national championships like the men’s rugby 7s team in 2013.
Taking on a varsity sport can seem daunting at first, but the Division III atmosphere helps make it manageable for students.
“I decided to play varsity soccer because I wanted a high level of competition while still being able to balance my academics,” biochemistry major Taryn Ng (senior) said. “Plus it gave me an immediate network of teammates and friends in a school where I knew absolutely no one.”.
Most varsity teams on campus are open to walk-on players. Email one of the coaches to ask about trying out for the team.
If varsity athletics seems like too much of a time commitment, try joining men’s club lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, rugby, cheerleading or dance.
“Coming to Oxy, I knew it was a club sport which was perfect for me knowing how rigorous the academics were going to be,” men’s lacrosse player and English and Comparative Literary Studies (ECLS) major Jake Kahane (senior) said via email,” Club meant that wasn’t that much of a commitment, I got exercise regularly, and I would probably have the chance to play instead of riding the bench.”
He also highlighted team road trips as one of his fondest Occidental memories.
Other opportunities to stay active are intramural sports, yoga club, OH! (Occidental’s hiking club) and a variety of Physical Activity (PHAC) classes which can be found in the course catalog.
Are the performing arts more appealing? Audition for a play or the Glee club
The Occidental course catalog lists a wide variety of classes in the arts and student-run clubs offer even more artistic opportunities. Students with an interest in the stage can audition for many plays throughout the year, including the New Play Festival, which allows student playwrights to bring their original work to the stage. For on-screen experience, Catalyst, the student-run television network, teaches students to produce weekly shows.
There are also plenty of singing groups on campus to get involved in. The Glee Club performs multiple concerts on campus–and around the globe–throughout the year.
“I was hesitant to join to begin with simply because it seemed like a hefty time commitment (turns out it’s totally manageable), but it ended up being the best decision I have made thus far at Oxy. The best way to get involved is simply to audition,” undeclared major and Accidentals director Sophie Gabel-Scheinbaum (sophomore) said via email. Auditions are Aug 28.
College Chorus is open to students as well as members of the Eagle Rock community, and accepts people of all skill levels. Members of College Chorus and Glee also have the opportunity to audition for the Accidentals and Cadence, the all-female and all-male a capella groups, respectively.
“Regardless of whether you are in Glee Club or College Chorus, having a community with people who love to do what you love to do is incredibly rewarding and fun,” Gabel-Scheinbaum said.
Open mic nights, such as Apollo Night, and RAW Records‘s recording studioare a few ways to get your music noticed. There are also many opportunities for DJs and bands to show their skills at concerts in Sycamore Glenn or play tunes on Occidental’s radio station, KOXY.
For those interested in playing instruments, consider auditioning for the Occidental College-Caltech Symphony, the Caltech-Occidental College Concert Band, one of the Chamber Music Ensembles or the Jazz Ensemble.
Do you have a passion for coffee and sustainability?Apply to work at the Green Bean
Whether for trivia nights, open mics or Porto’s pastries, it is hard to not make a stop at the green bean. The student managers of the Green Bean work to make it a sustainable and environmentally-conscious business.
“I love interacting with my fellow students from behind the bar and learning more about coffee. I am proud to be part of a business that is student-run and conscious about product purchasing from local sustainable sources,” Green Bean Health Safety and Sustainability Manager and kinesiology major Taylor Durham (senior) said. “I would definitely recommend working here if you love meeting new people and work well under pressure.”
Other ways to get involved in keeping the campus “green” are joining the Sustainability Fund, FEAST Garden or Bee Keeping Club. Many other groups offer student jobs on campus, such as Telefund, the Tiger Cooler and the library.
Want to get involved in the Los Angeles community?Apply to volunteer with Peer Health Exchange
Peer Health Exchange (PHE) is a group of trained volunteers across the country who teach ninth grade health classes to schools in areas without funding for a health curriculum.
“We joined PHE because it allows us to directly engage with the surrounding LA community while offering critical information to local teens. It’s also a great way to meet 90 of Oxy’s finest!,” PHE Co-Coordinators Anthony Quach (biochemistry) and Brian Erickson (economics) said via email.
Other ways to volunteer are the Community Literacy Center programs and the MLK day of service. Or, get involved in LA classrooms by applying to the Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP). NPP works to promote post-secondary education amongst and provide assistance in classrooms close to campus.
Graphic design in your future? Apply to work at Oxy Design Service (formally known as The Occidental Agency)
The Oxy Design Service (ODS) supplies ASOC-recognized student organizations with event posters, digital announcements, logos and other designable items. Students of all skill levels are encouraged to learn with ODS.
“Before applying to be a graphic designer for ODS, I didn’t have any experience in any of the graphic design programs such as InDesign or Photoshop,” ODS designer and Urban and Environmental Policy major Rachel Young (junior) said,” Luckily, ODS holds an internship program in the fall that teaches anyone who’s interested how to use those programs.”
ODS even offers opportunities for those interested in other areas connected with graphic design.
“My personal interest in marketing, advertising and digital design is what drove me towards TOA (now ODS) at the end of my first year,” said ODS manager and history and english double major Caroline Neumann (junior). “I get the privilege of working with a group of about eight incredibly talented designers. I love being a busy bee and working with TOA/ODS has been one of the better parts of my time at Oxy. Plus it’s kind of fun to know what events will be happening before they’re advertised to the rest of the school!”
While these are just a few of the many opportunities offered to students, more will be advertised at the annual club fair on Sept. 11 in the Academic Quad.
There you are, standing in front of your first-year residence hall, starchy new twin-XL comforter in hand. Your parents have all the brochures and coupons given to you by the enthusiastic Orientation Team (O-Team) leaders with the foam paws. You’ve taken the online tutorials, read all the Princeton Reviews on Oxy, and even maybe talked with some current students. You should be ready, right?
You’re not right, but you’re not wrong either. Adjusting to a new college environment isn’t as easy as anyone tells you, but it’s also not the nightmare that some movies make it out to seem. O-Team leaders are great, and RAs are wonderful in terms of providing you with first-hand knowledge about how to survive your first year at Oxy. They tell you the ins and outs of Oxy, about how to get around and not get totally lost, both physically and emotionally.
But what no one is going to tell you are the little life hacks specific to Oxy that can relieve a tiny bit of day-to-day stress, or get you to class 30 seconds earlier so you don’t show up out of breath from dashing to class. Here are a few hacks, courtesy of some upper-division students(mostly rising seniors) that they have learned over their (almost) four years here.
“The Market Place is great, but it can get a little repetitive, so don’t be afraid to mix and match from several stations to make your perfect meal,” Diplomacy and World Affairs (DWA) major Adrian Almaguer (senior) said. “One of my favorites is grabbing an English muffin from the bakery, tossing it in the toaster, ordering a fried egg and bacon from the grill, grabbing some cheese from the sandwich bar, and combining that all together to make a breakfast sandwich.”
Politics major Griffin Taylor (senior) adds that timing is essential if you want to avoid Marketplace lines. “If you can avoid it, you’ll save a lot of time by eating lunch slightly before classes get out at 11:30 or slightly after classes start at 12:30.”
On the topic of food, cognitive science major Annemarie Schnedler (junior) is an expert. “You can bring any vegetable from the salad bar to the omelette, pasta or stir fry line and [the cooks] will mix it into your order!” Schnedler says. And DWA major Calli Obern and philosophy major Laura Koeller (juniors) add to the discussion: “You can mix any type of sauce at the pasta bar too. Pesto + alfredo = yum!”
Occidental students are blessed with local, delicious and affordable restaurants right in our backyard. Thai Eagle Rox, is so familiar with Occidental students calling in for delivery that they know the dorm buildings by name. And Dominos Pizza will actually bring your order into the library and leave it at the circulation desk so you don’t have to venture far from your homework.
Taylor also emphasized some important aspects of Occidental life other than food. “Come out of the gate swinging in terms of schoolwork,” he said. “While it’s easy to get caught up meeting people during your fall semester, you can do that and do well in school at the same time. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not digging yourself out of a hole on your GPA.”
And I speak for someof the senior class, I think, when I say we all wish we had done a little better our first semester freshman year.
These are just some of the many “hacks” that the upperclassmen have acquired over the semesters. For a more complete list, see below:
“The gym is busiest from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., but after 8 it is nearly empty.” — Politics and Spanish studies major Ben Warner (senior)
“Stearns common room has the fastest internet on campus during finals and in general.” — DWA major Alex Keat (senior)
“Attend on-campus events and programs and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people. You may just find your next mentor or discover a new passion.” — Theater major Hailey Moran (senior)
“Buy a large tea at the Green Bean because it’s the same price as a small but the baristas won’t always remind you of that.” — Biochemistry and Spanish studies major Abby Bailey (senior)
“One piece of advice I would give to all students is to understand the power of taking time for themselves. I feel like especially since Oxy is such a small school and everyone can be up in everyone’s business, it is incredibly important for one to take time to oneself to meditate, or exercise, or go on a walk, etc. Do something every day that is just for you–an activity that makes you feel alive, calm, grounded, etc.” — Politics major Rachel Buckner (senior)
“If you can get your hands on an ethernet cable during class registration, the better connection will help you blow by all those suckers on the wifi when MyOxy starts to meltdown.” — Almaguer
“Go to anything and everything that interests you even if you can’t find friends to go with. If you go, you will find people that are interested in the same things you are! The more friends, the better!” — Sociology major Emily Watkins (senior)
What it is: Occidental’s hub for all things health-related, offering services for both physical and psychological health. Want a routine physical examination, a flu shot, access to vaccination records, or a session with a counselor? They have it covered.
When to go: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Keep an eye out for emails announcing changes to the regular schedule as well.
Where to go during off hours: Students with Occidental United Healthcare can find a list of off-campus providers recommended by Emmons on their website, but students with non-Occidental insurance should ask their insurance companies for a list of covered providers. If they do not have transportation, students can use a Zipcar or ask Emmons Wellness Center, Campus Safety, or Residential Education & Housing Services for a free taxi voucher.
Speaking of insurance … Students have the option to waive Occidental’s United Healthcare plan (and the $1,726 annual fee) if they are already covered by a comparable plan. A comparable plan is one that meets orexceeds the level of cost-sharing and has health care providers in the Eagle Rock or Los Angeles area. The last day to waive insurance is September 1.
Cost-sharing? One way of comparing insurance plans is through their deductibles, or the amount that customers have to pay before insurance steps in to cover the cost.Occidental United Healthcare has different deductibles depending on who the student sees for health services. For in-network services this amount is $100; for out-of-network, it is $300.
Another method of comparing plans is a co-payment, or a sum customers have to pay every time they use a health service. For example, Occidental United Healthcare requires a copay of either $15, $30 or $50 for a 30-day supply of a drug, depending on the drug.
How should I decide? Any U.S. citizens under 26 can be covered by their parent’s insurance, which can be a cheaper alternative. However, Occidental United Healthcare is mandatory for international students. Other groups such asathletes and those going abroad should take extra care in making sure other insurance plans adequately cover sports injuries or international heath care.
Cha-Ching: Many services are provided to students at no cost. Wellness and preventative visits require a co-pay of $10, and illness and injury visits are discounted at $50. Everything else is billed to insurance, although students with restrictive Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans may not be eligible.
Need to talk to someone? Emmons employs a staff of clinical psychologists to help students with either short-term crisis counseling or longer-term therapy. Up to 10 free sessions are provided to each student every day. In addition, there is a 24-hour confidential hotline (323-341-4141) available for immediate support and resource information.
Source: Emmons Student Wellness Center and Gallagher Student Health.
I remember my Facebook feed the first week of my first year at Occidental as if it were yesterday, not the nearly two years ago that have actually passed. Of course, it was flooded with pictures – but not the type that I had expected, which were graduation photos and last-minute pictures with parents. They were of new students together, looking as if they had known each other for years.
While this may seem like a normal event, I was flabbergasted at the time. During orientation I met many people, some of whom later became my closest friends. At that point, though, we were barely more than acquaintances. I wondered how my classmates had become such fast friends, and why I had not – not only because of the pictures, but because of a pervasive expectation that barely a few days into school, everyone should have already found their niche. I felt like the new students were playing a game of musical chairs and I was still standing when the music stopped.
For much of my first semester, I felt more isolated than I ever had before. I could not help but think that it was my fault. Was I unfriendly? Not interesting enough? Had I made the wrong choice in coming to Occidental?
I was not the only student who felt that way.
“For the first few weeks of college, I was meeting people constantly, which made it all the more bizarre that I should feel so lonely,” Diplomacy and World Affairs (DWA) major Brian Erickson (junior) said. “The constant small talk and forced socialization wasn’t exactly my idea of friendship.”
My story, along with most other students’, has a happy ending. In my second semester of college everything suddenly clicked into place. Already close with my roommate and a fellow O-Team member, I met the group of people who are my best friends today. Dance Production became one of my favorite college experiences. I got to know my professors. By June, I missed everyone so much I was willing to brave my first organic chemistry class just to see my friends again.
My advice to all new students is to at least stick out the first year. If all students acted upon their initial impulse to transfer, there would be very few upperclassmen on campus. I would have missed out on four years at the school that has become my favorite place in the entire world.
New students and returners alike should continue to actively seek friendships long after convocation. If a new student still feels lonely, as the vast majority do, they should go out of their way to get to know their classmates. And if they already have a group of friends, they can be open to new ones. It is important that we establish an open dialogue about loneliness and homesickness so that new students do not have to suffer alone or pretend that they feel fine.
I strongly encourage new students to utilize Emmons Wellness Center’s mental health services. It is easy to dismiss temporary unhappiness as an expected part of the college transition, but it could easily become something more serious. Even if that is not the case, there is no shame in getting help with a difficult time period.
As seriously as I mean this warning, my intention is not to make Occidental’s new students frightened of the exhilarating, poignant, and intense first few months of college.The dark periods that arise for many are also opportunities for growth – not that I recognized that at the time. As much as a college education teaches students about economics, English, biology, it also instills them with independence, resilience, and a heightened ability to empathize with other people. And that is something to look forward to.
A hearing date has been scheduled for the on-going John Doe vs. Occidental College civil suit, in which an anonymous 18-year-old male student — who has withheld his real name in order to protect his privacy — is suing the college after being expelled for sexual assault in 2013.
Judge Luis A. Lavin has set the hearing for January 22, 2015, establishing the time-table for a case that was filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court on Feburary 13, 2014.
The court has also ordered both parties to meet at a settlement conference in the hopes that they can reach a mutual resolution before the case reaches the trial hearing. The settlement conference will be set for a date in the near future.
Doe was found responsible for sexual assault by Occidental in the spring of 2013 and subsequently expelled after the school ruled that a then 17-year-old female classmate was too drunk to consent to sex.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office found that both parties were intoxicated, but willing participates in the sexual encounter. It declined to press rape charges against Doe, citing insufficient evidence.
However, an outside attorney hired by the college to examine the investigative report, Marilou F. Mirkovich, concluded in favor of the school. Mirkovich found that although Doe was himself too drunk to realize that the female student was incapable of giving consent, the school’s policy states that alcohol consumption cannot excuse sexual misconduct. Occidental administrators upheld Mirkovich’s conclusion and denied Doe’s appeal to overturn the school’s charges.
Doe’s lawsuit against Occidental claims that the school denied his right to an attorney, ignored pieces of evidence, did not allow him to ask all of his questions to witnesses and refused his request for a three-person hearing panel.
The case recently resurfaced in the media in mid-July after Tyler Kingkade of the Huffington Post wrote an article claiming that the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) published a confidential investigator’s report on it’s website that released the names of witnesses to the case, subjecting at least one female witness to email harassment.
FIRE, which has been supporting Doe in this case, released a press release on June 4 to highlight what it believes is evidence of Occidental’s wrongdoing. This included posting the court documents for the case — which included the names of witnesses — on the FIRE website.
While the Huffington Post article originally contended that these documents were confidential, as court filings, they have in fact been available as public record since February.
Attorney Mark Hathaway, who is representing John Doe, said that he could not comment on pending litigation.
My parents are disappointing. This seems like a horrible thing to say, as I sit in an amazing resort with them on a beautiful spice plantation in the verdant Indian state of Kerala, but they are. I had all these plans for this last post to be them reflecting on the American things I experienced while in India, but they keep crushing that dream by placing this experience in the context of their other world travels.
My disappointing parents, taking me on a tour of a beautiful nature preserve in Kerala.
Source: Ben Poor
When I asked my dad about the advertisements around Hyderabad, he replied, “In many places, like China, Argentina, Mexico City, advertisements tend to feature Caucasian looking models. It’s all over the world.”
When I pushed my mom to say something about a Sprite sign at a restaurant our houseboat motored past in the back waters of Kerala, she mumbled, “I guess Sprite is universal,” before returning to her own journaling.
They didn’t have anything to say about coffee shops or T-shirts. My mom wouldn’t even consider stepping into a McDonald’s. Say something about India, parents! It’s almost like globalization is a global concept or something!
Finally, with enough direction, my parents gave me some good thoughts on organic farming. While they wouldn’t say it was a polluted concept, they did find it elitist in its current incarnation.
“It seems the right direction for world sustainability, particularly in a country that is soon to have has the world’s largest population,” my dad said.
Thinking about our walled resort and the restaurant where all food served being acquired within 50 miles, though, he said, “I certainly don’t like the economic elitism that’s implied in it. It shouldn’t be only for the wealthiest; it should be teaching people outside the walls.”
In closing, I looked back at my very first blog post. I set out to learn about America, India and globalization — and in doing so, I think I only got more confused about all of them. But I suppose that’s what study abroad is supposed to do — give you more context, more questions, more ways of wondering about the world. Globalization has obviously facilitated the spread of ideas from the West to the East — be through coffee shops, Angry Birds or organic farming — but it’s interesting to see how the spread has gone the other way as well. Organic farming used to be a way of life for the majority the entire world, from Indians to Native Americans. Is organic farming really any idea that’s transported from America, through YouTube videos and fancy fertilizers; or is it a recapturing of an way of life that other ideas about modernization replaced? How can that be understood?
After getting tired of being asked about India exclusively, my dad said, “I can only think about this in a world context.”
I want to thank them for giving me this opportunity to broaden my world context, and hope my blog posts have to some extent given other people the same opportunity. If you have the means, I highly encourage you to get to India — the McAloo Tikka Sandwich is truly delicious.
Ben Poor is a junior American Studies major studying abroad in Hyderabad, India during the Spring 2014 Semester. He can be reached at benpoor1@gmail.com or on Twitter @WklyBPoor.
Every year on college campuses across the nation, it is the same pomp and circumstance. The eldest on campus don graduation gowns with honor students layering on award sashes. Mortarboards, otherwise known as “those silly caps,” cover each graduate’s overstuffed cranium. When the ceremony ends, the tassel on each cap will move from right to left before the whole hat gets tossed in the air.
At Occidental, we employ traditional black gowns and black caps, using our Tiger stripe orange as an accent. Our graduation ceremony is held outside in the glorious sunshine of Southern California, as the scent of the carefully maintained roses and gardenias on campus perfumes the air. More often than not, students will perch a pair of sunglasses on their noses, making Timbuk3’s 1986 one-hit wonder, “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades,” ring true. Congratulations, Class of 2014: All of your hard work has earned you this moment.
However, as the ceremony comes closer, there is one last lesson to learn for this year: graduation style.
Guys, graduation is the day to look like gentlemen. Your parents have paid plenty of money to get you here, so show them some respect and dress up for the occasion. Even though the gown will be covering most of your body, this does not mean you can wear a stained shirt and jeans. Even though it is hot outside, and even warmer in the black tent that so lovingly called a gown, you cannot wear shorts and a bro-tank. Linen dress pants, khakis or chinos are all suitable choices. Have fun and wear colorful pants that pop from under the gown. On top, wear a crisp button-down with a tie or a bow tie — extra points if you let your parents tie it for you so they still feel useful. Show school pride by wearing an Occidental tie from the bookstore and call that purchase from the school your first alumni gift. If you are feeling really fancy, pop on some cufflinks.
On your feet, keep things covered. Flip-flops that have been beat up from walking around campus are not appropriate, so wear some nice dress shoes like Oxfords or loafers. If you are a fan of boat shoes, fear not: Sperrys are always welcome in the summer months. However, remember that your feet will probably sweat in the leather, so wear socks or put some powder in your shoes before slipping them on.
For the ladies, it is considered traditional to wear white for graduation. However, I don’t understand why this is the tradition and have never gotten an answer, so unless you feel like it, wear whatever you like. It looks heavy and uncomfortable to wear a long skirt under that long graduation gown, so I suggest a cocktail length dress — especially since this is California and you can show off your tanned legs from under that boring black fabric. Once you can zip down that gown to take pictures with your family, choose a pastel-hued or colorful dress that will brighten the photos.
More important than the dress is the shoes. For women, the best fashion statement you can make during graduation is to have a great pair of shoes on. Find a pair that is glittery and will sparkle in the sun if you are a glamorous type. Slip into a pair of neon heels if you are a feeling brave. Choose a spiky, studded or otherwise embellished pair if you are feeling bold. Remember that an outside ceremony means that you will likely have to walk on grass at some point, and those stiletto heels you love will sink into the ground. If you love heels (and let’s face it, who doesn’t), then pick a wedge heel so you can stand tall and confident.
Some pro tips: Bring oil blotting sheets or tissue to dab out sweat on your foreheads before pictures. Use waterproof eye makeup if you are prone to crying during big life moments. Bring bobby pins to keep your graduation cap in place.
Most importantly, If you have a new pair of shoes you are planning to wear, make sure you can walk comfortably and stably in them. Practice in your heels and make sure your loafers don’t slide on the floor, because nobody wants to trip or slip walking to grab their diploma. If you find they do slide, use a key, credit card or even your Occidental ID card to score the soles of your shoes so they have a bit more traction.
Now, smile pretty, put your celebratory cigar in a pocket and get ready to shake lots of hands. Best of luck out there, seniors.
Noel Hemphill is a junior ECLS major. She can be reached at hemphill@oxy.edu or on Twitter @WklyNHemphill.
