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Ignore the trends

By
Noel Hemphill
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I was browsing through BuzzFeed late one night, my mind becoming numb and quiet before I fell asleep. BuzzFeed, with its endless lists, quizzes and photo galleries, is excellent for procrastinating and general amusement, keeping readers updated on breaking news, trending topics and the cutest hedgehogs on the web. It was one such list about Coachella that inspired me to wake up and have a little style heart attack.

Since I have already discussed important outfit tips to keep in mind when going to music festivals, I will not wax on about what these people should have worn according to my style gospel. I will, however, say that these people should have consulted me before heading out, because the photos of these concert-goers that BuzzFeed posted were horrifying. Highlighting not only how absurd people look — and offensive, with the obtrusive appearance of Native American headdresses shockingly abundant — the article allowed me to see just how horrible some trends can truly be.

It has long been my belief that just because something is trendy does not mean it is stylish or flattering. More often than not, the trendy items out there are not flattering to most people, but rather only on the giraffe legged models who strut these looks down the runway or are photoshopped to look good in them in the magazines. This could not be truer than now — a time where crop tops, billowing pants and high waisted short-shorts are in style: these items are highly risky choices. Crop tops awkwardly cut up the body to create weird proportions. Billowing pants, especially in tribal prints, make most people look enormous and lumpy. High waisted short-shorts somehow manage to make everyone look like they have super-wedgies and usually involve half their butt cheek hanging out.

Why do we turn to these trends when we know they do us no favors? Because we are a consumer society and we mimic people we idolize, right down to their outfits. Our generation is not the first to make these sort of trend mistakes, however. Denim on denim was all the rage in the early 2000s, resulting in Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears wearing a denim tuxedo and gown combination that now burns our retinas. In the ’80s, strong shoulders were essential to every business suit and wedding dress, culminating in enough embarrassing wedding photos that your mother likely has given up hope that you will ever wear her dress when you get married. The heavy use of cheap fabrics like polyester and rayon in clothing from the ’50s to the ’70s subsequently led to starchy feeling outfits and a lot of smelly vintage clothing in resale boutiques. The addition of leisure suits, the go-to look favored by the mustached men of the ’70s and ’80s, made the already cheap fabrics look even worse. Fashion atrocities occur in every decade, each trend rising high before falling flat upon realization of just how bad these outfits really were.

When I was in sixth grade, I desperately wanted a pair of silken cargo pants. I had seen them in stores and on my friends and in my then publication of choice, Seventeen. I thought that a black silk pair would look perfect with one of my Abercrombie and Fitch tank tops. My genius mother said that she would never buy me these pants, and that if I really wanted them I would have to save up and buy them myself. I consider myself lucky now that there are no photos in existence of myself wearing this once dream outfit of mine. I shudder to think of how poorly my chunky prepubescent body would have pulled off this look. It was at this moment that I learned trends were overrated, and that I was better off sticking with things that flattered me, even if it was lame at the time. Now, I consistently search for classic items and find one or two trends every season to adopt. For this year, I like the skater skirt because it universally flatters the smallest part of a woman’s body— her waist — and can be translated into winter or summer apparel with the subtraction or addition of accessories and outerwear.

Just because these looks are out there, does not mean you have to adopt them. You can pick out certain trends every season that you like, but you absolutely do not have to make them all wardrobe staples. You won’t be a social pariah for dressing for yourself. Dressing to make yourself happy is part of growing up and creating your own personal style. Defining your personal style is defining yourself, whether it be classic, preppy, girly, glam, retro or boho. If it makes you happy, wear it and forget about following exactly what is “in” or “out.” No matter what fashion magazines tell you, what is most important is feeling confident and flattering your figure.

Noel Hemphill is a junior ECLS major. She can be reached at hemphill@oxy.edu or on Twitter @WklyNHemphill.

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Daylicious: Indian Starbucks brews success

By
Ben Poor
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As my semester here draws to a close, I’m starting to anticipate being in Seattle more and more. As temperatures here routinely cross 35 degrees Celsius (or 95 degrees Fahrenheit), I yearn for cloud-filled skies. While the Indian Premier cricket league kicks off and the Hyderabad team continues to disappoint, I long for my own horrible hometown sports team, the Mariners. And despite what many Seattle-ites proclaim about the (several) major brands that put our city on the map, I would really like to sit in a Starbucks.

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All these sentiments sent me into a branch of Café Coffee Day, an Indian coffee chain. I’ve been in different branches of this store all around India and I can tell they’ve clearly adopted the Starbucks business model. The store’s design elements are replicated all around the country: Maroons, browns, fake brick and thin stripes of metal are the main colors on the walls. The ceiling is exposed, showing the venting and light canisters. This appropriation of industrial style on no industrial spaces has always bothered me. I guess this style is supposed to make the business seem more honest — we’re open about what goes on in our ceiling, so we’re open about what goes on behind the counter as well! Or maybe, we’re not one of those lame, old businesses that worry about ceilings — just making great products that hip youths want. This faux-industrialism is a design adoption of the West; if not Starbucks then maybe more of a Central Perk.

Also drawing from the Starbucks model, the menu is expansive. CCD has everything: the expected coffee, both hot and cold, but also a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian chicken sandwiches, mint and lime nachos, decadent cakes, ice cream and more. Furthermore, it’s expensive. Whereas a hot tea on campus costs 10 rupees (16 cents), the same drink costs 73 rupees (about $1.15) at CCD. A 500 percent price increase is possible when you’re not only marketing your product, but marketing the West.

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Apparently, this model is paying off. According to one social network analysis, “Café Coffee Day” is synonymous with coffee in India (perhaps a better line would be “coffee is its middle name”).

Despite its popularity online, business is never too crazy on a Saturday afternoon. When I went it, nobody in the restaurant was over 30 years old. Several clusters of kids under 20 were in the restaurant, a group of three sipped drinks outside and a 16-year-old sat with her younger brother eating ice cream next to me. One 20-something typed away under a net of electronics and device, while another poured himself across a giant test prep book. Two couples entered, although one left quickly and they ordered their drinks and quickly plugged in their phones. As long as CCD can hold onto this youthful audience, they should be successful for years to come.

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.


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Backdoor Science S2 EP8

By
CamayakArchive
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https://soundcloud.com/the-occidental-weekly/backdoor-science-season-2-episode-8

Backdoor Science explores the scientific world and updates the Occidental community on all of its happenings. Each week we will bring you engaging stories behind scientific history and current events.

Backdoor Science is Chris Discolo, Nick Thomas, Elya Shamskhou and Griffin Mead.

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ASOC election: statements from the candidates

By
CamayakArchive
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Dear Editor,

While we may have different policies and goals for ASOC Senate next year, we all agree on one thing: the need for a Vice President of Diversity and Equity position within ASOC Senate. We believe that this position has great potential and will allow Senate to better serve your needs. We publicly pledge that we will create this new position within the first semester of the 2014-2015 academic year.

The following is a list of students endorsing this statement and what they’re running for:

Chris Weeks, President

Karen Romero, VP for Academic Affairs

Jemma Parsons, VP for Internal Affairs

Will Huang, VP for Finance

Keven Duran, Senior Class Senator

Bobby Rodriguez-Donoso, Senior Class Senator

Kerry Sakimoto, Senior Class Senator

Abhilasha Bhola, Junior Class Senator

Sophie von Bergen, Junior Class Senator

Tiffany Odeka, Junior Class Senator

Kara Alam, Sophomore Class Senator

Adrian Adams, Sophomore Class Senator

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The Occidental Weekly asked the ASOC Presidential candidates: “Why are you running for ASOC President?”


From Christopher Weeks – Sophomore, DWA

My name is Christopher Weeks, and I am a rising junior here at Occidental College. I am running for ASOC Senate President because my two years at the college have prepared me with the skills necessary to make change happen.

I understand the value of listening to my fellow students and through listening I have learned quite a bit of what needs to be changed. Issues such as mental health, sustainability and diversity deserve to be the focus of ASOC Senate in the coming year. ASOC Senate has enormous potential, and I want to make sure that faculty and administration recognize ASOC Senate as a voice of the students. My platform is available on my Facebook page, and I would encourage you all to check it out!

Last year, I delivered results to the student body and with your support I hope to continue next year. I worked to find out how students would like the Bengal Room to look. I am happy to report that an architect has been hired and will hopefully begin constructing a spiral staircase connecting to the Green Bean in the near future. Next year I want to continue working with students to create a new hub for student life in the Bengal Room.

Last year, I wanted to help students find ways to make their projects happen. In the past month many of you attended the Date Night Done Well event in Berkus Hall. Next year I want to continue supporting students and organizations that want to see their projects come to fruition, but may not have nor know where to get the resources.

Last year, I wanted to make ASOC Senate more impactful on campus. I worked closely with my fellow Senators to revise the constitution and streamline the funding process. This made it possible for Bike Share to become a student service. This made it possible for student organizations to receive funding in a much simpler way. Next year I want to continue working to revise the funding process to ensure organizations know why they are funding at a certain amount and helping them so they know how to get the most out of their funding proposals.

Next year, I will work with Emmons, and organizations such as Active Minds and the Student Wellness Advisory Committee, to figure out how best to promote wellness on campus. I also will do my best to improve the services offered at Emmons because, let’s be honest, they could be better. Next year I want to put pressure on the administration to allocate resources to the faculty for the purposes of the creation of an Africana studies minor. Next year I want to host more Open Forums for all of campus to share their ideas and experiences with administration to make sure our voices are heard.

My record shows I follow through with my commitments. I will do the same next year. Thank you for your support!

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From Mary Fulham – First-year, Undeclared

I’m Mary Fulham and I would like to be your President.

Back in September, I was the typical eager first-year, ready to get involved. I ran for First-Year Class Senator knowing that I wanted to contribute to the Oxy community. To find out what my classmates were looking for in a senator, I stood on Branca Patio for two days handing out cookies, shaking hands, engaging with my peers, listening to their ideas and brainstorming how we could work together to address their concerns.

That campaign was my first window into the interests of Oxy first-years, and once I took office, my view broadened to include students campus-wide. As I listened to students talk about a wide range of issues and ideas, I heard some common themes:

Sustainability: Oxy students are concerned about how much we use and how much we waste.

Programming: Oxy students want more chances to just have fun at campus concerts and dances.

Clarity: Oxy students want a more user-friendly version of The Root that flags events so no one misses out, and that cuts down on email clutter.

In my term as First-Year Senator, I have already begun to address these concerns, and I’ve developed some long-term goals.

Sustainability:

I recently joined the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Fund and have been working with the Campus Dining Committee since last fall. I am eager to continue our efforts to reduce single-use plastics on campus. As President, I will also push for a better waste disposal system at the Cooler and throughout campus.

Programming:

When many students approached me with concerns about the dance hiatus, I founded a Student Life Task Force and began a productive conversation with administrators and student leaders about how to offer more safe social opportunities on campus. Our work on the task force resulted in the ASOC DJ Showcase. I invited KOXY DJs to perform at the event, and many students came to enjoy the music. Oxy students proved at the DJ Showcase, and at SpringFest, that we are able to have fun responsibly. As President, I will work with Programming Board, students and the Administration to begin a new era for social life at Oxy.

Clarity:

At Oxy, we are fortunate to have speakers, active clubs and organizations and talented performers on campus all the time, but it is easy to miss out on opportunities when we are flooded with mass emails and hard-to-read root posts. Oxy needs an efficient and effective way of conveying information so every student can take advantage of the rich resources on campus. As President, I will work to establish a more student friendly notification and calendar system so that students can learn about the events that matter to them.

Ultimately, I believe that Senate can improve life on campus for all students by reaching beyond the Studenmund Meeting Room into every room on campus. Under my leadership, the ASOC Senate will be more visible, more receptive and more responsive.

I ask for your vote!

#ForwardWithFulham

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Occidental sprints both an art, science for track assistant Tyler Yamaguchi

By
Lauren Rewers
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There is a science and an art to coaching.

For track and field and cross country assistant coach Tyler Yamaguchi, the science is in designing performance-maximizing workouts that maintain a balance between intensity and rest.

“But then there’s the art,” Yamaguchi said. “Part of my job is getting people to believe in themselves, believe in their abilities, believe that the hard work they’ve put in in practice is going to pay off in the race. And this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to win the race — it means that they can dig deep and improve themselves.”

Yamaguchi can attribute his status as a well-respected sprints coach to his mastery of the coaching art since joining the Tigers in 2008.

He played basketball, baseball and soccer growing up, but switched to track and field while attending Punahou High School in Honolulu.

“I decided to try track for a change because I thought I was the fastest person in the world,” Yamaguchi said.

Although his athletic career ended when he later attended the University of Hawaii, his coaching career soon began when a former high school teacher asked him to assist with the middle school track and field program at his alma mater.

Yamaguchi worked his way up to coaching the high school students from 2004–07, including the 2007 state champion of the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4×400 meter relay.

A year later, Derek Turbin ‘06 — a previous assistant coach for the Occidental track and field program and a fellow alumnus of Punahou High School — recruited Yamaguchi to coach Tiger sprints.

Yamaguchi did not intend to make coaching his profession; he planned on applying to medical school when he graduated from college. Becoming a doctor is still a tentative goal of the distant future.

“I’m definitely having a lot more fun than I thought I would,” Yamaguchi said. “Coaching has been a much more rewarding occupation than I ever thought it could be. Every time I’ve taken on a new challenge, it’s been more and more rewarding as a person to me.”

According to Yamaguchi, his scientific background helped him as a coach in terms of understanding energy systems, anatomy and physiology.

“He really knows what he’s talking about,” sprinter Kevin Cox (senior) said. “It’s the most technically thoughtful I’ve ever been of my own actions, even while I’m practicing. He makes you really aware of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.”

Each runner has their individual workout designed by Yamaguchi, who bases them on scientific research to make sure that they sufficiently prepare athletes for competition.

For Jonathan Padron (senior), Yamaguchi’s coaching method enabled him to have self-confidence while racing in a SCIAC meet his sophomore year after returning from an injury.

“Basically knowing that he’s there and that he’s believing in me helps me believe in myself to go out and race,” Padron said.

Yamaguchi is also involved with recruiting sprinters to attend Occidental, a potentially difficult task in a Division-III athletics department that is prohibited from influencing admission decisions or offering scholarships.

And yet, the high-caliber student-athletes that are admitted are also the athletes that Yamaguchi prefers working with.

“I like the fact that Oxy is such a good academic institution,” Yamaguchi said. “I think it attracts people who become students of the sport. I like explaining things to the athletes and them totally understanding what I’m talking about. I believe it makes them work harder at what they’re doing.”

According to his athletes, Yamaguchi’s passion fuels his dedication to each individual student.

“He’s emotionally invested in us,” Cox said. “[Yamaguchi] doesn’t discriminate against people on the team about how good they are, so it’s easy for everybody to feel wanted on the team when he’s around because he knows that every person matters.”

Head coach Rob Bartlett, the colleague who has worked most closely with Yamaguchi since the beginning of his collegiate coaching career, spoke highly about his sprints coach.

“I think he’s quite easily become the best sprints coach that I know and an excellent coach in general,” Bartlett said. “I think Oxy’s really lucky to have him.”

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Women in the Locker Room

By
Juliet Suess
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Feminism in Sports: Part 1 of 2

In her on-campus talk “Women in the Locker Room,” New York Times (NYT) sports reporter Karen Crouse compared her job to an anthropologist researching a bunch of patriarchal tribes.

Reporting on sports, I have noticed much of the same. Despite taking part in athletics, I feel like an outsider to the world of sports. Men dominate sports, and women are often pushed aside, whether they are fans or athletes.

Oftentimes when interviewing a male athlete, he will explain to me the various parts of sport. One player even explained to me who the quarterback is (and someone explained to Crouse, even as a NYT sports journalist, the same thing).

When discussing sports with men, in my experience (thus that is not to say that every man does this), I am frequently confronted with these sorts of comments. To be a woman in a discussion on sports, I must be equipped with twice as much knowledge and information than my male counterpart.

Even when I am well-prepared and well-versed in sport matter and jargon, I am met with the comment, “Wow, you know a lot about sports for a woman.” I cannot just know a lot about sports; there has to be the belittling addition that I know only a lot of sports for a woman, implying that women still know less than men.

I also have to prove that I am a true sports fan. I get quizzed with questions like: “Name three Packers players” or “How many championships do the Blackhawks have?” But a man walks in wearing a jersey, and it is just generally assumed he is a true fan and knows about his team.

Sports are a patriarchal society. There are far fewer female players and fans than males, and men in sports who fail to live up to expectations are feminized. Thus, the equivalent of being bad at a sport is equal to being a female.

Women in sports, whether fans or athletes, do not live up to the standards of men. We will never know as much, play as well or cheer as loudly.

When I am yelling and cheering at a sporting event, I get “the glance.” Similarly to relationships, women’s passion in yelling equals craziness or psychosis. A man yelling the same thing is looked at as knowledgeable and perfectly normal.

Sports provide a microcosm for women’s status in American society. We are continuously tested on our knowledge, viewed as lesser than men and when we do things well, we do it well “for a woman.”

Juliet Suess is a senior ECLS major. She can be reached at suess@oxy.edu or on Twitter @WklyJSuess.

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Sports in Brief Issue 10

By
Tim O'Donnell
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Women’s Water Polo (6-18 overall, 4-4 SCIAC)

The Occidental women’s water polo team honored its seven graduating seniors prior to its final home game of the season against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) last Wednesday at Taylor Pool. Despite a lackluster season record, the Tigers headed into their match-up with the No. 1 Athenas on a wave of momentum, carrying a two-game winning streak into the competition. But Occidental struggled to generate offense throughout the first quarter, netting just one goal to CMS’ three. However, behind the senior leadership of the largest graduating class in the last decade, the Tigers regrouped and utilized their stout defense to create opportunities on the offensive end. Senior attacker Kelsey Shyba led the squad with three goals, while fellow seniors Lindsay Albino and Katya Soot added scores of their own. Defensively, Morgan McClafferty (senior) and Albino each registered three steals while senior goalies Sofie Munoz and Geneva Perez combined for five saves. But the Occidental surge was not enough to overcome the Athenas, and the Tigers dropped the contest 10-6. The team then rebounded with a dominant 16-2 victory over Caltech in its final game of the regular season Saturday. Fourteen different Tigers found the back of the net on a school-record 52 shots on goal. The Tigers travel to Whittier this weekend for the SCIAC Championships.

Softball (5-31 overall, 2-22 SCIAC)

The Occidental softball team traveled to Redlands Friday for its only doubleheader of the week. The Tigers had difficulty moving runners around the bases, as they left nine players stranded in the first game and eight in the second. Despite its struggles to push runners across the plate, the black and orange did supply plenty of opportunities, as Alex Battest (first-year) led the team with four hits on the day. Defensively, pitcher Ali Goldberg (sophomore) notched a solid Game 1 outing, allowing just three earned runs through six innings of work. But in the end, their lack of offensive firepower and five total errors proved the Tigers’ downfall, as they lost by scores of 7-2 and 7-0, respectively. The squad travels to Pomona-Pitzer Friday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. before wrapping its season at home against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Saturday at noon and 2 p.m.

Women’s Tennis (1-13 overall, 0-8 SCIAC)

The Occidental women’s tennis team attempted to snap its 10-game losing streak in its final contest of the regular season at La Verne Saturday. However, the Tigers were unable to find their stroke and were blanked in both singles and doubles competition en route to their sixth consecutive 9-0 loss. The black and orange now directs its focus to the SCIAC Championship Tournament on May 2–3. Opponents and match times are TBA.

Women’s Lacrosse secures SCIAC No. 3 playoff seed

The Occidental women’s lacrosse team (11-4 overall, 8-2 SCIAC) split its two road games last week, ending the regular season in a three-way tie for first place in the SCIAC. The Tigers traveled to Pomona-Pitzer last Wednesday for what would become a defensive thriller. After attacker Mary Richardson (sophomore) netted the first goal of the game for the black and orange, the Sagehens registered five unanswered goals and eventually took an 8-3 lead into the locker room. But in the second half, goalie Kirsten Hee (sophomore) and the Tiger defense were able to lock down the Sagehens, as Hee allowed just one goal in the final 30 minutes and collected eight saves in the contest. Offensively, midfielder Rebecca Belding (senior) led a late-game comeback effort for the black and orange with two goals in the final 28 minutes. However, the squad’s efforts came up short in a hard-fought 9-6 loss. The unit then bounced back with a 10-8 win at Whittier in Saturday’s season finale. Occidental again relied on a late-game push to secure their victory, outscoring the Poets 6-3 in the second half. Senior Tori Larson and Belding took point on the Tiger attack, combining for eight goals. Hee once again anchored the defense, tallying six saves. The Tigers host a SCIAC Championship Tournament first-round contest against Whittier tonight at 7 p.m. at Jack Kemp Stadium.

Kristin Oberiano (Women’s Golf)

The biggest constant for the Occidental women’s golf program this season has been the friendly rivalry between Katie Park (senior) and Kristin Oberiano (sophomore). The two have been at the top of the leaderboard all season long for the Tigers. Oberiano opened up the season with a 12-over 83 at the SCIAC preview, before beating out Park for the team lead at SCIAC #1 with rounds of 8-over 80 and a 6-over 78. When Park faltered slightly at the Cal Lutheran Invite, Oberiano stepped up her game to keep the team in third place with a 5-over 77 and a 10-over 82. Oberiano, a native of Guam, began playing golf at the age of five, when she joined the Guam Junior Golf League. Taking matters into her own hands, she started a golf team at her high school, the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, as a first-year before taking part in the Callaway Junior World Championships. She took a two-year hiatus from the sport during her sophomore and junior years but after transferring schools, she picked her clubs back up and won the All-Island Championships. She also participated in tournaments in the Philippines, Switzerland and Los Angeles before finding a home at Occidental. Oberiano will now look to team up with Park in an effort to push the Tigers over the hump at the SCIAC championships. The women tee off on Sunday at the Oak Valley Country Club.

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Baseball completes final series, prepares for SCIAC pool play

By
Tim O'Donnell
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After winning two straight series, the Occidental baseball team (16-19 overall, 12-12 SCIAC) suffered a setback over the weekend against Pomona-Pitzer (15-20 overall, 11-13 SCIAC). The Sagehens swept the Tigers in dominant fashion by scores of 12-0 (7 innings), 6-2 and 14-4.

But the Tigers remain in the hunt for the fourth-and final playoff spot along with Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands (13-21 overall, 12-12 SCIAC) and La Verne (15-19 overall, 11-12 SCIAC).

The series did not reflect how the Tigers had been playing of late. The squad was fresh off taking two-of-three from both Redlands and La Verne.

Previously, the black and orange dropped a pair of tight sets to national powerhouse and SCIAC No. 1 Cal Lutheran (27-8 overall, 18-6 SCIAC) and No. 3 Whittier (20-15 overall, 16-8 SCIAC).

The Tigers refuse to panic about the sweep, however, and believe that a return to solid, fundamental baseball is all that is required to bounce back.

“I feel like we really need to just focus on what we’ve been doing all year,” second baseman Charlie Caccamo (sophomore) said. “We can only control what we do, and if we win our games, we control our destiny.”

Although the Tigers have not performed at last season’s level, a year in which head coach Luke Wetmore guided the program to a school-best 26 wins, the unit still has an opportunity to reach the 20-win mark and has had numerous individuals deliver standout seasons.

“We’re in the right spot,” Wetmore said. “It’s been a tough season. It’s been a little bit more of a grind. It hasn’t been as ‘fun’ as some other years. But the guys have worked hard; they’ve committed to what were asking of them. We just haven’t had consistent play for the first 35 games.”

On the mound, Mitch Margolis (senior) has moved into the No. 2 spot in the rotation after switching between starting and relief roles in past seasons. He currently ranks second in the SCIAC with 64 strikeouts and has picked up six victories while posting a 3.28 ERA. Friday starter Joe Kling (junior) is right behind Margolis with a 3.32 ERA.

Offensively, the Tigers struggled early, but the bats have heated up as the season progresses. Junior first baseman Johnanthan Brooks has proved a model of consistency at the plate, tallying a .319 batting average with three home runs and 24 RBI to date. Despite battling a back injury all season, catcher Victor Munoz (junior) leads the team with a .337 average, while second baseman Riley Smith (senior) has complemented a .305 average with three home runs and nine stolen bases.

The program has also seen many promising performances from its younger players. Several first-years — most notably Walker Marks, Nolan Watson and Weekly staff member Devon DeRaad — have taken on everyday roles and have gained valuable experience for the future. Marks has shown versatility in the field, playing both shortstop and second base while also providing insurance as Munoz’s backup behind the dish. Watson has emerged as the team’s third starter and has a complete-game shutout to his credit, while DeRaad has shown flashes of power by blasting a home run and eight doubles.

The Pomona-Pitzer series served as the final three-game set of the regular season before pool play begins on Saturday. The scheduling for pool play is based off of the current standings, but the games will count toward final conference records and determine the final seeding for the second-annual four-team SCIAC Tournament.

Each SCIAC team is also guaranteed two home games in pool play. The Tigers will host last-place Caltech (1-29 overall, 0-23 SCIAC) and a Chapman team (25-10 overall, 18-6 SCIAC) that has won nine of its last 10 games to streak into a first-place tie with Cal Lutheran on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The black and orange will then travel to Whittier on Sunday before finishing off pool play on Tuesday at No. 8 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (13-22 overall, 9-15 SCIAC).

Cal Lutheran, Chapman and Whittier have all essentially locked up playoff spots, but Wetmore believes that the Tigers can compete with all three if they qualify for the conference tournament.

“In a one-game type situation where it’s just us against [Cal Lutheran and Whittier], I think we stack up really well,” Wetmore said. “[Chapman] will be for sure our toughest team to face. If we play them tough, you never know what’s going to happen there.”

The Tigers are determined to take care of business in pool play before focusing on the tournament. They will try to move past the Sagehen series and recapture their more recent success in order to secure the fourth playoff spot.

“We need to have an assertive hitting plan,” Munoz said. “Pitchers need to stay down in the zone, and the defense just has to make the plays that need to be made.”

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Kocjan anchors Tiger softball defense from behind plate

By
Noel Hemphill
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After playing every softball position except for shortstop and pitcher for Occidental, biology major Kristine Kocjan (junior) has found her niche squatting behind home plate.

“Playing catcher is fun,” Kocjan said. “You are in charge of calling pitches and can see the whole field.”

Kocjan’s years on the diamond have prepared her for the stressful nature of the catching position, which is essentially the captain of the battery. The Redwood, Calif., native began playing baseball at age five when her parents signed her up for T-ball. Growing up playing with the boys led Kocjan to care about the sport, giving her a competitive edge when she joined a nearby softball league.

From there, the game became Kocjan’s passion and year-round activity.

“Every spring, I played baseball,” Kocjan said. “Then when I was 12, I switched to playing softball. When the league [season] ended, I joined the traveling team, and I really liked it. I was lucky my parents supported me.”

Playing through Occidental’s 14-week, 40-game season for the third time illustrates Kocjan’s dedication to the sport. Tiger head coach Ali Haehnel touted Kocjan’s many strengths that she brings to the team over the course of a long season.

“She is vocal and passionate,” Haehnel said via email. “[Kocjan] genuinely loves the game and is a fierce competitor. She raises our intensity.”

Since joining the squad as the sole first-year in 2012, Kocjan has consistently started behind the dish for the black and orange. Teammate and fellow biology major Jerika Barron (senior) noted that Kocjan has performed strongly despite being the only player on the team representing the Class of 2015.

“Being the lone member of her class on the team, she’ll be flying solo all four years,” Barron said. “Kocjan seemed to embrace it and never let it hold her back.”

With four games remaining this season, Kocjan is tied for second on the team in batting average at .282, which she complements with an on-base percentage of .321. She also gets the job done on defense with a respectable .969 fielding percentage.

When not between the lines, Kocjan can be found working to advance her dream of attending medical school. She works as a Resident Advisor (RA) and is a member of Delta Omicron Tau sorority. While consistently busy with biology labs and responsibilities with her residents, Kocjan continues to return to softball each day with high aspirations for the future.

“I come back with the hope that next year will be even better; that we will be contenders for playoffs and that next year I will be playing even better than the year before,” Kocjan said.

Outfielder and captain Jackie Shimamoto (senior) extended praise for Kocjan’s efforts to make the team better with every practice.

“[Kocjan] is a team player that does everything she can to contribute to the success of our team,” Shimamoto said. “She is a very hardworking player, willing to put in extra time even outside of practice so she is prepared to give her best for her team.”

Haehnel agreed with Shimamoto, crediting Kocjan’s role on the team as one of its keys to success.

“She is tough behind the plate, frames well, blocks well and commands the field,” Haehnel said via email. “Her personality is peppy and energetic, and she is always quick with a joke, which always lightens the mood for our team.”

Barron noted that the future for the team looks bright with Kocjan at the helm.

“Next year, I know [Kocjan] will step up as a leader, and I look forward to seeing what the team can do as a whole,” Barron said.

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FYRE program restructured

By
Charlotte Flight
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Members of Residential Education and Housing Services (REHS) and a student-led committee are looking to improve student satisfaction with the First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program. Following consultation with first-years and Residential Advisors (RAs), REHS will open up the position of FYRE program facilitator to the general student population, according to Director of REHS Chad Myers.

The FYRE program takes place during the first weeks of the fall semester in order to help new students acclimate to life at Occidental. Currently facilitated by RAs, the program promotes engagement in both the academic and social aspects of the Occidental community.

A committee led by RAs and first-years has evaluated the effectiveness of FYRE and outlined areas for improvement. According to Myers, the primary aim of the committee is to try to find a way for students to enjoy FYRE.

The committee concluded that one way to improve the FYRE program would be to allow students who are not RAs to facilitate the sessions. According to Diplomacy and World Affairs (DWA) and Art History and Visual Arts (AVHA) double major Aneesah Estress (sophomore), who is an RA and a committee member, a major problem in the program was an inconsistency in group sizes, with some groups containing over 20 first-years. By introducing new facilitators, groups could be downsized, allowing for closer relationships between students and facilitators. In smaller groups the facilitators could mentor first-years, becoming something similar to the position of the orientation team leader during orientation.

“Some groups would only have nine people and other groups would have 25,” Estress said. “The idea to bring in other mentors was to lighten the burden on RAs and that groups were smaller so that people could learn more.”

Other issues the committee addressed involved an inconsistency in teaching methods used by RAs during the program. According to committee member and undeclared major Camille Cribbs (first-year), each first-year had a different FYRE experience.

“Some of the RAs weren’t as enthusiastic about FYRE as others,” Cribbs said. “As a result, everyone had a different FYRE experience.”

According to Estress, RAs were not informed of their responsibility as FYRE facilitators until fall training in August. Estress stressed that all RAs tried their best, but at times were intimidated by the small age gap between the RAs and students.

“It’s easy to forget we’re students too,” Estress said. “Some of my group were only a few months younger than me, but you’ve just got to throw yourself in there.”

Advertisements for the new voluntary facilitator positions were released last week via email, but students have shown limited interest thus far. According to Myers, almost every applicant is a student already on the committee. As Cribbs explains, current first-years’ bad experiences with FYRE are holding them back from volunteering. Cribbs attributes the lack of interest with the negative experiences of some first-years with the program.

“They don’t want to be part of something that they found negative,” Cribbs said. “It’s a shame because it’s cool to be able to talk to [incoming] first-years.“

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