The Stress of De-stressing: Events at Pomona

Finals week: when picking a de-stressing event is the most stressful aspect of trying to de-stress. The hardest part about finals isn't really those impending exams and assignments - it's all the beautiful creative performances and events that I'm missing out on when I stay in to finish a Computer Science test program (essentially a take-home midterm to program SpaceInvaders...
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Ode to Taco Tuesday

There are many perks to sticking around campus after graduation. Abandoned furniture post-move out, continued printing access, and the air conditioned Smith Campus Center Living Room rank high on the list, but none can compare to my return to Taco Tuesday at Frank. The esteemed Taco Tuesday was not always on my radar as a student. Rather, much like my Southern heritage, ...
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Forward Motion

In less than two weeks, my first year at Pomona will be over. A year ago, I was nowhere close to done with the school year: AP tests were approaching (and way too quickly). There were senior award ceremonies and breakfasts and graduation rehearsals to attend, enrollment deposits and housing forms needing completion, scholarships needing securing, yearbooks needing signing, ...
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Spring Has Sprung Around Campus

Robins are singing and the daffodils are blooming. Rejuvenation, revitalization, renewal, regeneration, revival and joy fill the world as spring returns yet again. A list of my five favorite aspects of springtime on campus: 1. The Greenery Trees around campus hang heavy with bright oranges, fresh limes and deliciously fragrant flowers. Leaves sporting a brilliant h...
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How Do I Love Pomona? Let Me Count the Ways

  1. Friends 2. Professors—inspirers, teachers, mentors, supporters 3. Cross-courtyard hellos 4. Social gatherings 5. Barefeet and RayBans 6. Longboards 7. Frary frozen yogurt 8. Saturday picnics 9. Sunday barbeques 10. Grants and stipends 11. Class options 12. Office hours 13. Sunshine 14. Grassy fields 15. Waterpolo games 16. Baseball games 17. Proximity to skiing...
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Anatomy of a Sponsor Group

Decision day has come and gone, and now that colleges across the nation have chosen their admitted students, it's time for the critical second round of decisions to be made by the students themselves. Last February, when I was added to the class of 2017 Facebook group, none of the admitted students who would become this year's Pomona freshmen had any decisions to make. We we...
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Pets and Dorms

Before you ask if pets are even allowed in Pomona's dorms, here's the answer, from the Residence Hall page on the school's website: "Pets are not permitted in the residence halls unless they are small, consistently caged, legal in California, benign, non-poisonous, and not objectionable to staff or other residents in the living area. Dogs and cats are prohibited." About a mo...
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Phase Changes

The first official day of spring is less than two weeks away, although if you just looked at the weather forecast of our "winter," you would have thought that spring came several weeks ago. With spring comes: (a) warmer weather, (b) longer days, (c) pollen, (d) pollen allergies, and (e) sponsor selection. Like most other experiences that I've had as a sponsor, watching some of ...
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Mudbugs

What's in a name? A lot apparently if you're a crayfish. These feisty crustaceans also go by the names of 'crawfish', 'crawdad', and 'crawdab' depending on what part of the country you live in, three fairly similar names, but they can additionally be known by the names of 'shawgashee,' 'yabby / yabbie,' and 'koura.' In fact, this paper from the Smithsonian Institute, published ...
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Valentine’s Day: Campus-Style

Attention: Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! Whether or not you have a sweetheart this Valentine’s Day, check out these romantic places around campus for intimate conversation (or other potential activities). The following five spots are a few of my favorite Valentine or “Pal”entine areas: 1.         Bench Swings Located between Lawry dorms and Pomona Hall, thes...
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