A new arts initiative brings an eclectic lineup of cultural luminaries to campus. Also: ɫ climbs to a 14-year high in the latest US News Best Colleges rankings
“ɫ Live!”—a conversation series highlighting a diverse lineup of cultural luminaries at the forefront of their fields—launched its inaugural season October 3 with internationally celebrated writer, artist and nonbinary activist ALOK (above, talking to interviewer and cultural interlocutor Paul Holdengräber). Upcoming guests include sociologist Ruha Benjamin (11/20), historian and activist Rebecca Solnit (11/28), visual artist Julie Mehretu (2/21/24), and multimedia artist Laurie Anderson (spring 2024). The eclectic lineup is curated by ɫ Arts and is funded through the generosity of trustee Lisa Coscino ’85. To learn more, visit oxy.edu/oxylive.
Occidental rose two places in US News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges rankings, landing at No. 35 nationally, a 14-year high. The College also jumped 44 spots to No. 26 in the publication’s Top Performers on Social Mobility index, which looks to measure how well schools graduate economically disadvantaged students. Occidental received additional recognition in the Best Value Schools and Undergraduate Economics Programs categories. In addition to the US News rankings, Occidental also ranked highly in several other 2023-24 college guides, including Princeton Review, Washington Monthly, Forbes, and Money.
