About Our Staff
Senior Team
Anissa Basnayake
Editor in ChiefAnissa Basnayake (sophomore) is a Cognitive Science major and Studio Art and Neuroscience minor. Basnayake serves as the Editor-in-Chief of The Occidental newspaper and has previously worked as an illustrator and Photo/Layout Editor. When not in the newsroom, Basnayake enjoys reading, roller skating, camping and watching horror movies.
Mia Anzalone
Managing EditorMia Anzalone (junior) is a Sociology major and Art History minor from Kailua, HI. She is currently the Managing Editor of The Occidental, but has also edited the Culture and Opinion sections in the past. In her free time, Mia loves to surf, roller-skate, read fashion magazines and do paint-by-numbers while listening to music.
Meghan Lee
Senior EditorMeghan Lee (senior) is a Math major. Lee is currently a Senior Editor, but has previously served as Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, News Editor, Arts & Culture Editor, Social Media Manager, a Photographer and a Staff Writer for The Occidental. Outside of the newsroom, Lee enjoys reading, figure skating and trying out new cafes with friends.
Editors
Mostyn Trudinger-Smith
News EditorMostyn Trudinger-Smith (senior) is a Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture major and Biology minor. Trudinger-Smith is a News Editor and Staff Writer for The Occidental. Outside of the paper, Trudinger-Smith enjoys reading, hiking and exploring Los Angeles.
Jude George
News EditorJude George (senior) is a Diplomacy and World Affairs major and Critical Theory and Social Justice minor. George is currently a News Editor for The Occidental. In their spare time, George enjoys cooking, drawing, reading, listening to music and wandering the woods of the Pacific Northwest.
Angela Guglielmino
Community News EditorAngela Guglielmino (junior) is a Media Arts and Culture major with a Film Production concentration. She is a Staff Writer, Photographer and Community News Editor for The Occidental. If you ask her about jump rope politics, reality TV or NCAA gymnastics scoring, she’ll have a lot of opinions.
Katie Moore
Culture EditorKatie Moore (senior) is a Psychology major and minoring in Interdisciplinary Writing and Linguistics. Moore currently serves as a Staff Writer and an Arts & Culture Editor for The Occidental, but has also edited for the News and Sports sections. Outside of the newsroom, you'll likely catch Moore either in the dance studio running Pulse or teaching for Dance Pro, or at home enjoying time with her roommates!
Kawena Jacobs
Culture EditorKawena Jacobs (first year) intends to major in Music Production. Jacobs currently works as the Arts and Culture Editor, but has also been a Staff Writer and Photographer. Outside of her job at the newspaper, Jacobs plays the viola in the Occidental Symphony Orchestra, writes and releases songs and enjoys playing soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Jacob Whitney
Sports EditorJacob Whitney (sophomore) is a Diplomacy and World Affairs Major. Whitney serves as a Sports Editor and has previously worked as a Staff Writer for The Occidental. Outside of the newsroom, Whitney enjoys trying new foods, socializing and watching military movies.
Emma Cho
Sports EditorEmma Cho (first year) is an American Studies major and Interdisciplinary Writing minor. Your newest and favorite Sports Editor is often found eating turf on the lacrosse field (figuratively) or being disappointed by the Chicago Cubs (literally, always). Emma hopes for a career in writing or broadcast journalism.
Shreya Srinivasan
Opinions EditorShreya Srinivasan (senior) is a Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture major. Srinivasan serves as an Opinions Editor for The Occidental and has previously worked as a Staff Writer and Layout Editor. When not in the newsroom, Srinivasan enjoys drawing, reading, and playing games with friends.
Ava LaLonde
Opinions EditorAva LaLonde (first year) hopes to major in Comparative Literature and Culture and minor in Latin American Studies. LaLonde is an Opinions Editor at The Occidental newspaper and has worked as a Staff Writer and Photographer as well. Outside of the paper, LaLonde is a fan of vinyl records, hikes, her dog, and movies.
Luka Jackson
Photo EditorLuka Jackson (first year) is a Psychology major with a minor in Neuroscience and works as a photo editor for The Occidental. Beyond his life at the paper, Jackson also enjoys skiing, playing piano and exploring LA!
Anna Beatty
Photo EditorAnna Beatty (first year) hopes to double major in Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture and East Asian Studies. She is a Media Editor, Newsletter Editor and Staff Writer for The Occidental. When she is not cooped up in the Media Suite or prancing around the library stacks, Beatty enjoys dancing, eating spicy noodles and over analyzing poetry. In the future, Beatty hopes to attend a Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) program.
Other Staff
Brian Fong
Business ManagerBrian Fong (senior) is majoring in Economics and minoring in Politics. Brian serves as Business Manager of The Occidental where he oversees the newspaper's finances and identifies and pursues omnichannel advertising opportunities. Outside of the newsroom, Brian actively follows professional sports and the consumer goods industry.
Nick Novak
Web DesignerNicholas Novak (junior) currently studying Computer Science and Economics. He serves as the Senior Web Developer for The Occidental. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys watching movies, reading and petting cats.
Maeve Mascarenhas
Assistant Web DesignerMaeve Mascarenhas (first year) plans to major in Sociology or Psychology and minor in Computer Science. She is the Assistant Web Designer for The Occidental. She also runs for the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Oxy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking and listening to music.
Nicole Rios
Translation EditorNicole Ríos (senior) is a Biology major and a Linguistics minor. Ríos serves as the Translation Editor for The Occidental and has worked as a translator for three years. When she is not translating articles from English to Spanish, Ríos enjoys painting, hiking, reading manga and dancing cumbia and merengue.
Zoey Solomon
Podcast ProducerZoey Solomon (junior) is an Urban and Environmental Policy major and Media Arts and Culture minor. Zoey serves as the Podcast Manager at The Occidental. Outside of this role, she enjoys playing violin, watching documentaries and going on walks.
Ethan Dulaney
VideographerEthan Dulaney (senior) is a Media Arts & Culture major. He serves as Video Editor of The Occidental newspaper and also works as a photographer for the paper. When not in the newsroom, Ethan enjoys drinking tea and reading Agatha Christie novels.
Felisa Duff
Social Media EditorFelisa Duff (sophomore) is a Psychology major and Interdisciplinary Writing minor. Duff works as the Social Media Manager and is a Staff Writer at The Occidental. When not posting on Instagram, Duff enjoys journaling, yoga, reading and spending time with friends.
Barbara Thomas
AdvisorBarbara Thomas has been The Occidental staff advisor since September 2016. A career journalist, she spent 24 years at the Los Angeles Times where she held many roles, including reporter, copy editor and Executive News Editor. Previously she was a reporter in Gary, Ind. She was also part of two Pulitzer Prize teams for Spot News reporting at the LA Times. Barbara has an M.A. in journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and B.A. in English from University of Pittsburgh.
Writers
Podcast Editors
Illustrators
Photographers
Videographers
Layout Staff
Copy Editors
Translators
The mission of The Occidental is to provide fair, accurate and balanced journalism of the highest quality to members of Occidental College as well as the local community. We promote the free exchange of information, and our staff strives to maintain the highest professional journalistic ethics and standards.
We aim to prioritize truth, credibility, and transparency above all else in our reporting; hold the leadership of the student body, college and larger community accountable; and provide a platform for productive community dialogue.
As the official student newspaper of Occidental College, The Occidental aims to fulfill three primary functions. The first is to inform our audience by presenting unbiased and accurate information regarding topics and events of importance and interest to the Occidental and local community. The second is to serve as a public forum by providing commentary on issues important to the community and encouraging community members to respond, contribute and participate in community dialogue. The third is to educate by creating an effective and inclusive learning environment where staff members can learn the journalism trade and professional skills.
We are a completely student-run organization. We strive to uphold the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics as the standards for our policies and procedures.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions in order to learn more about our organization, practices and policies.