About Our Staff
Senior Team
James Miller
Editor-in-ChiefJames Miller (junior) is an English major from Palo Alto, California. He is The Occidental’s editor in chief. When not in the newsroom he rereads Cormac McCarthy and enjoys long walks on the beach.
Kawena Jacobs
Managing EditorKawena Jacobs (junior) is a Music Production major and Politics minor from Pennsylvania. She is the managing editor at The Occidental. If you wish you could hear her voice more than just in the newsroom, you can find your new favorite song in her discography or ask her about David Fincher’s “The Social Network.
Mia Anzalone
Senior EditorMia Anzalone (senior) is a sociology major and art history minor from Kailua, Oahu. She is currently a senior editor and the Features section editor, but has previously served as editor-in-chief, managing editor and a section editor for the Opinions and Arts and Culture sections. Anzalone has journalism experience back home where she's worked for HAWAI'I Magazine and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends, read, surf and roller-skate.
Anissa Basnayake
Senior EditorAnissa Basnayake (junior) is a cognitive science major with studio art and neuroscience minors. Basnayake serves as a senior editor, writer and illustrator, but has worked as editor-in-chief, managing editor, as well as photo and layout section editors. Outside of the newsroom, Basnayake enjoys reading, running, going to the beac, and watching horror movies.
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 part of two Pulitzer Prize teams for Spot News reporting at the LA Times. Thomas has an M.A. in journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., and B.A. in English from University of Pittsburgh.
Editors
Molie Barnes
Features EditorMollie Barnes (senior) is a Critical Theory and Social Justice major and Cognitive Science minor from Denver, Colorado. She is the features editor for The Occidental. While she’s recovering from electrocuting herself in the kitchen, she’s out trying new restaurants, because sometimes it’s best to let the pros handle it.
Noah Kim
News EditorNoah Kim (sophomore) is a Politics and Philosophy double major from Chappaqua, New York. He is a news editor for The Occidental. He likes eucalyptus trees.
Avinash Iyer
Opinions EditorAvinash Iyer (senior) is a Math major and Economics minor from Fremont, California. He is thrilled to be one of the Opinions editors for Fall 2024. When not in the newsroom, Iyer enjoys playing the piano, climbing and weightlifting, but is probably procrastinating on math homework and/or Ph.D. applications by feeding his Twitter addiction.
Anna Beatty
News EditorAnna Beatty (junior) is a Comparative Studies in Literature and Culture and Chinese Studies double major and a Linguistics minor from Austin, Texas. She is a news editor for The Occidental. When she is not cutting Oxford commas, she is managing her budding ice cream influencer career.
Amy Wong
Media EditorAmy Wong (junior) is a Philosophy major and Cognitive Science minor from Pasadena, California. She is one of the media editors for The Occidental. When she’s not juggling multiple jobs or doing class work, she’s probably locked away in her room playing video games (some of her favorites include Dark Souls, Elden Ring, Risk of Rain 2 and Pokemon).
Ruby Gower
Community EditorRuby Gower (junior) is a Diplomacy & World Affairs and Chinese Studies double major from London, UK. She is a Community editor for The Occidental. When not in the newsroom, she is mixing beef baby food and Tums to feed to her pet snails. They will be the size of golf balls eventually. Just wait.
Emma Cho
Arts & Culture EditorEmma Cho (senior) is a history major and interdisciplinary writing minor from Downers Grove, Illinois. She is in her fourth year writing and editing for The Occidental, and her love for em dashes and Oxford commas has not wavered. You can probably find her running around on the lacrosse field or watching the Chicago Cubs blow a lead in the 8th.
Karen Palacios Echeverria
Sports EditorKaren Palacios Echeverria (sophomore) is a Computer Science major from Atlanta, Georgia. She is a Sports editor for The Occidental. When she's not in the newsroom, she can be found in her room building Legos or fueling her caffeine addiction.
Theodore Wilton
Sports EditorTheodore Wilton (sophomore) is a Econ major and Math minor from Burlington, VT. He is a sports editor for The Occidental. He enjoys listening to King Von and wants to play in the Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo when he’s older.
Yanori Ferguson
Community EditorYanori Ferguson (junior) is a Biochemistry major and Math minor from Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a Community section editor for The Occidental. When she’s not in the newsroom you can find her either rollerblading or belting in a Booth practice room.
Olivia Fishman
Community News EditorOlivia Fishman (senior) is an art history major and interdisciplinary writing minor. A native of West Los Angeles, Fishman has been the Community News editor of The Occidental since 2022. Her writing has also been featured in Artillery Magazine. Upon graduating, Fishman plans to work in galleries and eventually earn her Masters in Arts Management. When not in the newsroom, or traveling the world, she enjoys playing golf.
Eli Heringman
Arts & Culture EditorEli Heringman (sophomore) is a film production major from Columbia, Missouri. He is an Arts & Culture section editor for The Occidental. Outside of his academic life, Eli enjoys shopping for clothes and spending time in nature, especially by the water.
Jameela Bowo
Opinions EditorJameela Bowo (sophomore) is a Psychology major from San Francisco, California. She is a Opinions Editor for The Occidental. Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys going to the beach, spending hours singing karaoke and watching chick flicks from the early 2000s.
Diego Santiago
Translation EditorDiego Santiago (junior) is pursuing a dual major in computer science and Spanish Studies. Santiago is thrilled to serve as Translation Editor for The Occidental. When he’s not busy with editorial duties, you can find him reading science fiction, playing pool or playing soccer.
Caden Zamastil
Head Copy EditorCaden Zamastil (sophomore) is undeclared, but leaning towards a history major. Zamastil is the Head Copy Editor for The Occidental. When not in the newsroom, Zamastil enjoys playing bass and guitar, reading, bouldering, watching Ghibli movies and playing Stardew Valley.
Other Staff
Ayva Sloo
Business ManagerAyva Sloo (junior) is a geology major with an Environmental Science concentration at Occidental College. Sloo is the business manager for The Occidental. Besides keeping the team on budget, Sloo enjoys camping, hiking and reading, and is always ready for a friendly (but competitive) game of pickleball.
Nick Novak
Web DesignerNicholas Novak (senior) is 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 (sophomore) is a Sociology with a 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.
Writers
Translators
Photographers
Podcast Team
Illustrators
Copy Editors
Layout Editors
Newsletter Editor
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.
