Back to Campus

The two most common refrains among CMC students, faculty, and staff members during our fall semester return to campus? “I’ve been waiting a year and a half to be here,” followed by an all-too human response given the prolonged pandemic, “I have to remind myself how to do this again.” It’s true, early jitters and lingering questions made everyone feel like a newcomer to CMC. But those feelings eventually gave way to the joy, warmth, and yes, rigor of in-person residential living and learning again— or as President Hiram Chodosh described it during Convocation, a “duality of experience,” a step back and a leap ahead. Just as the 2020 virtual academic year was uncharted territory for the College, this fall also marks a historic, uniquely shared experience with its own learning moments and necessary adjustments. Best of all, we are together again; the way CMC was meant to be. That’s definitely worth celebrating. In this special photo essay, CMC photographer Anibal Ortiz shares some of his favorite images from this momentous semester of return and renewal.

READY FOR ADVENTURE: Second-year students gather outside Bauer Center in preparation for their Welcome Orientation Adventure (WOA) trip. Both first and second-year students participated in the annual offcampus excursion that helps strengthen bonds and develop leadership skills before the academic year begins.

GREAT OUTDOORS: The little moments can mean everything on a residential college campus, especially a California oasis that so easily allows for leisurely walks with friends to breakfast at Collins Dining Hall (far left), impromptu games of Spikeball with new friends during orientation (top), and playful picnic dinners (bottom) on the lawn in Mid Quad after a food truck stop.

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GETTING INTO RHYTHM: Think CMC students were happy to be back? With just the right touch of welcoming bass, resident assistants (top) got their groove on while helping students and families get acclimated to their new surroundings. A CMC Outdoor Initiative trip to Malibu left North Quad residents with wet suits on the balcony (bottom), and hopefully, some special memories for Instagram. And while the days of Zoom are probably here to stay, a quick catch-up or in-person conversation (far right) made all the difference to so many new and returning faces.

WELCOME TO THE ATH: Dr. Atul Gawande, a celebrated surgeon, author, and public health expert, kicked off the Athenaeum’s fall season with a riveting talk on breakthrough and followthrough innovation. He applauded CMC for taking the lead on the latter by encouraging students to tackle complex problems through systemic solutions. “That’s why I’m so grateful to be here at CMC, talking to you. You put value in scientific innovation and technical know-how. You also understand that you cannot achieve impact without innovation and how it fits into the world.”

THE JOY OF LEARNING: Academic life has been a mix of old and new, indoors and outdoors—but always in the CMC spirit of liberal arts learning through small seminars and personalized interactions. Case in point: Renowned cognitive psychologist and author Steven Pinker, a 75th Anniversary Distinguished Speaker (top), met with Salvatori Center students for a conversation about rationality before his Athenaeum dinner talk. Michael Gelman, assistant professor of economics, used his first day of classes (second from top) to prepare students for a semester of data science and stats learning, while others (right) embraced studying solitude.

JUST GLIDING THROUGH: Sam Harrison ’22 casually turns a corner near Parents Field during a sunny fall day on campus. In the background: CMC’s 75th Anniversary banner, in super-sized form, adds a colorful flourish to Fawcett Hall.

GAME ON: CMS athletes are fired up. Coaches are fired up. Fans are really fired up. Yep, it’s good to see the competitive juices flowing again. Makenna Fall ’22 celebrates with Jenna Holmes ’24 (above) and volleyball teammates during an early season victory against UC Santa Cruz. First year men’s soccer head coach Ryan Fahey ’10 (top right) pumps his team up at practice on Parents Field. An energized crowd of fans (bottom right) reacts to a CMS soccer goal scored against cross-street rivals Pomona-Pitzer.

THE PLACE TO BE: When Office of Admission tours resumed, it allowed prospective students to see the best of CMC’s in-person experience—for instance, a gorgeous view of campus and the nearby mountains from the fourth floor of Kravis Center (far left). Lower Kravis Center has also been especially busy, with influential author Zadie Smith (top left) meeting with students as part of programming with the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and Center For Writing and Public Discourse. Even the evening hours have drawn a crowd thanks to the Murty Sunak Quantitative and Computing Lab. Maisy Mills ’22, a QCL mentor, showcases why the outdoor Under the Moon sessions (bottom) were a hit with CMC walk-ins.

LEANING INTO IT: Note to students: Always take advantage of quiet, outdoor reading near Gann Quadrangle.