Campus Culture

STUDENT VOICE MATTERS

#3
MOST ACTIVE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Princeton Review, Best Colleges 2018
#1
LARGEST STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PER CAPITA IN THE U.S
54
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
ON STUDENT SENATE
Pitzer Video

PITZER’S GOVERNANCE SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINCT AND STUDENT-FOCUSED IN AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION.

According to Pitzer bylaws, every college committee must have at least one Pitzer student as a full voting member. That means student representatives have a voice in making decisions about the future of the college, including everything from academic policies and faculty and staff hiring to public art displays and building design.

A short list of recent student-led policy efforts and involvements.

  • The first college in California to divest its endowment from fossil fuel stocks.
  • Adoption of campus-wide gender neutral residence halls and bathrooms.
  • Design of new residence hall: Atherton, East, Pitzer, Sanborn and West.
  • Campus-wide plastic water bottle ban.
  • Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
  • Assisting in the selection of Dr. Melvin Oliver, the first African-American Pitzer President.

WE CREATE MEANINGFUL MURALS

PITZER’S 100+ MURALS—MOST CREATED BY STUDENTS—COVER OUR CAMPUS WITH COLORFUL COMMENTARY.

Pitzer College Orientation
Pitzer Campus Culture
  • All students are invited to express creatively on our iconic, ever changing Free Wall on Mead Hall in the middle of campus.
Pitzer's Student Murals
  • Students with an idea and desire to add to our permanent public art collection are invited to submit a proposal to the Campus Aesthetics Committee for approval and funding.

WE LOVE LIVE MUSIC

LIVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE VENUES—FOUND ALL OVER CAMPUS—OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AND ENJOY SOUNDS AND TALENTS OF ALL KINDS. AND PITZER STUDENTS HOST TWO AWESOME MUSIC FESTIVALS A YEAR.

THE MUSIC FESTIVALS

Kohoutek at Pitzer
  • Kohoutek.
    Pitzer’s first and oldest tradition, this annual two-day music and arts festival is named for a large, bright comet that appeared in the 1970s.

Learn More!

Rockabilly Festival At Pitzer
  • Rockabilly Festival.
    Sponsored by Latinx Student Union, this annual festival celebrates SoCal Latino art, music and car culture. All funds raised from vendor fees, t-shirt sales and donations are donated to various community organizations, service projects and more.

CAMPUS MUSIC VENUES

Pitzer's Groove House
  • Grove House.
    Hosts weekly events, such as open mics, poetry and fiction readings, “Groove at the Grove” music performances, and art openings.
The Mounds and The Apron at Pitzer
  • The Mounds and The Apron.
    Spontaneous music, dance and art events spring up here at all times of day and night.
The Shakedown Sounds at Pitzer
  • The Shakedown Sounds.
    A bi-weekly open mic at the Shakedown Café.
Murals of Pitzer Video
Pitzer Rockabilly Video
Inside the Green Bike Shop of Pitzer

PEDAL POWER

THE GREEN BIKE PROGRAM (GBP)
IS A STUDENT-RUN ORGANIZATION CREATED TO PROMOTE CYCLING, SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

  • Students recondition bikes and lend them to community members for free, promoting healthy lifestyles and green transportation while keeping used bikes out of landfills.
  • The GBP reuses and recycles old bikes and parts, and also organizes cycling events.

Learn More!

Pitzer Campus Culture

AFFINITY GROUPS

Affinity Groups at Pitzer College are student organizations that promote safe spaces, solidarity, and support for marginalized students. These organizations embody intersectional and complex identities, such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, etc.

These affinity groups are defined as: low-income students, First-Generation students, Undocumented students, Black and African Diaspora students, Queer/Trans/Gender Nonconforming students, students with disabilities, Chicanx/Latinx students, Native and Indigenous students, as well as, Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (A/ANHPI) students.

Latinx Student Union (LSU)
For students who identify as Latinx/Chicanx.

Black Student Union (BSU)
For students who identify as Black, African, African American, or descendants of the African Diaspora.

The Pasifika Asian Student Union (PASU)
For students who identify as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander.

First-Gen Club
For students who are the first member of their family to attend college.

Pitzer International Student Association (PISA)
For international students.

Native Indigenous Student Union (NISU)
For students who identify with Native and/or Indigenous Communities. 

Mixed Identity Exchange (MIX)
For students who identify as bi-racial or of multiple races/ethnicities. 

Womxn of Color Collective (WCC)
For all self-identifying BIPOC femme students. (formerly known as We Are Living History)  

Queer, Trans, Plus Student Alliance (QTs+)
For students who identify with the LGBTTQQIAAP community and everything in between and beyond. (formally Rainbow People)

Southwest Asian / North African Association (SWANAA)
For students who identify as Southwest Asian, Middle Eastern, or North African.

Spoonie Alliance
For students with disabilities of any kind.

5C Resources/Mentorship Programs
Claremont Colleges-wide mentorship programs. Click to learn more.