The Scarlet & Black

The Independent Student News Site of Grinnell College
Renfrow Hall's first floor will be open to students from 8 a.m. to midnight for the 2026-27 academic year, pending approval from the Division of Student Affairs.
SGA passes resolution to open Renfrow Hall first floor, pending approval
Chloe Alger `28 and Ian O’Loughlin `28 are in discussion with administrators about re-opening Lyle's Pub.
Students, Grinnell College discuss re-opening Lyle’s Pub
Time table changes worry athletes
Time table changes worry athletes
Signage at the Chautauqua Institute. Julie Howard `26.5 has led an effort to expand its scholarship program for community college students.
Grinnell College student expands community college scholarship program
Students with allergies face barriers to exemption from Grinnell College meal plan
Students with allergies face barriers to exemption from Grinnell College meal plan
The Market took place on April 18 on Poweshiek County Fairgrounds.
Roots and River Market held in Grinnell for the first time
Grinnell Young Archaeologist's Club held their first even at Drake Community Library.
Grinnell Young Archaeologist’s Club engages local youth
Upwards of 50 audience members listened to Dr. Lisa Payne Ossian’s presentation on her research on the Iowa homefront during World War II at the Grinnell Historical Museum on Friday, April 17.
Dr. Lisa Payne Ossian draws crowd at Grinnell Historical Museum
The Stew Makerspace plans to expand by adding craft workshops, group events and guided activities. The renovation opens the door to group rentals for student organizations.
Stew Makerspace expansion aims to deepen community ties in downtown Grinnell building
From left: Ren Lang, store manager and Delphina Baumann, president of the board of directors, plan to open on April 25.
Non-profit thrift store, Prairie Thrift, set to open Saturday
From left: Mock Shaadi groom and bride, Shibam Mukhopadhyay `26 and Jesi Rodriguez Beyer `26 pose for a photo under warm lighting and roses on the night of April 25, 2026.
SASO and PSO bring the South Asian wedding experience to Grinnell College
Amelia Lobo `99 (left) sits at table and talks to students about their time at Grinnell.
Connections bloom as alumni return to Grinnell for SACNAS panel
Ali Akgun `93, former Microsoft corporate vice president, prompts students to think about who benefits from AI usage.
From Copilot to the classroom: Ali Akgun `93 on AI’s rapid rise and uncertain future
Leif Brottem presents graph to showacse the statistics that he and Parikshit Roychowdhury `28 found in their research of Chad.
Brottem and Roychowdhury present research on Chad, “site of some of the worst humanitarian crises in the world”
From left: DEUS members Etzel Miller `29, Timur Amirgaliyev `29, Jason Chigabatia `28 and Oleksandr Nerubay `28 (bottom) won first place for the Innovate GC challenge on April 11, 2026.
Underdogs take the win at Innovate GC Challenge
Open Stay's cast poses for a group photo. Top row, from left: Levi McMillan `27, Andrew Rhinehart `29, Shepard Swaner `29, Jack Broadmoore `27. Bottom row, from left: Faith Ferry `28, Phoenix Webb `29, Hridi Ghosh `28.
Open, Stay: Student director brings devised musical with collective vision
Erik Jarvis `12, music technical assistant, teaches audio production and songwriting in the Bucksbaum's Electronic Music Studio.
Students compose, record and listen in introductory audio production course
Andrew Kaufman, chair and professor of studio art, introduces annual BAX juror, Kevork Mourad, at the reception.
From carved horns to ceramic hearts, this year’s BAX exhibition defies easy categories
John Keene read from his published book "Counternarratives" and his book-in-progress "Wound" on Thursday, April 16.
Writers@Grinnell: John Keene on voice, history and the art of translation
Henry Loomis `26 smiles while in his own exhibition at Smith Gallery.
“Narcissus”: Henry Loomis `26 explores wax, myth and longing in final solo exhibition
Clockwise from top right: Moise Milenge `26, Beya VanRheenen `26, Skylar Thomas `26, Kavya Keshav `26, Ramona Delborne `26, Kylie Snell `26 and Nicole Mlynski `26 reflect on their time as athletes at Grinnell. (Photos by Meilynn Smith and Julia Marlin)
Hanging it up: Seniors reflect on leaving Grinnell College sports
The men's golf team walks to the first fairway at the Grinnell College Golf Course during practice on Wednesday, April 22.
Men’s golf goes low, sets individual and team records
Andy Chestovich `26 runs in the Dick Young Invitational on April 12, 2025.
Seniors run the table in first Grinnell College outdoor track and field meet of the year
Emma Trani `26 (14) watches the softball off her bat in a game against Luther College on Sunday, April 12.
Grinnell College softball fights on in difficult start to season
From left: Graphics designers Preston Yoshino `27 and Ben Skiles `28 show off their baseball Instagram post that they created on Photoshop.
Grinnell College sports social media teams bring the game online
Ilem Leisher `26 believes that sleep is a crucial part of the liberal arts education.
Opinion: Sleep is part of a liberal arts education
Opinion: Next time someone drops a tray, think before you clap
Opinion: Next time someone drops a tray, think before you clap
The members of the Grinnell Listening Project held two dialogues on artificial intelligence.
Opinion: We need to talk about AI at Grinnell College
Horoscope: What symbol of endings or rebirths are you?
Horoscope: What symbol of endings or rebirths are you?
Maya Holland `27 says we need to unpack political violence.
Opinion: We have gotten too comfortable with political violence
Horoscope: What symbol of endings or rebirths are you?
Horoscope: What symbol of endings or rebirths are you?
Horoscope: What should you do instead of getting a job?
Horoscope: What should you do instead of getting a job?
Horoscope: A tarot reading for your upcoming day
Horoscope: A tarot reading for your upcoming day
Horoscope: Which Elton John song are you?
Horoscope: Which Elton John song are you?
Horoscope: What does the rest of the semester hold?
Horoscope: What does the rest of the semester hold?
Peyton Willams `27 considers what new college graduates can do in the face of the current job market.
Opinion: Grinnellians need to understand HSAs
Virginia Oliver `28 stands outside of the Harris Center after her Cultural Evening performance.
Opinion: How to eat a dish you don’t recognize
Xavier Fjeld `29 wants to talk about the cost barriers to baseball.
Opinion: I was recruited to play a sport here, but first, my family had to pay for it
The vulnerability and hard work required to learn a language is underratedly important, says Kristen Bellinger `26.
Opinion: You should take a language class
Reeyan Esmail `26 wants us to reconsider the narrative around terrorism.
Opinion: Stop blaming Islam for terrorism
Letter to the Editor: All I need to say
Letter to the Editor: All I need to say
Letter to the Editor: Required Meal Plans
Letter to the Editor: Required Meal Plans
Sharyn Obsatz `93 is a journalism professor at Santa Monica College.
Letter to the Editor: Support The S&B
Jay Dick `93 works as Sr. Director of Advocacy and Partnerships at Americans for the Arts.
Letter to the Editor: The Vanishing of Printed Student Media?
Sasha Aslanian `90 is a member of the Grinnell College Alumni Council.
Letter to the Editor: Physical papers have pull on Grinnell campus
Comic: False Spring
Comic: False Spring
Comic: You Are What You Eat
Comic: You Are What You Eat
Comic: Ambroos and Wilhelmina van Buskirk the Tulip Fairies
Comic: Ambroos and Wilhelmina van Buskirk the Tulip Fairies
Comic: Spring Break Expectation vs. Reality
Comic: Spring Break Expectation vs. Reality
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
S&B seniors advise future staff
S&B seniors advise future staff
Members of the class of 2026 advise their first-year selves
Members of the class of 2026 advise their first-year selves
Slayyyter cranks it up at Grinnell College concert
Slayyyter cranks it up at Grinnell College concert
Grateful Dead tribute concert supports Iowa Crisis Intervention Services
Grateful Dead tribute concert supports Iowa Crisis Intervention Services
Henry Does Sports: Basketball (Ep. 3)
Henry Does Sports: Basketball (Ep. 3)
Hazel Zhou `27 personifies a blue-and-white porcelain vase during her "Night at the Museum: Gallery of China" performance.
Photo Series: Soccer-themed Cultural Evening scores big at Harris Center, celebrates international culture
From left: Faye Henn `26, Hikaru Aoki `26 and Victor Thorne `26 look through the alumni care packages in JRC 101 on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Photo Series: Grinnell alumni initiative provides care packages for students
From left: Rev. Cassandra Lawrence and Nicholas Rasmussen `29 pose with the lucky plastic baby found in the king cake at the Mardi Gras event in the Bucksbaum Rotunda on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Mardi Gras at Grinnell College brings king cakes, jazz and community
Kai Te Huki `27 (11) looks upon an official with disapproval against Monmouth College on Feb. 4.
Photo Series: Men’s basketball takes down Monmouth College
From left, top: Anika Krebs `26, Jimmy Miseda `26, Darya Mohammadzadeh `26, Paul Xu `26, Amy Nguyen `26, Diya Shrestha `26, Alissa Trapp `26, Mae Adhikari `26.
Photo Series: Holiday cheer fills downtown Grinnell during Jingle Bell Holiday

The Scarlet & Black

The Scarlet & Black
Virginia Pitchaya Oliver

Virginia Pitchaya Oliver, Staff Writer

Virginia Pitchaya Oliver is a second-year English and biochemistry student from Bangkok, Thailand, who would rather you call her Ginny. When she’s not obsessing over a mock trial case or chasing cats, you can find her singing in the North Loggia or pursuing her lifelong quest to find the perfect mocha. She serves on the cabinet of the Southeast Asian Student Organization and is co-president of Dharma Gyan.

All content by Virginia Pitchaya Oliver
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