A Santa Clara University student was among three hikers found dead earlier this week on Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed. 19-year-old Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova ’29, a business student at Santa Clara University, was identified by the Sheriff’s Department. Casanova, a Seal Beach resident, was found Monday near Devil’s Backbone, a narrow and exposed trail on Mount Baldy. Dangerous winds delayed recovery efforts until Tuesday. Casanova reportedly fell approximately 500 feet, according to a report by the Sheriff's Department. The mountain itself stands at over 10,000 feet, marking it as the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast of Los Angeles. In a statement released Wednesday, Casanova’s family described him as “an incredibly sweet and empathetic young man.” The family said he was an avid sailor and outdoorsman, and asked for privacy as they grieve. The deaths prompted the U.S. Forest Service to temporarily close trails on Mount Baldy, citing dangerous and unpredictable conditions. 📝: Dylan Ryu & @molly.kaspura

Dunk made their debut on Friday, Dec. 5, with an electrifying set that began defining their sound as a newly formed band, leaving the audience wanting more as Santa Clara University looks toward the new year. Featured in Dunk are Colin Friedel ’26 on vocals and guitar, alongside Eph Esson ’26 on guitar, Orion Cook ’26 on violin and Brix Brewster ’27 on drums—four members who previously performed in One Million Beers—alongside new additions Maliah McKenna ’29 as the lead vocalist and Ewan Bailey ’29 as the bassist. Dunk’s sound blends folk-country and blues influences while also embracing call-and-response songs, like OutKast’s “Hey Ya!,” that draws the audience into a more personal connection with the performers on stage. The set was fresh, rhythmic and all-around fun, leaving audiences eager for more come winter quarter. 📝 @sofia_ruvs 📸 @ninaglickphoto