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Mount Holyoke News - Friday, September 29th

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Mount Holyoke News AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1917 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023

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Class of 2027 candidates vie for presidency in All Campus Elections

Photo by Ella Shelton ’26 An SGA senate meeting in progress from last November. The All Campus Elections will determine how the Class of 2027 is represented within SGA.

BY ANDREA KEKULA ’27 STAFF WRITER

Sparking fervent discussions and growing anticipation within the Mount Holyoke College community, this year’s All Campus Elections have returned. The 2023 All Campus Elections are especially significant because of the substantial size of the Class of 2027 — 545 students were projected to enroll in the first-year class as of April 2023. On April 27, 2023, the College published on its website, “For the third year in a row, Mount Holyoke College received a record number of applications. But this year’s record of 5,030 first-year applications, which represents a 2.7% increase from last year, also signals another milestone: attracting more than 5,000 applicants.” This sizable first-year class may be the reason why so many candi-

dates are particularly invested in securing the class president position. According to a recent email from the Division of Student Life, polls opened on Sept. 25 and are set to close this Sunday, Oct. 1. Results will be announced around Oct. 3. At Mount Holyoke, SGA represents the entire student body in student governance and advocacy. Annual elections provide students with a platform to exercise their right to elect representatives who will advocate for their interests and engage in the decision-making processes that impact the Mount Holyoke community. In an interview with Mount Holyoke News, current Student Body President Maille Romulus’ 24 remarked on the anticipation of the forthcoming elections. “[The SGA] serves as the communicators to students and staff and administra-

tion. And so it’s very important to have advocates that live in and on campus,” Romulus said. “I’m really excited about the class of 2027 as they are so optimistic. I can see that they’re all participating in the elections [with] so many people running, which is so nice to see. I just hope that they continue that momentum as the years go on. I hope that, no matter what the results are, everyone remains involved in Class Board and SGA.” As the five Class of 2027 presidential candidates campaign to lead their peers, their voices and visions for the future of Mount Holyoke are evident. Presidential candidates such as Cindy Ntembe ’27 embrace their commitment to the holistic well-being of the student body, a principle that forms a cornerstone of the College’s values. The official SGA and

AC elections website prominently influence beyond our campus. We highlights the importance of pro- can start by helping schools around moting student well-being as a fun- [us] like Springfield and around our community.” damental aspect of campus life. The SGA website provides con“Our mental health crisis that we couldn’t talk about during the crete evidence of this commitment to COVID pandemic is still going on service through various initiatives. right now. And so, building a sense They include supporting student of community and belonging [is im- clubs and organizations, encouragportant] to me. My goal with that is ing community service, promoting inclusivity and talking about diversity and hostthe issues that I hope that... no matter ing open forums really scare what the results are, that for dialogue. people,” Ntemeveryone remains involved Anna Bobbitt be stated in a ’27, who is also recent interin Class Board and SGA. running in the view. “Social race, said, “Ever anxiety disor– Maille Romulus since I got here, I der … used to have just fallen in be something I was very embarrassed about, or love with the campus and the comeven having depression, but now I munity, “I want our class to be a mini know that these aren’t things that you need to be embarrassed about. community inside of the Mount HolyThey’re part of the human expe- oke community, and I would love to rience. They’re part of the college foster inner development between experience.’’ Elle Rood ’27, another groups and clubs and communities,” presidential candidate, has chosen Bobbitt said. “I want everyone to feel the slogan “Experience Progressive at home and to feel like they have a Representation” for her campaign sense of community here.” The final presidential candidate, as she strives to promote trans-inKadiatou Barry ’27, spoke about the clusivity in electoral processes. In an interview, Rood expressed spirit of community and altruism. “I her commitment to promoting equi- am inspired [to run] because I like leadership roles, and I like helping ty and inclusion. “I think that it’s important that other people [and] I actually want to every demographic is represented go into public service,” she stated. Barry also spoke about initiain our student government, and so I want to be the first to bring [a trans- tives she envisions for the Class of gender woman’s] perspective,” Rood 2027. “[I want to] have events where we can all come together — the said. According to the SGA website, whole grade — and I also want to the organization has a longstanding have our voices heard so that we can history of advocating for equity and change some things because Mount inclusion within the campus commu- Holyoke is a great place but we can make it better,” she said. nity. As the presidential candidates Ivy Zhou ’27, another presidential candidate, emphasized the im- embark on their journey to serve portance of community building and their peers, their commitment to the principles of fairness and prog“good service.” “The role of a class board is ress echoes the College’s mission to just to provide good service to our have students strive for excellence classmates,” Zhou said. “And then in their shared pursuit of knowledge secondly, we can try to expand our and growth.

Community reflects on Danielle R. Holley’s inauguration ceremony BY TARA MONASTESSE ’25 & NINA SYDORYK ’25 MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT | NEWS EDITOR

Though Danielle R. Holley had officially assumed her role as Mount Holyoke College’s 20th President nearly three months prior, excitement remained undiminished at her formal inauguration on Thursday, Sept. 21. The inauguration was preceded by a pep rally outside Mary Woolley Hall, where students welcomed Holley and other attendees to the ceremony. Donning handmade signs, they cheered loudly to mark the start of the eventful day. Lined with students, faculty, staff, alums and other members of the MHC and greater Pioneer Valley community, Chapin Auditorium was decorated in vibrant blue for the event. Students inside waved pompoms and cheered as Holley filed into the auditorium, accompanied by delegates from over 100 colleges and institutions from across the country and the world. President Holley formerly served as dean of the Howard University School of Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and served as a law clerk to Judge Carl E. Steward on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Her extensive legal and scholarly experience, as well as her work in social justice, were highlighted by Inauguration speakers. Thus far in her career, Holley has received numerous awards, including the inaugural Impact Award from the Association of American Law Schools, the American Bar Foundation’s Montgomery Summer Research Diversity Fellowship Distinguished Alumni Award, the Lutie Lytle Conference Outstanding Scholar Award, the National Bar Association’s Heman Sweatt Award and the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation’s Outstanding Service Award, according

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Photo by Emma Quirk ’26 President Holley celebrates with the inaugural procession gathered outside of Mary Woolley Hall.

Photo by Emma Quirk ’26 Assembled students cheer and hold up handmade signs welcoming President Holley to the College.

to the Mount Holyoke website. She of emotional,” Romulus said in an was twice awarded the Outstanding interview with the Mount Holyoke Faculty Member award during her News. “Seeing everyone cheer and tenure at the University of South [Holley’s] face being so happy, I can Carolina School of Law. understand how special this moment Student Government Associa- was for the community and for Presition President Maille Romulus ’24 dent Holley.” spoke at the inauguration, welcomLela Gallery ’24 reflected on how ing President Holley to the College the event’s many speakers were the community. In their speech, they most remarkable part of the inaugucommented on the significance of ration for her. Holley’s inau“I was not My favorite part was when expecting guration as the Ed College’s first Markey and ElizPresident Holley told us permanently apabeth Warren to that the yellow flowers pointed Black give congratulacovering the auditorium president. tory speeches, “As we stand which was really were there to honor her here in celebracool,” Gallery mother. Let’s just say tion, it’s also began. “It makes that Inauguration had me important to acme proud to see knowledge the powerful polititearing up multiple times. significance of cians praising this milestone,” Mount Holyoke!” – Allayla Atwater Romulus said. Regarding “The courage, the speeches the tension and the resilience of themselves, Gallery noted an emothose who paved the way. Today, tional reaction she had to President we reflect on these moments, and I Holley’s discussion of her late moththink on the legacy of Black wom- er, Dr. Joyce Holley. en and people at Mount Holyoke — “I was moved when President some of whom we can name, and Holley talked about her mom. I some whose names are lost to us.” couldn’t help but get a little teary“I was amazed by the turnout eyed. It reminded me of my great and everyone showing up, and walk- aunt, a grandmotherly figure to me. ing out of Abbey to Chapin was kind Like Holley’s mom, she loved her

flowers and was proud I decided to go to Mount Holyoke.” Allayla Atwater ’25 was captivated by Holley’s words at the inauguration. “Usually with events like this I space out like crazy, but I was enamored with the whole thing,” Atwater said. “My favorite part was when President Holley told us that the yellow flowers covering the auditorium were there to honor her mother. Let’s just say that Inauguration had me tearing up multiple times.” When discussing other speakers whose words resonated with her, Atwater mentioned that of Rhynette Northcross Hurd ’71, who currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees. “[Hurd] shared her experience as a Mount Holyoke student in the late 60s and early 70s, and how difficult it was to live and contribute to an institution that provided no support for black students at the time. I won’t lie and [will] say that I straight up cried,” Atwater said. “It made me even more proud to be a Black woman at Mount Holyoke knowing that a lot of the opportunities that are provided for me here exist because of the Black women who came before me and fought for them.” Several members of Holley’s family were in attendance at the event, including her father, Dannye

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Holley, professor and dean emeritus of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. In an address to the crowd, Dannye Holley described Mount Holyoke’s “fantastic historical mission and its movement towards inclusion,” stating that President Holley would play a key role in shaping the College’s future. Spirits after the inauguration were kept high the following day by the announcement that Mountain Day, the College’s beloved tradition of hiking Mount Holyoke, would be taking place. In an email on Sept. 22 notifying students of Mountain Day, Holley expressed her desire for this year’s annual tradition to continue the enthusiasm displayed at the inauguration ceremony. “After the meaningful connections, thought-provoking conversations and joyous celebrations of the Inauguration, I wanted to take advantage of this special moment so we can build on the connections and engagement that came from our community coming together for this historic occasion,” she wrote. “I truly have high hopes for her, and I bet everyone does, especially after hearing her speak at Inauguration,” Atwater said. “This is truly a time of transformation for Mount Holyoke and I believe that her presidency solidifies this.”

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