Mount Holyoke News – April 15, 2022

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FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2022

Sonya Stephens reflects on career at Mount Holyoke

BY DECLAN LANGTON ’22 & SOPHIE SOLOWAY ’23 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | GLOBAL EDITOR

Content warning: This article discusses antisemitism, racism and racial slurs.

“I wake up in the morning … I see the sun rising behind the buildings and the outline of the College, and I think, ‘What will I do today to advance Mount Holyoke,’” College President Sonya Stephens said.

Stephens arrived at Mount Holyoke in 2013 as the vice president for academic affairs and the dean of faculty, according to her profile on the College website. In 2016, she became acting president after being appointed by the Board of Trustees. After two years in the role, Stephens was elected president of the College. In March, Stephens announced she was leaving Mount Holyoke after nine years to take a position as president of the American University of Paris.

On March 24, 2022, Stephens met with Mount Holyoke News for a Zoom interview, during which she reflected on her career and what comes next as she prepares to lead the American University of Paris.

Stephens appointed acting president During her interim presidency, Stephens had two central initiatives: sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion.

In 2017, Stephens assembled the Sustainability Task Force to discuss sustainability on campus. From that group’s discussions, “came the commitment to carbon neutrality, a more comprehensive commitment to environmentalism on campus, including the move toward divestment,” Stephens explained. In 2018, this plan was endorsed by the Board

of Trustees.

According to the Sustainability Task Force Summary of 2017 Report, “Mount Holyoke College is pursuing the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by its bicentennial through a strategy of investing in energy efficiency and conservation, retrofitting historic buildings and transitioning to carbon-neutral heating and electricity sources.” Work in conjunction with the Sustainability Task Force continued through Stephens’ presidency.

In 2017, Stephens began building on the College’s pre-existing efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The people who were doing it — that meant students, staff, faculty — were all exhausted. They’re all exhausted from doing this work over and over and over again, at the grassroots level, without real resources and without real institutional support,” Stephens explained.

“The idea was not to take over this work, but to say, ‘How do we put some resources and some institutional commitment behind it so that those doing the work see the benefits of that work?’” In line with this effort, Stephens helped establish the first Building On Our Momentum Conference in 2017 in support of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Steering Committee.

College constructs ‘SuperBlanch’ When Stephens was appointed interim president, the College was in pursuit of its 2023 strategic plan.

A large portion of the plan revolved around the construction of “SuperBlanch,” the current Dining Commons and Community Center combination housed in Blanchard Hall.

This became her main focus in 2016 and 2017.

“A big part of what we were thinking about in the plan [was] how … the building [would] be more than place. … How it would be about people and programming and building community,” Stephens said.

In 2018, Blanchard Hall, in the form we see today, opened. The new construction featured the Dining Commons in its “country house” style, as described by Stephens.

The Dining Commons was designed with the intention of open floors, lots of visibility and multiple seating options. Stephens described wanting multiple opportunities to encourage conversation between students, including “closed booths … but open seating, where you could sit in different ways and sit in different places and engage with one another.” She also described the addition of what she called “food choices that were more inclusive,” referring to the multiple dining stations open at the time of the Dining Commons’ initial opening.

In Spring 2022, staffing in the Dining Commons has been limited.

Stations such as the Made to Order Deli, Sushi and Breakfast All Day, have had limited hours, if any.

In addition, the Dining Commons has dealt with overcrowding this semester. “We’re still struggling with the lines and with overcrowding,” Stephens said. “I think there’s this combination of circumstances right now, which are making it feel a lot worse than it should be,” Stephens explained. According to Stephens, there are fewer staff members working in the dining hall, and fewer students studying abroad and taking Five College classes.

As previously reported by Mount Holyoke News, there have been recent concerns from some students about the long lines and crowds in

Photo courtesy of the Mount Holyoke College Office of Communications and Marketing After nine years at Mount Holyoke, Sonya Stephens is leaving to pursue a new college presidency.

the dining hall, particularly during the lunch rush. In an article published Feb. 20, an anonymous senior explained to Mount Holyoke News that they, along with many peers, avoid the Dining Commons during the rush “purely because it is very crowded.”

“I have also talked to a lot of students who are neurodivergent, and they try to avoid the dining hall because it can be overstimulating during the rush,” the anonymous senior said.

“When we built the Dining Commons, the discussion was, ‘Let’s not build something that isn’t gonna be big enough for our student population,’” Stephens explained. Emphasizing the physical layout of the current Dining Commons, she added, “I think it’s important to [note] that there was concern about it being like a sea of chairs [and] not wanting it to be a wide-open, mall-type space, but to have that intimacy of the residence halls’ dining spaces.”

The reconstruction of Blanchard

Hall went beyond the creation of centralized dining. The original Blanchard Hall was renovated during Stephens’ interim presidency, moving Student Life staff to the central floor of the building and student involvement, including student org offices, to the Weissman Center for Leadership on the third floor.

Stephens was also involved in creating the Unity Center on the central floor. The Center, according to Stephens, was built for “those who didn’t have the benefit of a cultural house.”

Stephens uses racial slur In 2017 at a Posse Plus retreat, an annual conference for Mount Holyoke Posse Scholars, Stephens used a racial slur. In October 2018, following Stephens’ inauguration as College president, an article from Mount Holyoke News described the event.

“While at the retreat, Stephens was part of a small group discussion reCONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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Senate meets to discuss upcoming all-campus Five Colleges relax mask mandates and COVID policies elections, Pangy Day celebration and Drag Ball

BY GILLIAN PETRARCA ’23 STAFF WRITER

Photo by Xinran Li ’23 As of April 4, Amherst College has relaxed some COVID-19 guidelines, including testing policies.

BY SAMMI CRAIG ’23 STAFF WRITER

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, institutions within the Five College system have implemented various changes to their COVID-19 policies.

As of April 4, Amherst College has relaxed their guidelines related to testing. “Students will be tested on one of three days — Monday, Tuesdays or Thursdays — which will provide data over the course of the week to allow us to identify any increases in positive cases quickly. [Students] will receive a sign-up email the prior week to select their testing time,” Amherst College’s website states.

While testing requirements have been altered from twice a week to once a week, wearing a mask indoors is now optional unless students are in an instructional space, a service location, walking around dining locations or in service locations in the Athletics complex. Campus guest policies have not changed.

On April 4, Smith College implemented changes to their mask mandates.

“Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated, except: in class unless presenting, at gatherings of 30 or more, at the Schacht Center for Health and Wellness and the COVID-19 Testing Center,” according to the Smith College website. Smith still requires students to get tested twice weekly, but masks are no longer required in all instances in indoor spaces.

Current guidelines for the University of Massachusetts Amherst as of April 7 highlight the current mask policy. “At indoor events at

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UMass Amherst, masks are welcome but not required. We encourage everyone to respect the choices that individuals make about their own masking,” the official UMass Amherst website states. Mask mandates have been lifted across the state of Massachusetts, and because UMass Amherst is a public state university, the institution follows state policy.

As of March 11, there are “No Significant Changes to COVID-19 Policies” at Hampshire College, according to the college’s website. Like Mount Holyoke, Hampshire College continues to require masks and offers free testing, which is only required once a week at Hampshire.

Mount Holyoke College has continued the same masking requirements they have maintained all year.

Masks are required in indoor spaces unless eating or drinking, and testing is required twice a week for students and once a week for faculty. The most recent major change at MHC has been the closing of the testing center on Fridays due to a staffing shortage.

“I’m glad that Mount Holyoke continues to enforce the mask wearing policy.,” Sarah Hyde ’22 said. “Even though there have been COVID policy changes among the other five colleges and within the state, I appreciate that MHC is still requiring masks indoors as an extra precaution.”

Though, according to the Five College official website, “indoor masking in most areas has been relaxed by three consortium campuses,” the Five College system will continue to monitor changes in COVID-19 levels and state guidelines.

FEATURES: Students discuss war in Ukraine

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After a land acknowledgment

by Student Government Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Maille Romulus ’24, the April 12 senate meeting began. The meeting agenda for the night included E-board updates, open floor announcements and concerns, a Town Hall debrief and commission work.

This week’s E-Board updates included an announcement from Chair of Senate Shula Matthews ’22 about the upcoming all-campus and SGA E-Board elections. Election materials will be shared on April 17.

Matthews encouraged everyone to participate and vote in the upcoming campus elections. Viveca Holman, the PR Officer of the SGA Executive Board, announced that spirit week would take place from April 25-29.

Next, senators had the opportunity to share announcements on behalf of their organizations. The senator for the 2022 class board Emma Legacki ’22 shared that the tickets for Senior Ball are now on sale. Ticket sales are limited to the senior class only. The senator from ODetteMita, Tingshu Liang ’23, invited everyone to ODM’s dance performance on April 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Great Room of Blanchard Hall. Snacks and drinks will be served at the performance and students can register on Embark. The Pre-Health Association is hosting an alum in health care panel on April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The JSU senator Nina Baran ’25 invited everyone to the JSU’s Passover Seder on April 15 and April 16. Baran asked students to be mindful while using the Kosher Station during Passover, as this station is the only station Jewish students who keep kosher for Passover can eat at during the holiday. Lastly, the senator from Chorale, Marisa Allyn ’24, asked students to join the choral forces for their Spring concert on April 24 in Abbey Chapel.

Senators then had the opportunity to voice concerns from their constituents. The senator from WMHC, Rhea Pathi ’25, expressed that many of her constituents who filled out the form for the Lavender Committee binder drive had not had their bind-

Photo by Ali Meizels ’23 This week, senate discussed the upcoming campus elections. Intent-to-run forms are due April 17.

ers delivered yet. President of SGA Lasya Priya Rao Jarugumilli ’23 responded that the Lavender Committee is working on getting everyone who filled out the form a binder and has ordered more. The senator from the Animal Welfare Organization, Sonia Ramanathan ’25, asked what Pangy Day is. Vice President of SGA Ananya Singh ’22 replied that Pangy Day is a Spring semester tradition and is usually celebrated on the last day of classes. There will be maypole dancing and other activities on Skinner Green. Another student asked a clarifying question on what Drag Ball is. Jarugumilli responded that Drag Ball, which is thrown by FAMILIA, a Mount Holyoke student organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ students of color, is an event where

the group hires drag queens to perform.

Matthews then asked senators to reflect on the recent Town Hall with Health Services. Allyn said that she enjoyed the PowerPoint structure of their presentation. Matthews also announced that the senate is looking for a new Chair of Halls, senate and special interests for the next academic year. The intent to run form is due by April 17, and students can nominate themselves and others. The election form will open after speeches are given at senate on April 19. Matthews encouraged senators to run for these positions.

Senate concluded with senators joining their commissions to discuss the petitions that they have been working on over the semester.

New Testing Center staffing shortages cause limited hours

BY KATIE GOSS ’23 BUSINESS MANAGER & NEWS EDITOR

Starting April 8, the COVID-19 Testing Center will no longer be open on Fridays, an April 6 “MHC This Week” email announced. At the senate Town Hall that took place on April 5, Cheryl Flynn, the director of Health Services at the College, said that the recent change in hours is due to staffing shortages at the testing center.

Students are still required to get tested twice a week, with their first testing day being Monday or

OPINION: Campus party etiquette needs to change

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Tuesday. The email suggested that students formerly on a Monday/ Thursday schedule should now be on a Monday/Wednesday schedule, and those formerly on a Tuesday/ Friday schedule should move to a Tuesday/Thursday schedule.

There must be at least one day in between testing days. Employees are still required to get tested once a week.

Testing center hours are from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Any questions about testing should be sent to mhc-testing-g@ mtholyoke.edu.

BOOKS: Students share favorite poems

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FEATURES

April 15, 2022

. Mount Holyoke News

Eastern European students weigh in on the Ukrainian War

Photo courtesy of Vadim Ghirda Above, an unidentified resident walks through the remains of a building in Borodyanka, Ukraine.

BY ELLA JACOB ’24 BOOKS EDITOR & COPY EDITOR

Content warning: This article discusses war and state violence.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the largest military assault instigated

by Europe since World War II. Since the attack began, more than 10 million Ukrainians are estimated to have fled their homes, and according to a statement from the United Nations, as many as 1,793 civilians are confirmed to have died.

Putin has long claimed that Ukraine is Russian territory, rather than an independent country.

Ukraine, the second-largest country in Europe, gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Soon after, in 1994, the United States, the United Kingdom and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, declaring that they would not use military or economic force against Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan except in situations of self-defense, according to Brookings. In turn, Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan gave up their nuclear weapons. Both before and after Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons — the third-largest stockpile in the world — the country only had physical access to the nuclear power, while Russia maintained operational control, according to the Jamestown Foundation.

In 2013, the Budapest Memorandum broke when Ukrainians rebelled against their pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, for refusing to sign an EU association agreement, according to Vox. Yanukovych attempted to violently quell these demonstrations, leading to anti-government protests that oust-

ed Yanukovych as president. Since then, Russia has invaded and annexed Crimea, a region recognized by many countries — such as the United States and France — as belonging to Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainians have died amid the conflict.

Putin has justified this advance by claiming that Russians and Ukrainians are one and the same, stating in a Feb. 21, 2022 speech, “Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia … from the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine,” as reported by Reuters. Although Putin believes that Ukraine is inherently tied to Russia, Ukraine has long been an independent country.

Students discuss current war Millions of citizens of neighboring Eastern European countries have experienced the immediate effects of this conflict. Eastern European students from the Five Colleges commented on the circumstances in the hopes of helping others to better understand the war and its fatal consequences.

“War is horror and pain,” Masha Klymenko ’23, a Ukrainian student, began. “I dreamed of coming to Kyiv to my mother for the summer break … I loved to sit on the swing and read a book in our garden, inhaling the scent of dozens of rose bushes. In the evenings, [my] grandfather watered them, and the yard was filled with freshness. Now, I don’t know when it will all be in my life again.”

Klymenko emphasized the cruelty of war and how it disturbs the path many are familiar with. “You make plans, dream about the future,

you rejoice, grieve, date. … Then one moment, [there are] rockets and bombs, people die. And time for you starts to go differently. You no longer have Mondays, Tuesdays — now, you have the first day of the war, the second day of the war, the 48th day of the war … everything around [you] is changing. What was important to you one day is now completely insignificant. All your plans for the future are no longer a reality. Your world has changed: a lot of death, pain, cruelty and injustice.”

A Smith College student from Georgia, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed that “the war is absolutely horrible … it is the pure ambition of a single man who wants to expand his territories further and disrupt the emerging democracy in Ukraine.”

Georgia, a country located in the Caucasus, emerged as an independent republic after a revolution against the Russian Empire in 1917.

After World War I, the country was invaded by the Soviet Union until it successfully seceded in 1991, with other countries under Soviet control declaring independence soon after, according to The Washington Post.

The War in Abkhazia began the year after the country’s independence — the first time Russia encroached into Georgia after the fall of the Soviet Union, intending to start an ethnic conflict between Abkhazians and Georgians.

Anno Kostava ’24, a Georgian student, provided context about this conflict.

“Abkhazians and Georgians have been united under [Georgia] … When we had kings, they all were called the kings of Abkhazians, Kakhetinans, Georgians, so we were always together. … What Russia tried to do was make [a] conflict between our ethnicities by saying they are an independent country.

Georgians have been living there for a very long time, but after the conflict, Russians made Georgians [out to be] villains and even encouraged [Abkhazians] to create [the] Abkhaz language, when they always talked in Georgian,” Kostava explained. “It is not just Putin. In 1992, there was no Putin. Russia has been doing this for a very long time.”

The tensions borne from the conflict led to the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, when Russian-backed forces began attacking Georgian villages. It is largely regarded as the first 21st-century European war.

“I was seven when my country got into a war with Russia and I still remember the emotions from many years ago,” the anonymous student

stated. “The war with Ukraine feels like my country, my family and my loved ones are fighting, even though I have no relations with Ukraine except for a few friends from there.

This war is definitely personal and makes me feel scared that my country and [I] will be the next to suffer similar casualties.”

According to the BBC, the 2008 war, which lasted for 12 days, saw Russia take over two Georgian provinces — South Ossetia and Abkhazia — and worsened relations between the two countries. Russia continues to unlawfully occupy a portion of Georgia, with the border between the two countries continuing to move as Russia illegally gains territory.

Kostava and Mariam Gabidzashvili ’24, also from Georgia, weighed in on how the conflict has hit close to home.

“It is disheartening and extremely scary,” Kostava began. “I am grateful that my family is safe right now, but I can’t seem to stop thinking about people fighting in Ukraine, brave Ukrainians and many Georgians who are there to help. I am deeply worried about the future.”

“If this aggression is not stopped, then Ukraine will simply cease to exist, and my country will be swallowed next,” Kostava said.

Gabidzashvili did not refrain from sharing her true feelings about Putin.

“Putin is a piece of shit formally known as a war criminal,” Gabidzashvili began. “It’s scary to think about how long this was being planned because even though it happened in one night for people in Ukraine and everyone else, this has been on Putin’s agenda for years. …

He has been occupying territories and making smaller scale invasions that every other country has been neglecting.”

Similar to the sentiments of the anonymous Smith student, Gabidzashvili expressed the fear “that something can happen any minute.

Especially to my country and my family … Everyone I love is scared for the future because they live next to Russia.” Gabidzashvili emphasized that “Putin will want more, and he will take more if countries don’t start acting. … This is not going to stop with Ukraine.”

Kostava echoed this sentiment. “[This invasion] has been going on longer than it seems and this attack on Ukraine is not a surprise,” Kostava said. “Unfortunately, people are not aware of the [Russian] aggression that has been going on before this war.”

Kostava ended with a criticism

of other governments and their actions, or lack thereof, toward the war, noting, “I would want others, especially in the West, to know that their governments are responsible … and sanctions are too weak — some of [them] are lies, even — to stop these killings.”

Not only are citizens from countries neighboring Russia disturbed by the war, but some Russian citizens themselves have expressed similar sentiments.

“I despise this war started

by Russia. It ruins the lives of Ukrainian citizens, mutilates beautiful Ukrainian cities and land, and irreversibly degrades the countries of Russia and Belarus,” Ivan Gurov, a Russian freshman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said.

“I despise all the intentions and factors which made such war desirable and all the committed war crimes possible. [The] imperialistic urges of the marasmic old man with absolute power, ever-present xenophobia in Russian people, patriarchy consuming Russian society and fear of the government inherited by generations of Russian all enabled this war.”

Gurov recognized that “because of the war, as a Russian citizen, I realized that I had a terrible misunderstanding of how Russian hearts and minds are truly changed by propaganda … from people faithfully supporting the war to the masses disagreeing … who have adopted the fear to take action induced by the Russian government. … I had no real conception of the proportions of this influence prior to the war. I also realized how privileged I am to be away from the fighting, to be away from economic disasters and to be able to speak my mind truthfully based on my values. I hope and know that the free-minded people of Ukraine will defeat the authoritarian threat that has already consumed my nation,” Gurov concluded. “Fuck Red Cross, donate to local initiatives and real people.”

As the seventh week of the invasion began, the violence continued. In the wake of apparent war crimes committed in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, including mass graves with the bodies of civilians killed by Russian soldiers, and other instances of executions and brutalization of Ukrainian citizens, U.S. President Joe Biden has called for a war crimes trial against Putin, according to CNBC. Klymenko concluded, “Our family is lucky, we are all together, and we are safe, but our hearts remain … in Ukraine, and they bleed.”

Sonya Stephens discusses use of racial slur, antisemitism on campus, cont’d u

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garding the difference between race and ethnicity, and in doing so she invoked the title of a book. The book title used the n-word, which Stephens said out loud,” the article described.

In her recent interview with Mount Holyoke News, Stephens re-addressed this event. “I own what happened. I’m really sorry for what happened. I think I’ll continue to live with what happened,” Stephens said.

“The intention was not to harm … and it doesn’t matter. The fact that I did harm is the cause of my pain and my apology.”

Despite this event taking place multiple years before many current students arrived at Mount Holyoke, it has had an impact on Stephens’ legacy.

Myrha-Lissa Chery ’23, a current Posse scholar, shared that though she had not yet been on campus at the time, Stephens’ action still impacted her reputation. “This event definitely affected the way I viewed Stephens because right after she supposedly spoke about how inexcusable it is to use the word in any context, even in academic readings, she said it at a Posse retreat full of people who would either be directly hurt by the use of the slur, or knew people who would be affected [by] it,” Chery said. “Her behavior and her actions were hypocritical and careless. When I heard that she said it, my opinion of her definitely soured and never really recovered, because to me there is no excusable instance where a non-Black person uses the slur.”

When considering her own impacts on her legacy, Stephens said that she hopes her other commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion “will speak for themselves.”

Presidency & setting new goals With her official inauguration as president, Stephens was able to focus on more projects, including the construction of the Fimbel Maker and Innovation Lab and the creation of the Chen Studio in the Art building. These two projects were undertaken to build spaces where more interdisciplinary, hands-on work is possible. “All of these new facilities … enable us to do innovative things in classes,” Stephens said.

This investment in creativity, however, has not recently been reflected in the College’s academic direction.

Zoe Fieldman ’22 is a Theatre Arts major — a major that no longer exists for new students.

When the College announced the merger between Theatre Arts and Film to create the current Film Media Theater major, Fieldman was confused. “One of the reasons [the College] gave [for the merge] was that our department at the time was too similar to a conservatory model which went against the school’s commitment to the liberal arts. At the time, that reason made very little sense to myself and my peers as our department was nowhere close to mimicking a conservatory model — in fact, many of us wished the caliber of courses offered would be more similar to that of a conservatory,” Fieldman explained.

In addition to this merger, other proposals have been put forward in the same vein. These have included a proposal to fuse Mount Holyoke’s language departments, as well as bringing together distant fields such as the Gender Studies, Africana Studies and Critical Social Thought departments.

While Stephens is not in control of the academic direction of the College, she still claims to champion the

liberal arts, especially humanities and languages. “I’m a humanist at heart. I care deeply about the humanities. All the work I do is in the humanities,” she said. “The faculty own the curriculum, and the faculty are those who are best positioned to think about what the curriculum needs to be for the future,” Stephens added. “It needs to be sustainable and affordable, and meet the needs of the students, because there’s no point in offering a curriculum if nobody wants to take it. That will be the end of the institution.”

Mountain Day scheduled on Jewish High Holiday Other incidents during Stephens’ presidency have challenged her continued commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

On Oct. 1, 2019, Mountain Day was scheduled on the second day of the Jewish High Holiday Rosh Hashanah.

Mountain Day is Mount Holyoke’s oldest tradition, during which, on a unscheduled day in the fall, the College cancels all classes and invites students to hike to the Summit House of Mt. Holyoke, according to the College’s website. As the one who announces Mountain Day, the College president is the face of this decision. “[Stephens]’ decision to hold Mountain Day 2019 on the second day of Rosh Hashanah set the tone for the rest of her interactions with the Jewish community on campus,” Giovanna Wiseman ’22, co-chair of the Jewish Student Union, said.

In an Oct. 2, 2019 letter, she apologized to the community. “I deeply regret that some members of our community had to make choices yesterday between Rosh Hashanah and participating in Mountain Day events,” Stephens wrote. “I acknowl-

edge your deep and righteous disappointment, hurt and frustration, and I am truly sorry. We must uphold the values and practice of being the truly inclusive College that we strive to be.”

Elaborating on this apology, she said to Mount Holyoke News, “I’m deeply sorry … I apologize, really, on behalf of the College and for myself, and for anybody else involved in it.

And it was a very difficult moment for us all.” Stephens acknowledged that incidents such as this one may “embed the notion that the Jewish holidays didn’t matter” in the Mount Holyoke academic calendar.

“Her apology failed to repair the harm done by her choice. It made the Jewish community feel as though we were not important in the eyes of the College, and amplified already existing fears about our traditions and faith not being respected on campus,” Wiseman said.

Following this incident, Stephens said she worked to prevent it from happening again. “We met with students, we met with the Jewish Student [Union],” Stephens said.

“We really had very thoughtful exchanges and conversations.”

During Stephens’ presidency, further acts of antisemitism have taken place on campus, notably the repeated, targeted antisemitic graffiti drawn in the third floor of 1837 Hall.

“I do consider Nazi swastika as a hate crime,” Stephens told Mount Holyoke News.

Stephens also discussed the common perception that the College’s response to these incidents had been “uncoordinated,” saying, “From my perspective, it’s been highly coordinated.” Stephens added, “There have been a number of administrators — including myself — involved in talking with student groups, fac-

ulty, parents, the Anti-Defamation League, and really thinking about what work can be done on campus.”

As of April 15, 2022, there are still no results from the investigation of these hate crimes. However, Stephens said, when there are results, the College “will act upon it.”

“I want to give [Stephens] credit for releasing statements of support quickly following the first two incidents of antisemitism in the fall and attending several Zoom calls in the aftermath of the events. However, for the most part, we work with other members of the administration, as [Stephens] has never really been the catalyst for positive change on campus as it pertains to Jewish students,” Wiseman said.

“I think the College has an antisemitism problem and [Stephens] doesn’t want to admit it, for fear of bad publicity,” Wiseman said. “Besides her initial involvement, she hasn’t reached out to us or offered additional support. I was talking to the board last week, and we were all reflecting about how tired we are.

Along with our amazing Chaplain Amelia Ender, we have been singlehandedly emotionally supporting Jewish students on campus through these events. I feel that the College should take some responsibility for that.”

Stephens refocuses on sustainability Another primary goal reportedly prioritized throughout Stephens’ presidency was that of increased environmental sustainability on the part of Mount Holyoke. At the start of her official presidency, she shared a letter outlining her goals. Looking back, Stephens shared, “One was to say, we’re going to start work on CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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April 15, 2022

GLOBAL

. Mount Holyoke News

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Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi declares interest in Nigerian presidency

BY CYNTHIA AKANAGA ’25 STAFF WRITER

In its nearly 62 years of independence, Nigeria has never had a female president. There have, though, been many women over the years who have tried to secure enough votes to win the presidential elections. The 2023 presidential elections have seen a rise in the number of female candidates, with Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi being the first woman to declare interest, as reported by BBC Pidgin.

Nafeesah Ahmed-Adedoja ’23, an international student from the U.K. and Nigeria, shared that she was “inspired by [Okunnu-Lamidi]’s political ambitions and what she seeks to achieve for Nigeria.”

The 38-year-old Nigerian, who goes by the nickname “Kol Nigeria,” was drawn to the goal of leading Nigeria after the EndSARS anti-police brutality protest, according to her interview with BBC News Pidgin. “I tink di time wen I [firmly decided to contest for the presidency was] around [the time of the] EndSARS [protest],” Okunnu-Lamidi said.

Photo courtesy of Shiraz Chakera via WikiMedia Commons The #EndSARS movement, Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi was the first woman to declare interest in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, sparking conversation. Above, the meeting place of the Nigerian House of Representatives. which started in October 2020, was “To be honest, I feel like that is care anymore about participating in respect for him. But that doesn’t “proud to hail from a long line of spurred by increasing police brutality in Nigeria. People specifically a stupid argument because we have Nigerian politics because at the end change the fact that Nigerians are professionals, technocrats and inprotested against the actions of the had male leaders since our indepen- of it all you hear that the election got looking for a young person with vi- telligentsia.” In a country where apSpecial Anti-Robbery Squad, a Ni- dence and even pre-independence. rigged somewhere. Then, the person brancy.” A majority of the country’s proximately 40 percent of its citizens gerian task force responsible for vi- Looking at the state of Nigeria, I they voted for and who becomes the registered voters fall between the fall below the poverty line, according ages of 18 and 35, who — according to the World Bank, some question olent crimes such as robberies and do not think anybody has any right leader are different people.”

Regarding the future of Nigerian to DW — would prefer a younger how she would gain this portion of kidnappings, The New York Times to make such a statement anymore because the so-called men who have leadership, both students expressed candidate. While Okunnu-Lamidi the population’s votes. reported. views her age as advantageous for Umoye responded to this debate.

According to Amnesty Interna- been ready for decades to run Nige- similar sentiments for change.

“I hope that within our genera- her campaign, it could also be taken “What matters more is how tional, the culmination of the #End- ria have not done any good jobs,” SARS protest was on October 20, Umoye said. “The men that have tion we can see that fear be pulled as evidence of her inexperience in her campaign strategy includes the masses. That is what really matters 2020, when “12 peaceful protesters been in power all this while, have back and people embrace what Ni- the political world.

Umoye reiterated this senti- more than her background,” Umoye were killed and hundreds severe- they done anything to change the geria could be and will be with the right leaders and with the right ment. “Nigeria is a complex country said. “How will she reach out to marly injured when the Nigerian army state of the country? Nothing.”

Umoye added, “You hear of mindset from the people because it and unfortunately, [the election] is ket [to] women? How will she reach and police open-fired into a crowd of #EndSARS protesters at Alausa and shooters today, tomorrow they are is wrong to place all the blame on the not just about campaigning. There out to students? How will she reach bombing air- leaders of the country,” Ahmed-Ade- is a lot of power-play that goes into out to the older generation who Lekki Toll Gate ports and they doja said. these things,” Umoye said. “If you do don’t even want to vote or even have Lagos.” This instill do not care, Umoye echoed a similar idea. not really have any political backing any care about voting anymore in cident has since “The men that have been so it is scary be“I think it’s just important go- or connection in any form, it is going Nigeria?” been dubbed the cause we basical- ing forward, we really need to de- to be really difficult to win.”

Ahmed-Adedoja also echoed the Lekki Toll Gate in power all this while, ly don’t have a cide what kind of person we select Umoye also expressed some consame idea regarding Okunnu-Lamimassacre. have they done anything government. We as leaders,” Umoye said. “If a lot cerns about Okunnu-Lamidi’s inex- di’s social class.

Being from to change the state of the just have people of these resources were provided perience. “I feel like I can relate to “I think that she’s well-read Lagos State, country? Nothing.” who are filling such as free access to food, at least that because leading a country, espe- enough to know what the people Okunnu-Lamidi their pockets get- for people below a certain income cially a country like Nigeria requires are expecting of her. I don’t think was motivated ting rich on the every month, especially during this a lot. That is what goes into the bad that we always need people from the by this event to – Ella Umoye ’25 money of people COVID[-19] period, if they were able development and bad leadership in same background as us to lead us to seek out youth who can’t even to give the jobs that they give to Nigeria because a lot of people enter success or to lead us to greatness. I candidates to afford things and people abroad to educated youths these roles without knowing what don’t think that that’s how leaderrun for the presidency, according to BBC Pidgin. As then have no care whatsoever for the in Nigeria and if they could provide it means to truly be a leader, and ship or how being a successful leadaccess to basic human necessities, instead do it for their own personal er [works]. I think it’s about undershe detailed in her interview, Okun- masses.”

Ahmed-Adedoja believes this Nigeria will be ten times better than gains,” Umoye said. standing the needs of the population nu-Lamidi tried to approach a lot of Ahmed-Adedoja, however, be- and the people that you’re serving young people she felt would be good question stretches beyond the idea what it is right now. I guess what I’m candidates, but they either thought of the country being ready and re- just hoping for Nigeria is that in the lieves that this question about the to the best of your ability and reit was a trick or that they should re- veals what is truly holding the peo- 2023 elections, something actually candidate’s experience highlights cruiting people from these commuple back. “Nigeria has not reached changes.” the double standards for women nities to serve as activists or advomain without a leader. in politics. “It’s not surprising,” cates as you make these decisions,” “You no fit enta politics without the stage where it is ready for a Preparing for the election Ahmed-Adedoja said. “I know that Ahmed-Adedoja said. [a] leader. [Instead of trying to con- leader that is ready to redirect the Bola Tinubu, the former Lagos she said in one of her interviews that “You don’t necessarily need to vince others, I knew I had to] carry nation. What I mean by that is there dat risk if I really wan see a beta are many leaders who have had State governor, who is regarded as getting criticism isn’t the end of her have the same background in order working Nigeria,” Okunnu-Lamidi great plans and ambitions. However, one of the richest people in Nigeria, political ambition and that she was to enact change,” Ahmed-Adedoja said. When she was unable to find it is the fear of change, the fear of has also thrown his hat in the ring to expecting that. Which great woman added. “It’s all about being a listenany willing prospects, she decided having a younger leader and the fear compete for the presidency, accord- hasn’t had that level of criticism be- ing voice and hearing the demands to take matters into her own hands of being redirected after such a long ing to Deutsche Welle. Currently, he fore they went on to achieve some- of [the] people that you’re serving to change her country for the better. time that is holding the nation back,” is viewed as the most likely to win — thing phenomenal? Every single so that you can make real change in according to poll reporting from PM leader goes through a phase where real time.”

In a country that has never had Ahmed-Adedoja said.

In line with the issue of Nigeri- News Nigeria — due to his economic there is a lot of uncertainty about Whether Okunnu-Lamidi wins a female president, for some, the question arises, “Is Nigeria ready for ans being held back by fear, Umoye status and his seat as the national their ambitions and qualifications, the election or not, Ahmed-Adedoja one?” Headlines from news sourc- also pointed out another issue that leader of the All Progressives Con- and as a woman, unfortunately, that believes she will remain a force to be es such as Premium Times Nigeria, plagues the citizens. “Now, the sit- gress party, one of the major politi- has been maximized. But I think that reckoned with in the political world. in the long run, it’s just a matter of Ahmed-Adedoja said, “I think that Vanguard Nigeria and Bizwatch re- uation is not that Nigerians would cal parties in Nigeria. not want to vote for her, it is that In regards to Tinubu, Okun- proving to a greater Nigerian popu- she’s a great candidate and I think flect this national conversation. that whether she wins or not, she’s Ella Umoye ’25, a student from Nigerians do not even want to vote nu-Lamidi stated in an interview lation, her ability and her goals.”

The presidential aspirant comes going to be a storm blazer in the Nigeria, provided a perspective on at all for anybody,” Umoye said. “I with BBC Pidgin, “He’s the national whether the nation is ready for a fe- have had many conversations with leader of the APC; he has contributed from a wealthy family, and, as she coming few years in Nigerian poliother Nigerians, and they do not to national politics and I have great wrote in her campaign website, is tics.” male president.

Minamata Convention on Mercury discusses dangers of mercury poisoning

BY YUYANG WANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

According to a report published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the neurotoxin mercury exists in multiple facets of people’s lives. The EPA also reported that the ingestion of large amounts of mercury can have serious negative health effects, particularly impacting the nervous system. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include tremors, insomnia, memory loss, headaches, muscle weakness and, in extreme cases, death. To address this global challenge, representatives from state governments, United Nations agencies, academia and civil society gathered in Bali, Indonesia at the second segment of the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury in March, according to the Minamata Convention’s website.

The World Health Organization stated that there are two primary groups of people who are at high risk of mercury consumption. The first is

unborn fetuses, for whom methylmercury — an organic compound that accumulates in fish — exposure can lead to nervous system and adverse brain effects. This exposure can come from the womb itself when the pregnant person consumes of fish or shellfish. The second at-risk group is populations occupationally exposed to high levels of mercury on a regular basis, such as subsistence fishing communities. According to research led by research scientist Raphael A. Lavoie, the Northwest Pacific, Western Central Pacific and Eastern India Oceans are the three regions that have the highest overall mercury export. These regions account for 60 percent of global mercury exposure. As explained in Lavoie’s paper, “These zones are where coastal population density is high and where marine resources represent a significant proportion of the human diet, harvest or trade commodities.”

The Minamata Convention’s official website introduces itself as “the most recent global agreement on environment and health, adopted

Photo courtesy of Flickr Governmental and scientific leaders met in March to discuss the global risk of mercury poisoning.

in 2013.” The website also shares the origins of the Convention’s name, explaining, “It is named after the bay in Japan where, in the mid-20th century, mercury-tainted industrial wastewater poisoned thousands of people, leading to severe health damage that became known as the ‘Minamata disease.’”

Preventing mercury exposure The fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury took place from March 21-25, 2022. According to updates published by the Minamata Convention’s official website, the convention outlined several steps to prevent mercury exposure to global

populations, including the following: “Eight mercury-added products such as compact fluorescent lamps, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, photograph film and paper, and propellant for satellites” will be phased out.

Dental amalgam, a form of mercury sometimes used to treat dental cavities, will be phased down via statewide bans. Convention members agreed to add two more measures to save patients from the use of mercury in various forms of dental practices.

Gender will be a factor in “all activities, projects and programs undertaken under the Convention, including the development of a gender action plan based on an already presented roadmap.”

Locating mercury-filled products Mercury can be found in numerous day-to-day products and in many commonly frequented environments. There are several ways

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

April 15, 2022

. Mount Holyoke News

Indigenous artists in residence present ‘Ancestral Memories’ “My own use of my own land acknowledgment is going rogue, right?

I used my own because I feel like The Mount Holyoke College Art it’s more meaningful and more imMuseum, in collaboration with the pactful and more accurate and more University of Melbourne and a team thoughtful than the one that is being of Indigenous Australian artists, presented to us to offer up as the ofhosted an event on Thursday, April ficial body of the College,” Thorner 7, called “Ancestral Memories: Art- later shared. ists in Conversation.”

After Thorner’s statement, MaThe artists, Maree Clarke (Mutti ree Clarke, one of the visiting artists, Mutti/Wamba Wamba/Yorta Yorta/ took over. Maree Clarke gave a preBoonwurrung), Nicholas Hoving- sentation about her work as an artist ton (Palawa), Kerri Clarke (Boon- reviving cultural practices in Southwurrung/Wemba Wemba), Mitch eastern Australia. She described Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Wemba herself as an “independent multiWemba/Barkindji) and Molly Ma- disciplinary artist and curator with honey (Boonwurrung/Wemba Wem- more than 30 years working with ba/Barkindji), are currently in resi- First Nations people.” She spoke dence at Mount Holyoke as a part of about Aboriginal art practices and Assistant Professor of Anthropology how they are connected to country, Sabra Thorner’s “Special Topics in culture and place, and shared stories Anthropology: Decolonizing Muse- about taking the teeth out of kangaums” seminar. The class has been roo roadkill to make necklaces. focusing on centering Indigenous “[Maree Clarke] described the knowledge practices and art making PowerPoint she presented as her over a more cololife’s work. … nial lens.

It was going Associate through every“It is so necessary to be in thing she had Curator of Visual and Material community and in solidarity done artistically Culture and Naand it was really with each other.” tive American cool to see how Graves Protecit had changed tion and Repaover the years, – Sabra Thorner triation Act Cobut also how she ordinator Aaron had gotten more Miller and Thorner opened the influence from her family,” ​​ DomeAncestral Memories event. Thorn- nica Guaman ’22, an anthropology er gave an updated version of the and Spanish major who attended the usual Mount Holyoke College land event, said. Guaman is also a student acknowledgment, urging audience in Thorner’s seminar. members to understand the history Ellen Alvord ’89, the associate of the Nonotuck land that the Col- director for engagement and Weathlege is situated on. erbie curator of academic programs, “I encourage all of you to learn shared a similar sentiment to Guaabout and to amplify the contempo- man. rary work of the Indigenous nations “Understanding the scope of whose land you’re on, and also en- what [Maree Clarke has] done in deavor to support Indigenous sover- her lifetime, to bring those practices eignty in all the ways that you can,” back in her research, and in her conshe said. nection with her family, and bringThorner also connected her ing in new generations to take up land acknowledgment to the artists. that practice — I thought that was “Your engagement with and your really inspiring,” she said. witnessing of the work of these artMuch of Maree Clarke’s presenists is part of that process, so I ex- tation heavily involved her family, tend my gratitude to you for coming who were also present at the Anhere today,” she said. cestral Memories event. They sat at

BY LUCY OSTER ’23 STAFF WRITER

Photo courtesy of Ellen Alvord ’89 At “Ancestral Memories: Artists in Conversation,” a team of Indigenous Australian artists stand in front of a sculpture by Hector Dionico Mendoza.

a table next to where Maree Clarke presented, acting as a panel for the question and answer session that followed Maree Clarke’s presentation.

Erin Foley ’24, an anthropology and political science major who attended the event, said, “It was … really cool to see a multigenerational family working together collectively as artists.” Foley asked a question during the question and answer session about how their community has changed over the years, to which Kerri Clarke mentioned feeling “secure” in passing on cultural practices to the younger members of the family, Mitch and Molly Mahoney.

The final product of Thorner’s “Special Topics in Anthropology: Decolonizing Museums” seminar is a collaboratively-made possum skin cloak as a form of Indigenous knowledge transmission. The vis-

iting artists are at Mount Holyoke, guiding and teaching the students in that class how to make the cloak.

The cloak is not yet complete, but the MHCAM is looking to acquire it once it is.

“We are planning on putting the work into a show for the fall that focuses on some broad themes and conversations around indigeneity,” Miller said.

“The cloak and the conversation about the project on campus and the work that [Maree Clarke] and her family are doing: that’s going to be one conversation in a broader exhibition. Thinking about place, thinking about how objects end up in museums and then go home again. This is about reclaiming traditional ways and sharing those with communities,” Miller added.

Community was a common

theme at the event. “I think that for me, [the event] really became about not only having the artists speak to and reach a broader audience in this bigger context of decolonizing museums,” Thorner said. “It also became about a kind of mission for me, to be like, ‘this has been so hard. I am going to stand up and thank everyone.’ And part of that is about forging community. This is hard, we’re in a hard moment, but it can be done.

And it is so necessary to be in community and in solidarity with each other.”

Alvord concluded, “There’s just so much meaning, and so to think about having Mount Holyoke students be a part of that process, and have something involved in storytelling that’s meaningful in this moment, to that group, is really exciting.”

‘Red Rainbow’ student performance arrives at Mount Holyoke’s Rooke Theatre

Photos courtesy of Wei Shao ’22 Mount Holyoke student actors perform in the first live, in-person production of Azure D. Osborne Lee’s new full-length play, “Red Rainbow,” which ran from March 31 to April 3. The show’s lighting was by Rori Haft ’25, with set design by Wei Shao ’22.

BY ROWAN BERSTEIN ’22 & ROSE COHEN ’22 STAFF WRITER | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Beginning on March 31 and running through April 3, Rooke Theatre staged the first live, in-person production of Azure D. Osborne-Lee’s new full-length play, “Red Rainbow.”

The play, which has its characters embark on a fantastical journey through a strange world, was selected as a part of the film, media, theater department’s effort to center nonwhite narratives.

“Red Rainbow,” directed by Theatre Arts major Zoë Fieldman ’22, follows a young woman named Ixchel (Arianna Peña ’25) as she and her friend Nathaniel (Adjoa Baidoo ’24) are transported through a circle of mushrooms to a magical world.

Along with strange beings, like a sentient network of mushrooms, Ixchel meets gods and humans who help her connect with her Mayan heritage. They also teach her how to give her abuelita, whose spirit is caught between life and death, a proper funeral — one appropriate to her culture.

Ixchel shares her name with a

Mayan goddess of healing and midwifery, a fact that was explained in an insert in the show’s program, which elaborated on some of the cultural details found in the play.

Georgia Rose ’25, who played Sunface or El Sol Sí Mismo , an antagonist who pursues the main characters on their journey, had a positive experience acting in the play. “What I loved so much about this production was that it was very collaborative,” Rose said. “Whenever we had an idea or a concern, [Fieldman] was so open and took our thoughts into consideration much more than any other production I’ve been in.”

Maelyn Brade ’25, who took on the role of Officer, echoed what Rose said about being involved in “Red Rainbow.”

“My experience working on ‘Red Rainbow’ has been nothing but magical, in more ways than one,” Brade said. “Throughout the process I feel I got to know more about the theater department, while also bonding with some amazing people.”

Fieldman found it important to foster this kind of environment during the duration of the play and the rehearsals leading up to it. “I am much more interested in exper-

imental and non-traditional work … well prepared to handle the axe.” under which the role ‘director’ looks It’s fitting that Rose drew inspimuch different than as we learn ration for the role from her time in about it to be,” they said. “I wanted quarantine, as “Red Rainbow” takes to choose a cast that would work place during the COVID-19 panwith me and be excited about collab- demic. Feelings of isolation and a orating on their performance.” desire to escape influence the charPart of this acters’ motivacollaborative tions throughout process includthe play. In fact, “My experience worked stage combat, their journey ing on ‘Red Rainbow’ has choreographed begins with Nabeen nothing but magical,

by Assistant Prothaniel trying to fessor of Film get Ixchel out of in more ways than one.

Media Theater the house after Throughout the process I Noah Ilya-Alexis months of isolafeel I got to know more Tuleja. Sunface tion.

Additionwields an axe in ally, many moabout the theater departthe play, intendments of comedy ment, while also bonding ing to participate come from referwith some amazing people.” ences to the panin a ceremonial battle between demic, like Ixchel the Sun and the and Nathaniel – Maelyn Brade ’25 Morning Star, struggling to put or Venus, repreon their gloves senting the eternal conflict of the two and face masks. celestial bodies. This relationship In an unexpected moment becomes a problem for the protago- during the Saturday evening perfornists, as Sunface expects Nathaniel mance, one of Nathaniel’s ear loops to take on the role of his adversary. snapped as he attempted to put on “My quarantine hobby was his mask. Baidoo quickly recovered learning from lightsaber videos on with an improvised line about alTikTok,” Rose said, “so, I think I was ways bringing a spare, and was met

with laughter from members of the audience — it seemed that many could relate to the feeling of a mask mishap.

Fieldman commented on Baidoo’s improvisation, “I encouraged the cast to have some fun with the script and to improvise a bit — though not too much or else our stage manager would have difficulty calling the show — as an attempt to work with a script that was also still in process.”

The script of “Red Rainbow” is described as a “living document” in Fieldman’s director’s note, and the production at Rooke Theatre was the first time the show was staged in person after it was written in 2020 and initially premiered over Zoom.

“It was my intention to find a new play going into this process,” Fieldman said. “ I am more interested in process oriented art making versus a more final product focus.”

Future productions of “Red Rainbow” will likely look quite different from this one, but Mount Holyoke had a unique opportunity to showcase the play so early in its life.

Editor’s note: Arianna Peña ’25 is a member of Mount Holyoke News.

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 5 Mount Holyoke Health Services demystifies pap smears April 15, 2022

. Mount Holyoke News

BY ANOUSHKA KUSWAHA ’24 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

where you are viewed as a valued contributor and consultant on your care,” DeMartino said.

Content warning: This article mentions transphobia, suicidality and mental illness.

What is a pap smear?

“A pap smear is a test which looks for cellular changes in the cerThe school year is coming to an vix or early signs of cervical cancer,” end, and for many, this represents DeMartino explained.

According to the American both the end and the beginning of new phases of life. These transition- Academy of Family Physicians, the al moments are marked by tradi- cervix is “the opening between the tions, some that date back to the ear- vagina and the uterus.” The Amerily days of the College and some that can College of Obstetricians and Gyare brand new. Dr. Emily DeMartino, necologists define a cervical cancer a family nurse practitioner at Mount screening — which can either be a Holyoke College Health Services, pap smear/test or an HPV test; both has urged graduating students to tests use cells taken from the cervix form a new tradition themselves by — as an exam where patients lie on visiting Health Services for a pap an exam table, and an instrument called a speculum is used to hold smear before leaving campus.

DeMartino acknowledged that open the walls of a patient’s vagina. some may be resistant to the idea The speculum gives the practitioner of receiving a pap smear as a grad- a clear view of the cervix and the pauation present to oneself, as the tient’s upper vagina.

DeMartino then explained the procedure doesn’t have a reputation as being particularly comfortable. next steps of the procedure. “A small brush, which is “Pap smears are intimate, they’re “If you can get a pap smear similar to a mascara brush, is uncomfortable, now while you have access used to collect they can be trigto high-quality healthcare, a swish of cells gering for a lot of from the cerpeople,” DeMarplease do it.” vix. Just a little tino stated in an swoosh, and then interview with – Emily DeMartino those cells are Mount Holyoke sent to the lab News. However, they still expressed that they rec- for evaluation [in] a small vial of liqommend the procedure, stating, “If uid preservative, and a week or two you have been sexually active, have later, the lab will report results,” the a cervix and are over 21, I’m going to said.

According to DeMartino, pap recommend a pap smear.”

DeMartino reached out to Mount smears can help prevent cancer.

Holyoke News because they were “Over 95 percent of cervical cancers “compelled by the commitment to af- are caused by HPV. Three in four firming and empowering healthcare people who are sexually active … that supports students with tools for will have HPV at some point in their health.” They observed this commit- lives,” DeMartino explained.

According to the CDC, HPV is ment amongst their colleagues at Health Services as well. They want- the most common STI in the United to reach out to the broader com- ed States. In the majority of cases, munity upon reflection on their own HPV can go away on its own without experiences as a college student, causing health issues. DeMartino when they “experienced health care confirmed this, saying that “many that was affirming, that saw [them] people’s immune systems will clear as a human being [and] was com- or eradicate the infection [HPV], but in some people, chronic HPV infecpletely paradigm-changing.”

“It’s completely life changing to tion … can cause cellular damage have health care where you are lis- and may cause precancerous or cantened to, where you are respected, cerous changes.”

Graphic by Gabby Gagnon ’24

Certain types of HPV, such as HPV 16 or 18, are known to have a higher risk of causing these cellular changes, which, over prolonged periods of time, can lead to cervical cancer, according to DeMartino. They reassured, however, that these types of HPV are prevented from infecting the body through the HPV vaccine, thus emphasizing the critical importance of vaccination against HPV for all people.

Gender-inclusive health care DeMartino expressed that there is further urgency for people who are transmasculine to receive pap smears in a safe, high-quality health care environment.

“Transmasculine people with cervixes have an over 8 percent higher prevalence of unsatisfactory pap smears, and lower odds of receiving cervical pap tests than cisgender women. People who take testosterone have a higher chance of inadequate pap smears, because of the way testosterone can change internal genital tissue,” DeMartino explained. They reassured that pap smears are still very much viable for people who take testosterone and have cervixes, but that they will po-

Non-hormonal contraceptive for cis men found to be 99 percent effective in mice

BY SHIRA SADEH ’25 STAFF WRITER

A newly-developed contraceptive targeted toward cisgender men has a 99 percent success rate in preventing pregnancy in mice, according to an article published by The New York Times on March 25, 2022.

A report published by HealthDay found that past studies of cis male contraceptives have focused on targeting testosterone levels, whereas the current contraceptive in development works to reduce the funct i o n ing of a protein called retinoic acid receptor alpha, which affects sperm formation, embryonic development and cell growth. Researchers explained that this change in direction was due to the adverse side effects that often occur as a result of hormonal-based medication, such as weight gain, depression and high levels of cholesterol. Researchers also noted that the mice regained the ability to reproduce four to six weeks after halting regular pill consumption.

According to Nature Magazine, the search for a contraceptive for cis men has been active for decades.

“In the 1980s and 1990s, the World Health Organization oversaw testosterone-based trials. In 1996, WHO researchers succeeded in significantly reducing sperm counts in 98 percent of the 399 men injected with testosterone,” Nature reported. 70 percent of the men in the study had zero sperm counts and accounted for zero pregnancies, while the remaining group with reduced sperm counts accounted for four pregnancies. However, this method was used solely as “proof of concept” after side effects such as mood changes, weight gain and increased cholesterol levels were reported, according to Nature Magazine. Dr. Christina Wang, a former consultant for the WHO, stated that these reports

of side effects were inconsistent in these early studies and that this was likely due to changes in leadership within the facility from which the reports originated. Out of concern for the trial subjects, the trial was terminated soon after these reports were released. These side effects are similar to currently-reported side effects in cis women as a result of using various widely-available hormonal contraceptive methods.

According to the CDC, there are currently two medically-accepted birth control options for cis men: condoms and vasectomies. The CDC reported that condoms can not only serve as a form of birth control, but have the added benefit of preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections or diseases. Like birth control, however, condoms are not always effective. There is an average failure rate of 13 percent, and they are much more likely to tear when used with oil-based l u bricants such as baby oil, massage oils or lotions. The CDC stated that vasectomies are less likely to fail.

Vasectomies take approximately 12 weeks to fully come into effect, after which the failure rate is at approximately 0.15 percent.

The Guttmacher Institute reported in a fact sheet document that in 2011, there were 45 unwanted pregnancies for every 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44. This means that nearly 5 percent of reproductive-aged women in the study experienced an unwanted pregnancy every year. Currently, the page lists the conditions conducive to an unwanted pregnancy based on the pregnant person’s demographics and living conditions, and the preventative measures are based on their options for family planning.

This parallels the CDC list of approved birth control methods, where cis women use 17 out of the 19 methods listed.

In another Guttmacher Institute fact sheet released in 2021, it was

reported that 65 percent of women in the United States aged 15-49 used some form of contraception in 2018.

The two most common methods used were permanent contraception at 28 percent and birth control pills at 21 percent. According to Planned Parenthood, there are two types of birth control pills: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Combination pills combine the hormones progestin and estrogen, while progestin-only pills only contain progestin.

While progestin-only pills must be taken at the same time every day to protect the user from pregnancy, combination pills offer more flexibility regarding timing.

Because these are both hormonal contraceptives, Planned Parenthood warns that these pills can cause some side effects, especially for new users. Some of the side effects are headaches, nausea, sore breasts, changes in period cycles and spotting in between periods. Complications are extremely rare but can include heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and liver tumors. These more serious complications are not associated with progestin-only pills.

Contrasting contraceptives such as hormonal birth control pills and IUDS, the contraceptive pill for cis men was specifically created on a non-hormonal basis to avoid negative side effects.

M . D .

Abdullah Al Noman, who presented the findings to the American Chemical Society said, “We wanted to develop a non-hormonal male contraceptive to avoid these side effects.” The fact that hormonal pills targeted at cis women often produce these negative side effects can be explained by researchers as less concerning due to cis women’s more predictable cycles. This is often seen as a double standard, however, as stated in a New York Times article by Dr. Bobby Najari, the director of the Male Infertility Program at New York University Langone Health.

Graphic by Anjali Rao-Herel ’22

tentially “[recommend the] use [of] an estrogen cream for a week or so before a pap smear appointment to improve sample results.”

There are also additional options for HPV testing that allows for cervical cancer screening besides pap smears that are showing promising results, such as self-swabbing for HPV, DeMartino added.

As to why DeMartino emphasizes the above statistic, they explained, “Healthcare providers often understand queer and trans people from a deficits-based model, which is very disappointing. Being transgender is just a normal part of human variation, but a lot of health care for us focuses on disease burden, particularly trauma, suicidality and mental illness.” DeMartino continued, “While I understand this from a prevention perspective, centering our wellness gaps is very limiting. As a patient, it can feel harmful and hurtful to be othered and understood as atypical, when structural transphobia and the resultant inequity are drivers of these gaps.”

As students enter the adult world, especially visible amongst those staying in the United States, there remain issues of health equi-

ty that they will need to work hard to address in order to lead healthy lives. “People have inconsistent health insurance. It’s hard to get in with healthcare providers … people should access care when they have it, so [students] should come and get their testing,” DeMartino said.

They also emphasized that they and their colleagues at Health Services will speak with students on a caseby-case basis to find out the testing that works best for them, and that they “would invite you to celebrate your graduation with cervical cancer screening.”

“Screening and early detection of cervical cancer is critical because it is slow-growing and because it is extremely treatable. … If you can get a pap smear now while you have access to high-quality healthcare, please do it.” DeMartino continued.

DeMartino values informed, collaborative healthcare between a patient and their provider, but noted that an imbalance remains between providers and patients. Providers do appreciate, and often need, a nudge indicating whether they should provide extra support and address specific needs that patients may have.

DeMartino emphasized that patients “must trust [themselves] and know that no one is entitled to [their] body, not even healthcare providers.”

Regarding making pap smears more comfortable, DeMartino offered the following tips to Mount Holyoke students. These options can include inserting the speculum yourself during a pap smear, bringing a friend or a support person to any and all appointments or bringing headphones and music to your appointment.

There is also flexibility in scheduling appointments and procedures, wherein patients “can talk about a test on one day, and we can plan to do it in a second appointment or a third appointment,” DeMartino stated. “There’s lots of techniques we can use, and your healthcare providers should always be happy to work with you on it … But let us know where you’re at, give us a clue, and I am confident that we will show up for you.”

Climate Activist Spotlight: Aletta Brady

Graphic by Sofía Savid ’24

BY HELEN GLOEGE ’23 STAFF WRITER

Aletta Brady defines themself as a “queer, nonbinary, bisexual organizer, futurist, writer and narrative activist” living in Minnesota, according to their website. Brady has been involved in climate activism for years. As a teenager, Brady “helped pass legislation through the Sierra Club to reduce school bus idling and retrofit over 3,000 school buses,” according to Art Sphere Inc. Brady is now known for creating Our Climate Voices, a first-person anthology telling stories about climate change, the online publication’s explained. Our Climate Voices is meant “to highlight those who are often excluded by the mainstream environmental movement,” The Wesleyan Connection reported.

Our Climate Voices has been publishing stories since 2017, featuring various interviews with different people as well as key facts, images and information on how to act on the climate crisis at the bottom of each interview. The website states that the project’s mission “is to hu-

manize the climate disaster through storytelling, contribute to a shift in the climate change dialogue … and to connect people with ways to support” climate change solutions.

For their work on Our Climate Voices, Brady won the J.M. Kaplan Fund innovation prize in 2019 that gives “up to $175,000 over three years,” according to The Wesleyan Connection.

In addition to Our Climate Voices, Brady has written several articles for news sources such as HuffPost and Grist. Brady also wrote “Redefining Environmentalism: The Paradox of Wealthy Environmentalists” and “On Coming Out to Someone Who Won’t Remember” for HuffPost.

For Grist, Brady co-wrote a piece entitled “What the queer community brings to the fight for climate justice,” which discusses how queer and trans people are more likely to be impacted by the climate crisis and how climate organizations like “Zero Hour and Our Climate Voices are addressing the intersection of queer and trans liberation and climate justice.”

6

OPINION

April 15, 2022

. Mount Holyoke News

MHC parties must stop co-opting the residences of students of color

BY ANNABELLE MACKSON ’23 HUMAN RESOURCES COORDINATOR & STAFF WRITER

With campus life returning to relative normalcy in the fall semester of 2021, it’s becoming clear that party culture at Mount Holyoke has changed dramatically compared to before the pandemic.

Current juniors and seniors likely remember the last party they went to before the fateful day in early March 2020 when college students across the country were sent home indefinitely due to the spread of COVID-19. This was back when parties had no social distancing or mask restrictions, when the only risk was a visit from campus police — or maybe, in serious cases, alcohol poisoning.

To be frank, I am not a party person, nor have I ever been, but I have seen and felt the shift in how parties are conducted at MHC since the entire student body was allowed back on campus. I only attended a couple of parties before lockdown, and I cannot recall any major complaints from residents concerning the conduct of partygoers. This has not been the case in the 2021-2022 school year — a lot of major parties have had some sort of mishap associated with them, and many of these minor disasters have a singular source in common.

The majority of parties at Mount Holyoke are held in either Mandelle or Rockefeller Halls, and it’s fairly common for complaints to arise from the residents concerning the conduct of the partygoers, particularly with their lack of appropriate cleanup. If Mount Holyoke students can acquire alcohol and drugs underage, they should also be able to clean up

after themselves. As a resident of the Delles, I’ve heard the noise of parties well into the wee hours of the morning — and, while I don’t frequent the common rooms enough to notice, large amounts of trash, personal items and empty liquor bottles have been left outside and were cleaned up months after the fact. Sometimes, they even needed to be thrown away

by Facilities Management.

This blatant disrespect for the residents of Mandelle and Rockefeller Halls in particular is made worse by the fact that Rockefeller Hall is home to three of the four Mount Holyoke Living Learning Communities dedicated to students of color: Gloria Anzaldúa, Mi Gente and Shirley Chisholm.

According to a DataUSA study, 47.8 percent of the students at Mount Holyoke are white. At a predominantly white institution like Mount Holyoke, places where people of color can feel comfortable to be themselves is a necessity, and the Rockies are meant to be one of those places.

Unfortunately, the importance of this necessity is often overlooked, especially by rowdy white students who wish to party in these persons of color-occupied spaces.

Students may see the Rockies as a convenient location for parties, since they’re centrally located and boast the same sunrooms as the Delles without the walk across the bridge at Lower Lake, but its designation as a person of color space is overlooked in the search for a good time. This disregard for the residents of the party dorms, whether they actually attend the parties or not, is a problem in and of itself, but it becomes infinitely worse when planners and attendants alike throw all basic decency behind and leave

Photo by Tzav Harrel ’24 Mandelle Hall, above, and Rockerfeller Hall are frequent party sites at MHC. This year, multiple groups failed to clean up after parties in this space.

the extensive post-party cleanup to those aforementioned residents while they stumble back to their dorms in ignorant bliss. “[The Rockies] should be our space to throw parties for ourselves,” a first-year resident of the South Rockies told me. This sentiment has been echoed by many students on their personal social media accounts following a party that left at least one wing of the Rockies’ sun and common rooms trashed. The student added that “a lot of POC probably did not feel comfortable” with a majority-white group of students holding a party in their dorm.

While the student stated that they did not attend the party in question, they would have felt uncomfortable with the situation had they been

there. Using a space that doesn’t belong to you and leaving trash in it is rude and inexcusable under normal circumstances, but these actions are made even more reprehensible given the Rockies’ dedication as a safe residence for students of color.

When I asked the student their thoughts on the future of parties in the Rockies, their prediction was both disappointing and realistic. “I feel like it just would happen again because the people here just don’t care sometimes,” they said. “I just feel like some people are just straight up ignorant and they’re just going to do it anyway.”

People should care. The people who trashed the Rockies that one weekend should care, because the residents of the Rockies cared.

“I know one of my friends was one actually cleaning it up,” the first-year said. “I felt second hand aggravation for her because I know she was very frustrated.” That person shouldn’t have to be frustrated, or spend her weekend morning cleaning up the mess from a group of people that didn’t treat another’s home with the courtesy I am sure they expect in theirs.

I am white, and I have the same privilege as the hosts of this party.

Frankly it is the bare minimum for us as white people to respect the spaces dedicated to people of color on this campus and beyond. At Mount Holyoke, we have both the knowledge and ability to improve, and it’s beyond overdue for us to actually do so.

Mercury convention holds its fourth meeting, cont’d u

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

humans may be exposed to mercury on a daily basis, including the following:

Photo courtesy of Peter Raper MHC student choreographers presented their work at the Senior Dance Concert on April 2. Above, dancers perform a piece by Miranda Lawson ’22.

Letter to the Editor: Senior Dance Concert connects heritage and performance I scurried quickly to my spot on stage with my seven other dancers, waiting in anticipation for the work lights to fade to black. I listened to the slow hum of the audience behind the curtain, most likely captivated by the artistry of the previous dances.

A much-deserved reaction, in my humble opinion. Even though I only did a light warm-up, I could feel the sweat clinging my black leotard onto my skin as I waited for the music to start.

This performance was the final production of a project I had been working on for 11 months. The piece centered around my memories of childhood, exploring aspects of my Korean heritage I regrettably pushed away growing up. I spent countless hours in the studio by myself and with my dancers. I labored over our ivory, floor-length, custom-made skirts for each one of us for a week nonstop in the Makerspace, shedding a tiny bit of tears and blood along the way. I delved into hours of footage of Korean fan dance in order to recall memories of how I learned to do the dance form in the first place.

As the lights faded and the music started, I felt a swell of emotion fill my chest, my mind hyperfocused on my breath and my dancers around me. We synchronized together, and there was an indescribable feeling where I felt tethered to all my dancers on stage. I could feel their presence wherever they were, even if I could not see them. Through this

process I learned about how important my community and dance-making are to me.

At the beginning of the process I was mostly focused on gaining a comprehensive understanding of Korean dance. I was focused on replicating the dance form, rather than thinking about where I fit into it. I know from my own experience doing this dance form, my teacher emphasized rigid repetition and practice to achieve perfection. It was common in a lot of my dance classes growing up, though it was not until Mount Holyoke I learned dance does not always have to be that way, that I can mold dance based on my own curiosities and whims, even within highly rigid dance forms like Korean fan dance. It was also a highly unrealistic expectation to put on myself to create a culturally and socially acceptable dance including full regalia and custom-made fans. As lovely as that may have been, there were also limitations on my time and resources to enact that, and my energy was better spent in other places.

It was also not in my best interest to instruct my dancers like my dance instructors did when I was younger, as that is a practice that I do not value very much and may have been an attitude that initially turned me off from going further.

I wished to center the wellness of my dancers and treat them as human beings, rather than as cogs to create the exact formations I want, which I wasn’t even sure about until

actually working through the formations with my dancers. Precision and rigidity were not what my work and my practice was asking for. Collaboration seemed to work the best, especially since I was only recalling the dance form through vague memories from over a decade ago, when I was just a nine year old being told exactly what to do without a second thought. Both through practice and the final product, being together and dancing together was more important than doing the ‘correct’ moves.

If it was not for my friends, my peers, my professors and my family, I would not have been able to bring this project together. My mother recording herself playing the piano in a classroom, my friend Amber singing for me in her bathroom, my friend Michelle staying up with me in the Makerspace ’til closing time working on the skirts, my dad supporting me emotionally every step of the way, my professors gently guiding me when I felt stuck, my dancers showing up to rehearsals diligently, ready to work, all mean so much to me. I am truly grateful for all the strengthened bonds and new friends I have made through undergoing this process. This performance will always be a landmark I cherish, and I am truly honored to have shared this moment with my fellow dancemakers and dancers.

– Sandra Scarlatoiu ’22

1. Fish consumption According to World Wildlife, seafood is the main source of protein for more than three billion people worldwide. According to the WHO, large predatory fish such as sharks, swordfish, tuna and marlin tend to have particularly high mercury levels due to “bioaccumulation” of mercury in the food chain, their foods contain high quantities of mercury. Thus, people who eat a lot of seafood may be exposed to high levels of methylmercury.

Indigenous communities in many parts of the world, especially those living in the Arctic, have experienced mercury poisoning from eating marine animals. According to the United Nations Environment Programme Global Mercury Assessment in 2018, seafood consumption among Indigenous groups is likely to be 15 times higher per capita than that of non-Indigenous groups.

2. Cosmetics According to Rebecca Dancer, a contributing beauty writer for Allure, mercury can be found in beauty products, especially skin-lightening products. While many countries have enacted laws banning mercury in cosmetics, others have yet to do so. There have also been cases of mercury contamination in products offered by some major online retailers such as Amazon and eBay. To avoid exposure to toxic mercury, consumers should buy products from reliable suppliers and make sure they are well-sealed and properly labeled. Dancer’s article provides more information on this topic.

3. Small-scale mining UNEP reported that artisanal and small-scale gold miners often use mercury to separate and purify gold and that much of the mercury used ends up in the natural environment. According to the UNEP, artisanal and smallscale mining released about 800 tonnes of mercury into the air in 2015, which accounted for about 38

percent of global emissions, and about 1,200 tonnes into terrestrial and freshwater bodies. Mercury poisoning poses a serious and immediate health threat for 12 to 15 million miners worldwide, according to UNEP. Reducing mercury emissions from mining is a key objective of the Minamata Convention, which requires countries with individual and small-scale gold mining to develop national action plans to reduce or eliminate mercury in the industry, according to Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

4. Burning Coals Coal burning not only contributes to air pollution and the climate crisis but is also a major source of anthropogenic mercury emissions. The 2018 Global Mercury Assessment found that burning coal and other forms of fossil fuels and biomass is responsible for about 24 percent of global mercury emissions.

Although coal contains only a small amount of mercury, as the global economy has grown, so has coal-fired power, resulting in the release of more and more mercury into the air. However, enforcing emissions standards for medical waste incinerators and municipal waste combustors has reduced mercury emissions from power plants by over 95 percent, according to the EPA. 5. Dental Amalgam For more than 100 years, mercury has been one of the main ingredients in dental amalgam, the mixture that dentists use to fill cavities in patients’ teeth, according to the FDA. Although the threat to patient health posed by amalgam may be negligible on an individual level, mercury in amalgam can lead to the gradual accumulation of toxic elements in our environment.

To address this challenge, the Minamata Convention proposed nine specific measures to promote “the use of best environmental practices in dental facilities to reduce releases of mercury” worldwide. Steps included setting national targets to reduce the use of amalgam, promoting the use of mercury-free alternatives and supporting better practices in managing mercury waste, according to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

BOOKS & SPORTS 7 Celebrate these autistic authors and stories this April April 15, 2022

. Mount Holyoke News

BY EDITH TIERNEY ’24 STAFF WRITER

April is Autism Acceptance Month, making it a great time to highlight autistic authors and their stories. These three recently-published books by autistic authors — ranging from adult romance to a space opera — are a good place to start.

“Seven Devils” duology by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May Laura Lam and Elizabeth May co-authored this feminist space opera duology. The first book, “Seven Devils,” was first published in the summer 2021, with the sequel “Seven Mercies” coming out on Jan. 25, 2022. The duology follows a diverse cast, including an autistic character, Ariadne, a child genius and the team’s engineer whose story has ties to May’s own journey with autism.

In an article published by the North Wales Chronicle, May said, “There’s so much misinformation about autism … the best place to go to [for more information about autism] is the autistic community.

We’re out here living our lives.” As a science fiction writer, she uses literature to raise awareness about different identities.

In the first book, the characters — among them the heir to the galaxy’s ruthless empire, a mechanic and several fugitives — find each other and realize that they have the collective knowledge and power to bring down an oppressive empire.

The second book follows the group as they attempt the near-impossible task of burning it all down to save millions of lives.

“The Kiss Quotient” series

by Helen Hoang According to her website, Helen Hoang was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2016. Her own experience with neurodivergence inspired her to write this contemporary romance series. The most recent book in “The Kiss Quotient” series, “The Heart Principle,” was published on Aug. 31, 2021 by Penguin Random House.

The series, which currently also includes “The Kiss Quotient” and “The Bride Test,” has received positive attention from many book

critics and authors. The titular first book, “The Kiss Quotient,” follows Stella, who, according to the author’s website, “has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish.” Stella hires Michael, an escort she hopes will teach her how to date. According to Penguin Random House, New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay called the novel “original and sexy and sensitive.”

In book two, “The Bride Test,” the narrative follows an autistic man named Khai. When his mother decides to play matchmaker, he is introduced to Esme, a girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City who is intrigued by the prospect of meeting a potential husband in America.

Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of “Daisy Jones and the Six,” called the book “smart, honest and achingly romantic,” according to Penguin Random House.

The most recent book in the series, “The Heart Principle,” centers themes of burnout and mental health challenges. It focuses on a recently viral violinist, Anna, and the journey that follows when her

longtime boyfriend says he wants an open relationship. An NPR review noted, “if ‘The Kiss Quotient’ teaches intimacy and ‘The Bride Test’ nurtures it, then ‘The Heart Principle’ pushes its characters not to be ashamed by it.”

“How to be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life” by Jory Fleming with Lyric Winik Unlike the other books on the list, this last entry is nonfiction. It is Jory Fleming’s autobiography, which he co-wrote with Lyric Winik, who New York Times reporter Marian Burros called “the go-to scribe for political memoirs.” According to his website, Fleming recently completed a Master of Philosophy in environmental change and management at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

“How to be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life,” was published by Simon & Schuster on April 20, 2021. The book follows Fleming through his experiences with autism as a child and into his time at Oxford. It also discusses ideas about what disability is and how people are valued in society. Addi-

tionally, the autobiography shows Fleming’s connection to his faith and his views on various aspects of society and identity.

This list offers a starting point for engaging with neurodiverse writers, but if you are looking for more, there are many content creators on social media working to promote autistic authors and stories, such as Literary Lily and Annalisa Ely on YouTube. For now, here are some honorable mentions:

- “The Brown Sisters” is a series

by Talia Hibbert, a Black autistic author who writes romance novels with ever-present elements of diversity and representation.

- “Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew about Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity” is a book of essays directed toward parents about the experience of having autism, especially for “girls and nonbinary people,” according to the book’s Goodreads page. The book was edited by Sharon daVanport, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu and Emily Paige Ballou.

MHC students share their favorite poems for National Poetry Month poet and playwright.

“It’s hard to articulate exactly why I like this poem, but my criteria Established by the Academy of for judging Vietnamese poems usuAmerican Poets in 1996, National ally begin with the musicality of the Poetry Month occurs in April and verses,” Bui said. “Like music, it’s serves as an annual reminder of difficult to explain why a particular the integral roles poetry plays in melody sounds better than another. culture. Additionally, March 21 is I tend to attribute the musicality of a World Poetry Day, which honors Vietnamese poem to the rhymes and linguistic diversity through poetry the placement of accent marks.”

According to across different Prairie Schoocultures and “I tend to attribute the ner, Vietnamese continents. This musicality of a Vietnamese is a tonal lanyear at Mount guage, which Holyoke College, poem to the rhymes and means that in students and the placement of accent poetry, there are faculty are celemarks.” various tonal brating National rules — includPoetry Month ing bằng and across campus, – Thu Bui ’22 trắc tones, flat including in the and sharp tonal Stimson Room of Williston Memorial Library, which groups, depending on the poetry’s is home to a diverse range of re- form. The tone and rhyme stress the cently-acquired poetry and journals, musicality of Vietnamese, as stated according to LITSInstalls Volume by Washington Post.

Drawing on her experience 13, Issue 7. This year, the Mount Holyoke News celebrates these two reading both Vietnamese and Enevents by interviewing students glish poems, Bui remarked on their about their favorite poems from linguistic differences.

“I am always fascinated by the around the world.

Thu Bui ’22, a senior from Viet- placement of accent marks in verses nam majoring in geography, shared that determine the musicality of the that her favorite poem is “Một mùa poems,” Bui said. “In contrast, Enđông,” which transliterates to “A glish poems rely on syllable stress Winter,” by Lưu Trọng Lư, a re- to enhance musicality, which is a nowned 20th century Vietnamese system I’m admittedly unfamiliar

BY NGUYỄN ĐẶNG THIÊN AN ’23 STAFF WRITER

with, and thus far I have been unable to fully appreciate English poems as much as I want to.”

Ilse Hill ’22 shared that her favorite poem is “I Know Why ​​ the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou.

Her favorite line is “The caged bird sings/ with a fearful trill/of things unknown/ but longed for still.” Commenting on this line, Hill said,, “It speaks to the sense of hiraeth — the Welsh word for a deep longing for something, especially one’s home — that many feel, but cannot express.

We are caged by so many things — family, duty, survival, fear, expectation — but we often ignore the feeling. This poem evokes that which is not always expressed, but so often felt.”

Hill loves poetry because it contains fewer words than a novel, but still conveys numerous ideas.

Emma Xue ’23, an English major, developed a love for “To the Tune of Pu Sa Man” by Wei Zhuang. “This poem illustrates the mixed feelings of the poet: even though Jiangnan is said to be fine, he still misses his hometown in the North. Yet, it’s at war. He couldn’t return because he would be in heartbreak after witnessing his hometown in ruins,” Xue explained. “I think that it perfectly shows the complicated feelings of migrants, immigrants and refugees.”

According to The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Wei Zhuang

Photo by Naomi Jiang ’25 National Poetry Month celebrates the importance poets and poetry play in creative expression.

was a poet of the late Tang and early Five Dynasties period, which spanned from the late ninth to the early 10th centuries. His poems were widely celebrated for their simplicity and elegant style.

Xue also adores five lines from William Wordsworth’s “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.” The lines read, “Be now for ever taken

from my sight,/Though nothing can bring back the hour/Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;/We will grieve not, rather find/Strength in what remains behind.”

An avid fan of poetry, Xue shared that she also enjoyed reading the poems of Emily Dickinson and Audre Lorde, and would recommend them to Mount Holyoke students to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Assistant director of recreation and head strength and conditioning coach hired

BY EMILY TARINELLI ’25 SPORTS EDITOR

Mount Holyoke College Athletics hired Jay Mendoza in March to join the Lyon pride as the College’s first assistant director of recreation and head strength and conditioning coach.

“I’m pleased to welcome [Mendoza] to Lyons Nation in this new position at the College,” Interim Director of Athletics Erica Lemm said in a press release. “It is evident that [Mendoza] brings the passion, expertise and student-centered approach necessary to develop our sports performance program from the ground up. His experience and focus on the entire student experience including student well-being and development will have a lasting impact on the future of our students and programs.”

“Mendoza will design and implement strength training and conditioning programs for [the] 13 varsity athletics programs and support the management of recreational offerings, including coordination and scheduling of the Lyons Den, the varsity strength and conditioning space, Fitness Center and drop-in class programming,” the press release stated.

Mendoza said that his path to becoming a strength and conditioning coach was clear. Sports were always a part of his life, from playing baseball and basketball in his childhood years to participating on his high school’s wrestling team.

“I think I was a pretty good athlete … If I had more mentors, if I had a strength coach, I probably could have been a lot better,” Mendoza said. He added that his desire to assist other athletes in achieving their

Photo by Rosemary Geib ’23 Mount Holyoke’s new assistant director of recreation and head strength and conditioning coach Jay Mendoza stands outside of the Mount Holyoke College Kendall Sports and Dance Complex.

fullest potential inspired him to pursue a career in coaching.

Originally from Philadelphia, Mendoza attended Temple University, where he studied kinesiology and exercise science. From there, he interned at various strength training programs in both collegiate and high school settings as he worked to obtain his master’s degree in sports management and athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Afterwards, he became an assistant strength coach at Trinity College, which led him to a position as head strength coach at Eastern Connecticut State University.

After a year at ECSU, he worked for three years as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Brandeis

University before making his way to South Hadley.

Mendoza spoke about why he was drawn to Mount Holyoke, citing the College’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Having come from Brandeis, [a university with] a very strong sense of DEI work … [those values] seemed apparent at Mount Holyoke.

And I want to continue to work at schools that support those ideals and those values of community, of active involvement and impact and anti-racism,” Mendoza said. “Those things are super important to me.”

He discussed his excitement for the position. “I think being able to be the … first sports performance coach, [the] first assistant director of recreation, there’s a lot of impact

that can be made,” he said. “So that was super, super enticing for me to make sure that the program starts off on the right foot.”

Since coming into the position, Mendoza has implemented several new services into Mount Holyoke’s strength and conditioning program — most notably, the open-hour training sessions now available for varsity athletes each week. Mendoza has already begun working with several varsity teams, including the Soccer and Lacrosse.

“I have loved having [Mendoza] on campus,” lacrosse player Emma Bowler ’22 said. “He’s a very supportive coach who makes lifting with other athletes fun and engaging. Plus, the workouts are short and effective, which is super helpful for student-athletes with busy schedules.”

“Working with [Mendoza] in the Lyons Den has been amazing,” Bowler’s teammate Hannah Bisson ’24 said. “His workouts are very energizing, and I love his positive attitude. I always walk out of a workout in such a great mood. The lacrosse team is so grateful to have [Mendoza] here at Mount Holyoke.”

“Training with [Mendoza] has been amazing. He is very understanding and motivating when we work out. His workouts are unique and really challenge me,” Lacrosse’s Amrit Khinda ’25 added.

Multi-sport athletes have also expressed their enthusiasm for working with Mendoza.

“I have really enjoyed working out with [Mendoza], both during team lifts and during open gym. His lifts are catered to each sport, and he really gets to know each athlete and what they need to get stronger.

I am so happy that there is a new and energizing presence in the varsity weight room,” lacrosse and field hockey athlete Caroline Thompson ’24 said. “I am so excited to continue to work with [Mendoza] throughout my time both on the field hockey and lacrosse teams here at Mount Holyoke. I feel like this is a great step for Mount Holyoke Athletics as a whole.”

Caroline Sullivan ’23, a member of the lacrosse and equestrian teams, also spoke highly of Mendoza’s commitment to giving athletes sport-specific workouts. “[He] came down to the barn to watch us ride so that he [could] see what muscles we use … [That way], he [could] tailor a workout to our team,” Sullivan said.

“I think everyone’s been great. I think [the athletes] were really excited to have someone in this role,” Mendoza said. “Everyone’s been super responsive [and has] good energy in the weight room, and I think [they are] just really open minded to how strength and conditioning can be for them. So, I’ve had a really positive experience.”

Mendoza shared his favorite part about being a strength and conditioning coach without hesitation.

“I think it’s just interacting with athletes,” he said. “The best part of my day is … getting to know everyone and really seeing different perspectives [and] just engaging with student-athletes.”

“I’m just really excited to be part of the Mount Holyoke community,” Mendoza continued. “I think there’s a great foundation to build upon, and … [I’m] really excited for what the future holds with the strength and conditioning program.”

8

COMMUNITY ^

April 15, 2022

HOROSCOPES: New morning rituals for the signs

. Mount Holyoke News

^

BY MAGGIE DONOVAN ’23 HOROSCOPE WRITER

Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

July 23 – Aug. 22

March 21 – April 19

Stand up, stretch for five minutes and light a sparkler. Watch it crackle all the way out, listen to the light fizzle and follow the sound into silence. Sparkles reduce bad vibes, always.

Blur the lines between where your night ends and your morning begins. This doesn’t mean you should never sleep — rather, sleep when you want to instead of when society tells you to. This newfound freedom will change your patterns while encouraging you to prioritize yourself.

It’s hard for you, we know, but try waiting to brush your teeth till after you eat breakfast.

Bring a toothbrush to Blanch if you have to. It will make you feel so clean.

April 20 – May 20

Wake up at 5 a.m. and go for a run or a walk. Feel the fresh dew brush against your shoes and saturate your socks. Embrace the emptiness of the world around you and the beauty of the sunrise.

Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

Aug. 23 – Sept. 22

Stick your face in a bowl of ice water for several seconds. Not only will this wake you up, it also will make you feel refreshed and reduce anxiety.

Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

Start picking out your outfits with your eyes closed. The element of surprise will keep things fresh and interesting, and it’s a good exercise in letting go of caring what people think of you and overcoming perfectionism. Plus, it will make getting dressed much faster.

Practice typing every morning. Most of your day is consumed by typing, so why not streamline all of your tasks and assignments to start your day?

Typing really fast is also a massive flex, so get on it.

May 21 – June 20

Wake up, open a window and scream. Scream as loud as you can, scream words, noises, sweet nothings. Warm up your throat, your lungs, your daily accumulation of emotions.

Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

Sing happy birthday to yourself and blow out a little candle every morning. If you act like every day is your birthday, you’ll always have a good day. Plus, you won’t notice the nefarious passage of time.

June 21 – July 22

Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

Every morning, completely rearrange your room. Interior design is excellent for exercising creativity and problem solving, and doing this every morning is exactly the engaging warmup your brain needs. It is refreshing to wake up to a different space every day.

Feb. 19 – March 20

Kickstart your brain in the morning by reading the Mount Holyoke News. It’s a great way to stay informed about the community around you. Plus, it will automatically make you about five times hotter.

Put edible glitter in your coffee, water or whatever your beverage of choice is. If you start your day off with glitter, you’re bound to have a good day. It’s that simple.

Sonya Stephens reflects on the pandemic, looks to the future, cont’d u

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

thinking about sustainability. And we’re going to have a campuswide project on sustainability. And I’m going to name a group who will work on this and bring forward recommendations.”

Indeed, these conversations surrounding the College’s removal of investments from fossil fuels have pervaded much of Stephens’ term. In February of 2020, for example, Mount Holyoke student activists from the Climate Justice Coalition staged a walkout to demand divestment from fossil fuels on the College’s behalf.

Though the College’s investments in the fossil fuel industry “have declined in both dollars and as a share of the endowment,” since 2016, Mount Holyoke has not publicly stated that it is completely divested from fossil fuels. According to Stephens, this has been intentional.

“I think where Mount Holyoke is being completely honest and transparent is we’re saying, ‘Until we don’t have $1 in fossil fuels, we’re not going to talk about divestment.’ But most people would see us as having divested,” Stephens explained.

Calls for divestment on campus, though, have not stopped, specifically from the CJC. In a recent statement to Mount Holyoke News, the organization wrote, “The CJC is grateful that Mount Holyoke has taken strides toward divestment from fossil fuels. However, we are eager for our school to reduce the timeframe of divestment to five years giv-

en the urgency of the climate crisis.”

Stephens stated that much of the College’s investments have already changed. With some investments aging out over the next years, “​​there’s very little remaining in fossil fuels. … So we’ve gone further than we thought we were going to be able to do quicker. … We’re even further ahead than we said in my last letter,” Stephens said.

According to the CJC, however, this aging out does not entirely meet the demands put forward by their organization.

“We also call for our endowment to be reinvested in communities hurt by the fossil fuel industry. Finally, we ask that the College make their investments more transparent so that we can track fossil fuel divestment and find out what other harmful industries our community may be funding,” the CJC stated.

Leading through COVID-19 Stephens has been in office throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and has overseen the College’s decision-making process. According to Stephens, this global crisis deeply increased the responsibilities associated with her position, sharing that much of the College’s action planning relied upon her own decision-making. “My role was really to be sure that I was comfortable with every decision because ultimately, the responsibility rose up to me,” she said.

“The first signs of it were when we were saying, ‘Should we bring

[study-abroad] students back from Europe? … Do we ask them whether they want to stay?’” Stephens shared. “Of course, this was an emerging situation. None of us knew what was going to happen.”

This proved to be the first of many decisions resting on Mount Holyoke’s administration, as shortly after this initial choice was made, all Mount Holyoke students were asked to leave campus and end the Spring semester remotely.

“Really, the universities were leading the way in the early stages of the pandemic, because other governmental organizations hadn’t worked out what the guidance was going to be,” Stephens said. “I’m sure it was frustrating for members of our community, to have us change our mind and change direction. But, we were literally getting information as it came out and trying to make decisions as the situation was evolving.”

In the time since, Mount Holyoke has operated at varying levels, ranging from a completely remote, module-based Fall 2020 semester to optional on-campus housing in the following Spring semester. Currently, the College hosts on-campus housing and learning with accompanying mandated testing and vaccination.

Georgia Colson ’22, an immunocompromised student, reflected on this path throughout the pandemic.

“Overall, I was pretty happy with how President Stephens and the College handled the pandemic. … I did appreciate that she prioritized the

health and well-being of students in terms of vaccination, mask-wearing and testing guidelines,” Colson said.

“It was because of these strict rules that [immunocompromised] students such as myself felt that it was safe to return to in-person classes.

I was particularly relieved when I found out the school would require twice-weekly testing.”

Stephens stated, “​​Every decision leads to another question, so it was a huge amount of work. I think now as I think about it, I feel as if Mount Holyoke managed the situation to keep everybody safe.”

What’s next Though Stephens reflected that she “never thought that [she] would want to do a presidency anywhere else,” she plans to join the American University of Paris as its 13th president in the Fall of 2022.

“I literally felt I’ve been torn in two between this passion for France and French and the opportunity I would have to make a difference there, and the love I have for Mount Holyoke,” Stephens said.

According to Stephens, her new presidency will draw upon her background in French studies, as well as her experiences on Mount Holyoke’s campus.

“It will call upon all of the intercultural skills that we emphasize in language learning, all of my language skills, all of my administrative skills, as well as all of my commitments to France and to French culture. And that includes similar work

that we’ve been doing here around DEI and student success and community building — all of those things will be important.”

As for Mount Holyoke, the Stephens will remember it as “a super-engaged community that is highly intellectual, that believes in advocacy and delivers upon that advocacy so often.” She added, “I’ve always felt that, from the moment I arrived here, what I appreciated was the power and the intellect of the conversations. I haven’t changed my mind.”

Though Stephens feels that “history is always a judge of legacies, not individuals,” she shared some of her hopes for what she will have left behind at Mount Holyoke before her departure this summer. “It’s always about advancing and improvement, and the humility of doing it not for yourself, not for a legacy, but about doing it for the people in it now, and for the institution that you want Mount Holyoke to be,” Stephens said. “It’s a collective endeavor.”

Thinking back to the time she has spent in the President’s House, Stephens reflected on the end of her day. “When I go up the stairs at night and I turn, I see the sun setting … and it’s like, first of all, did I do no harm?” she said. “For me, it’s always about advancing and improvement, and the humility of doing it not for yourself, not for a legacy, but about doing it for the people in it now, and for the institution that you want Mount Holyoke to be, that we all want Mount Holyoke to be.”

Mount Holyoke News

Mount Holyoke News is an independent student newspaper written by and for Mount Holyoke College students since 1917.

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