Mount Holyoke News – April 28, 2023

Mount Holyoke News

Mount Holyoke hosts Sexual Assault Awareness Month keynote panel

BY TARA MONASTESSE ’25 NEWS EDITOR

Content warning: This article discusses racism and sexual violence.

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an annual commemoration overseen by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, Mount Holyoke hosted a panel titled “Ending the Silence: Black Feminists Speak on Racial Terror and Gender-Based Violence” in Gamble Auditorium on the evening of Monday, April 24. In keeping with the 2023 SAAM theme of “Drawing Connections: Prevention Demands Equity,” the keynote panel centered discussions of gender violence examined through an intersectional lens.

The event featured three prolific Black feminist academics, all of whom have experience teaching at gender-diverse women’s colleges:

Paula J. Giddings, the Elizabeth A. Woodson professor emerita of Africana Studies at Smith College; Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Anna Julia Cooper professor of Women’s Studies at Spelman College; and Dr. Cynthia Spence, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Spelman College.

Emma Quirk ’26, a fellow at the College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, provided a land acknowledgement and a description of the event’s purpose.

“Tonight’s program is especial-

ly important because it honors the theme of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, which notes that this year’s events should recognize that we cannot end sexual violence unless we end racism,” Quirk said. Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum provided opening remarks following the land acknowledgement, where she welcomed the panelists. Tatum described her enthusiasm at reuniting with Spence and Guy-Sheftall, whom she worked with previously during her time as President of Spelman College. Tatum went on to describe the panelists as

“three Black feminist scholars who have been activists resisting the tyranny of violence against Black women, as part of a tradition that goes back hundreds of years.”

The panelists were then introduced by Lauren Gaia, chief of staff and strategic communications and Nohelya Zambrano Aguayo, LGBTQ+ community resource coordinator, employees of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

A screening of the documentary “The Rape of Recy Taylor” was shown before the panel. The film tells the story of Recy Taylor, a Black woman living in Alabama in

the 1940s who was abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of white boys. Through interviews with Taylor’s relatives and various historians, the documentary explores her role in the civil rights movement as she searched for justice and details “the long history of sexual violence perpetuated against Black women,” a description for the event read.

Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Interim Title IX Coordinator, Kijua Sanders-McMurtry served as the panel’s moderator. Taylor’s story provided the panelists with the opportunity to discuss sexual violence enacted against Black women throughout history, including more recent examples such as Anita Hill’s 1991 sexual harrassment allegations against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.

In response to Sanders-McMurty’s question,“… what does it mean to be a Black feminist?,” Dr. Guy-Sheftall described Black feminism as “… rage and opposition to all forms of oppression. And you don’t prioritize white supremacy over heteropatriarchy … it’s all of these things.”

“Why do you have to choose?” Spence added.

Before opening the floor to questions from attendees, Sanders-McMurtry closed the discussion by asking what gave the speakers hope as Black feminists. Giddings spoke of her belief that mounting opposition to social progress is often a sign that

real change is happening.

“We can get very depressed about the many things that are going on, but you can say that a lot of this is pushback because of some success, and progress, and movement,” Giddings said. “There’s not just one thing happening, there are two things happening. And there’s just lots of people who are doing very important, wonderful things in terms of movements.”

Observations of SAAM continued to take place throughout the week at Mount Holyoke. On Thursday, April 27, the College sponsored Denim Day, a worldwide campaign wherein supporters of sexual assault survivors wear denim. The Denim Day movement originates from an rape conviction overturned in the Italian Supreme Court because of the justices’ claim that the victim’s clothing choice implied consent. A DEI resource table was also made available in the LITS atrium.

The College will also observe the National Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, which takes place from May 1 to 7. This observation is described as “building upon the theme of gender-based justice and racial justice” explored through the College’s intersectional approach to SAAM in April. A virtual panel will be held on May 1 at 7 p.m.

Editor’s note: Emma Quirk ’26 is a member of the Mount Holyoke News.

Klezmer Ensemble captivates audience and shares in Jewish tradition

BY NINA SYDORYK ’25 STAFF WRITER

Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, Pratt Music Hall’s Warbeke Room came alive as Mount Holyoke’s Klezmer Ensemble entered while joyously playing the first piece of this year’s performance.

The group, made up of both MHC and Five College students, is led by professional Klezmer musician Adrianne Greenbaum. The kapelye’s performance featured traditional Jewish singing and dancing, which originated in the 18th-century, centering around the theme of matrimony.

Greenbaum captivated the audience from the beginning — and would continue to command the audience’s attention for the duration of the evening with her humorous personal anecdotes and warm manner. The entire performance had an informal quality, allowing it to com-

municate the nature of its theme brilliantly. The audience could feel that they were following the timeline of a marriage, mostly from the perspective of women. This included an act of two ‘mothers-in-law,’ performed by a couple of enthusiastic ensemble members who lamented the marriage of their children, only to erupt into a joyful dance together. A Yiddish-English rendition of a young wife bemoaning the failure of her marriage and reminiscing on single life, earned more than one chuckle from the back row.

Olive Benito-Myles ’26 shone in her rendition of A Yor Ersht Nokh Mayn Khasene (A Year After My Wedding). Her voice permeated the entire room with a powerful expression and tune.

Her passion and dedication to the performance were evident, and the joy of shared performance was clear in the mid-piece interactions between musicians.

Between each piece, Greenbaum spoke directly to the audience and introduced the next part of the story, returning each time to accompany the rest of the ensemble on piano.

Members of the audience often participated in dancing and were able to express themselves comfortably due to the heartening feeling inside the room. The event cultivated

a certain intimacy due to the size of its performing group and audience, to the extent that it did not feel like a performance at all, but rather a gathering of community members sharing in one story.

In one memorable piece, audience members encircled two others sitting back to back on chairs, in a faux congratulatory celebration,

wishing the pair well as they danced in circles.

Overall, the event highlighted the necessity and value of cultural expression. This is important in communities, such as Mount Holyoke, that aim to cultivate shared experiences and introduce students to diverse perspectives and art forms.

The performance was attended by both MHC students and Pioneer Valley community members. Notably, the unexpected number of students in attendance – leading to the addition of a few extra chairs –reflects perhaps a larger internal issue; despite many opportunities and on-campus events, MHC clubs and organizations are seeing generally low turnout from the student body.

The success of the Klezmer performance itself reveals the tremendous potential of community engagement, and the ensemble will be looking forward to another triumphant performance in the next year.

Senate hosts Dining Services, debates new budget and appreciates senators

BY PAIGE COMEAU ’26 STAFF WRITER

On Tuesday, April 25, senate opened with a reading of the agenda, which included a discussion with an executive of Dining Services, E-Board updates, open floor and senator/senior appreciation. Following a brief welcome, the senate gave the floor to Geoffrey Searl, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services at Mount Holyoke.

Searl introduced himself by remarking that he was new to the school, having only started in January, and highlighting some of his accomplishments thus far. Notably, Searl has worked to reopen many of the dining services closed due to the pandemic; he cited the Pub, the Deli and the implementation of reusable dishes as some of his biggest accomplishments. After this introduction, Searl moved on to discuss some questions senators had submitted.

The first group of questions were regarding Dining Services’ sustainability. One senator asked about the Dining Commons’ composting process. Searl stated that the bulk of the organic waste produced by the Commons is sorted into compostable containers that are taken away regularly by haulers to composting facilities.

He also noted that while 40 to 50 percent of waste is produced by the kitchen), the rest is post-consumer food waste. Another senator asked if it was possible to phase out the

single-use plastic aprons with reusable ones. Searl replied that it was already in progress, and he hopes to have entirely fabric aprons by the fall semester. A third student wondered if there were any available statistics on water consumption, to which Searl replied that he did not think there were. However, he shared that as they are Green Restaurant certified, they do have to fit into certain metrics as far as things like water consumption go. The student also asked if there was a way to reuse water so it isn’t wasted. Searl stated that he was unsure, but he would look into it.

Further questions had to do with various dining initiatives. A senator asked if there was a way to create a community vegetable and herb garden to be used in Blanch and the Golden Pear Kitchens. Searl noted that the Dining Commons has an herb cultivator, which is currently in the process of being repaired. He stated that if they invested in such an initiative, they would have to get special permission from the town and the health department. A second student asked why the dishes in Blanch were not microwavable.

Searl replied that he knew the dishes could not be heated to a certain temperature, but he was not sure how long in the microwave would result in an issue. He assured students that he would look into it. While they were on the topic, he discussed the USEFULL Containers, which he knew were a contested

subject around campus. While the USEFULL containers are not necessarily ideal, he remarked, he believed that they were the right thing for MHC since they are sustainable and permanent. During this time, a senator raised a question about the USEFULL drop-off locations and wondered if there was a possibility of creating more around campus.

Searl responded by saying that it was something that he’d like to implement and that he liked the idea of having one near Kendade Hall or the Frances Perk café, where the dining staff is already located.

Another senator wanted to know why the Kosher station was not allowed to give out paper plates. Searl responded that dining services would really like to get rid of paper plates altogether, but have to use them for Kosher to ensure no cross-contamination. Due to this, they would prefer to use as little as possible and therefore do not allow the Kosher station to give them out.

The third group of questions were regarding higher-level decisions. One senator wanted to know how Dining Services was working to hire new people. Searl declared that when he arrived, the dining staff had 28 vacancies, which is just around 30 to 35 percent of their team. Their big battle, he commented, is the fact that they employ seasonally. However, Dining Services is currently working with a new agency to put workers in place either temporarily or permanently. Another student asked what

Dining Services was doing to combat food supply issues. Searl stated that the Dining Hall used to have limited food storage, but has expanded their storage and are now able to combat supply chain issues by buying in bulk. He explained that to insulate themselves from such issues, they would have to predict the shortage before it hit, which is something that they are working on. A senator then asked what was being done to mediate food quality issues and asked about where to report these issues.

Searl assured students that many safety measures were being taken, such as taking temperatures and samples of every meal.

Moreover, every employee receives food and allergen safety training. He asked that if anyone has a concern with the food, to bring it to a manager or email the Dining Services team. He also emphasized that if someone is afraid they have food poisoning, they should go right to the health center and make sure they get the help they need. Another question was presented about what the Dining Services’ team was doing to better accommodate people with allergies and other dietary concerns.

Searl mentioned that he believed Dining Services was already doing a good job of meeting these needs, but is certainly going to evaluate the menus over the summer to see what can be made more inclusive. He also stated that it is all about a good balance between accessibility, affordability and appetite. As for questions

on food variety, Searl continuously stated that the Dining Services staff is working on expanding variety, but notes that some students simply prefer plain food, and therefore it must be served.

There were two more questions regarding rushes and food supply. One senator asked if there was anything being done to combat the lunch rush, to which Searl replied that he understood how much of an issue it is and is looking into options to help subdue the activity. These options include new wash room technology to help improve the holdup at the dish return, looking into changing the seating arrangements to be more productive and opening new USEFULL drop box locations to mediate the bottleneck in the front of the dining hall.

After thanking Searl for answering senate questions and presenting on the state of Dining Services, senate moved on to E-Board updates, which included a new fund proposal for senate. Senators asked questions and debated the fund proposal before voting on it. Senate then moved to open floor, where a few announcements were made by different organizations, but no questions or concerns were raised. The session ended with a message appreciating senators for their hard work this year. After senate ended, the E-Board stated, they would be holding a small ceremony to appreciate and acknowledge the seniors, which senators were welcome to stay for.

Photo by Tara Monastesse ’25 Community members gathered in Gamble Auditorium on Monday to watch a SAAM keynote panel.

Photo by Nina Sydoryk ’25 The Warbeke Room hosted the Five College Klezmer Ensemble’s performance on Sunday evening.

From seeds of knowledge to community action: how student collective Growing Vines is impacting environmental justice

BY NAOMY POOT IBARRA ’25 STAFF WRITER

Growing Vines, a student-led collective at Mount Holyoke College, has been gaining traction since its formation in 2020. The group was founded by students driven by a shared passion for environmental justice and food sovereignty. Initially, the group focused on creating a collective, but as the pandemic began, they took a pause to revitalize and strategize.

Charlotte Cai ’24, Sara Abubo ’25 and Cindie Huerta ’25 have taken the reins as organizers and board members. They host weekly dinners to brainstorm what they hope to accomplish while also being cognizant of each other’s capacity. “Capacity is always a question because there are just three of us, but because of this there is a lot of intention behind our organizing,” Huerta said.

“This year we brainstormed a lot about the spaces we wanted to have, and what was needed at Mount Holyoke,” Cai explained. “From there, … the logistics of what we wanted to do with Growing Vines [became clear].” This new vision focuses on providing safe spaces for BIPOC communities to discuss and center topics related to food justice and environmentalism.

“As an environmental studies major, I had a hard time finding places where this work was being done at Mount Holyoke that were not predominantly white spaces,” Abubo said. Huerta, a politics Major, also experienced this. “[Classes] don’t really touch on the other aspects to climate change that are more community-focused,” she explained. “That’s what drew me in, making sure Growing Vines was that space for other students.”

Cai emphasized the crucial role of community and support when striving to maintain a radical imagination in the face of pressing issues such as climate justice, environmental justice and racial justice. As Cai put it, “having a space for community and support is key” to navigating these complex challenges and fostering an environment where ideas can flourish.

The collective provides a platform for students to connect with each other and the broader com-

Members

munity through a shared interest in environmentalism and social justice. The group’s events, which include workshops and community service projects, serve as an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful conversations and take action toward a more just and sustainable future.

Growing Vines’ first major meeting this semester, “Seeds of Knowledge Teach-In,” happened on Feb. 26 with Olivia Aguilar, the director of the Miller Worley Center for the Environment and an associate professor of environmental studies. Here, Aguilar talked about her introduction to environmental studies as well as the work she has done within her community in Texas after completing her Ph.D. at Cornell University.

“It was exciting to have this space where people felt safe enough to be

vulnerable and share their stories,” Huerta said.

In addition to their work within the Mount Holyoke community, the group aims to break the campus bubble and connect with other colleges and surrounding communities, particularly in Holyoke. With this goal in mind, Growing Vines members took a trip across state lines to Soul Fire Farm — located in Petersburg, New York — which is described on its website as an “Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system.” The

I think it’s really important that people are able to really get their hands dirty, and be connected to the land.

group was inspired after attending a book talk at the Odyssey Bookshop on the book “Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists” by Leah Penniman, a “Black Kreyol farmer, mother, soil nerd, author and food justice activist,” as stated on her Soul Fire Farm Bio.

– Sara Abubo

During one of their Community Farm Days, members of Growing Vines engaged in physical labor, which included laying down irrigation lines and using tarps as an alternative to tiling. “I think it’s really important that people are able to really get their hands dirty,

and be connected to the land. When [you’re] at Mount Holyoke you can’t really garden as much and gardening was also a project that Growing Vines want[ed] to consider for the future,” Abubo said. This event prompted Cai, Abubo and Huerta to contact Nuestras Raices, a “grassroots urban agricultural organization” based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Growing Vines has plans to visit La Finca, a 30-acre farm, in the coming semester as a part of their efforts to strengthen connections with the Holyoke community and support existing initiatives aimed at promoting environmental justice. As the semester comes to a close, Growing Vines is collaborating with the Panther Solidarity Organization of Western Mass to host a community lunch potluck on Saturday, April 29, at 2 p.m.

Odyssey Bookshop hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder

BY MELANIE DURONIO ’26 FEATURES EDITOR

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder visited the Odyssey Bookshop on April 18 to speak on his newest book “Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People,” published in Jan. 2023 by Random House. The novel details Dr. O’Connell’s life’s work: creating a healthcare program for the homeless community in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. O’Connell, “a lively man with silver hair,” as the author called him, currently serves as the president of the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. He began working with the homeless population in 1985 at the request of two senior doctors while studying at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Initially, he thought he would spend only a year bringing healthcare opportunities to the homeless, but instead, it became “his life’s calling,” according to the Odyssey Bookshop’s promotion page.

“What they were trying to figure out was how to ameliorate some of the deepest suffering that lurked in the city, and that job seemed challenging enough,” Kidder said. “How do you treat a person who has no place to live? … [Or] people who don’t know where they’re going to find their next meals? … In medical school, questions like that hadn’t come up.”

While writing, Kidder spent five years in Boston following Dr. O’Connell and his colleagues, observing their work and listening to their stories. In the past, they treated those with rotten teeth, scabies and AIDS, many of whom had been discharged from hospitals with blood pouring from their noses and ears. Kidder recounted one story of an elderly man who had cancer invading the left side of his head, one that could have been treatable if he was given

access to a doctor sooner.

“How maddening it felt [for O’Connell], to witness deaths that could have been prevented,” Kidder said. Kidder was also struck by the “visual irony” of Boston, with beautiful art galleries, boutiques and cafes located on the same streets where homeless people would sleep in cardboard boxes at night. He noticed the apathy that they were treated with by the general public as well, as if they were invisible to others in their community.

“Some of us perform a mental trick, a sleight of mind that allows us to step over the body of a man sleeping in the doorway or drive past a woman with a cardboard sign

dissolving in the rain,” Kidder said. “Sometimes we can do this without quite seeing them.”

In comparison, Dr. O’Connell and his colleagues emphasize a style of medicine where the patients’ humanity comes first, offering as safe a space as they can to those they treat. Dr. O’Connell formed friendships with some of his recurring patients, such as a woman named Gretel. Once, before a surgery, she requested that he take a photo of her. Estranged from her children, Gretel wanted to ensure that a picture of herself existed in case they ever wanted to go looking for her. Ever since, O’Connell has taken photos of any patient who has come forward

and asked, some of which still hang on his wall to this day.

O’Connell’s patients would also look out for one another outside of the healthcare building. Kidder recounted the story of a man named Tony, dubbed the “night watchman” by his peers, for preventing conflicts during the nights to ensure no harm came to anyone as they slept. Tony often joked with Kidder during their interviews as well, recounting humorous stories and anecdotes from his time on the streets of Boston.

I was really excited to come here and hear [Kidder] speak and I loved hearing what he said about the doctors. I thought what he was saying was so poignant and important, about looking at someone and communicating with them.

ing their possessions. They do not necessarily have the specific skills or financial resources to leave these situations. Farnsworth appreciated how Kidder drew attention to this in both his novel and his talk, and how he emphasized the importance of community with Dr. O’Connell’s work.

It was through these conversations with both O’Connell and his patients that Kidder realized the need for empathy for the homeless community, especially from outsiders.

– Vanessa Farnsworth

“I was really excited to come here and hear [Kidder] speak and I loved hearing what he said about the doctors. I thought what he was saying was so poignant and important, about looking at someone and communicating with them,” Farnsworth said.

“Look at [homeless people] that you meet on the streets. Look at them, speak to them … treat them like human beings because they are human beings,” Kidder said.

South Hadley resident and audience member Vanessa Farnsworth agrees with this sentiment. Originally from New York City, she worked at various homeless shelters and witnessed many of the same hardships as Dr. O’Connell and Kidder.

“In that position, I would want someone to extend kindness to me,” Farnsworth said. “It’s very emotional because you have people that are not only in very precarious and difficult positions, but they’re also usually unable to advocate for themselves.”

Those who come into the shelters are often in situations where there is no affordable housing available for them and they are in danger of los-

Kidder does not present a direct answer to homelessness in the United States within “Rough Sleepers,” nor do O’Connell and his team. However, he encourages readers to support organizations such as the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program and, as always, treat those around them with kindness.

Similarly, Farnsworth further encourages people to volunteer at homeless shelters and soup kitchens in their area whenever possible and offer assistance in a skill they are competent in.

“Will they end homelessness?

Probably not in their lifetimes, certainly not in mine,” Kidder said. “But I’d like to think that they’re running pathways … into the darkness that others might follow. They offer the rest of us some relief, something approximated … the big goal probably won’t be done tomorrow … but look at all the good stuff that’s been done today.”

Photo courtesy of Soul Fire Farm Social Media Team

of Growing Vines traveled to Soul Fire Farm, which is described as an “Afro-Indigenous centered community farm committed to uprooting racism and seeding sovereignty in the food system.”

Photo courtesy of Tracy Kidder Kidder, above, talked about his new book, “Rough Sleepers,” on April 18 at the Odyssey Bookshop.

Senior Letters: Sophie Soloway ’23, Ali Meizels ’23 and Emma Watkins ’23

BY SOPHIE SOLOWAY ’23 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I wish I could remember what drew me to the Mount Holyoke News table at my first-year fall org fair. I was shy, wavering in my writing confidence and unsure of what to make of my new life on campus.

I’m so grateful to 18-year-old me and whatever whim brought me to MHN because within that week, I was following some story for the Global section, led by the fearless Casey Roepke, and quickly falling in love with the journalistic style that I’ve grown to associate with the culture and care of the MHN. My early experiences as a staff writer and section editor were profoundly shaped by Casey and the other folks who showed me how kind, collaborative and impactful student journalism can be.

I am so grateful to have carried

BY ALI MEIZELS ’23 PUBLISHER & PHOTOS EDITOR

I don’t really know where to start with describing what MHN means to me. For me, it always came down to the newsroom — the place where I fell in love for the first time, laughed more than I ever have in my life and cried countless times. The hundreds of hours I’ve spent in the newsroom have given me the relationships that have defined my college career, and I am eternally grateful for that.

I started at MHN as a staff photographer during my first semester, when I was only 17 years old. I was eager and enthusiastic and jumped right in, and that very first semester I became Photos Editor, a position that I held for seven more semesters.

I am so grateful for the hard work and trust of our staff photographers for four years, and I’m so excited to see Emma Quirk ’26 shine as Photos Editor next year.

In my two years as Publisher, I’ve learned a lot and conquered my fear of schedule-sending emails. I’ve become more confident, gotten really scared about money a few times, and have been humbled frequently

BY EMMA WATKINS ’23 MANAGING EDITOR OF CONTENT

Editor-in-Chief:

these lessons into my year as Editor-in-Chief. Every day that I worked alongside our incredible staff, these teachings only grew.

My biggest thanks go to every staff member who has dropped by my office hours, pitched us innovative article ideas, picked up copy shifts when needed, created beautiful graphics or contributed to the magic of the MHN in some other way this year. The dedication you all give to this paper is so special. Our readers benefit from it every week, and I have grown tremendously because of it. As an E-Board, we marvel at this dedication every week. Thank you to Katie, Artemis, Michelle and Hannah for bringing your laughter and ideas to the newsroom every week. Thank you for your willingness to help me learn.

To my friends, who have tolerated my last-minute interview questions and groggy Friday breakfasts:

Sophie Soloway ’23

Soapy and Liv, thank you for all of the encouragement, coffee deliveries and horoscope section internship applications.

Thank you to Hannah for joining the Global section when we needed you and for sticking around as HR manager. Both MHN and I are infinitely better because of your presence. And to Madden and Carrie, horoscope writer extraordinaires and some of my very favorite people on this earth, thank you. Special thanks to Carrie for keeping us all company on publishing nights and for never letting my confidence waver when it comes to helping to lead MHN.

I can’t thank last year’s publishing team enough for all of their guidance and the strong foundation they left behind. Thank you to Declan for modeling such stellar MHN leadership and for convincing me to run for EIC after 3 years of swearing

I’d never even be on the E-Board. Thank you to Liz, Rose and Lenox for welcoming me into Thursday nights with open arms and only slight hazing. I rely on the lessons you all shared with me every day.

To my publishing team, I hope you already know how much our work together has meant to me. Lenox, Lydia, Jesse, Emma and Ali, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your patience, your jokes and for making my senior year so lovely. Lenox, Lydia and Jesse, I know the paper is in capable and hilarious hands as long as you’re around.

I have to give special thanks to my fellow seniors, co-conspirators and absolute gems of friends and peers, Ali and Emma. I began this year absolutely terrified to let you both down because I knew how hard you work to take care of this paper. I had no idea of the compassion and

Publisher: Ali Meizels ’23

by the real-world business of publishing, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. For two years I’ve been the first person to see each issue of MHN, and when I unfold each paper for the first time, I always get emotional. So many people pour hours into this publication every week, and it’s been such a privilege to be trusted with that hard work. I have so many people to thank, and I’ll start with Lily Reavis ’21, who is one of the people I admire most in the world. I’m not sure I would have ended up here if not for Lily’s article on the front page of the MHN when I toured, which made me want to go somewhere where the student journalists were this brave and talented. Lily, I owe so much to your inspiration in my life. Thank you.

Thanks also to Casey Roepke ’21, Maddy Ritter ’20, Kate Turner ’21 and everyone else who made the newsroom feel like home when I was a terrified first year. I still look up to you all so much.

Katie Goss ’23, thank you for doing all the hard work on the business side of things. I think we made a great team! Rosemary Geib ’23, thank you for being a wonderful

co-editor all these years.

To all my friends who have listened to me talk about news endlessly and supported me, thank you.

Anna Sophie Tinneny ’23, Riva Magistad ’23 and Maddi Grossman ’23, college would have been so boring without you. Thanks to my parents and grandparents who read MHN online each week.

Thank you to my first publishing team: Declan Langton ’22, for believing in me, pushing me, trusting me and encouraging me. Liz Lewis ’22, for your friendship, your inclusion, your generosity and your voice memos. Rose Sheehan ’22, for doing most of my work for me, for supporting me in so many ways, and for making me a desk — thank you for everything.

Lenox Johnson ’24, for making me feel cool by association and for your reassuring, hilarious presence. I loved sharing Baja blasts with all of you.

And to this year’s publishing team: Lydia Eno ’26, your presence has made Thursday nights infinitely more fun. I’m so glad I got the chance to know you. Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25, thank you for

bringing much-needed laughter and silliness to the newsroom and taking hurdles in stride. You have made me cry from laughter more times than anyone else in my life, and I really don’t think I could have made it through this year without that. Carrie Lewis ’23, honorary publishing team member, thank you for hyping me up and reminding me not to take things too seriously.

Emma Watkins ’23, I’ve treasured our time together in the newsroom and out of it so much. I respect your integrity, your work ethic, and your compassion; thank you for being my friend, and for all the times you listened and really got it.

Sophie Soloway ’23, you are one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. Working with you and knowing you has made me a better person. You’ve been a remarkable Editor In Chief and I am in awe of the way you have led the MHN. Emma and Sophie, while our friendships won’t end when we leave the newsroom, I’ll always be grateful for the time we spent together there. I’m so proud of both of you and all that we’ve made together.

To Liv Wilson ’24, you will make

courage you’d show me every day that we’ve worked towards publication. Emma, you are fierce and funny and so dedicated to doing things at the highest quality possible. Ali, your work ethic inspires me and your company is absolutely unmatched. Thank you both for everything.

Our next E-Board clearly has huge shoes to fill, and I can’t wait to see you all fill them in strides. Liv, Tara, Jendayi, Ella, Diksha and Mari, I have so much confidence that you are going to do wonderful and important things with the MHN next year.

Thank you for allowing us to pass the baton with such confidence. Finally, thank you to Mariam, our next Editor-in-Chief. I so appreciate the thoroughness and thoughtfulness that you’ve already demonstrated. I cannot wait to see where it takes you, and how much the paper will flourish under your care.

a wonderful Publisher! I hope you enjoy the job as much as I have. To Mariam Keita ’24 and the rest of next year’s staff, I could not be more excited to see where you take the paper. I’ll always be cheering for you.

To all the editors, writers, photographers, artists, and staff members who have made this org so fun to be a part of – thank you.

And to you, the reader: thank you for opening my emails, for sending me kind feedback, for giving me the privilege of sharing the MHN. Being your publisher has been the greatest honor.

Most Thursdays for the past two years, I’ve complained about the late nights and wonky sleep schedules. Now that my Thursday nights will be like every other night, I wish we could have one more – a few more hours listening to Jesse tell his latest story, or laughing with Sophie about some ridiculous typo.

One more walk home from the newsroom at 3 a.m. on a silent campus. I hope that I never forget what it was like to be a part of this team. I hope for the rest of my life, Thursday night means something special to me.

Managing Editor of Content: Emma Watkins ’23

I joined Mount Holyoke News as a copy editor during the beginning of the pandemic. Editing from my childhood bedroom, I felt on the periphery of all the workings of the paper but grew to know MHN as one of the greatest things that Mount Holyoke would give me.

Thank you to Kelsey Thomas for listening to my anxious ramblings via Twitter DM on my first night of being Copy Chief last fall, and for your willingness to train me at the last minute, even having already graduated. Your expertise and reassurance made me so much more comfortable going into the role.

Rose Cohen, I will always treasure our nights of InDesign problem solving, writing about the “Twilight” Renaissance and hosting A&E movie night. I loved being your co-editor,

co-writer and friend. Thank you to my first publishing night team: Declan, Liz, Rose and Ali. You all were so wonderful to work with and get to know. To Declan, for being our fearless leader, entertaining us with your stand-up routines and helping me organize Cassani Room movie nights. To Liz, for always being there to give me advice on MHN and everything else — I wish we had met sooner. To Rose for the shared laughter and for always bringing the good mouse to publishing nights. To Ali, for teaching me the ins and outs of MHN E-Board (and more, forthcoming…). Some of my favorite memories from junior year are with you all, and I truly treasure our time together.

Lenox, I couldn’t have asked for a better successor for Copy Chief last spring. You’re brilliant, hilarious and so lovely to be around. Catelyn, my beloved roomie, and

honorary work wife. I love our movie nights — both on the projector and in Amherst — and all our time talking and laughing and commiserating together. Thank you for always leaving my string lights on for me to come home to.

A massive thank you to this year’s publishing team. I’ve loved getting to know you all and sharing hectic Gracious Dinners with you. Sophie, I still remember our first — extremely formal — email and text exchanges as ‘Editorial Bosses.’ I’m so glad we’ve grown closer throughout this year, and not just because we can interact normally now. You lead MHN with compassion, strength and immense skill. It’s been a pleasure becoming your friend.

Ali, it’s hard to put into words what you’ve meant to me this year. Thank you for your endless advice, willingness to listen to my rants and your overall kindness. I will miss our

writing group and hope we continue to share our work together. I can’t wait to see more of your concert coverage in the near future.

Jesse, my fellow middle-of-theU.S.-Virgo-only-child, there would not be nearly as much laughter at publishing night without you. Thank you for always helping me with my layout crises. Attending Glascock weekend events together is a highlight of my MHC experience. I know MHN will continue to thrive under your watch.

Lydia, you’ve been such a pleasure to get to know. You are so funny, candid and capable. I can’t wait to read your horoscopes next year — be kind to Virgos.

Tara and Jendayi, I know you’ll both be incredible as MEC. Tara, I remember when you first wrote for A&E when I was editing that section. I was so impressed with your writing and the excitement that you brought

to the News.

Jendayi, ever since you stepped into your role as section editor I’ve been blown away by your editing skills and the way you work and communicate with others. I know you both will do incredible things as MEC, and I can’t wait to watch you both grow into the role. Mariam, I know you will be an amazing Editor-in-Chief. You’ve done so much for MHN already and I cannot wait to see the paper grow under your leadership, skill and talent!

To the rest of the next E-Board, I believe in you all so much and can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish next year. Add some new content to the Wall of Inspiration to leave for future org members. Remember to lean on each other when things get overwhelming — which they likely will — and know that you can accomplish great things together.

Photo by Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25

Above, Sophie Soloway ’23, Ali Meizels ’23 and Emma Watkins ’23 embrace in front of the entrance to the Newsroom, Blanchard 324, on their last publishing night. Below, they each share their reflections on their time with the Mount Holyoke News.

The US leads campaign to end migration through the Darién Gap

BY KIERA MCLAUGHLIN ’26 STAFF WRITER

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault and murder.

The United States, Panama and Colombia have issued a new plan to end migration through the Darién Gap, a jungle passage between Colombia and Panama. According to Al Jazeera, this 60-day campaign was created to “end the illicit movement of people and goods through the Darién by both land and maritime corridors,” and will implement “new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees,” per a U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement.

The Associated Press described the third part of this new plan as an investment to lessen poverty and build more jobs in the communities that are on the border of Colombia and Panama to discourage trade from smuggling migrants.

According to The Guardian, this announcement comes as Title 42 — a law introduced by the Trump administration — expires on May 11. Title 42 currently prohibits migrants from applying for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Initially introduced as a COVID-19 precaution, the policy forces Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Haitian and Cuban migrants to make official claims and reach certain requirements to apply for asylum. CNN reported that the Biden administration has since expanded Title 42. This expansion empowered immigration officials to send migrants who would have previously qualified for asylum back to Mexico or other countries of origin.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, explained that the Biden administration is “concerned that there may be an

increase in the level of migration”

once Title 42 expires, as The Guardian reported.

Thousands of people, including children, made the 66-mile hike through the Darién Gap last year because of economic and humanitarian crises in their home country, CNN reported. Panamanian migrant officials stated that 88,000 migrants have made the trip this year—seven times the number of people that migrated this time last year, per the Guardian. The officials predicted that up to 400,000 people will travel through the Darién Gap in 2023.

From January to October 2022, 32,488 children traveled through the Darién Gap, which is 10 percent more than was recorded the year before, UNICEF reported. UNICEF

Deputy Executive Director Hannan Sulieman explained that “violence, poverty and the hope to find better life conditions drive families with children to flee their homes and face threats in inhospitable environments such as the Darién Gap.”

The Associated Press explains that the passway is one of the most dangerous parts of the route to the U.S. border and people are often sexually assaulted, robbed and killed. “The stories we have heard from those who have crossed the Darién Gap attest to the horrors of the journey. Many have lost their lives or gone missing, while others come out of it with significant health issues, both physical and mental,” Chief of Mission for The International Organization for Migration in Panama, Giuseppe Loprete, said.

In February of this year, a team from CNN spent five days passing through the Darién Gap to report on the treatment of migrants along the way. CNN reported that each migrant must pay a minimum of 400

dollars to smugglers for entry, but must navigate the jungle passage alone. Cartels earn tens of millions of dollars through smuggling each year. One U.S. State Department official explained that the cartels’ fees are “definitely big business, but it is a business that has no thought towards safety or suffering or well-being … just collecting the money and moving people,” CNN reported.

Latin American migrants are not the only ones to use this dangerous and deadly passage to the U.S. Many migrants from around the world also travel through the Darién Gap. CNN reported that around 2,200 Chinese

citizens went through the passage in January and February of this year, according to Panamanian data.

Blaine Bookey, the legal director at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies told The Guardian that she doubted authorities would be able to stop migrants from traveling through the Darién Gap. According to Bookey, “when people are fleeing for their lives and there is no opportunity to seek safety, they will find a way.” Along with a lack of confidence in the authorities’ abilities to stop migrants, people are uncertain if this new plan will deter smuggling.

Phillips, the legal director of

Nicole

Haitian Bridge Alliance, an immigration policy non-profit, said “[migrants] will find other ways, and the smugglers who want to make money will also find other ways that are more dangerous.” She continued by explaining that “the thought of [the U.S., Panama and Colombia] further militarizing in order to keep migrants out is terrifying for people’s safety,” the Guardian reported.

The 60-day campaign to stop migration has not started yet and is still being considered, according to Associated Press, but attempts to prepare for the end of the Title 42 restrictions are imminent.

Fighting breaks out in Sudan between Rapid Support Forces and military

tens of thousands of people dead or displaced. A potential civil war in Sudan will only exacerbate this issue. Reuters reported that several countries have begun evacuating foreign personnel based in Sudan. The United States, Britain and France extracted all government personnel and dependents. Germany and Italy are not far behind, with Italy providing evacuation efforts for individuals from Vatican City, Switzerland and several other European countries. The Russian government is currently unable to complete successful evacuation efforts, as it would have to cross the frontlines. The Russian ambassador in Khartoum reported that approximately fifteen people are currently trapped in a Russian Orthodox church near the fighting. Egypt and Saudi Arabia have completed evacuation missions for several of their diplomatic staff and other nationals, and many more countries are completing their own operations.

According to Reiter, while mediation efforts are likely to continue, the withdrawal of foreign nationals by many countries indicates that these countries do not believe mediation will prevent violence in the near future.

BY SHIRA SADEH ’25

GLOBAL EDITOR

Content warning: This article discusses mass death.

A recent conflict in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, has raised concerns over the prospect of a civil war.

On April 15, 2023, fighting erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, Al Jazeera reported. Not only could the conflict cause damage to Sudan’s transition to democracy, but experts warn it also has implications for the already unstable region.

According to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the conflict broke out due to unresolved negotiations between the SAF and the RSF. As the military was being reformed to give civilian leaders control over the security forces, the RSF and the military were

negotiating a merger to consolidate forces. The RSF has not been willing to become subordinate to military leadership or to be stripped of ranks earned under RSF leadership, while some members of the SAF oppose including less professional security forces in the official state military.

Andrew Reiter, associate professor of politics and international relations at Mount Holyoke College, explained in a recent interview with Mount Holyoke News that escalations in violence during political transitions are not unprecedented.

“A number of other countries have had similar experiences to what is happening in Sudan now. It is not uncommon … for the military to allow a transition to civilian rule only to take over again when it is not going to their liking,” Reiter said.

According to the United States Institute of Peace, however, this conflict is different from the fighting that has happened in Sudan’s

recent history. While the military has fought against rebel groups before, the RSF is a paramilitary group recognized by law, and has fought on behalf of the Sudanese government. Reiter added that although tensions such as this are not uncommon, it is indicative of a sharp turn away from democratic transition. “Unfortunately, this is likely the beginning of a longer period of violence in the country. It is a major setback for a transition to democratic rule,” he said.

According to The Washington Post, the military has enjoyed a significant amount of political power in Sudan since Oct. 2021, when General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan initiated a coup and ousted the transitional government. Burhan was closely aligned with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who was and still is the leader of the RSF.

Reiter also explained that this coup was a key moment in Sudan’s

history, which was defined by the international community’s reaction to the coup. He stated that “the international community bears the most responsibility for how it engaged with [Burhan and Hemedti] after the coup. They were responsible for terrible atrocities in the past and their commitment to democracy was unclear, yet they were treated like statesmen in negotiations about transitioning to civilian rule. They needed to be dealt with much more firmly to deter this very type of thing from happening.”

The conflict also has potential implications for the region around Sudan. Reiter explained that the violence will increase the number of refugees leaving Sudan and fleeing to surrounding countries.

According to Al Jazeera, conflicts in neighboring countries — such as Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia — have created a humanitarian crisis in the region, with

As of April 24, Al Jazeera reported that both sides of the conflict agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced, although both sides have violated several temporary truces since the fighting began. “During this period, the United States urges the SAF and RSF to immediately and fully uphold the ceasefire. To support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders,” Blinken said.

The Security Council of the United Nations is scheduled to meet with Sudanese representatives on April 25, Al Jazeera reported. Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the U.N., urged the Security Council to use its influence to return Sudan to a peaceful transition to democracy, saying “we must all do everything within our power to pull Sudan back from the edge of the abyss … We stand with them at this terrible time.”

Photo courtesy of Ola A. Alsheikh via Wikimedia Commons

The Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have entered a violent conflict over unresolved negotiations, jeopardizing the stability of democracy in Sudan and threatening to start a civil war.

Photo courtesy of Gustavo Ross via Wikimedia Commons

The Unites States, Panama and Colombia may partner on a campaign to stop immigration through the Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia.

Violence, poverty and the hope to find better life conditions drive families with children to flee their homes and face threats in inhospitable environments such as the Darién Gap.

– Hannan Sulieman

College hosts Summit on Women’s Leadership in Climate Justice

BY SARAH GRINNELL ’26 STAFF WRITER

From April 13 to 15, the Miller Worley Center for the Environment hosted the Summit on Women’s Leadership in Climate Justice, a three day series of panels and events engaging Mount Holyoke students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in meaningful dialogue on the environmental stewardship of women.

Mount Holyoke advertised the event as “a welcoming space for all genders and nonbinary people seeking to celebrate the accomplishments and vision of women in the field of climate justice.” The summit offered a wide variety of events, such as a networking reception, a Sustainable Development Goals lab in partnership with the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, and presentation of student posters and research projects. There were also panels by global and local voices in the field, such as Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, Kat Cadungog and Tamara Toles O’Laughlin, on topics ranging from “climate refugees and migration, the built environment, innovation in sustainability and the need for arts and humanities in the climate movement.”

The summit was unique in its hybrid format, with some speakers and attendees participating virtually. Hayhoe, for example, gave her keynote address over Zoom, explaining to the audience that she discovered “the largest part of my personal carbon footprint was flying to scientific meetings to study and talk about climate change.” Hayhoe has since transitioned many of her talks to a virtual format. She noted “in all of those 12 years, I have only once received an invitation that specifically asked me to be virtual and ask the other speakers to be virtual in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That invitation was this one,” going on to commend Mount Holyoke for “setting an example and … encouraging other people to

not only talk the talk, but to walk the walk as well.” At the introductory event on Thursday, Dr. Olivia Aguilar, Leslie and Sarah Miller Director of the Miller Worley Center for the Environment and Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, offered opening remarks on the summit, which she first proposed to Interim President Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum in August of 2023.

“After attending numerous conferences and talks on climate change, I started to realize that there was a gap in the story we’re telling … I was seeing activist panels predominantly comprised of women, while expert panels were predominantly comprised of men,” she said.

In an interview with MHN, Aguilar reflected on the summit, and said, “I think the important thing that this summit does is lift up voices that are often behind the scenes or are overlooked in the field, both women and non-binary people … while women and marginalized groups will be the people most impacted by the climate crisis they are often the ones with the most innovative and holistic

solutions that involve climate justice.”

Climate justice was naturally a major focus of the summit. As Aguilar said in her speech, “when we talk about the climate crisis, we must also talk about the deeply rooted injustices that have given rise to the crisis.” “If we … understand that living conditions are already unviable for many communities due to the burden of systemic racism or other forms of discrimination, we can see how climate work is also racial justice work. It’s human rights work, it’s equity and inclusion work,” she explained. Hayhoe expanded on these inequalities in her keynote address, expressing how, “climate change affects all of us, but it doesn’t affect us all equally.” Namely, Hayhoe described how “study after study after study shows that, especially in low-income countries, but even right here where we live, climate change affects women more than it does men.” For example, Hayhoe mentioned that women are more likely to “experience poverty and

Coastal flooding and hurricanes in the South affect the lives of everyday people

BY DIKSHA BATRA ’26 STAFF WRITER

Warming temperatures have been affecting people in the South more than the rest of America. According to Mississippi Today, the Climate Change Risk Index for the South is 229. In contrast, the Northeast has an index of 123, the Midwest index is 147 and the West has an index of 166.

A recent study covered by The Washington Post found that the Southeast coast and the Gulf Coast have experienced a “rate of sea level rise since 2010 at over 10 millimeters — or one centimeter — per year in the region.” In comparison to the rest of the world, the rate is “more than double the global average rate of about 4.5 millimeters per year since 2010.” Damage caused by hurricanes was made worse by sea level rise, as was seen with Hurricanes Michael and Ian. “The water level associated with Hurricane Ian was the highest on record due to the combined effect of sea level rise and storm surge,” The Washington Post reported.

Not only are sea levels rising in the Gulf of Mexico, but temperatures in the region are rising faster than in the rest of the world. Zhankun Wang, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told Texas Public Radio that “the Gulf of Mexico is just one of the areas that has a faster warming than the global ocean and twice the global rate is still in a reasonable range.” He explained that the cause behind increasing temperatures is that “the loop current and the loop current eddies actually direct a huge amount of heat from the Caribbean Sea into the Gulf of Mexico. And because of the general tropical structure of the Gulf of Mexico, a lot of heat is starting to get inside it, causing the warming.”

He also explained that one of the factors behind rising sea levels is thermal expansion. Thermal expansion, according to NASA, “happens when water gets warmer, which causes the volume of the water to increase.” They also point out that “half of the measured global sea level rise on Earth is from warming waters and thermal expansion.”

Madeleine Broussard ’26, a Texas resident, faced devastation from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. “I was in eighth grade, and I was just about to start school,” Broussard said. She was sleeping, and at 4 a.m. her father woke her up to “move everything to a high place.”

However, that was not enough and soon “a church member had to come with his truck” to rescue them. She remembers putting her “dog in a suitcase so he did not have to be on the ground.”

After Hurricane Harvey, Broussard had to live in her church for a couple of weeks because her house was flooded with 1 foot of water. She had lost a lot of possessions such as childhood toys, and she “felt very sad after that.” It took her family about two years to financially recover from the storm.

Broussard remembers her community being devastated by Hurricane Harvey. She said she “could not go to school for a long time because the schools flooded” and many people “were displaced.” Many children lost their school supplies and clothes in the flood. She describes the situation as being “like a domino effect.”

Broussard pointed out “how powerful a community can be in helping each other.” During the hurricane, “people were out on boats in the middle of neighborhoods saving people during the thick of the hurricane.” According to Broussard, many people who otherwise would have drowned or been trapped in-

have less socioeconomic power” and face “greater risk of displacement, [and] higher odds of being injured or killed during a natural disaster.”

Furthermore, in countries like Malawi, the financial strain resulting from droughts can “precipitate early marriages,” and floods can “force last resort prostitution as women struggle to make ends meet.” Women, especially single mothers, “depend on community networks that fail during a disaster,” making them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, Hayhoe explained.

Hayhoe went on to uplift the achievements of women and their active engagement in finding solutions to these climate-induced injustices, from the work of the Nature Conservancy in Papua New Guinea, where women-led communities are working to restore mangrove forests that take carbon out of the atmosphere, to Solar Sister, an organization “transforming the lives of women in Sub-Saharan Africa through empowering women and entrepreneurs to sell solar energy products.” She emphasized the importance of the education of women and girls as “a climate solution,” as it equips them to “face the impacts of climate change.”

“Young women are leading the climate protests,” Hayhoe explained. “Guess who leads the global climate talks?” she asked, citing Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and her vital role in sealing the Paris Agreement.

Attendees were able to see the values of the summit put into action during the showcase of research done by students from Mount Holyoke and other colleges. A diverse range of projects were on display in the Kendade Atrium. Charlotte Cai ’24, for example, presented her work with the Williams Mystic Program and the Grand Caillou/Dulac Band of Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indigenous tribe in Louisiana, focusing on bringing Indigenous knowledge to the forefront of youth

STEM education. Sohini Bhatia ’23 completed a project that was born out of her hometown, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Kariakoo market, aiming to redesign the space to improve food stability and promote sustainable food practices in urban agriculture. Linh Mai ’23 presented a design for a net-zero building, which combined traditional Vietnamese architecture with global building tactics. Mai’s design sought to battle issues of cultural erosion in Vietnam and improve the sustainability of the building sector. Aguilar, who was an advisor for three students involved in the event, called the poster session “an inspiring event.”

“We work as a small community and over the course of the semester I’ve tried to emphasize the fact that community is necessary, particularly when we want to accomplish big things. This was also the message of our main keynote speakers,” Aguilar explained. “Seeing all of the various projects and knowing that students are working on similar issues helps to remind us that we are not alone in this work,” she said.

The student projects, and the summit in general, affirm Hayhoe’s belief about the trailblazing importance of womens’ education in environmental issues, as well as Aguilar’s emphasis on the representation of diverse voices in the fight for climate justice.

“Many people are still conditioned to see and hear expertise and expert opinion from certain voices and certain bodies,” Aguilar said in her speech on Thursday “But I’d like for us to change this” with the voices of these students and “women and gender diverse people” in general “of all races and ethnicities of various religious affiliations from rural areas and from urban areas for opposite ends of socioeconomic backgrounds have been doing this work.” For Mount Holyoke College, the summit was one step toward increasing the recognition of these voices in the ongoing fight against climate change.

All about Pap Tests

BY LILY BENN ’24 STAFF WRITER

side their houses were saved by strangers. After the hurricane, she recalls that “Chick-fil-A in our city sent a bunch of sandwiches [to be distributed to community members],” while “people were donating clothes” and the schools helped by getting supplies out to those in need.

Broussard described her experience with Hurricane Harvey as “an example of being affected by global warming,” because while her house never got flooded again, homes in more coastal cities have faced further flooding. Broussard lives about an hour away from the coastline, but said, “Galveston, which is a coastal city, was really deeply affected.”

A couple of years later, Broussard’s family was affected by another hurricane. “It was in 2020 Hurricane Laura, which devastated my family really badly and they live in a smallish town,” Broussard explained. This time her family was affected in Louisiana. Some of the permanent effects, Broussard explained, were that “a lot of businesses closed permanently.”

The main reason behind global warming is corporations, according to Broussard. “I think it’s up to the government,” she said. She urged people to “call on our government.”

“We have to write to our senator, write to our local officials, we need to put restrictions on companies,” she said. She emphasized that this is necessary “to help people because so many things are affected by hurricanes.”

A pap test, or pap smear, are common names for a Papanicolaou test, which identifies potential cervical cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Planned Parenthood recommends that people with cervixes start getting tested once they are 21. Planned Parenthood also explains that if you are aged 21-24, you can start to get routine pap tests every three years, or wait until you are 25 to begin getting tested, after which it is recommended to get tested every five years.

Pap tests are medical tests often done during a regular physical, pelvic exam or wellness exam, according to Planned Parenthood. These tests are highly recommended by medical providers for people with cervixes as they are designed to find signs of abnormal cells that could lead to cervical cancer, or cervical cancer itself.

brush is inserted into the vagina to lightly scratch the cervix to collect cervical cells.

Pap smears are available at the Health Center, generally as part of a gynecological exam. They are free of charge with a student health insurance plan and the supplemental or prepaid health center option.

Pap tests can also test for Human Papillomavirus or HPV. According to Planned Parenthood, HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection. Many types of HPV are relatively harmless. Still, some variants such as type 16 and type 18 can lead to cervical cancer, or in some cases can also cause cancer in the penis, vulva, vagina, anus, mouth or throat, Planned Parenthood explains. There is no absolute cure, but if HPV is detected before it becomes cancer, such as with a pap test, it can be easily treated and cancer can be prevented. Another common prevention is the HPV vaccine, which is generally recommended to be received at age 11 or 12, but can be given at ages 9 to 45.

According to Planned Parenthood, during this test, which only takes a few minutes, a doctor inserts a speculum into the patient’s vagina to open up the vaginal walls so that a sample can be taken from the cervix. After this, a small testing device such as a spatula or

Pap smears are available at the Health Center, generally as part of a gynecological exam. They are free of charge with a student health insurance plan and the supplemental or prepaid health center option.

If you do not have this plan, the charges will be placed on your student bill, according to Health Services.

Photo courtesy of Joanna Chattman Student research projects were put on display during a poster session in the Kendade Hall atrium.

Photo courtesy of The National Guard via Flickr Southern U.S. states have faced increased flooding due to sea level rise caused by climate change.

Graphic by Sunny Wei ’23

Mount Holyoke fails its principle of intellectual diversity

create the impact that we aim for.

same peers. Danyah Tarabulsi ’24, an international student at Mount Holyoke, shared her similar experience feeling this way in classes: “… I didn’t learn a lot about American history in high school. So I did not know what the Confederate flag was. And I asked that once in class and all eyes were like, how do you not know that and I was like, this is not part of my history. So like, you can’t expect me to already know it.”

I’m going to grad school for politics, and I know there are going to be students there who have vastly different opinions on issues. Sometimes I wonder how prepared I am for having productive or fruitful conversations with them, since I’m coming from an environment where I feel like people aren’t open to having conversations with people who have different opinions or even people who come from different backgrounds.

BY REHAT THUSSU ’23 CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mount Holyoke College is an institution that prides itself on being a space that welcomes and celebrates diversity. Our community’s strength lies in its diversity. Our campus welcomes students, such as myself, and faculty and staff from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. If Mount Holyoke is a flavourful dish, then we the people on this campus would be its rich ingredients. Our diversity is what makes Mount Holyoke unique. Unfortunately, I have found that this richness is not welcome in all spaces, specifically our intellectual spaces.

The Western Massachusetts Marxist Lesbian Indoctrination Camp, as we sometimes call our college, has many of its members being strong advocates for progressive ideas. The lack of empathy and willingness to listen to others, especially across multicultural backgrounds, with differences in thinking and perspectives not only affects our dedica-

tion to advocacy but also academics.

Since the College’s founding in 1837, our community has produced numerous advocates for change that are much needed in our ever-changing society. Among them are Gloria-Johnson Powell, Ruth Muskrat Bronson, Kavita Ramdas and many others.

The predominantly liberal views that we have cultivated at the College support us in pushing for ideas and values that are aimed at creating a more equitable and just society. However, more recently, our advocacy has been lacking inclusivity. Much of our arguments, values and even ideas at the College are inspired by a bubble of people who feel, think and talk the same way. We as a community often limit the voices of those who might feel a bit different than this performative and restricting progressive way of thinking.

More often than not, I have noticed how classroom discussions are centered around one view of thinking, primarily due to the fact that students that may have a different

perspective are scared to contribute as they are afraid of being canceled. There have been instances where I did not raise my hand in class or say something if I disagreed because I was scared. I was afraid that I would be made to feel uncomfortable about having a different perspective, which has occurred in a few instances. In one of several such instances, during my first year at Mount Holyoke, I disagreed with a fellow student in a class discussion about how parents behave with children.

Growing up in India, there are certain parenting practices that are considered acceptable, relative to many Western cultures’ understanding of progressive parenting styles. Because of my lived experience, I did not agree with the student in the class discussion. In response to that, they said my opinion was ill-formed and implied that the parenting practice in my culture was bad, which felt unfair. Since then, I found myself less inclined to participate if I disagreed with my peers or had a perspective that could invite scrutiny from these

I wonder how I am not only limiting my own academic learning but also my peers’. When we talk about a holistic education or holistic way of thinking, it includes perspectives that are diverse in nature. That sometimes means listening to the opinions and thoughts of those who are not in agreement with you. “I’m going to grad school for politics, and I know there are going to be students there who have vastly different opinions on issues. Sometimes I wonder how prepared I am for having productive or fruitful conversations with them since I’m coming from an environment where I feel like people aren’t open to having conversations with people who have different opinions or even people who come from different backgrounds,” Gauri Kaushik ’23 said. Kaushik’s concerns reflect how if we continue this practice of suppressing the opinions of those who are not in agreement with the majority, we are laying the foundations to create a space that is not inviting to freedom of speech and thought. If we aim to create an equitable and just society, then encouraging such a space might not be the best way to go forward.

– Gauri Kaushik

Students who feel nervous to bring forth differing opinions in classroom discussions or dining table conversations in Blanchard Hall are often tempted to agree with the majority, to avoid being scrutinized. They feel pressured to change their beliefs and opinions, just to feel more accepted in conversations and discussions. This has implications for one’s identity and even how one might perceive themselves. I know I have felt this pressure, and it felt dishonest to me and my identity. It is unfair that one feels pressured to change this aspect of their identity so that they can feel welcomed in this community.

As members of this community, it is important that we reevaluate how we create space in our intellectual spheres. I strongly believe that if we continue this culture, we are heading towards creating an intellectual community that is not in any shape or form holistic or understanding of different perspectives and experiences. It will also have consequences for our diversity.

As a community member, I strongly believe this narrow mode of thought does more damage to our activism than good. By allowing ourselves to exist in a vacuum of thought and belief, we encourage ourselves to hamper our intellectual growth. If we want to create an impact, it is important that we reach people who might believe and think differently than us. If we keep shutting down ideas and thoughts the moment they are remotely different from the majority of the campus, we restrict the potential to reach and

More often than not, our opinions are formed based on the experiences and backgrounds we have. For example, I am an international student like many on this campus. I grew up in a culture that is distinct from the majority of students on this campus, and oftentimes, the opinions I have formed, based on where I grew up, are at a crossroads with the opinions of the dominant views on this campus. If we continue to accept only the opinions that are agreeable to the majority, then we will continue to attract future community members who will fit that exact mold, a specific set of experiences and backgrounds, causing it to have a negative impact on the wealth of diversity that is currently present in our community. In short, the very essence of Mount Holyoke and its community will be lost.

At the moment, Mount Holyoke is becoming an oasis of learning that lacks intellectual diversity. I sincerely hope that we as a community find it in us to rebuild our holistic intellectual space, in a way that is welcoming for everyone on this campus.

Mount Holyoke needs to do better by its students of color

BY MAX RHOADS ’25 STAFF WRITER

Earlier this April, residents of the Gloria Anzaldúa Living Learning Community, a community for queer and trans students of color at Mount Holyoke, took to social media to speak up about their living conditions in the North Rockefeller Hall basement. Students shared pictures of rats and other pests in their rooms and an asbestos tent in the basement. As per social media posts by members of the LLC, when they brought their concerns to Facilities Management, they were given mouse traps and told to get rid of the pests themselves. The residents of the Gloria Anzaldúa LLC have been living in unsanitary conditions for the majority of the academic year, but much of the rest of the student population was not aware until the social media posts. According to a statement issued by the LLC via Instagram, three students prior to this incident left the dorm and the College itself because of the living conditions.

Generally, the administration is socially liberal — there are several statements on the College website detailing their commitment to diversity and inclusion and acknowledging that we are located on stolen Indigenous land. However, if the College is structured in such a way that people of color do not feel welcome or safe, then that is not a reflection of the values they claim to uphold. In addition, while most students seem to hold left-leaning beliefs, white students need to do better in speaking

up for students of color. They are the majority on campus and tend to have more privilege.

It is no coincidence that the residents of the Gloria LLC, who are all students of color, were treated this way by both other students and the College administration. The LLC is located in North Rockefeller Hall, and both the South and North Rockies are popular party locations for Mount Holyoke students. Because of this, partygoers, mostly non-residents, leave their garbage in these dorms and generally show little regard for those who live there. Furthermore, because of the parties, Public Safety gets called to the North Rockies more often than any other dorm. One could argue that it is because of the noise complaints; however, I have noticed that other popular party locations, such as Mandelle Hall, rarely receive this same treatment in response to noise complaints. Communities of color are often over-policed. With the history of policing in the United States, these encounters with law enforcement can be dangerous for these communities. It is important to make sure there is a legitimate reason for such involvement before repeatedly calling Public Safety into the spaces occupied by students of color.

The Gloria Anzaldúa LLC is located in the basement of the building. In the LLC’s collective statement on Instagram, they pointed out that being placed in the basement “no matter the original intention, communicates we are something to be hidden, buried and forgotten.” Unfortunately, Mount Holyoke frequently

expresses, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to students of color that we are an afterthought. All of the cultural centers are located on the outskirts of campus, out of view from the rest of the student population, forcing those who need these spaces to go out of their way to seek them out.

It appears that the unsanitary conditions came to light during peak college tour season, so students began putting up posters around campus detailing the situation to make prospective students and their families aware. It was only when there was the possibility of losing prospective students that the administration

decided to act on the situation in the Gloria LLC and approve a move to a different, cleaner space in Abbey Hall. What that communicates to students of color is that the school only cares about them when their own image is at stake. This is known as performative support, and it does nothing but improve the privileged entity’s social standing.

Mount Holyoke is a predominantly white institution, and it is undeniable that white people make up a majority of the student population, as well as the administration. While one could argue that none of this treatment was intentional or race-related, intention does not

matter as much as the impact on students of color. Treatment like this will actively drive people of color away from the school, making the student population even more overwhelmingly white and worsening the problem. Actions speak louder than words.

What we can do as a community is speak up when we see this type of treatment occurring. In addition, the administration can listen to people of color when they raise concerns about how they are being treated and actively work towards fixing the problems. If the school is so committed to diversity and inclusion, then its actions need to reflect it.

Photo by Silas Gemma ’26 Thussu calls for the Mount Holyoke community to be more accepting of those with intellectually diverse opinions and create welcoming classrooms.

Photo by Jahnavi Pradeep ’23 Rhoads calls for Mount Holyoke’s administration and student body to do more for students of color and to create a welcoming campus environment.

Beyond the scoreboard: the Lyons’ Nation year in review

BY EMILY TARINELLI ’25 AND LAUREN LEESE ’23 SPORTS EDITOR STAFF WRITER

Basketball Regular Season Record: 2-23

Captain’s Statement: ““I am especially proud of how well our team is learning to handle ‘the hard.’ … [Basketball] has proven to be an incredibly resilient group of student-athletes. Our success shows most in our daily grit and growth; showing up every day motivated to challenge both our teammates and ourselves to get better. We have limitless potential — that is what personally keeps me going.” —

Marley Berano ’25

Highlights: Basketball came back from an early deficit to defeat Dean College 51-43 on Nov. 19, 2022, in their first win since December 2021. Isabel Cordes ’24, Amrit Khinda ’25, Nicole Lutalo ’24 and Emily Mock ’24 were awarded Division III Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators on Feb. 21, 2023.

Cross Country Regular Season Competitions: four meets and invitationals

Highlights: Mount Holyoke Cross Country’s cumulative team grade point average of 3.84 was the highest GPA out of all Division III teams in New England, earning them a spot on the 2022 NCAA Division III Cross Country U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s All-Academic Team. In addition to numerous firstplace performances, Lauren Selkin ’22 collected honors as a 2022 NCAA Division III Cross Country USTFCCCA Women’s All-Academic Athlete and NEWMAC Cross Country Runner of the Week and competed in the NCAA Cross Country Championship for the second year in a row.

Daisy Chain Ultimate Frisbee*

Highlights: Gigi Downey ’23, one of Daisy Chain’s captains, qualified for the United States national ultimate frisbee team and will represent the U.S. in the under-24 world ultimate frisbee championship in July 2023 in Nottingham, United Kingdom. Daisy Chain won the firstplace title in its south New England section championship on April 22, 2023, winning all four games versus Williams College, Amherst College, Smith College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Dressage*

Captain’s Statement: “We have really come together as a team this year and I am so proud of everyone for creating such a fun and upbeat team atmosphere through all the highs and lows. Our riders have given it their all and we ended the season as the Intercollegiate Dressage Association 2023 Reserve National Champions!” — Ellen Switchenko ’23

Highlights: Dressage scored 116 points for the season to become region champions, sending a team and several individual riders to Intercollegiate Dressage Association Nationals. At Nationals, Dressage became IDA Reserve National Champions.

Fencing*

Captains’ Statements: “Our team community this year was truly incredible … I’m so proud of our first-time competitors for their dedication and newfound love for the

sport and of our returners for stepping up and working so hard to create a wonderful team environment.”

— Eli Gerbi ’25

“I’m proud of the progress everyone on the team has made this year! We have a lot of people who had never fenced before this year, but they put a lot of effort into learning a new sport and you can tell from how much they have improved.”

— Maya Frey ’23

Highlights: At the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference Championship on Feb. 25, the sabre squad placed 10th while the foil and épée squads each placed 15th.

Field Hockey

Regular Season Record: 6-11

Coach’s Statement: “Our team has grown leaps and bounds in the last few months … We just completed our one day of competition at Smith. We saw some really great progress with both fitness, skill set and camaraderie. We ended our day on Saturday coming from behind and beating Smith and that will take us well into the summer months. I’m really proud of our team and the direction that we are going.” — Andy Whitcomb

Highlights: Field Hockey secured a three-win streak on Oct. 29, beating NEWMAC rival Wheaton College 2-1 in their last game of the season. Anna Induni ’26 was named NEWMAC Field Hockey Offensive Athlete of the Week for the last week of October, becoming the first Mount Holyoke Field Hockey NEWMAC Athlete of the Week since 2019.

Ice Hockey*

Coach’s Statement: “The 2022-23 season for ice hockey was an absolute joy to be involved in. The team is always upbeat, happy, looking and willing to learn. I am tremendously proud of the progress all the players have made along the year and as a team. Their skills and confidence have grown to new heights … I could name everyone on the team as they all contributed significantly on and off the ice. We look forward to another fun year in 2023-24!” — Tom Cardosi

Highlights: Bria Carlson ’23 led the team in its senior game versus Smith College on Feb. 11 by scoring both of Mount Holyoke’s two points.

Lacrosse

Regular Season Record: 3-12

Captains’ Statements: “This season has been all about growth and facing the adversity of being a small team with a majority of us being in our first or second year of college athletics. As a team, we … worked every day to grow as individual players and most importantly as team players. We are paving the way to be extremely successful in the future of this program!” — Maddie Millyan ’25

“My co-captains and I wanted to put a heavy emphasis on team bonding this season because we know that having good team chemistry is essential while in a rebuilding period … I’m really looking forward to using the team dynamic we created this season and translating it more onto the field next season.” — Hannah Bisson ’24

Highlights: Former Mount Holyoke student-athlete Anne O’Byrne ’13 became the new head coach of Lacrosse in Fall 2022. Lacrosse beat Rhode Island College 22-11 on March 22, 2023, with their highest number of points in a single game since 2008.

Riding Regular Season Competitions: 11 shows and tournaments

Coach’s Statement: “The team has great energy … Due to equineborn illness, most of our spring semester shows were canceled — however, riders rallied together! We figured out how to run some shows following protocols to keep the horses safe. We won the Region out of nine schools and won the top High Point College in New England! We are now preparing for the IHSA National Horse Show to be held in Kentucky. Go Yoke!” — CJ Law

Highlights: Mount Holyoke Riding competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Zone 1 Region 3 championship with 13 riders, winning the High Point College title with a total of 316 points. The team placed first at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships, earning a spot at National Championships in May. The team will travel to Kentucky for the competition, with Kerina Li ’24 and Emmie Mirarchi ’24 competing individually and additional team riders entered in eight classes.

Rowing

Regular Season Competitions:

nine regattas and scrimmages

Captain’s Statement: “This year I have seen our team grow, not only in our speed and performance but also in our commitment to each other as teammates. With or without a coach, on the water or off, we’ve been able to come together and prove to ourselves just how strong we are and how much further we can go each day. This is only the beginning of the next chapter for this young team, and I’m so proud of all my teammates who I know will keep getting closer, faster, and stronger together, even after I’ve graduated.”

— Piper LaPointe ’23

Highlights: Former Mount Holyoke rower and assistant coach Cara Murphy ’14 took over the helm as head coach of the rowing program in February 2023. In a regatta at Lake Quinsigamond on April 15, Rowing’s first varsity eight boat placed second and advanced to the Grand Final, while the second varsity eight boat placed third and moved on to compete in the Petite Final.

Rugby*

7’s Season Record: 4-4

Coach’s Statement: Our team recruited a number of really promising new players who will be a great asset to the team during the competitive fall season. The standout of the season was the Prom Dress Rugby tournament where we played our best and took second place out of nine teams.” — Julie LeGrand

Captain’s Statement: “The rugby team had a great time playing this spring … We started our season off playing a 7’s tournament against a number of teams at UMass Dartmouth, played a number of friendly 15’s scrimmages against nearby teams … Overall we had a great season and our team was able to hone their skills both as a team and individually.” — Skye Gorman ’24

Highlights: Rugby placed second in Prom Dress Rugby, its spring 7’s tournament, against Babson College, Fairfield University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Tufts University, Wellesley College, Brandeis University and Lasell University on Saturday, April 22.

Soccer Regular Season Record: 2-15-1

Highlights: Carolina Alvarez ’23 and Rachel Baleto ’26 were recognized with all-tournament honors at the Owls Kickoff Classic, hosted at Westfield State University on Sept. 4, 2022. Hannah Keochakian ’25 scored both winning goals in a 1-0 victory over Colby-Sawyer College on Sept. 7, 2022, and a 1-0 triumph over Smith College on Oct. 19, 2022.

Squash

Regular Season Record: 8-14

Coach’s Statement: “We did well to make it through the season given that seven out of nine team members missed significant time on court due to illness or injury or other challenges … The team showed a lot of grit and character during tournament time. There is good energy to work even harder next year to get to the next level … The team has a stronger sense of purpose and a collective understanding for what we need to do differently to be the [best] team we can be.” — Erin Robson

Highlights: Xaria Durocher ’24 won six out of seven matches in the No. 2 position, almost securing a 3-0 victory at the College Squash Association Team Championship and giving the No. 2 Haverford player a run for their money despite the 3-2 loss. Robson said that “it was the best I have seen [Durocher] play.” Three first-years, Habiba Abouelatta ’26, Tina Mei ’26 and Ku Paw ’26 represented Mount Holyoke at the College Squash Association Individual and Doubles National Championships in Philadelphia, Penn. on March 3, 2023.

Swimming and Diving Regular Season Record: 5-6

Coach’s Statement: “We had a great season with almost every team member setting at least one personal best in competition. I am proud of the team for its perseverance this season. There were many challenges that team members faced throughout the season and the team was strong, united and kept going … As a coach, there is not much more you can hope for in a team’s performance.” — Dave

Allen

Captain’s Statement: “I am incredibly proud of how far the team has come. This year, in comparison to others, I saw everyone come together and really gel as a team … My best memories from this season are honestly the times when we were all screaming at the top of our lungs at the end of someone’s lane and seeing the joy people get in watching others succeed.” —

’24

Lauren Brook

Highlights: Adji Diouf ’24, Evelyn Bushway ’24, Carolina Loayza ’26 and Megan Schneider ’25 broke the team record in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:50.20 at the NEWMAC Championship, shaving off 0.05 seconds from the previous record set in 2015. Maddy Sewell ’24 was the runner-up in both 1-meter and 3-meter diving at NEWMACs, was a twotime NEWMAC Diver of the Week and qualified for the NCAA Regional Diving Championship in March 2023.

Tennis Regular Season Record: 7-8

Captain’s Statement: “Team morale improved as the season went on. We had a tough season … The team’s performance, I believe, strongly correlates to [their] leadership. I am hoping we come back much stronger next year.” —

Annika Chai ’25

Shweta Kiran Cavale

Highlights:

’23 and Cal Smith ’26 advanced to the quarterfinal round of the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament while Annika Chai ’25 and Jaskirat Kaur ’26 competed in the consolation final the weekend of Oct. 7, 2023. After a decisive 9-0 victory over Emerson College on April 22, Tennis advanced to the first round of the NEWMAC championship in a match against the third-seeded Wellesley College on April 25.

Track and Field

Regular Season Competitions: 14 meets and invitationals

Highlights: During the New England Division III Indoor Championships, Devan Ravino ’23, Tessa Lancaster ’25, Kim Beaver ’25, Greta Trapp ’25, Olivia Johnson ’25 and Elle Rimando ’26 all boasted performances that landed them on the Track and Field’s all-time top 10 performance ranking. At a tri-meet featuring NEWMAC and Seven Sisters rivals Smith College and Wellesley College on April 22, Track and Field earned first-place titles in the discus and shot put, won by Emma Doyle ’23, and in the high jump, won by Aria Mallare ’25.

Volleyball

Regular Season Record: 13-12

Captain’s Statement: “I am incredibly proud of all that my team accomplished this year … Having the first winning season in 30 years was our goal from the beginning, and it was so satisfying to take other programs by surprise with our skill. I will never forget our win against Connecticut College and our five-set thriller against Colby College; the energy and the power on the court was incredible to experience. I will definitely miss leading my team, but I look forward to watching how they continue to grow.” — McKenna Crosby ’23

Highlights: After making a comeback from a two-point disadvantage, Volleyball triumphed over NEWMAC and Seven Sisters rival Wellesley College for the first time since 1994 with a 3-2 win on Oct. 1, 2022. Volleyball wrapped up its competitive schedule with its first winning season since 1992. They are the only Mount Holyoke team to have secured a winning season this year.

Western Riding*

Captain’s Statement: “The Western Riding team had an incredible season, dominating our region and putting on the best performance in our team’s history at IHSA semi-finals. Out of the saddle, the team has grown incredibly close throughout the year and has worked hard to meet our goals. Looking forward to an amazing season next year!” — Julia Pollard ’24

Highlights: Western Riding became 2023 Zone 1 Region 3 champions at the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Western Riding Regional Championships on March 4. The team finished fifth at the ISHA semi-finals on March 18 and 19. Team members Lili Evans ’26 and Sam Rockwell ’23 will represent Mount Holyoke at IHSA Western Riding Nationals in Kentucky on May 4-7.

*Denotes club sport.

Editor’s note: Emily Tarinelli ’25 and Lauren Leese ’23 are members of the swimming and diving team.

Basketball captain Marley Berano ’25 attends NCAA leadership forum

BY GENEVIEVE ZAHNER ’26 STAFF WRITER

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s annual Student-Athlete Leadership Forum took place in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 13-16, hosting over 250 student-athletes from around the country. The athletes represented all three divisions of the NCAA, and the captain of Mount Holyoke’s basketball team, Marley Berano ’25, attended this year’s forum.

“SALF was incredibly refreshing and transformational. It was three long days, packed with a mix of high-energy activities, deep discussions and personal reflection time,” Berano said. “On the first day, I did not know anyone, nor did I know what to expect. However, I left [having been part of] a group that feels like family and [with] lessons that will last me a lifetime.” The forum separated the athletes into ‘color

teams,’ each with about 30 other participants and led by two college athletic administrators. Those groups participated in discussions and workshops together, according to a press release on the NCAA website.

“We engaged in in-depth sessions on topics in and around our strengths, values, habits, emotional intelligence, effective communication, mindset and vulnerability,” Berano said. She added that the most notable conversations for her were on inclusive leadership and diverse representation, and some key takeaways were about social awareness and relationship management. There were also speakers at the forum who facilitated discussions and shared their stories and experiences, the press release stated. This year’s speakers were Julianne Stitch, who was the first female head coach of an NCAA men’s soccer team to win a national championship, and Jonathan Sprinkles, an author and moti-

vational speaker who focuses on the strength found through connection.

This year’s forum was based on the theme “Beyond the Box” and encouraged the athletes to learn from failure and the importance of going outside of their comfort zones.

“After the forum, my intentions and motivations became so much

clearer. I intend to go into my junior season with a [conscious] attitude for growth and gratitude, both on and off the court,” Berano said. “I plan to challenge my teammates and coaches to find their intentions and motivations for the season, too.”

In order to attend the forum, athletes are nominated by their athletic

administrators. In Divisions I and II, the conference selects athletes and an administrator from its member schools, and Division III athletes and administrators are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis from an identified region.

“I had the privilege [of being] supported and nominated by the MHC athletics department. Senior Associate Athletic Director Erica Lemm told me in November that I was selected to represent Mount Holyoke at the 2023 forum,” Berano said. “I knew I could not pass up an opportunity like this.” The forum is an opportunity for student-athletes to reflect on their past, present and future seasons with members of their community they might not otherwise have the chance to meet. The forum stretches across divisions and the country, connecting athletes of all backgrounds and experiences, giving them the opportunity to reflect on their community together.

Photo courtesy of NCAA Photos via Getty Images Marley Berano ’25, above, stated that the forum was “incredibly refreshing and transformational.”

f HOROSCOPES f

BY CARRIE LEWIS ’23 & MADDEN LACOSTE ’23 HOROSCOPE WRITERS

This is our last week to report to you what the stars and sky tell us. This has been an amazing year of sharing our ideas for what will happen to you each week. We hope that you have enjoyed our predictions. Thank you to the stars, our fans and ourselves. If you ever need help, just look up, and you’ll find us. Here’s to new beginnings.

April 20 – May 20

You are known to cause fear and smiles. You like to laugh and smile. So, how do you cause fear? Look within yourself to find the answer. You are the way.

Do: Imagine | Don’t: Circles

May 21 – June 20

Try not to let the water slip through your fingers. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. And, don’t run with scissors. Do any of these resonate with you? Find your own rhythm this week.

Do: Believe | Don’t: Smear

June 21 – July 22

Tap into your inner worm this week.

Dig in the dirt and reproduce asexually. The things you can create on your own will surprise you. The way you use your creations is what is important.

Do: Smirk | Don’t: Prune

July 23 – Aug. 22

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. You have been walking with ease recently, keep it up. There isn’t anything you can’t do if you use your confidence.

Do: Glow balls | Don’t: Thank you

Aug. 23 – Sept. 22

Don’t give into temptation, unless it’s something you really want. There is no shame in finding the little joys in life.

Take your time and be easy on yourself.

Do: Backrests | Don’t: Nose dive

Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

What is something you’ve been wanting to do? There is no better time than now. Run around barefoot and be careless. This is a trait you should learn to master.

Do: Snoopy | Don’t: Snoop

Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

This is your last chance to find out. How are you going to unlock this message? Do you even want to know? Follow your instincts, Scorpio! It’s meant to be.

Do: Geometric carpet | Don’t: Comic Sans

Nov. 22 – Dec. 21

It’s your turn to read the stars yourself. We are about to head out. How are you going to interpret them? Someone else’s view might not work for your own. Learn to trust your instincts.

Do: Stink | Don’t: Test

Mount Holyoke News

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

Executive Board

Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

You’ve done it all. Are you proud of yourself? I am. Don’t let anyone decide how you express yourself, or how you appreciate yourself. Stay golden.

Do: Lala | Don’t: Kiki

Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

Thank you. Everyone has been so pleased with your work. You are the sun. We are so happy to have you here.

Great job on existing.

Do: Buy new shoes | Don’t: Doubt

Feb. 19 – March 20

You will find yourself on a pillow of grass. When you leave, you will realize that you are allergic. However, the itching doesn’t bother you. Think about why you keep going back. Maybe you should break this cycle.

Do: Peel | Don’t: Dissect

March 21 – April 19

How strong are you when you’re on your own? It’s important you find the strength you possess when you don’t have any help. This is where we become our most powerful. Wait for the full moon.

Do: Renovate | Don’t: Target practice

April 14 MHN Crossword Answers

Editor-in-Chief Sophie Soloway ’23

Managing Editor of Content Emma Watkins ’23

Managing Editor of Layout Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25

Copy Chief Lydia Eno ’26

Publisher Ali Meizels ’23

Managing Editor of Web Artemis Chen ’25 & Michelle Brumley ’24

Business Manager Katie Goss ’23

Human Resources Hannah Raykher ’23

Editorial Board News Tara Monastesse ’25 & Bryn Healy ’24

Arts & Entertainment Eliška Jacob ’24 & Lucy Oster ’23

Opinion Jahnavi Pradeep ’23

Books Olivia Wilson ’24

Global Shira Sadeh ’25 & Jendayi Leben-Martin ’24

Sports Emily Tarinelli ’25

Features Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25 & Melanie Duronio ’26

Science & Environmental Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23

Photos Rosemary Geib ’23 & Ali Meizels ’23

Graphics Gabriella Gagnon ’24 & Sunny Wei ’23

Layout Editors Summer Sit ’25, Orion Cheung ’25, Sophie Dalton ’25, Rachel Adler ’26 & Melanie Duronio ’26

Publication Guidelines

Copy Editors Jude Barrera ’24, Eliška Jacob ’24, Max Endieveri ’25, Gemma Golovner ’25, Meghan MacBeath ’25, Kamlyn Yosick ’25, Liv Churchill ’26, Kate Koenig ’26, Abigail McKeon ’26, Hema Motiani ’26, Emma Quirk ’26 & Caroline Huber ’26

Web Editors Maira Khan ’25, Aditi Menon ’25, Chloe Wang ’25, Lily Hoffman Strickler ’23, Thao Le ’25, Sophie Simon ’25 & Ramisa Tahsin Rahman ’25

Mount Holyoke News does not endorse any of the opinions or views expressed within the pages of the paper, excluding staff editorials. All content copyright of Mount Holyoke News. All rights reserved. Mount Holyoke News does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or age.

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MHN reserves the right to refuse submissions on the basis of, but not limited to, advertisements considered to be libelous, obscene, defamatory or discriminatory.

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Letters to the Editor appear exactly as they are sent to MHN, except for corrections to spelling, grammar and AP style. Letters cannot exceed 500 words. All letters must include the writer’s name and telephone number for verification purposes. Unsigned letters will not be printed. Names may be held upon request with the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. MHN reserves the right to decide which materials will be printed. Email submissions to mhnews@mtholyoke.edu by Sundays at 5 p.m. for publication the following week.

VISIT US: www.mountholyokenews.com www.facebook.com/mountholyokenews www.twitter.com/mtholyokenews_

EMAIL US: mhnews@mtholyoke.edu

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24. DIPA

25. Nearing

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40. TNT

41. LVI