All about menopause

BY CATELYN FITZGERALD ’23 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

Parenthood.

not set limits on ESG investments exactly for this reason, because “the consensus among voters surveyed was that companies should be able to exercise discretion to invest in ESG initiatives that benefit society without government interference.”

Likewise, Lisa Sachs, director of the Columbia University Center on Sustainable Investment, notes that the time and money involved in regulating or prohibiting ESG initiatives will only hurt the economy because “limiting the pool of investment options available to pension funds can increase the costs and lower the returns for retirees,” creating “constraints on financial institutions and options” that will particularly impact the retirement funds of teachers, librarians, firefighters and other public service employees.

Furthermore, data shows that ESG investments are what the majority of consumers want. One study, a summary of which was published in Forbes, found that 88 percent of consumers “will be more loyal to a company that supports social or environmental issues,” leading to better stock performance and long-term customer and employee support.

ESG investing is not a perfect system. According to NBC, some investment firms, such as BlackRock, engage in ESG investing despite simultaneously supporting the fossil fuel industry. But ESG investing is shown to not only boost equity and sustainability in business practices but also long-term profit, as Forbes detailed.

Considering its recent prominence in the political realm, ESG is likely to remain on the political radar for quite some time despite continued Republican pushback.

Menopause is a transition that begins one year after a person’s last period and usually lasts seven years, according to the National Institute of Aging. This transition marks the end of a person’s menstrual cycles and their ability to become pregnant. In the United States, the average age at which people begin menopause is 51, but this can vary depending on the person, the Mayo Clinic reported. The duration of the menopausal transition also varies from person to person, according to the NIA.

Perimenopause occurs leading up to the start of menopause, usually beginning when a person is in their 40s, according to Planned Parenthood. Smokers often start perimenopause two years before non-smokers.

During perimenopause, people may experience changes in their period, such as skipped periods or changes in what a typical period looks like for that person. Pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause, according to Planned

The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, mood changes and vaginal dryness, the NIA explains. The NIA describes hot flashes as “a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body” accompanied by sweating and a flushed appearance. Hot flashes usually last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes and occur at varying intervals depending on the person, the NIA said.

Vaginal dryness and decreased sensitivity can cause discomfort during sex as well as a range of emotional effects, according to Planned Parenthood. These effects may be remedied with the use of lube, increased sexual activity and hormone medications. While pregnancy is no longer possible after the start of menopause, people can still contract sexually transmitted diseases, the NIA reported.

Postmenopause is the stage that follows menopause, according to the NIA. People experiencing postmenopause are at an increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, making it important to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

College cuts programs, cont’d

u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 each department. Any student presently interested in majoring or minoring, as well as taking courses in the department in German or English will be able to do so until June 2027.”

Phoebe Grabowski ’26, a Russian minor at Mount Holyoke, shared her perspective of the events. “I was surrounded by friends, and we came together to support [the department] we love. Almost my entire Russian class was there because our professors asked us to come. [So to] talk so much about how much we love this program, and then be told that ‘oh, by the way, it’s shutting down,’ it was heartbreaking,” she said.

Sullivan shared that she, alongside Dean of the College and Vice President for Student Success Amber Douglas, “... assured [students] that we would keep resources in place on campus at current levels for existing majors and minors until any sunset date should the motion be supported.”

However, Grabowski expressed concerns about this promise. “They told us they would continue to support us over the next four years sunsetting the program, but I don’t believe for a second that they’re going to put money into a sinking ship,” she explained.

Katherine McNally, a visiting professor in the German department, said, “I am the only faculty member in the German Studies Department for the coming academic year. … As the Provost stated during the tea on Thursday, funding for a tenure track position to replace Professor Remmler was not allocated to German Studies.” However, McNally reassured, “It is my aim to provide