Mount Holyoke News – February 10, 2023

Mount Holyoke News

Mount Holyoke opens Black History Month with celebratory ceremony

BY TARA MONASTESSE ’25 AND BRYN HEALY ’24 NEWS EDITORS

On the evening of Friday, Feb. 2, the opening ceremony for Mount Holyoke’s observation of Black History Month was held in Blanchard Hall’s Great Room. After a land acknowledgement by Associate Dean of Students, Community and Belonging Latrina Denson, student representatives from various Black student organizations on campus welcomed attendees to the ceremony. Gathered around confetti-strewn tables lit with flickering candles, attendees listened to presentations on Black culture and history in the United States, as well as a summary of events that will be hosted by the College and Black student organizations throughout February.

Following introductions, attendees stood for a recorded performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem. The song, originally adapted from the 1900 poem of the same name by former NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, was described as a “rallying cry during the Civil Rights movement” by the NAACP.

The theme for Black History Month at Mount Holyoke this year is “_____ and Beauty,” with the blank being filled in with a new word for each week of programming: History and Beauty, Intersectionality and

Beauty, Black Voices and Beauty and Blackness and Beauty. The presenters explained that the theme gets its name from the phrase “Black is beautiful,” popularized in the 1960s and 70s as an activist slogan. The catalyst for the Black is Beautiful movement was Kwame Brathwaite’s fashion show in 1962. The show highlighted Grandassa Models who refused to follow Western beauty standards and were followers of Marcus Garvey’s African Nationalist Pioneer Movement.

“We were able to come up with something that exemplified how people may define themselves, specifically Black individuals, [and] what beauty means to them, and what Black beauty means to them,” Wil Abam-DePass ’23, co-chair of the Association of Pan-African Unity, said

in an interview with Mount Holyoke News. “Which is why we left the first part of the line open, because there’s so many different ways. And beauty doesn’t just mean appearance — it can also mean there’s beauty in education, there’s beauty in acceptance, there’s beauty in diversity, there’s beauty in justice — different things.”

The students then gave a brief presentation on the history of Black History Month, describing how it began as a week designated by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1926 to be celebrated during the second week of February. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Woodson and the ASALH chose February as it was the birth month of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Black

students in the 1960s began to observe Black History Month on their college campuses, a practice which escalated to national prominence upon being officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976.

Presenters also discussed the history of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a group of African American fraternities and sororities commonly referred to as the Divine Nine. According to their website, the National Pan-Hellenic Council was founded at Howard University, a Historically Black University, in 1930 by “Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.” The current nine members of the council describe their core goals as community action and awareness.

Toni-Ann Williams ’23, president of the Pi Iota chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, described her relationship to the group, saying, “[it] holds a lot of weight in my life … it’s a dream come true.” Williams also announced Pi Iota’s upcoming “Galentines” day event to be hosted on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Malcolm X Cultural Center, an event described by the Pi Iota Instagram as “a love-centered event filled with discussions, vision board making and light refreshments.” A list of events planned to celebrate Black History Month at Mount Holyoke throughout February was

presented, which includes over a dozen events, features film screenings, author readings, educational panels and more. Some of these events include a screening and discussion of the 2015 documentary “Too Black to be French?” on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Unity Center, and a panel entitled “A Journey of Poetry, Love and Authenticity with Poet Lynette Johnson” to be held on Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Betty Shabazz Community Room. A four-part weekly series watching and discussing the docuseries “Hair Tales” will happen in the Betty Shabazz Cultural Center every Monday this month. Students who sign up for “Hair Tales” discussions are eligible for $50 off with an MHC student stylist. The Anthropology, English and Africana Studies Departments and the Nexus in Museums, Archives and Public History are co-sponsoring a virtual reading with author André Le Mont Wilson on Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The opening ceremony concluded with a reception, where speakers and attendees socialized and enjoyed refreshments. The College’s programming for Black History Month will conclude with a Black History Gala on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in Chapin Auditorium, as well as a closing ceremony on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Gamble Auditorium.

Editor’s note: Sarah Bell ’25, present in the photo, is a member of Mount Holyoke News.

Senate discusses upcoming events, senator concerns and important updates

BY PAIGE COMEAU ’26 STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 7, the Student Government Association senate meeting opened with a reading of the agenda, which included E-Board updates, open floor and commission work. Following a land acknowledgment, SGA members noted that there would be a link with relevant information in their weekly email sent out to all senators.

E-Board updates included an update on the recent binder drive. As mentioned last week, only about 33 of the 70 binders requested could be ordered due to supply chain issues. However, after talking with the binder supplier, SGA was able to obtain the remaining 37 binders, all of which will arrive by the end of

March. Also, as announced by SGA, Resident Advisor and Orientation Leader applications are now open and will be due on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 11:55 p.m.

Senate then moved to open floor, a space for senators to voice their updates and concerns. To begin, senators shared announcements.

The representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee announced an upcoming basketball game against MIT on Saturday, Feb. 11. She also announced that volleyball will have open play this week and that both soccer and rowing are fundraising.

Two representatives for Project Connect discussed updates for the Spring term, including new international and neurodivergent groups.

President-elect Danielle R. Holley to begin term in July

BY TARA MONASTESSE ’25 NEWS EDITOR

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, Mount Holyoke College announced that professor and legal scholar Danielle Ren Holley had been unanimously elected by the Board of Trustees to serve as the College’s twentieth president. The appointment was announced following an intensive selection process which began last March after nineteenth president Sonya Stephens stepped down from the position to serve as president of The American University of Paris. “The board’s unanimous decision is the culmination of a thoughtful, thorough and inclusive search process that was conducted over the past 11 months,” chair of the Board of Trustees Karena V. Strella ’90 wrote in an email to the community. “We owe our deepest gratitude to the presidential search committee for its incredible efforts to bring the search to a successful conclusion.”

An inaugural celebration was held in Blanchard Hall’s Great Room the same afternoon as the announcement, during which President-elect Holley addressed the College community for the first time. Holley drew on her own childhood experiences of having academics for parents, as well as her time spent pursuing a B.A. in history at Yale University, to describe what a liberal arts education meant to her. “It helped me to understand how studying the past, especially studying the Civil Rights Movement, meant that for me the central part of my life would be

opening the doors of opportunity to education for other people.” Holley said. “Education is liberation, education is freedom, education is opportunity. And I knew for the rest of my life that I would spend all of my time opening the doors of education to other people so that each one of you can open the doors for someone else.”

Holley is currently a professor of law and dean of Howard University School of Law, a position which she has held since 2014. Holley’s leadership led the Howard University Law School to new heights, including moving the school into the top 100 in the U.S. News and World Report, as well as the introduction of a sixyear BA/JD program. Holley is also a leading scholar of impeding Supreme Court decisions regarding race-conscious college and university admissions, whose expertise on civil rights and equity topics are often sought by members of the press and others, according to a press release issued by the College.

Holley’s appointment will make her the first Black woman to serve as Mount Holyoke’s permanent president, as well as the fourth Black woman in history to lead one of the original Seven Sisters colleges. She will begin her term starting on July 1, 2023. Until then, Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum will continue to serve in the position. “I want to add my congratulations to President-elect Holley and to Mount Holyoke College,” President Tatum said following Holley’s address. “It truly is a perfect pairing.”

The representative for the Kachimushi Naginata Club publicized an upcoming Valentine’s Day fundraiser. The Mead Hall Senator, on behalf of the Career Development Center, reminded everyone that applications for Lynk funding are due on Feb. 17 by 5 p.m.

For the second part of open floor, senators were invited to bring up their questions and concerns. One member referenced the mask recycling box in the library atrium and wondered if SGA could set something similar up in the Community Center or Dining Commons. SGA responded by saying that they would love to see something like that and that they would look into it.

Another representative brought up concerns about the food at the dining hall. She stated that this pre-

vious week she had received food poisoning from the sushi served in the Dining Commons. Further, she claimed that she knew people who had gotten sick from worms in the produce. SGA told her that the Dining Commons did have safety and cleanliness standards, but that they would reach out to dining, in case something needed to be updated.

The representative for the Jewish Student Union asked, once again, if there were any updates on having Narcan available on Campus. SGA stated that they did not have any new updates. Finally, the Representative for the Class board of 2023 shared a concern they had about transcripts. Many members of their class are currently in the process of applying for jobs and graduate

school and are having a very difficult time obtaining official transcripts. Furthermore, when unofficial transcripts are allowed, many times the employers or schools don’t accept them because there is no place on the transcript with Mount Holyoke’s name or emblem. SGA stated that although they did not necessarily know who to reach out to regarding these issues, they will figure it out and look into what they can do.

Senate wrapped up with commission work. The eight commissions were asked to continue working on their petitions, check with their E-Board member about their finished petition and send the finalized copy to the SGA E-Board via email, before being dismissed from the meeting by their E-Board member.

ProjectConnect program to continue in spring semester after success in the fall

BY NINA SYDORYK ’25 STAFF WRITER

Four months ago, Mount Holyoke’s Counseling Services launched the pilot program ProjectConnect to address an epidemic of chronic loneliness among college students in the United States. Led by peer facilitators, ProjectConnect offers students the chance to meet others and socialize through planned meetups and activity sessions. The program is now being renewed for the spring semester following a positive reception from students who participated

in the fall.

“In a survey we administered at the end of the program, 90 percent of those that responded said they’d recommend ProjectConnect to a friend,” Erica Weathers, clinician and outreach coordinator at the Counseling Services, said in an email interview with Mount Holyoke News. “Our peer facilitators are also awesome leaders and they have expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to co-lead these groups.”

Even before the start of ProjectConnect, high interest result-

ed in the creation of a waitlist. The original program, which ran for five weeks beginning the week of Oct. 17, 2022, was designed to aid those interested in fostering connections across the many diverse communities on Mount Holyoke’s campus. In the spring semester, ProjectConnect plans to offer groups specifically geared toward international students and students who identify as neurodivergent.

“From a personal standpoint,

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Photo courtesy of Annmarie Murdzia Sarah Bell ’25, Qiana Pierre ’25, Sydney Williams ’23 and Wil Abam-DePass ’23 help with event.

Photo by Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25

Five of 10 ProjectConnect peer facilitators, who meet with student cohorts during the semester, pose for a photo at a facilitation training on Feb. 4.

SGA holds a chest binder drive for the student community

mission “to celebrate and support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans/ Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic and other identities community on the Mount Holyoke Campus.” However, because the committee isn’t as prominent on campus this year and is unable to hold the chest binder drive, Romulus concluded that the general SGA would present it since she had previously had students reach out and request it.

Graphic by Sunny Wei ’23

BY REBECCA GAGNON ’23 STAFF WRITER

As its second major move in the 2022-23 academic year, the first being free menstrual products in the bathrooms around campus, the Student Government Association has introduced a chest binder drive for the students of Mount Holyoke.

On Jan. 26, the SGA president, Maille Romulus ’24, sent an email announcing the binder drive that would take place the following day.

The email stated, “Tomorrow at 5 p.m., SGA will be releasing a pre-order form for chest binders which will be first come first serve, because we have a limited amount of spots.”

With this message, a link to the website gc2b was attached where students could browse the variety of sizes and colors available to prepare to place an order for a binder when the form opened.

Historically, chest binders have been used by transmasculine and nonbinary individuals to make their

physical body reflect their gender identity. In addition, binders were used for fashion, cultural dress and even religious purposes. The concept of binders has been around for centuries, starting with tight corsets used to accomplish a desired figure. They also have taken the form of simple fabric strips wound around the chest to flatten one’s breasts.

Today, instead of fabric strips, there are many companies that produce chest binders for purchase. However, they are not always affordable. This is the problem the SGA at Mount Holyoke wanted to tackle to meet the needs of the College community.

“[SGA] wanted to get binders to people that wanted them on campus,” Romulus explained. “The Lavender Committee was in charge of doing it last year and this year they were not able to and so we wanted to keep the tradition going … we just had to find the funding for it and get people chest binders.”

The Lavender Committee is a division within the SGA with the

Mount Holyoke becomes Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center, plans to create racial healing opportunities

BY MELANIE DURONIO ’26 STAFF WRITER

Mount Holyoke was recently selected as a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center due to its demonstrated commitment to anti-racist work and addressing systemic racism in the community. This will allow the DEI Committee to develop a long-term vision to create racial healing opportunities on campus, which includes restorative justice, collaborating with nearby communities and student feedback.

As a TRHT Center, Mount Holyoke is partnered with the American Association of Colleges & Universities, which created the organization. Its goal is to collaborate with higher education institutions that have shown a commitment to racial justice and aid them in becoming community-oriented centers.

“We are proud to have received this designation at the close of 2022 and humbled to continue working toward our anti-racist vision for the future alongside community and campus partners across the country,” Kijua Sanders-McMurty, vice president for Equity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer, wrote in a January statement.

Each TRHT Center is responsible for creating an action plan to increase equal opportunities and support for those in the community.

Mount Holyoke’s plan places emphasis on restorative justice, an approach that focuses on reparations and acknowledges the harm done to people and groups.

“Part of really working toward an anti-racist future is also shifting the ways that we are understanding how we perpetuate harm,” Lauren Gaia, chief of staff and strategic communications for the DEI office, said. “The vision is to start at the individual level … what is it like for a student, student of color, a first-gen student [or] a student of marginalized identity to exist at Mount Holyoke and what are the barriers that might not be seen at a staff or faculty

In addition, there was a specific group of students that Romulus was hoping to provide for. “We really wanted to center first-gen[eration] low-income students that wanted binders and wouldn’t have been able to get them otherwise because … they’re $40,” Romulus stated. “That’s an expense … and not everyone has $40 to spend, so we really wanted to center that group of people so they can have the care that they need.”

It has been Romulus’s goal throughout her presidency to create an environment where everyone on campus feels like they belong. Her approach has been to listen to all the needs of other students and assist them when able.

With this in mind, Romulus began searching for a company to partner with. Romulus asked around and received a unanimous recommendation from friends to use the website gc2b. gc2b’s mission statement states, “Over the past three years, we have sponsored 100+ LGBT organizations and donated over 6000+ chest binders to be distributed to people in need. We’ve attended numerous conferences and Pride events, and we’ve collaborated with local and global organizations committed to positive change. Our core mission has evolved: we’re not only a brand providing gender-affirming apparel, but an active part of a movement.”

However, at 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 27,

nine hours before the form was supposed to open for people to order chest binders, another email was sent by Romulus. In this, she stated, “There are some concerns about the safety of GC2B binders, so we will be purchasing binder[s] from another company, FYTIST.”

“I got feedback from people telling me that [gc2b] is not the best, and here’s some other [companies] that we should work with,” Romulus stated. “Most of the research that I’ve seen shows that the quality has gotten worse over time and so I think last year … we didn’t get any complaints from it, but this year, people that have purchased binders from the company have complained about it, and so it … was safe last year, but this year, not so much.”

wearing a binder, if one can exercise while binding and how to establish a plan for wearing one.

We really wanted to center first-gen[eration] low-income students that wanted binders and wouldn’t have been able to get them otherwise because … they’re $40. ...We really wanted to center that group of people so they can have the care that they need.

– Maille Romulus

“Some people already use [gc2b], and they said that the binders hurt,” Ellie Do ’25, the vice president of the SGA, added. “So we … switch[ed] to another binder company that they would recommend [because] … it’s better for you. I don’t know if there’s a difference in price, but [there] is definitely a difference in quality.”

The FYTIST website states that “Binding should not be categorized, it is an essential and fundamental need for some. However, we have learnt that this basic need is significantly undervalued.” Therefore, this company has been formed to provide this basic need to society. In addition, the website mentions concerns about safety, such as the risks and side effects of

Unfortunately, changing the company the SGA would order from on such short notice provided some challenges. Romulus explained that gc2b has all their products in stock, which would mean students would obtain the chest binders fairly quickly. However, many of the new company’s items were out of stock. Romulus swiftly concluded that she would rather wait longer to get more durable and safer binders than purchase ones that would bring discomfort and more risks. Although the company was out of stock, Romulus and the rest of the SGA E-Board members were determined to get the orders as quickly as possible. They continued with the drive as planned and monitored the website to see if the company restocked.

At 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, the SGA released the order form and students were allowed to order a chest binder from the website.

“After 30 minutes of opening the forms, I think we’re already at our limit,” Do stated. “That is why … they have to send an email out a day before to say ‘oh, this is happening. Here’s a form. This is a time that is happening. So you guys should be … prepare[ed] for it’ and once we open[ed] the form, only thirty minutes later it was out.”

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Odyssey Bookshop hosts reading with author and mountaineer Michael Wejchert

BY LUCY ISAACS ’25 STAFF WRITER

level.”

Mount Holyoke has already used restorative justice methods with Indigenous communities in the area. Their work includes the Indigenous Students Scholarship, which was implemented to encourage First Nations applicants and acknowledge the College’s past exclusion of Indigenous students and perspectives. Indigenous speakers, healers and artists have also been invited to the College for events and hosted workshops based on their experiences. These reparations were made to acknowledge the harm Mount Holyoke has perpetrated against First Nations peoples.

“We’re trying to make sure the things we are doing … to attend to and repair harm are not devised by folks traditionally at the center or at the top of hierarchies, but are really being envisioned by folks most proximate [to the harm],” Gaia said.

Another aspect of DEI’s TRHT Center vision is forming connections between Mount Holyoke and the surrounding cities of Holyoke and Springfield. Specifically, they aim to connect with high schools, community colleges and vendors in the area to create opportunities for racial healing discussions.

Previously, DEI has worked with local organizations looking for resources to diversify their communities, such as the Loomis Retirement Village. The committee has held diversity training sessions centered around intersectionality with Loomis and plans to invite them to the annual DEI learning symposium BOOM! to encourage multigenerational spaces of discussion regarding identity. Other schools such as Holyoke High School and Holyoke Community College are working on restorative justice programs of their own and may collaborate with the College’s DEI office.

For the past two months, Mount Holyoke has also been working with

On Jan. 26, the Odyssey Bookshop hosted Michael Wejchert, author of “Hidden Mountains: Survival and Reckoning After a Climb Gone Wrong,” published in January 2023 by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing. Wejchert opened the event by sharing an excerpt from the book, described by his website as “the story of a climbing adventure gone wrong in a remote Alaskan mountain range, the impossible rescue attempt that followed and the fraught cost of survival.” After the reading, he fielded questions from the audience, many of whom identified themselves as recreational climbers, and went on to explore ideas relating to faithfully capturing true tales of survival.

Although Wejchert was not involved in the accident that his book recounts, he is a climber himself, having traversed mountains from Alaska to Peru, and is currently serving as a climbing guide with Cathedral Mountain Guides, based in New Hampshire. “Hidden Mountains” is Wejchert’s first book, but he is hardly a stranger to writing and publishing about adventure, having had articles featured in publications like The New York Times, Alpinist and Ascent.

His recent book recounts the true and harrowing story of four climbers who experienced tragedy while making their way through the Hidden Mountains of Alaska when a potentially fatal accident prompted a rescue mission that would last nine hours. Though he only read a few pages aloud, the atmosphere in the room was palpably tense as Wejchert described the conditions under which Emmett Lyman became severely injured, falling out of the view of the three other climbers with whom he had embarked on this journey.

After reading the passage, Wejchert was quick to reassure the audience that Lyman had survived the ordeal, though stated that he could not resume climbing as a result of injuries to his brain and spinal cord. Wejchert reported that Lyman stated that he would still climb if he were physically able to, and the other three people involved in the incident remain recreational climbers today, undeterred by the traumatic event.

Wejchert retold the story faithfully, choosing not to shy away from the more horrifying details of the accident. He chose to share that the other climbers had admitted to him that they were initially determined to make their way to Lyman, not to save his life, but to be with him when he died.

Wejchert spoke about the difficulty associated with interviewing the survivors of such a traumatic event, stating that one of the four climbers had requested their name be changed in the book for the purpose of anonymity.

Wejchert gave immense credit to the satellite messenger device used by one of the climbers, which allowed the group to communicate a distress signal to rescuers. Wejchert extended further praise to the rescue team, who made their way to Lyman despite perilous conditions. They recalled a conversation with the pilot in which they were told that the fog was so thick that he had almost no visibility as he attempted to lower down a pararescueman.

When describing what he believes to be his primary responsibility as the author of another person’s story, Wejchet stated that his paramount concern was honesty. However, he admitted that despite his dedicated and detailed reporting, he can never know with absolute certainty what details of the event his book

omits or mischaracterizes.

“It could have been more exciting, like a traditional thriller, but I appreciate the way he wrote it. It was clearly more important for Wejchert as an author to stay true to the story instead of throwing in a little extra flair as a means of engaging the reader,” Katharine Kurdziel ’25, who attended the event, said.

Towards the end of the evening, Wejchert expressed a desire for his book to initiate conversations concerning wilderness rescue resources and how they might be updated. Characterizing the outdoors as “trending,” Wejchert argued that an increased number of climbers necessitates a more modern approach to search and rescue, while also urging all climbers to be thoroughly prepared before attempting potentially dangerous excursions. Describing his own experience with search and rescue, he admitted that there’s only so much small groups like his can do for injured hikers and climbers.

“It was definitely a little aggressive, but I think it’s also a necessary and effective commentary about how little funding goes into these projects,” Kurdziel added in reference to Wejchert’s stark honesty.

After the event concluded, Wejchert conversed with members of the audience and signed physical copies of his book, which are currently for sale at Odyssey Bookshop.

Photo by Lucy Isaacs ’25 Michael Wejchert discussed his book “Hidden Mountains” at the Odyssey Bookshop on Jan. 26.

‘Skinamarink’ turns childhood fears into analog horror

BY WOODLIEF MCCABE ’24 STAFF WRITER

Horror movie enthusiasts seem to be polarized by Kyle Edward Ball’s new film, “Skinamarink,” released in theaters on Jan. 13, 2023. For some, it’s the most afraid they have been in a theater since “Poltergeist” in 1982. For others, it’s laughable to even be scared. With curiosity, I visited Amherst Cinema for a nighttime showing.

“Skinamarink” starts extremely slowly. A long portion is spent on completely nondescript angles of a home, especially the edges and corners of walls and furniture. It appears familiar — it could be anyone’s house, even yours — and yet it’s completely disconnected from how we navigate our living spaces. Through the perspective of the two young children in the home, Kevin and Kaylee, the doors, windows and toilet go missing, one after another, trapping the family.

For a while, this is the extent of the “horror.” It is simply unsettling, as we wait to know more, powerless to reach out and pan the camera just a few feet. The film dwells in this space of discomfort and anticipation. I was beginning to think that I would be one of those unaffected viewers, that I had conditioned myself too well against the tricks of the genre. Sure, chairs on the ceiling and dolls stuck to the walls are spooky, but no sweat. I was proud of myself, but a little disappointed.

And then something switched. The suspense reaches greater intensity, and the slowness starts to pay off. This moment for me came during an eerie scene about forty minutes into the film, when Kaylee goes to her parents’ bedroom and finds them sitting on opposite sides of the bed, facing away from her. This is the most interaction we have with the parents. Kaylee hears a voice speaking to her from the darkness and soon, Kevin finds himself completely alone. There is something tangible to be afraid of now.

Though it barely speaks, the en-

tity’s power is palpable. Once it appears, the film’s tone is much more sinister.

“Skinamarink” is an analog horror. Borrowing from the “found footage” style of horror popularized by “The Blair Witch Project”, analog is an experimental genre. Its themes and motives are cryptic and unsettling, and it opts for low-quality images and sound. In “Skinamarink,” childhood nostalgia, especially of the ‘90s and early ‘00s, is contorted into potential conduits for torment.

The camera returns to shots of the television playing 1930s cartoons, playing scenes with eerie similarities to the children’s predicament. The entity that is controlling the home manipulates these images too. A disappearing rabbit plays on a loop over and over again. The repeated image and its corresponding music become overwhelming, almost nauseating.

The symbolism can be fairly heavy-handed at times, which is perhaps why the television is a site for conveying information rather than fear. It is a reminder that there is something or someone else in control. The looping television screen is just one way that the film manipulates time. We realize that the children have been trapped in the home for weeks, even months. The horror in the helplessness builds up the anxiety, even when things on screen are tame out of context.

Though the dialogue is sparse, we hear a mix of eerie unidentifiable noises, sounds of crying and objects breaking in another room. Much like the visual elements that exist just offscreen, the sound is begging its viewers to strain our ears so it can give us another atonal shriek, hum or cut to total silence.

“Skinamarink” constructs horror from what is not seen. It terrifies by hinting at the unknown rather than explicitly showing, like household items in the corner of the screen, and faces turned away from the camera. That being said, it takes a long time to pay off. Suspenseful as it is, “Skinamarink” is a test of

patience. I could not fault a viewer for frustration, annoyance and even boredom, at least for the first half hour.

If you are hoping for a monster movie or a killer lurking in the shadows, this isn’t that. It is not full of jumpscares or extensive gore, though, for those who might be sensitive to those things, there is implied violence and scenes containing blood splattering.

“Skinamarink” plays on the primal fears and anxieties of childhood, especially of the dark and being left alone. The dim light and grainy quality of the image play tricks on us, akin to how when we were children, the shadows of chairs and coats in our dark bedrooms stretched to ap-

pear like human figures. The film withholds information. The camera avoids the action, keeping it out of frame. It limits dialogue and chooses not to explain anything. It feels like being a child and knowing something is wrong, but as much as you ask, the adults in your life just won’t tell you. Or worse, they ignore the question. Kevin asks, “where did it go?” about the doors. He never gets an answer. There are only one or two genuine jumpscares, and I think that’s to the film’s benefit. It requires us to constantly think of what might happen. With an antagonist with no defined physical form and potentially limitless abilities, there is no formula to the fear. I expect that

detractors heard it was scary and expected wall-to-wall violence and grotesquery. Niche sub-genre films often experience greater scrutiny, and “Skinamarink” is no exception. This film proves that fear can be brought about by tapping into the simplest elements of emotion. We develop a sense of fear in childhood to keep ourselves safe, but what about when we are afraid of something we cannot even name?

I don’t think making every second of the film nail-bitingly terrifying is necessary. Otherwise, we become desensitized, requiring outlandish methods to elicit a reaction. When “Skinamarink” lets us pause, or even expect nothing to happen, the filmmakers have the upper hand.

Students react negatively to Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown

BY LUCY OSTER ’23 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Video streaming giant Netflix has finally followed through with its promise to crack down on password sharing. According to the company’s support website, “[p]eople who are not in your household will need to sign up for their own account to watch Netflix.”

This development will likely significantly impact how media hosted on Netflix is shared since many people do not pay for their own Netflix accounts. There have been memes proliferating on social media for years about people using their ex’s subscription — in March 2017, the official Netflix Twitter account posted, “Love is sharing a password.”

Now, Netflix will not allow people access to an account if they are not connected to the Wi-Fi associated with the account. This change will certainly affect college students who use their parent’s account, impacting Mount Holyoke students,

where 95 percent of the student body lives on campus.

Many college students stream movies and television shows to decompress from schoolwork and other stress-inducing activities. Amelia Zamonski ’23 described Netflix as

SGA orders binders, cont’d

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Romulus immediately closed the form when they hit their maximum number of 70 orders so the SGA would not have to tell students “no.”

In the following few days, she and the other board members continued to monitor the FYTIST website.

“Tahin Osborne [‘23], the DEI officer, created a spreadsheet and … went on the website to see what was in stock and what wasn’t in stock,” Romulus explained. “So with 70 orders, they have this color-coded [spreadsheet] of ‘okay, this is in stock and this is added to the cart.’”

Through this method, the SGA was able to purchase 30 binders in the first batch which will be arriving around Feb. 15. The following 40 orders were purchased shortly after when they noticed the company had restocked.

“We [Romulus and Osborne] were in [a] seminar and we had a 10-minute break and during the 10-minute break … I was like, ‘Oh, I wonder if … the binders are in

stock,’” Romulus recalled. When she went on the website, Romulus saw that almost all the products were restocked and up for purchase.

“And so [Osborne] stepped out [and] they called the company,” Romulus continued. “They spent the whole 10 minutes of the break from our three-hour seminar ordering the last 40-something binders.”

The new batch of binders will be arriving toward the end of February, with a hope of distribution sometime next month. Although it depends on the following SGA presidents, Romulus foresees the chest binder drive being held annually.

“A binder [is] such a special thing,” Romulus finished. She stated how, in her friends who wear chest binders, she noticed a major difference once they started using them. “[It’s] just a confidence. How they think about things and something that … cisgender people have the privilege of not thinking about.

Trans people, or just people that wear binders and nonbinary individuals, just are always thinking about [these feelings] and so I can just see how essential … a binder is.”

“just easy access.” The platform was one of the earlier sites that began offering streaming content in 2007.

What helped Netflix earn its definition of ‘easy access’ was the password-sharing aspect.

Carissa Barry Moilanen ’23 uses

their parent’s Netflix subscription and shares their password with two other friends. Zamonski uses her mother’s account, and her grandmother unwittingly shares her Netflix account with one of Zamonski’s friends.

“One of my friends from home, at least up until recently, still used my grandma’s Netflix account, like my profile,” Zamonski said. Password sharing kept Netflix competitive. In a world full of, according to Zamonski, “one thousand individual streaming services,” the fact that nearly everyone has access to Netflix and can reference shows and expect people to understand what they mean is rare: this cultural power can be demonstrated by “Stranger Things” boosting a Kate Bush song from 1985 to the top 40 charts decades later.

The variety of content Netflix offers can be both a pro and a con. Zamonski mentioned that what they liked about Netflix was the breadth of Spanish language content, which

seemed lacking on other streaming services. Laura Thornburg ’23 said, “I think the problem where you scroll forever looking for what to watch is worse than before because there’s not really an easy, obvious choice anymore. It’s just all crazy stuff.”

It’s still unknown just how Netflix changing its password-sharing rules could alter the lives of people, on the College’s campus and beyond. “Stranger Things” was the moststreamed show of 2022, but shows on HBOMax that release weekly, like “The Last of Us,” are what’s increasingly talked about online.

Barry Moilanen shared that they wouldn’t pay for Netflix themselves if the platform kicked them off their parent’s account. “I would just transition solely to Hulu, which has better content anyways,” Barry Moilanen shared.

It’s possible that as the features that Netflix is known for, like password sharing, come to an end, Netflix may fade alongside them.

ProjectConnect plans for new semester, cont’d

u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

even though I have friends around campus, having a set time where I knew I would get the chance to socialize in a safe setting made me feel a lot less alone,” peer facilitator Katelyn Anderson ’25 shared. “I can’t speak for the participants, but based on their feedback I would say that they feel similarly. … Mount Holyoke is a great place to be, but just like at any institution there are going to be people who have a harder time meeting new people and making meaningful connections than others. ProjectConnect, while available to people of all kinds of social strengths and weaknesses, aims to help people get a chance to build connections if they are willing to put in the time and effort.” Anderson hopes to serve in the peer facilitator position until graduation.

In an email interview with Mount Holyoke News, Mia Gonzales Jackson ’26 reflected on what she called an “overall great experience [that was] engaging and informative” following her participation in

ProjectConnect last fall.

“ProjectConnect was a nice way to get to know students who I otherwise might not have met,” Jackson said. “The activity that specifically stands out to me was an evening where we spent time just writing thank-you notes to significant people in our lives. Taking time to listen and share was a humbling experience I am quite grateful for.”

Jackson affirmed that she could not “think of anything that could improve the program structure; everything was organized well and seemed to flow smoothly.” Gonzales shared her thoughts on the importance of student effort in sustaining the benefits of social outreach programs like ProjectConnect.

“It is great to get to know a small group of people over a few weeks, but sustaining the relationships requires individual follow-through,” Jackson said. “If a participant doesn’t reach back out after the program is over or even acknowledge their group member(s) when they see them in Blanchard or around campus, the social benefit of the program is lost. … That said, ProjectConnect provides

a good basis and a start for creating relationships.”

Despite ProjectConnect’s success, Mia Gonzales brought up a point about the sometimes unsuspecting nature of loneliness.“I also want to note that people can feel lonely even if they interact with others, so it really depends on the individual. Additionally, it is true that knowing many people does not guarantee social fulfillment — loneliness can simultaneously be extremely familiar,” Jackson said. She concluded with advice that she believed may be helpful to anyone who struggles with anxiety regarding social interactions. “It is generally helpful to let go of preconceived social structures and just listen to what people have to share and say in order to attempt to widen one’s social circle; my experience with ProjectConnect definitely reinforces this approach,” Jackson said. An informational session regarding ProjectConnect will be held in Blanchard 227 on Friday, Feb. 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for students who wish to learn more about the program.

Graphic by Gabby Gagnon ’23

Photo courtesy of rawpixel via rawpixel.com

Netflix began offering streaming content in 2007 and has since remained a top streaming service.

Citizens protest proposed increase of French retirement age

been a very effective way for labor to make its demands felt, as if the government owns key firms, pressuring elected officials can be as important as pressuring the management of the firm.”

The New York Times explained the French retirement system as “a pay-as-you-go structure in which workers and employers are assessed mandatory payroll taxes that are used to fund retiree pensions.” With the proposed reforms, the system will still exist, but workers must work until age 64. The reforms would also accelerate a previous change in the minimum number of years one must work in order to pay into the retirement benefits.

Opponents of the legislation argue that Macron is attacking cherished retirement rights and refusing to look at other options, such as raising taxes on the wealthy. Critics also feel that the reforms target blue-collar workers, who begin careers sooner but have shorter life expectancies compared to white-collar workers, according to The New York Times.

ment].”

The problem lies with a declining birth rate for the last few decades in France and other Western European countries, and thus fewer working-age people to support a larger generation of retirees in the coming decades.

Mitchell explained the implications of the decline, stating, “[t]his means that inevitably either taxes will need to be raised on younger workers to support the existing level of benefits or benefits will need to be cut, or of course some mix of the two that will be popular with nobody.”

Beyond the issue of taxes, France also has a notably lower retirement age than other European countries, with Italy, Germany and Spain looking to raise their retirement age to 67, as well as the United Kingdom at 66. “Given that you can qualify for state pensions considerably earlier in France than most other advanced democracies, Macron has proposed raising the pension age as an alternative to either raising taxes or cutting benefits,” Mitchell explained.

BY SOPHIE GLASCO ’26 STAFF WRITER

More than one million protesters flooded the streets of France in late January, protesting against proposed retirement reforms by President Emmanuel Macron. The proposal looks to increase France’s legal retirement age from 62 to 64 in order to maintain the public-fund-

ed retirement pensions, a strongly unpopular decision, as polls reflect two-thirds of French people opposing the reform. According to French authorities, 1.2 million people protested on Jan. 31, while labor unions claim the number was closer to 2.5 million.

Regardless, over one million people took part in the protest, with eight key unions represented in

the strike, affecting schools, public transport and oil refineries. According to the BBC, 11,000 police were deployed to cover demonstrations in over 200 French cities. Assistant Professor of International Relations and Politics Christopher Mitchell provided some context for the protests: “[A] long history of state ownership in France means that public protest has generally

However, President Macron is firm in backing his proposal, as the bill is heading to Parliament, where Macron’s party has a small majority and therefore a “legislative showdown” is expected. According to the BBC, “[w]ithout a majority in parliament, the government will have to rely on the right-wing Republicans for support as much as the ruling parties’ own [members of parlia-

The French government and the French citizens are each stubbornly defending their side, with neither showing signs of backing down. The protesters have history supporting them, though, as Mitchell explained that “France also has a long history of mass mobilization and protest more generally, as can be seen in the First and Second French Revolutions.”

Rioting in Brazil leads to unrest about democracy around the world

BY KIERA MCLAUGHLIN ’26 STAFF WRITER

On Jan. 8, 2023, protesters that were camped outside the Brazilian Army Headquarters moved their demonstration, which quickly turned into a riot, to the front of the Brazilian Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential offices.

The New York Times reported that “Outnumbered police officers fired what appeared to be pepper spray and tear-gas canisters. The demonstrators persisted for hours, lashing out at what they falsely claim was a stolen election.” While Brazil’s democracy is being questioned, the world has started to compare the similarities and differences between the Brazilian riot and the United States Jan. 6 insurrection.

About 4,000 Bolsonaro supporters arrived on buses and joined others camped outside the army barracks that Saturday and Sunday, the BBC reported. That day, thousands of people took on Brazil’s official government buildings in protest of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s loss, what they claim was a stolen election. Protesters started breaking windows, throwing objects, waving Brazilian flags and marching for their cause.

during the interview that the Brazilian president was already inaugurated days before, and the buildings were not occupied by officials at the time of the riot, while the Jan. 6 insurrection in the U.S. was trying to stop the vote from happening to cement the presidency.

There’s also a great difference between the ways that former President Donald Trump and former President Bolsonaro responded to these demonstrations, but similarities in the ways they handled re-election.

While Bolsonaro also created controversy around his re-election during his time in office, unlike Trump, Bolsonaro allowed a peaceful transition of power to Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, the current president of Brazil, until the riot. Bolsonaro also criticized a bomb plot by his supporter, saying it was a “terrorist act,” reported the New York Times.

Bolsonaro. “The fact that the security apparatus is very heavily infiltrated by Bolsonarismo is not a consequence of the fact that Bolsonaro created this support, but the fact that these tendencies were there, and suddenly they have had a leader … that could offer a political outlet for them.” Brazil’s history of being a military dictatorship and as a young democracy has led to protesters believing that with Bolsonaro out of office, a military coup would lead to Bolsonaro’s return, Jerry Dávila, Lemann chair in Brazilian history at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said in an interview with Illinois News Bureau.

– Andrew Reiter

In an interview with Scripps News, Andrew Reiter, associate professor of politics and international relations at Mount Holyoke, said “On its face, [the insurrections in Brazil and the U.S.] look very, very similar. You have protesters who are convinced that … the one they support lost the previous election and they’re storming capital buildings and damaging things,” he continued.“But there are really striking differences”. Reiter explained

When asked by Scripps about Bolsonaro’s response to this riot, Reiter said “it’s hard for him to say the elections were fraudulent because his party gained seats.” Bolsonaro’s party not only won seats in the legislature, his three sons are also elected officials, which changes the perceptions of the election results in Brazil – especially compared to the 2020 presidential election in the U.S., The New York Times reported in the same article.

Understanding the goals of the demonstrators in Brazil requires recognizing how different Brazil’s relationship with democracy is compared to the United States. In an interview with Vox, Rodrigo Nunes, a Brazilian philosophy scholar, explained the way the military plays such a big role in Brazilian politics, and how the people in power used

Luiz Amaral, a professor of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, stressed the importance of understanding the riots in Brazil by perceiving the actions of these demonstrators through a historical lens and considering the political structure of Brazil.

In an interview with the Mount Holyoke News, he said “You have to look into Brazilian history… Is there a global connection between what’s happening in Brazil and Trump in the U.S. and the dictators all over the world? Yes, there is. But there is an internal dynamic that’s built in its history and the history of its institutions. That’s what really makes the whole process possible.” Throughout the interview, Amaral made sure to clarify that the relationship between the government and the military had a huge role in this riot, and is a big factor in Brazilian politics, which are very different compared to American history.

Brazil’s Department of Justice’s reaction to the riots differs greatly compared to the slow response by the United States House Select Committee after Jan. 6. Soon after the riot, along with arresting around 1,500 people, of whom 600 were relocated from the police academy where they

were initially detained, the Brazilian department of justice has targeted political officials, ordering the arrest of the former commander of the Military Police of the Federal District and former secretary of public safety, reported by the BBC. In addition to public officials, Reiter explained in his interview, “they are looking into who financed this. Somebody has fed and sheltered these protesters for a long time. Somebody paid for the 100 buses to bring them all to the capital. And so already there’s government investigations into well over 100 companies who they suspect might be behind financing these demonstrations.”

Just like the Jan. 6 insurrection, people are also concerned about the lack of trust and total manipulation in strong democracies. In his interview with Scripps News, Reiter discussed the extensive influence of social media on these riots and the spreading of misinformation and controversies. When asked about the global state of democracy, he said “it’s certainly alarming. … It

also used to be that if you thought you were going to lose an election, you just boycott the election, you would just say it’s not legitimate. … And now the trend seems to be, let’s do the election. And even if we lose, we’ll just say we won anyway and it was rigged.”

The Brazilian riot was not directly supported by the former president, like Jan. 6, and the Brazilian Department of Justice acted swiftly to enact consequences for the actions of demonstrators and the people in office associated with the riots. With the context of Brazil’s history of a military dictatorship, this failed coup has left many questions for Brazilians and countries around the world.

In the Vox article,Dávila commented, “Brazilian democracy is still being built … The armed forces did not heed the call to take over the government, but they have nonetheless extended their influence. President Lula will face an ongoing challenge in again reducing the political influence of the armed forces.”

MHC becomes Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center, cont’d

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the town of South Hadley to develop its own DEI plan that would provide similar training sessions to vendors throughout the Village Commons.

“We wanted to make sure all those diversity, equity and inclusion opportunities were available to people who wanted to continue to do the work of racial healing, both within Mount Holyoke and [also including] anyone who was peripheral to the campus,” Sanders-McMurty said.

The DEI Committee sees student voices and involvement as a key part of its vision. As a TRHT Center, they hope to gain the funding needed to organize immersive opportunities for students. Those opportunities would be similar to the racial heal-

ing trips faculty and staff have taken, such as last year’s trip to Atlanta.

This Atlanta trip focused on the civil rights movement. Attendants participated in the Civil Rights Heritage Tour, a program honoring people who participated in the movement and remain unrecognized.

From Atlanta, the group traveled to Selma, walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and took a bus tour of important places visited by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.

“There are still a lot of perilous realities of life in modern America, particularly for Black and brown people,” Gaia said in regard to the Atlanta trip. “How can we simultaneously honor the past and [think] about where we are in the present moment and [remain] fiercely committed to doing something different-

ly?”

In the future, Sanders-McMurty hopes for students to travel to cities such as Atlanta and Memphis, and visit museums such as the Holocaust

Museum and an indigenous American museum in D.C. These trips would provide an immersive aspect to Mount Holyoke’s racial healing vision and encourage students to re-

flect on the history of racial justice.

“I think for students … you’re only here for four years and those four years should be an incredible experience,” Sanders-McMurty said. “It shouldn’t be hindered by all these kinds of ways that people harm each other.”

As a TRHT Center, the DEI Committee is looking forward to continuing their anti-racist work and elaborating on their long-term vision to make Mount Holyoke a safer and more welcoming place.

“I think truth, racial healing and transformation are big, lofty concepts and ideals. I am most looking forward to the fact that this provides a touchstone for our entire community to have this point of reflection that this is [work] we’re committed to,” Gaia said.

Photo courtesy of Jarosław Baranowski via Wikimedia Commons

Over a million people took to the streets in France in late January to protest a proposed rise in retirement age. Macron is standing by the proposal.

Photo courtesy of Marcos Correa via ZUMAPRESS.com

The Jan. 8 protests in Brazil have been compared to the Jan. 6 insurrection in the United States.

On its face, [the insurrections in Brazil and the U.S.] look very, very similar.

Photo by Ali Meizels ’23 MHC becomes TRHT Center to create racial healing opportunities and collaborate with students.

FDA considers lifting ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men

BY SARAH GRINNELL ’26

STAFF WRITER

LGBTQ+ activists had reason to celebrate on Friday, Jan. 27, as the Food and Drug Administration initiated a proposal to change long-standing restrictions on gay and bisexual men’s blood donation, Smithsonian reported. According to an NBC News Article, this ban, which was first implemented during the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, prohibited any man who had had sex with at least one other man within three months of donation from giving blood.

The current draft of the proposal consists of what the New York Post describes as “gender-inclusive, individual risk-based questions,” which would make qualifications for donation dependent on sexual activity rather than orientation. This would measure the risk of HIV transmission equally against all identities, instead of targeting a single group or gender. As Smithsonian explained, in 1985 the FDA indefinitely banned any man who had sex with another man since 1977 from donating blood.

The updated guidelines would mean anyone of any gender who has had only one sexual partner in the past three months is eligible to donate blood.

According to Smithsonian, the

FDA has said if the potential donors have engaged in anal sex, had a new sexual partner, or had more than one sexual partner within the last three months, they would be subject to questioning about their recent sexual activity and instructed to wait another three months before donating.

The New York Post reported that these new guidelines are based on sexual practice, meaning that women will be impacted by donor restrictions for the first time. According to the New York Post, those in monogamous relationships will be eligible to donate blood regardless of sexual affiliation or gender.

According to NBC, bans will remain in effect for people who have tested positive for HIV and take medication to treat it. Additionally, those taking oral medications to prevent infection, such as PrEP, must abide by a three month “deferral period” before they can donate, and those taking injectable PrEP would have to wait two years after their most recent injection before being permitted to give blood, Smithsoniam detailed.

PrEP, which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a pill which prevents HIV from settling into the body before it can spread and is typically taken before sex or under other circumstances where infection could be likely, WebMD says.

The proposed guidelines have developed in part due to the dropoff in the number of blood donations seen at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Smithsonian said. With eased restrictions, the number of donors contributing to the national blood supply could increase significantly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many blood centers have not had enough blood to last even two days, and one fifth of all blood centers have had a one day supply or less, Smithsonian explained.

The new proposal hopes to amend this situation. A report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that lifts on donor bans for men who have sex with men would increase the annual blood supply by two to four percent.

Tony Morrison, a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD, has commented on this development in an NPR report, saying, “[t]hese changes are 40-plus years in the making, and they’re a tremendous leap forward in elevating science over stigma.”

However, for some, the guidelines still leave something to be desired — especially where the restrictions around PrEP are concerned.

As Jose Abrigo, HIV project director for the advocacy group Lambda Legal points out in an AP News article, “[w]e must be conscious to not fur-

ther stigmatize these safe sex practices and uplift individuals taking precautions.”

Claudia Cohn, chief medical officer for the nonprofit Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, echoed this statement in a Washington Post article, saying, “keeping the blood supply safe is paramount, but it is also important to move forward so that we are not excluding a group of donors who

Biden administration may increase access to free birth control

BY CATELYN FITZGERALD ’23 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

On Jan. 30, the United States Department of Health and Human Services along with the Department of Labor and the Treasury proposed an adjustment to birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This adjustment would increase access for over 125,000 Americans, CNN reported. According to the CNN article, the new rule would alter existing exemptions which allow insurers to refuse to offer birth control for religious or moral reasons. The rule will be opened for public comment over the next few months before being finalized, the article said.

Currently, most Affordable Care Act plans are required to include no-cost birth control coverage, but a rule created in 2018 by the Trump Administration allows private healthcare insurers to cite “religious beliefs” or “moral convictions” to be exempted from providing contraceptives, a press release from the Cen-

ters for Medicare and Medicaid said. According to the press release, individuals enrolled in a plan that uses the religious or moral exemption can only access contraceptives if

their employer or insurer voluntarily grants them an accommodation. The new rule proposed by the Biden Administration would eliminate the moral exemption to con-

traceptive coverage, and create a pathway for individuals to access birth control even if their insurer has a religious exemption, a Reuters article reported. The article explains that the new rule works by allowing any provider to offer free birth control and be reimbursed for the medication by an insurance company. The article went on to say that participating insurance companies receive credits from the government for sponsoring the purchase.

A senior Health and Human Services official told CNN that the new rule is intended to serve as a compromise between religiously affiliated employers and individuals seeking access to contraceptives. The CNN article highlighted the importance of the new rule in a post Roe v. Wade America, where states are able to limit access to abortions, and went on to emphasize that the extent to which individuals are aware of the new individual pathway will be a key determinant of its success in increasing birth control access.

World Wetlands Day 2023 calls attention to global wetland loss

BY YUYANG WANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 2, people from all around the world joined to celebrate the twenty-seventh World Wetlands Day. According to the official World Wetlands Day website, the theme of this year’s festival was “wetlands restoration.” This site contains statements from officials representing various institutions, such as the Convention on Wetlands, The International Union for Conservation of Nature and The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997, with the aim to increase people’s awareness of the importance of wetlands and encourage actions to protect them, notes the official website. Compared to other natural ecosystems such as forests and oceans, wetlands are often seen as less familiar and are unappreciated for their ecological value, an article from ClimateXChange said. As a result, World Wetlands Day plays an important role in making knowledge about wetlands more widespread as the ecosystems face extreme degradation, the official website said.

According to the EPA, wetlands can be categorized as either inland or coastal, as well as seasonal or permanent. Wetlands have many different forms including rivers, marshes, bogs, mangroves, mudflats, ponds, swamps, lagoons, lakes and floodplains. The Nature Conservancy explains that as an ecosystem, wetlands provide habitats for animals such as black-crowned night heron, Hine’s emerald dragonfly and American mink, as well as plants including purple pitcher plant and eastern skunk cabbage.

Species living in wetlands play key roles in the world’s water, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Moreover, current scientific research shows that because of its carbon storage function, wetlands can help ameliorate

climate change. Statistics from the World Wildlife Fund revealed that “[b]etween 300 million and 400 million people live close to and depend on wetlands.”

For humans, wetlands can improve water quality, offer protection from floods and shoreline erosion and offer opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation. However, human effects on wetlands have historically been destructive, the WWF article said. According to National Geographic, overfishing has caused the biodiversity of wetlands to drop dramatically. Additionally, with industry development, factories built near wetlands cause pollution and harm plant and animal species by dumping toxic wastewater into the wetland.

Wetland conservation programs provide hope for restoring the health

of wetlands around the world. For example, mangrove restoration programs have been created in seven biospheres of Latin America and the Caribbean led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. These programs aim to recover mangrove forests by bringing together scientific experts with local communities while creating new economic and educational opportunities. This collaborative method is one of the most effective ways to restore mangrove forests, the UNESCO website reported.

In addition to direct conservation actions, scientific literature on wetlands also plays an important role in raising people’s awareness.

For instance, the book “Sippewissett, or, life on a salt marsh” by Tim Traver recalls the author’s personal experience at Sippewissett, a wet-

could be perfectly safe.”

According to the New York Post, the responses to the proposal have been overwhelmingly positive, with many eagerly anticipating the fruition of FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf’s promise to “use the best science [to maintain] a safe and adequate supply of blood and blood products in the U.S.,” while preventing further discrimination against any “gender or sexual orientation.”

Reproduce this!

How abortion medication works and where to get it

BY SHIRA SADEH ’25 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT EDITOR

On Jan. 3, the Food and Drug Administration announced a change in rules that will greatly increase the number of retail pharmacies that dispense abortion medication, AP News reported.

According to the AP article, this change is an effort to make abortion more accessible, allowing those seeking abortion medication to receive a consultation via telehealth before picking up the prescription at a local retail pharmacy, provided that the pharmacy undergoes a certification process.

According to Planned Parenthood, abortion medication consists of two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol. The first, mifepristone, prevents the pregnancy from developing further and may cause side effects of nausea or bleeding, although Planned Parenthood states that bleeding is uncommon at this stage of the abortion. The second pill, misoprostol, is taken either immediately after or up to 48 hours following the first pill. This pill empties the uterus and causes heavy bleeding and cramping. “It’s normal to see large blood clots (up to the size of a lemon) or clumps of tissue when this is happening. It’s kind of like having a really heavy, crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage,” Planned Parenthood explained. The page went on to say that these side effects typically begin one to four hours after taking misoprostol. The bleeding typically lasts four to five hours, and cramping can continue for up to two days.

land located in the Northeast. In the book, Traver offers a detailed description of his connections with the wetlands, including his experience of witnessing their deterioration and recovery.

Although there has been an increase in action surrounding wetlands, people’s awareness and sense of urgency remain insufficient. According to Dr. Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands, “to date, nearly 90 percent of the world’s wetlands have been degraded or lost. We are losing wetlands three times faster than forests.” Therefore, World Wetlands Day is an opportunity to encourage all relevant players to participate in the wetlands restoration process. “We are mobilizing an entire generation for wetland restoration,” Mumba said.

According to an article from the Guttmacher Institute, the FDA approved the use of mifepristone for the purpose of non-surgical abortion in 2000. Although it is currently approved to be used up to ten weeks of gestation, it has been used safely to terminate later-stage pregnancies. The article went on to explain that while several states have restrictions on its usage, courts have ruled that banning abortion medication “outright” is unconstitutional. The closest Planned Parenthood center that offers abortion services is the Western Massachusetts Health Center in Springfield, MA. As of July 22, Mount Holyoke College Health Services stated that they offer counseling and referrals to students, but are unable to offer abortion medication themselves.

Photo courtesy of Thought Catalog via Flickr

Photo by Emma Quirk ’26 Wetland restoration was the theme of World Wetlands Day 2023, as nearly 90 percent of wetlands worldwide have been damaged by human activity.

Photo courtesy of Project Manhattan via Wikimedia Commons Abortion pills are sold in retail pharmacies.

Indian government ban on ‘India: The Modi Question’ reflects the country’s dangerous history of censorship

BY JAHNAVI PRADEEP ’23 OPINION EDITOR

The BBC released a two-part documentary in January 2023 titled “India: The Modi Question”, investigating Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lengthy reign of Islamophobia within the country. Researched and created by a team of filmmakers who are of Indian origin and live in the United Kingdom, the first part of the documentary traces back to Modi’s involvement in the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, which occurred during his time as the state’s chief minister. The second part of the documentary, released a week later on Jan. 24, builds hereon to Modi’s prime ministership and continued communal politics in governing India. Packed in among horrifying footage of the riots alongside interviews, new and historical, both parts of “India: The Modi Question” probe into the hushed-up politics of the world’s largest democracy and expose the long-simmering anti-Muslim sentiments of its current leader.

While the BBC documentary did not air in India, it was met with backlash from the Indian state for its content and was quickly dismissed as a mere propaganda scheme against the ruling leader and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. For instance, as per Naman Ramachandran for Variety, on Jan. 19, Indian foreign service officer and Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs

Arindam Bagchi blamed the United Kingdom for “[t]he bias, the lack of objectivity, and frankly a continuing colonial mindset” that permeates what he called a “propaganda piece.”

What is concerning is that the Indian state has not responded with critique alone, but also censorship.

Along with officials publicly condemning the documentary, the Indian government proceeded to employ state emergency powers to ban the circulation of the first part of the documentary on social media platforms.

While the documentary was not officially banned within the country, the government used more surreptitious methods to make the piece inaccessible to those in India. Segments of the documentary were banned from YouTube by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in cooperation with YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet. In a New York Times article, Sameer Yasir discussed how the ministry employed the ban through “‘I.T. rules’ passed in 2021 that allow … [the ministry] to suppress virtually any information that appears online.” Twitter’s ban, while not as extensive as YouTube’s, has also restricted access to parts of the documentary within the country.

The Indian state response to “India: The Modi Question” is harrowing. The BJP government used draconian laws to censor criticism of Modi and his political agendas, reinforcing the party’s already feared threat to Indian democracy since their ascent to power in 2014. The move to restrict the BBC documentary highlights the dangers of Indian digital surveillance in continuing to encroach on privacy of its people while limiting their access to information and their freedom of speech and press, rights enshrined in Article 19 of the Indian constitution.

The restriction of media circulation within India is not a new development of 2023. The country, under the BJP rule, has a history of media monopolization and suppression of opposing intellect, to an extent that journalists, filmmakers and other creators’ lives are at risk. Additionally, the dangers of surveillance are evident in the BJP government’s alleged use of Pegasus software, an invasive high-level software used to tap into people’s personal devices. The software has the ability to turn on phone’s microphones and cameras to spy on their owners. A 2021 Wire article was able to identify 174 targets of the spyware’s clients, among whom were “politicians, journalists, activists, students and many more.”

able to surmise that since the spyware was sold only to “vetted governments” it would then be “safe to assume that these individuals were targets or potential targets of government or military agencies.” The Indian government came under fire, especially by opposition party leaders, for potential use of the software. Whether or not they were using it themselves, a Hindustan Times article claims that experts probing the spyware’s usage within the country did not receive the cooperation of the BJP government. This position of usage or complacency toward invasive spyware, if holding any validity, is dangerous and encroaches on the privacy of citizens and residents to establish an atmosphere of state-sanctioned control over speech, information and dissent.

Regardless of if these allegations are true, this atmosphere of media control very much exists in India. Journalists, filmmakers and other activists expressing diversity of thought outside the BJP’s are fired, arrested and even murdered.

Gauri Lankesh, editor of the leftist weekly Bangalore-based paper Lankesh Patrike, is one such example. Lankesh was an avid activist for the rights of marginalized minorities of the country and an outspoken critique of right-wing politics and the ruling BJP and Modi. On Sept. 5, 2017, Lankesh was assassinated outside her house, allegedly by right-wing extremists.

The move to restrict the BBC documentary highlights the dangers of Indian digital surveillance in continuing to encroach on privacy of its people while limiting their access to information and their freedom of speech and press, rights enshrined in Article 19 of the Indian constitution.

In 2022, her murder investigation put members of a right-wing group attacking “anti-Hindu” journalists on trial.

Furthermore, during her time of death, while crowds rallied to honor her, Modi and the BJP offered no comment. Some BJP supporters even celebrated her assassination on social media platforms.

Lankesh is not alone. In an article for the New York Times, Rollo Romig charts how the “Committee to Protect Journalists has been keeping track of 35 cases of Indian journalists murdered specifically for their work since 1992, and only two of these cases have resulted in a successful conviction” as of 2019.

Reporters Without Borders notes 58 journalist deaths within India since 2003. Dissent outside traditional journalism is also under threat under Modi’s rule. Indian activist Teesta Setalvad was arrested in 2022 on

were

the basis of trying to falsely smear Modi by investigating the same Gujarat riots covered by “India: The Modi Question.” Furthermore, an article for The Hindu chronicles how the Human Rights Watch Report of 2023 documented that “Indian authorities had ‘intensified and broadened’ their crackdown on activist groups and the media through 2022.”

The threat to dissent has created an atmosphere wherein opposing intellect, if created, has no place.

Documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan’s work covers the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, however, he fears officially screening his work in the country. In 2020, Patwardhan spoke to the New York Times about his film “Reason,” covering the death of Indian activists, and how the government banned its screening in Kerala. Students were also arrested for trying to screen another of Patwardhan’s movies, “In the Name of God,” and classrooms were stormed by men who, the article explains, “shouted slogans and kept saying that the film offended their Hindu sentiments.”

It then becomes obvious that those within the country dissenting against the BJP and Narendra Modi live in a country that poses an immense threat to both their works and lives. This directly conflicts with freedom of speech as per article 19 of the Indian constitution, whose meaning has been manipulated by the current Indian government. The only place where diverse thoughts and opinions may find a platform to challenge the country is from outside it. Yet, the Indian state still finds ways to censor these works and dismiss them under different pretexts. For example, in 2016, the BBC aired a documentary titled India’s Daughter that chronicled the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case that took place in New Delhi. As per the BBC, the film’s set screening on NDTV was “outlawed by the Indian authorities on the grounds of ‘objectionable content,’” and filmmaker Leslee Udwin was accused of disrespecting Indian women as well as breaking prison contracts to gain interviews with the guilty. There is no safe space for dissent against the Indian government or any of their politics. Those in India are left without access to anything but what the government wants them to engage with. The 2023 BBC documentary becomes yet another example, dismissed by the Indian government as the product of a colonial mindset. The dismissal removes the critical understanding of how Indians have no safety in creating media within the country, and must turn outward to find any place from where they can offer perspectives

without fear of death. And yet, even from outside, their thoughts are successfully silenced by the Indian government.

“India: The Modi Question” was created by a production team of Indian filmmakers who conducted in-depth research on the topic before the BBC aired the docu-series on their channel.

To recap, the documentary exposes that Modi was directly responsible for the anti-Muslim Gujarat riots of 2002, which took place against the backdrop of the Ayodhya Hindu-Muslim tension. The Sabarmati Express, filled with Hindus traveling from Ayodhya, was supposedly stopped in a Muslim-majority region and attacked and torched by Muslims, successfully killing 58 passengers.

audiences to hold the BJP government responsible for Hindu nationalism and violation of the secular vision of India through Modi’s direct involvement in communal riots targeting Muslims.

“India: The Modi Question” is a chance for audiences to hold the BJP government responsible for Hindu nationalism and violation of the secular vision of India through Modi’s direct involvement in communal riots targeting Muslims.

In retaliation, Hindus attacked different Muslim neighborhoods across the state, killing over 1000, demolishing religious sites and displacing families into refugee camps. The BBC documentary follows Modi’s involvement in the state-sanctioned retaliations against Muslims after the incident concerning the Sabarmati Express. Modi has long been faced with criticism for his complacency as chief minister during the riots, but the documentary sheds new light by holding him directly responsible for the event. It verbalizes a somewhat known Islamaphobic history for audiences across India and the globe, threatening Modi’s self-perceived reputation as the changemaker of India.

Its contents cannot simply be discarded as propaganda for its audiences. The documentary follows in-depth interviews with party leaders, journalists, riot victims, activists and others with direct connections to the event, enabling honest storytelling. Banning it dismisses the positionality of its creators and their desire to share a story important to them with audiences who might find it equally important to themselves. It reflects the country’s long-standing intolerance toward critique and their abuse of power to do away with it. This then also does injustice to those within India who desire to engage with materials outside the BJP perspective. Indian citizens and residents must have the right to access information to help inform, educate and allow them to hold power systems in check. “India: The Modi Question” is a chance for

Along with the sly methods to ban the documentary on social media platforms and discredit the work, the state has also attacked individuals attempting to find ways around the ban to access and watch the film. Students across the country attempted to watch the documentary despite the ban, using a VPN on their phones and personal devices. They also attempted screenings on their college campuses. However, their attempts have been thwarted by government protest. For example, student activists at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi were detained by the police and screenings were restricted by the university itself. The case has been similar at Jawaharlal Nehru University. In another Delhi university, the power supply was cut off before screening. In addition to being similar to the suppression of Patwardhan’s movies, this further alienates those within India from beginning to form any vision and educate themselves on any opinion that differs from the narrow nationalistic vision of the government.

The reception of “India: The Modi Question” reflects how journalism, filmmaking and other forms of media and activism continue to face challenges within the Indian state. While it is getting increasingly difficult for the government to manage ways to censor media within the country in our ever-growing digitally connected world, there is still a dangerous surveillance campaign prying into people’s lives. Modi’s censorship of the BBC documentary in India is an example of the state still attempting to control the media consumption of its people. It emphasizes the dangers of creating or engaging with opposing intellects in India by exposing the threat it poses to careers and lives of activists of different kinds. India is currently under a threat to its democracy, and we must continue to push and challenge the state in ways that we can, while finding the tricky balance of protecting the lives of those who are brave enough to speak up. The documentary is one step toward a continued effort to find ways to confront the government and champion the torchbearers of truth that have suffered at the hands of the state.

Graphic by Sunny Wei ’23

HarperCollins union negotiates demands

BY JUDE BARRERA ’24 STAFF WRITER & COPY EDITOR

On Nov. 10, 2022, the unionized employees of HarperCollins began striking to demand better wages and a new contract. One of the four major publishing companies in the United States and the only one to have a union, HarperCollins was not forthcoming in meeting the demands of its workers, according to the HarperCollins Union, with no word from the company for the first 55 days of the strike. Feb. 1 marked 60 business days since the strike began. Strikers took breaks when HarperCollins offices were also closed, such as weekends and federal holidays. On Jan. 26, the 56th day of the strike, HarperCollins agreed to mediations. These mediations began on Feb. 1.

Despite not communicating directly with the union, HarperCollins made several press releases that addressed union concerns prior to the start of negotiations.

On Dec. 15, 2022, HarperCollins released a statement addressing their employee compensation. In it, HarperCollins stated that while they pay “a base salary on the 35-hour work week,” employees who work more than that are eligible for overtime pay. Yet, in the initial press release announcing the strike, it was stated that “many employees cite pressure to work extra hours without additional compensation.” According to Publishers Weekly, a few days after agreeing to mediations with the union, HarperCollins announced layoffs of about 5 percent of its North American staff “by the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.”

Though mediations have begun, workers have continued and will continue to strike until their demands have been met and a contract has been reached. Striking workers held a rally on Jan. 31 on 195 Broadway, the current location of the HarperCollins offices. Supporters of the union were encouraged to visit in person, and the union organized an Instagram Live

Romances by Black authors to read this month

for people who were not local to show their support. The union then held a second rally, with a slogan of “Take it to the Top,” on Feb. 2. This rally was held outside the offices of HarperCollins’ parent company NewsCorp.

This was not the first rally that union members have held in front of NewsCorp offices, as another protest was held there in mid-January.

The union is still asking for support throughout the process of mediation. Authors and agents have been asked to refrain from submitting new material to HarperCollins.

Laura Harschberger, the union chair, revealed in an interview with Hellgate NYC that “more than 200 agents [signed] a letter indicating that they’re going to withhold submissions from HarperCollins until the strike is over.” Supporters of the strike who are not within the publishing industry are also encouraged to donate to the union’s strike fund. These donations contribute to employees’ ability to strike in a sustainable way, as “striking workers have been without a paycheck for months” according to Andrew Limbong of NPR. The strike fund replaces a striking worker’s regular wage, as employees on strike do not get paid.

Amid HarperCollins’ monthslong strike, the unionized employees of HuffPost, a news website, also began negotiations on a new contract. On Jan. 30, a day before their contract expired, the HuffPost union released a statement pledging to strike if their demands were not met. The statement had a 98 percent signature rate from union members. The union bargained from the morning through the night, and at 1:43 a.m. on Feb. 1, almost two hours after their old contract expired, a new contract that met the union’s demands was made. In comparison, the contract for HarperCollins union members expired on Dec. 31, 2021, making it over 400 days since the union has had a valid contract.

BY AMELIA POTTER ’26 STAFF WRITER

February marks Black History Month, which aims, according to the U.S. government’s website on the topic, to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Under this umbrella is the rich selection of romance books written by Black authors which celebrate and uplift Black love. Here are three romance books authored by Black writers to read this Valentine’s Day.

‘Rare Danger’ by Beverly Jenkins

“Rare Danger” is part romance, part adventure and part murder-mystery, according to Goodreads, as it follows the plight of librarian Jasmine Ware and Air Force veteran Torr Noble, now a private security consultant. At just 110 pages, “Rare Danger” is a fun and fast-paced read, one Goodreads reviewer wrote, with well-developed, “amazing” characters. The plot kickstarts with the mysterious disappearance of a rare books dealer, an old friend of Jasmine’s, whose partner is then suspiciously murdered. This leads to page-turning tension as Jasmine and Torr must unite to unravel the secret plot, find the missing book dealer and possibly discover romance along the way. Full of chemistry and suspense, “Rare Danger” is an excellent, genre-blending read.

Author Beverly Jenkins is from Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University.

In 2013, she was nominated for the 2013 NAACP Image Award. She has won the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romances, the 2017 Romance

Gigi Downey ’23 set to represent US in ultimate frisbee world championship in Nottingham, UK

BY EMILY TARINELLI ’25 SPORTS EDITOR

When Gigi Downey ’23 was invited to a friend’s ultimate frisbee practice in 2015, she was unsure about going and whether she would even like it. Now, eight years later, she has multiple accolades in the sport. Her most recent achievement: qualifying for the women-matching under-24 national team, punching a ticket to Nottingham, United Kingdom, to represent the United States in the U24 world ultimate championship.

A geography major and architecture minor, Downey played several sports growing up — including soccer, softball and track — but none of them stuck with her like ultimate frisbee. As a student at Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts, Downey competed on both a youth club team and their high school’s frisbee team, where they served as captain during their senior year.

Now a senior at Mount Holyoke, Downey is a co-captain of Daisy Chain, the College’s ultimate frisbee team and one of Mount Holyoke’s club sports. Founded in 2005, Daisy Chain is no stranger to high achievements. According to the team’s biography on the USA Ultimate website, Daisy Chain has qualified for the Division III College Championships each year since 2016, with a fifthplace finish at last year’s 2022 championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Additionally, Downey was recognized as last year’s Ultiworld D-III Women’s Defensive Player of the Year for their stellar performance

on the field, and was named to the All-American first team.

“On offense, Downey is a speedy handler who is not afraid to make a big play or two. Her upline and strike cuts proved hard to defend and she proved to be a force near the end zone (12 goals, 14 assists). Even when she turns the disc, she knows how to find a way to get it back,” a statement on the Ultiworld website said. “As a defender, she is just as, if not more, versatile. When setting up a zone, she could cause damage in any position … What possibly makes Downey stand out the most as a defender is her heads-up defense. With an eye always on the disc, she got her hands on discs that the players she was defending didn’t see coming.”

To qualify for the U24 world team, Downey had to complete a questionnaire application in order to

Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2018 Michigan Author Award, as reported by Goodreads. Her oeuvre consists of stories both “historical and contemporary” with a “particular focus on 19th century African-American life.” As stated in her Wikipedia page, Jenkins sets her romances during a time “of African-American history that she believes is often overlooked”

‘Black Love Matters’ edited by Jessica P. Pryde

In her first published book, Jessica Pryde, a librarian and podcaster, set out to “discuss often overlooked narratives regarding the joyfulness of Black love.” “Black Love Matters” is a collection of essays, described by Kirkus as an “anthology that collects a refreshingly wide variety of perspectives on Black love.” The compilation includes the voices of academics, authors, reviewers and readers who examine the depiction of Black love in popular culture, through films, shows and novels, Goodreads reports.

In her introduction, Pryde writes, “For more than 400 years, people of African descent have been treated abysmally in many nations of the world … Yet, whether free or enslaved, Black people throughout history have been able to find romantic love — regardless of their ability to marry — both inside and outside their own communities.”

The essayists also unpack the traditional “white-centered nature of most romance novels — and novels in general,” along with the many challenges Black authors face in the publishing industry.

Pryde currently lives in Tucson, Arizona, and is the co-host of the podcast When in Romance. She

is also a contributing editor of Book Riot. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington University in Saint Louis, and later attended San Jose State University. Although “Black Love Matters” is currently her only book, written in February of 2022, she hints on her blog of possible new works of fiction to come.

‘I’m So (Not) Over You’ by Kosoko Jackson

“I’m So (Not) Over You” follows aspiring journalist Kian Andrews, who is unexpectedly enlisted by his ex-boyfriend Hudson Rivers to stage an active relationship for the sake of Hudson’s wealthy parents. Incentivized by Hudson’s promise to promote his career in journalism and enduring feelings for his old boyfriend, Kian agrees. Publishers Weekly calls it a “multilayered queer rom-com that combines fun fake dating and second chance romance tropes while exploring timely social themes.” When the pretend relationship begins feeling all too real, both men are forced to face their true feelings. “Beneath the rom-com antics,” Publishers Weekly continues in their review, “Jackson uses the pair’s differing economic backgrounds to explore wealth inequality in America. With his majority Black cast, he also highlights the intersections of class and race.”

Kosoko Jackson was born in the DC Metro Area, and presently lives in Brooklyn, New York. His personal essays have been published in The Advocate, Medium and Thought Catalog. “I’m So (Not) Over You” was published Feb. 22, 2022, and represents his debut in adult fiction. Jackson has also authored the YA novel, “Yesterday is History,” and the more recent novel, “Survive the Dome.”

Mount Holyoke Track and Field finishes 12th out of 13 at Tufts

BY GENEVIEVE ZAHNER ’26 STAFF WRITER

The Mount Holyoke Track and Field team competed at the Tufts Cupid Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 4. The Lyons placed 12th out of 13 teams, with Brandeis University behind them by 18 points and Wellesley College ahead by one.

“We encountered a lot of tough competition at the Tufts meet last weekend, but our team did very well,” Maya Evans ’26 said.

Emma Doyle ’23 placed second out of 43 competitors in the shot put, and was short of a personal best by two centimeters at 11.29 meters. Doyle also placed ninth out of 36 individuals in the weight throw with a mark of 11.73 meters.

Photo courtesy of Mount Holyoke Athletics

Multiple Mount Holyoke runners set personal bests at the Tufts Cupid Challenge on Feb. 4.

be invited to the tryouts.

“It was kind of like applying to a job or applying to school,” Downey recalled. “We answered a bunch of different questions that were like, ‘What’s Spirit of the Game? What kind of player are you? What’re your best strengths?’”

According to Downey, “Spirit of the Game” is a conceptual element that is unique to ultimate frisbee.

“Frisbee is a self-officiated sport. So we have observers at certain levels of play, but for the most part, when you make a call, it has to be from you and you have to talk to the [other team’s] person. … [Spirit of the Game] is basically holding respect for the other player, knowing the rules and upholding them and

Elle Rimando ’26 achieved a season best in the long jump with a mark of 5.04 meters, earning seventh place out of 21 others in the event. The jump put Rimando at fifth place on the Mount Holyoke all-time performance ranking for the event. Rimando also earned ninth out of 35 athletes in the 60-meter dash, placing just outside of team scoring with a time of 8.29 seconds.

Tessa Lancaster ’25 placed second out of 23 runners in the 3000-meter run and achieved a personal best time of 10:37.55, edging out an Amherst College athlete by 1.01 seconds and behind Tufts University’s firstplace finisher by 2.53 seconds. With this time, Lancaster, whose previous best time ranked eighth all-time for the indoor program, ascended to sixth on Mount Holyoke’s all-time performance list in the event.

“More people were excited about their performances [rather than] frustrated,” Head Coach Jay Hartshorn said. “In track and field you always have some ups and downs, so more ups is always the goal.”

Kim Beaver ’25 secured a personal record in the 600-meter run with a time of 1:47.16, shaving off 0.71 seconds from Beaver’s previous record. Devan Ravino ’23 also had a best time in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:15.50, earning 17th place.

Bridget Hall ’24, Orion Griesmer ’24 and Maya Evans ’26 placed 11th, 13th and 14th respectively in the 5000-meter run, with Hall finishing at 19:55.45, Griesmer at 20:24.47 and Evans at 20:51.72.

Mount Holyoke Track and Field will next compete on Saturday, Feb. 10, at Middlebury College.

Graphic by Mari Al Tayb ’26

Photo courtesy of Actualitté via Flickr HarperCollins has begun negotiations with union following months-long strike that began Nov. 10.

Photo courtesy of Marshall Goff Gigi Downey, above, qualified for the U24 world team and will compete this summer in the UK.

BY CARRIE LEWIS ’23 HOROSCOPE WRITER

f HOROSCOPES f

Jan. 20 – Feb. 18

I think you’ve been distracted lately. Get back on your grind and rediscover your rhythm. It’s fun to take a break, but too much time away is an exit. Wear polka dots this week.

Do: Cheerleading | Don’t: Spread

Feb. 19 – March 20

Oh, Pisces. It happened again. You knew it was coming, and now that it’s here, you aren’t so afraid. Channel your bravery, and you will find a solution. Victory is yours.

Do: Mop | Don’t: String

March 21 – April 19

Your reflection is shining bright. It’s distracting, but don’t look into the light. Keep your head down. You never know when you’ll find a lucky penny.

Do: Carmel corn| Don’t: Cinema

April 20 – May 20

It’s appealing to be first in line, but you’ve already done that. Mix it up and make your way in the background. There’s lots to be explored. Follow your instincts, and you will be satisfied.

Do: Lunch rush | Don’t: Switch

May 21 – June 20

You made your decision and now you have to face the music. This growth will be so fruitful. Let your tree ripen. Patience is key, Gemini.

Do: Delivery | Don’t: Kale

June 21 – July 22

How often do you hum to yourself? Increase that number by 10. You will benefit from your lovely tunes. So will others around you.

Do: Compartmentalize | Don’t: Shuffle

July 23 – Aug. 22

There is something weighing on you. The more time passes, the heavier it gets. Please don’t let it eat at you. You can carry it, and soon it will be far away.

Do: Outings | Don’t: Follow the rules

Aug. 23 – Sept. 22

Idle thumbs are the devil’s playground. Do you believe in the devil? Either way, you should probably get back to work. But, I didn’t need to tell you that…

Do: Essential oils | Don’t: Stress

Sept. 23 – Oct. 22

You are royal this week. Make sure you show your strut, but leave your crown at home. People are easily jealous of you, so remember to stay humble.

Do: Notes | Don’t: Get numbers

Oct. 23 – Nov. 21

This is the time to explore. Get out of town. Leave your homework at the door, and buy a plane ticket. This is your sign. Do: Young adult novels | Don’t: Textbooks

Nov. 22 – Dec. 21 Mistakes are meant to be made. When you do it, it’s cool. Aren’t you lucky? With all the support in the air, you should feel free to be you.

Do: Pink | Don’t: Purple

Dec. 22 – Jan. 19

There isn’t a star in the sky that works harder than you. But even the stars go to sleep. Capricorn, go to bed.

Do: Cats | Don’t: Jump

Mount Holyoke News

Mount

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

News Bryn Healy ’24 & Tara Monastesse ’25

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

Opinion Jahnavi Pradeep ’23

Books Olivia Wilson ’24

Global Cynthia Akanaga ’25

Sports Emily Tarinelli ’25

Executive Board

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

Features Jesse Hausknecht-Brown ’25

Science & Environmental Catelyn Fitzgerald ’23 & Shira Sadeh ’25

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, Aditi Menon ’25 & 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.

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Downey

to represent US in world ultimate frisbee, cont’d

u CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

not cheating,” Downey said. “I feel like I value that kind of connection of trying to effectively communicate with people.” This was not the first time that Downey attempted to qualify for the world team. In 2019, she was invited to the under-20 tryouts.

“I was really invested,” Downey said. “I would throw every day and I was like, ‘Oh my god, this is a great opportunity.”

But in the middle of the tryouts, Downey broke their arm.

“It was such a big bummer,” Downey said.

Going into the U24 tryouts, which were hosted in Atlanta, Georgia, in early November 2022, Downey said that her biggest goal was to just have fun.

“I kind of had that mentality of [thinking it] was not going to be great because of how bad the last tryouts were. So my goal was to just giggle and try to play my best. And I honestly felt like I didn’t play my best, too, which was kind of funny,” Downey said.

The results of the tryouts arrived in mid-December, and Downey recalled the moment she found out

that she made the team with laughter.

“It was pretty funny,” they said. “I was on the toilet. I was reading my email after cleaning out the art studio [when] it was winding down for the semester. And I had a little dance party and ran around afterwards to celebrate.”

According to an MHC This Week email sent to the Mount Holyoke community on Jan. 25, Downey is one of 24 players who claimed a spot on the U24 team out of the 200 athletes who tried out. Hosted by the World Flying Disc Federation, the games will take place between July 1 and 8, 2023. Downey will meet with the U.S. team for one weekend in the spring and will undergo an intensive training session during the week before the world championship. Until then, it is up to her to train independently.

With Daisy Chain and their involvement on Boston Slow, a mixed club team based in the Boston area, that should not be a problem for Downey.

“Working hard for the people that I care about [motivates me],” Downey said. “It’s also the little things too, just like showing up to practice, doing silly things … I think just finding time with each other is super awesome.”

Event Highlights

Saturday, Feb. 11

Silly, Chilly, Willy Winter Hike

Join Jocelyn, Caroline and Maddy this Saturday for a chilly hike up Goat’s Peak in Mount Tom State Reservation. Bring a joke with you and we can enjoy the view and a laugh from the fire tower at the top. We will be leaving campus at 2 p.m. and returning no later than 5 p.m. This is a 1.5-mile loop with a 300-foot elevation change. Please wear sturdy shoes like sneakers or hiking boots and bring lots of layers for this cold day. Extra layers can be rented from the MHOC office.

Blanchard Hall

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Crafternoon: DIY Affirmation Cards

Show yourself some self-love this Valentine’s Day with some DIY affirmation cards! A “Be Well Break” program, sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement.

Blanchard Hall

2:00-5:00 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Superbowl Watch Party

It’s game day! Come watch the Superbowl on the big screen with your friends. Game day snacks will be provided. A “Be Well Break” program, sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement.

Blanchard Hall - Great Room 6:30-10:30 p.m.