Mount Holyoke News AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1917 TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021
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Mead Hall struck by lightning; Will likely be closed fall 2021 BY DECLAN LANGTON ’22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mead Hall was struck by lightning on Saturday, July 17. According to an email sent to the Mount Holyoke community by the Office of Communications, Mount Holyoke Public Safety and the South Hadley fire department were on the scene at just after the event, around 6 p.m. EDT. The building was unoccupied at the time of the lightning strike and the College reported no injuries. Reportedly, there was a fire on the top floor of the building. In a letter addressed to the Mount Holyoke community, College president Sonya Stephens discussed the fire and subsequent extensive damage to the building. . According to Stephens, the lightning struck the southwest side of Mead Hall’s fourth floor, resulting in a fire in the attic. The sprinkler system “operated as designed,” she said, and the fire was contained by South Hadley’s Fire District No. 2 with assistance from Fire District No. 1 and several units from nearby towns. Stephen’s letter also addressed the damage done to the building. “While the damage from the fire appears to be limited to a relatively small section of the roof space, there is extensive water damage to a significant part of the building,” she wrote. “It is
Photos courtesy of Emily Jones ’23 Mead Hall, built in 1901, was struck by lightning on July 17, causing a fire on the fourth floor of the building.
with great regret that I write to say that Mead Hall will be closed for the near future.” Stephens specified that Mead Hall will likely remain unoccupied for the fall 2021 semester. “All students who have been assigned rooms in Mead Hall this fall will be offered alternative housing,” the email said. There are more than 140
students whose housing assignments have been impacted. Additionally, the College is working to “ensure that the Mosaic and Mary Woolley Living Learning Communities, which are based in Mead, are accommodated in any new arrangement.” Students whose belongings are stored in Mead from spring 2020 will receive communication from the College
after the status of their belongings is evaluated. Stephens expressed gratitude for the first responders who were able to contain the fire and preserve the building. “While it was deeply distressing today to see one of our cherished buildings so badly damaged, I was heartened by the prospect of its full restoration, thanks in large part to the rapid and effective response of our local firefighters, and to the efforts already undertaken by our colleagues in Facilities Management,” Stephens said. “We are deeply grateful for their rapid response in the face of this serious event and for their work to save this historic and deeply loved campus landmark.” This is not the first fire to occur on the Mount Holyoke campus. The famed and destructive fire of September 27, 1896 burned down the original seminary building. During this time, Elizabeth Storrs Mead was the president of the College. Mead Hall, named in her honor, was later built in 1901. Stephens concluded, “While the temporary closing of the building certainly creates unforeseen challenges and deep disappointment, we are confident that Mead Hall will again be a backdrop for future memories and connections.” The Mount Holyoke News will be following this emerging story.
College enacts vaccination mandate for community members BY DECLAN LANGTON ’22 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all faculty, staff and students at Mount Holyoke College as of July 8, 2021. This mandate extends to those who work with or regularly interact with the College and its campus, according to the Mount Holyoke College web page “Opening the Gates.” International students who are unable to receive a vaccination before returning to campus will “receive assistance from health services to do so when they ar-
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rive,” the website reads. According to the website, incoming students were required to submit COVID-19 vaccination documentation to Health Services by July 1, 2021. Returning students have until August 1 to submit theirs and all employees have until August 13. The College will “accept all vaccinations that have received Emergency Use Authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization,” according to the website. In accordance with new Massachusetts and CDC guidelines, “students
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and employees who have documented their vaccinated status will no longer be required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing indoors,” the website reads. However, the College clarified that while students can be unmasked in common spaces, eating is still not allowed in the residence hall common rooms. Additionally, Kendall Sports & Dance Complex, Williston Library and the Dining Commons will only be accessible to employees once their vaccination documentation has been submitted. In both bathrooms and elevators, occupancy limits have been
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eliminated as of July 6. The College further clarified these points in an email from Residential Life to students currently residing on campus, addressing proper use of campus common spaces. Residential Life defines a common space as “any space outside of your personal room where people can gather,” including “computer rooms, kitchenettes, TV rooms, Golden Pears, bathrooms, places where furniture is placed and hallways.” In the email, Residential Life also CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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