A tenuous ceasefire deal goes into effect
Letters to Mohome
Letters to MoHome is a new column started by MHN’s Global editors to spotlight the journeys of Mount Holyoke College students who are currently studying abroad. In submissions styled as diary entries, students can share their experiences, hopes and fears with the Mount Holyoke community back home no matter what continent they’re on. To submit an entry, students currently abroad can use the Google Form at https://forms.gle/ST3Q9PviecxAWCvo6.
What to expect from Trump’s second term: immigration, tariffs and foreign policy
From Mahsa Amini to Ahou Daryaei: the women’s protests in Iran
A woman paces down the streets of Tehran, Iran’s capital, on Nov. 2, 2024, arms crossed, in the footage published by the Guardian. Dressed only in a purple bra and striped white and pink underwear, she’s both a rare spot of color in a sea of black and white, as well as an hourglass rapidly running out. She gazes up at the sky and breathes out: She knows what’s coming, but she doesn’t run. She merely sits down on the wide railing of a nearby staircase, hands folded in her lap, and waits.
Updated F-1 visa policy manual impacts international students and study abroad programs
Last August, there was a new update in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy manual on the five-month policy for F-1 visas. This would restrict F-1 visa holders from spending more than five months outside the U.S. — including for academic programs — if they wish to maintain their visa status. However, it is currently ambiguous whether the new manual update is accurate or misleading, causing confusion among many institutions and international students.
Flyover Zone technology allows users to “travel back in time” and experience ancient Rome
The history behind Cuba’s blackout
Across the United States last month, people bore witness to the devastating effects of Hurricane Milton, from the flooding of Asheville, North Carolina to the destructive storm that hit Florida in the first few weeks of October. But the place hit the hardest may have been an island almost the size of Florida with almost half as many people just 90 miles from Key West: Cuba.
Syracuse Professor Michael Ebner offers pre-election insights on Italian fascism
Canadian government expels six Indian diplomats after investigation
Canadian and Indian diplomatic relations are at an impasse. On Oct. 14, 2024, the Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, according to the Associated Press. This came after an investigation into the June 2023 killing of a Sikh activist that led to the uncovering of evidence of other possible crimes committed by agents of the Indian government. The Indian government has denied the accusations and has expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the high commissioner.
International students face visa uncertainty in upcoming election
As the 2024 presidential election draws near, the issues of immigration and travel have once again come into the national spotlight. Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has often taken hardline stances on immigration, rhetoric that in the past, has sometimes extended to his policies surrounding student visas.
Investigation of fraud and questions surrounding ownership arise at The Jewish Chronicle
Columnists Jonathan Freedland, Hadley Freeman and David Aaronovitch have recently broken relations with the United Kingdom’s Jewish Chronicle, the world's oldest Jewish newspaper, after the publication faced accusations of false reporting. According to The Forward, the most prominent Jewish newspaper in the United States, the resignations are due to allegations that some of the paper’s stories about the Israel-Hamas war were fabricated to fall in line with comments made by Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mount Holyoke students return from studying abroad in Japan
On Oct. 1, four Mount Holyoke College students who recently returned from studying abroad gathered in Ciruti 109 to present their experiences at the Japan Study Abroad Information Session. While the experience of studying abroad isn’t an uncommon one at the College — over 40% of students will have studied abroad by the time they cross the stage at Commencement — only seven of the over 150 study abroad programs available to Mount Holyoke College students are located in Japan. Mount Holyoke News interviewed two of the students who presented to understand their experiences, stories and takeaways from studying in Japan.
How Thailand is changing the game for queer rights
Thousands of people took to the streets in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 1, 2024, decked out in colorful makeup, brandishing rainbow flags and cheering their support for pride. But something was different this year. The crowd of activists was waiting with bated breath for an announcement over a quarter-century in the making that could change their lives: same-sex marriage would finally be legalized in their country. It would take four more months, until the end of September, when Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn gave his assent and made it official.
Study Away Fair shows MHC students their opportunities for travel
For many students at Mount Holyoke College, fall is the time to think about studying abroad. To that end, the Study Away Fair took place on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 4-6 p.m. in Chapin Auditorium. The fair is held annually by the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives on the third Tuesday of September. Organizers from programs all over the world were in attendance to answer questions and give out information to prospective students. A projector at the back of the auditorium was also set up to display general information.
Mount Holyoke screens Baba Hillman’s film, ‘Kitâb al-Isfâr: Book of the Journey
It was movie night in Gamble Auditorium on Sept. 12, where the Religion, French, Art Studio and Film Media Theater departments held a joint screening of Baba Hillman’s film “Kitâb al-Isfâr: Book of the Journey.” Hillman, who is a Five College professor emerita of film and video at Hampshire College, was present for the screening and later had a discussion with Elliot Montague, assistant professor of film production in the FMT department, who is also her former student. The film recounts Hillman’s experience after surviving a car crash in the Andalusian mountains just outside of Malaga, and how her experiences in the immediate aftermath segued into her travels and learning experiences. Professor Montague said on bringing the film to Mt. Holyoke “As a former Five College Professor who taught film production in the consortium for over 20 years, she had taught at every college except Mount Holyoke. She has however taught several Mt. Holyoke students in the past through her Paris filmmaking course, as well as at Hampshire. We thought this would be a great opportunity for her to show her recent work here and connect with our students.”
Lower house of the Mexican legislature passes judicial reform plan
In Mexico, judges may soon be chosen by ballot. On Sept. 4, the lower house of Mexico’s Congress passed a proposal that would redesign the entire judiciary of Mexico, according to the New York Times. The plan would allow almost all of the country’s judges — more than 7,000 — to be elected by voters, be they at the federal, state or local level. Currently, the Mexican president appoints judges by virtue of their qualifications and training.
The I word: how immigration policy is impacting elections in 2024
The stars have aligned in 2024: around half of the global population is living in a country going through an election cycle, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Immigration and migration policy have been key issues throughout several campaigns across the globe. In this article, Mount Holyoke News will explore how individual countries and their leaders are navigating the topic of immigration politically during their election cycles.
What to know about Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s new reformist president
Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian defeated ultraconservative Saeed Jalili in a runoff on July 5, 2024, winning Iran’s presidential election, according to AP News. The win comes at a time when Iran has received significant international attention due to its strict religious domestic policy and anti-Israel foreign policy. This election’s result may signify a shift in politics for Iran.
“The forgotten tragedy:” Sudan’s civil war leads to humanitarian crisis, affecting millions
For over a year, the civil war in Sudan has terrorized civilians and led to an expanding humanitarian crisis affecting the entire nation.
On April 15, 2023, fighting escalated between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces.This has caused more than 8.6 million people in Sudan to be displaced internally and externally as refugees, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Essential services are also under attack, leaving communities without healthcare options.