In a joint announcement on Feb. 21, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security described a new policy proposal from the Biden administration that would deny asylum to those entering the country illegally, as well as those who do not attempt or are unable to seek asylum in the countries they pass through as they migrate to the United States.
On Sunday, Feb. 26, Mount Holyoke College’s Association of Pan-African Unity sponsored the annual Black History Month Gala at Chapin Auditorium with dinner, performances and a conversation with Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum. This event was the culmination of the many events that took place as part of the College’s Black History Month programming, with each week highlighting the theme “_____ and Beauty.”
Schalk began her presentation with the cover of the May 7, 1977, edition of the Black Panther Party’s newspaper, The Black Panther. It read, “handicapped win demands — end HEW occupation.” Schalk explained that cover stories, like this one, are kept for the most important issues at that moment, showing that the Party believed this sit-in to be a critically important issue directly connected to their work.
Before announcing its special guest on Feb. 21, senate began with the usual land acknowledgment. Skipping over E-Board updates, the senate quickly launched into a presentation given by Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum. This presentation, announced earlier that week in the Dean’s Corner, gave information on the state of the College. More specifically, Tatum discussed the College’s recent focus on strategic planning.
The senator for the class of 2024 mentioned concerns about the quality of the dining hall food. This is the second time that this issue has been brought up at the senate in the last two weeks. The senator stated that they had a friend who had found cardboard in their kale, and that, overall, they were concerned about the food standards. Senate leaders said they would, again, look into such concerns. They also stated that they were possibly looking into having Dining Services staff at an upcoming SGA Senate Town Hall.
On Feb.7., at 7 p.m., President Joe Biden went before the United States House of Representatives to deliver the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address. A tradition that dates back to the first American president, George Washington, the State of the Union is given by the President of the United States about the current condition of the nation. The speech usually outlines the accomplishments of their administration, the challenges they face and their hopes for the future.
An Arizona legal group has sued a Texas agency for its approval of the abortion drug mifepristone. Photo courtesy of Jonathon Cutrer via Flickr.
Bryn Healy ’24 and Tara Monastesse ’25
News Editors
An ongoing lawsuit in Texas could potentially restrict nationwide access to the abortifacient drug mifepristone.
Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona conservative Christian legal group, sued the Food and Drug Administration in Amarillo, Texas, in an attempt to undo the agency’s approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, according to the Texas Tribune. The ADF, which defines itself as “the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, parental rights and God’s design for marriage and family” per its website, was also a key player in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ADF is bringing the case to court on behalf of four doctors and four anti-choice organizations, according to the Texas Tribune.
The judge hearing the case is conservative Trump-appointee U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. Senator Dianne Feinstein, according to Ms. Magazine, described Kacsmaryk as “an anti-LGBT activist and culture warrior who does not respect the equal dignity of all people.” The Ms. article asserts that the ADF purposely chose to file suit in Amarillo in order to have Kacsmaryk rule on the case. If Judge Kacsmaryk or a higher court, in this case, the conservative Fifth Court of Appeals, rules against the drug, it could be banned in all 50 states.
The drug in question, mifepristone, was first approved by the FDA in 2000. It is used alongside misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy, according to the National Library of Medicine. It is also used for treating Cushing’s syndrome and uterine leiomyomas. Mifepristone works by blocking the pregnancy hormone progesterone and also stopping the inner uterine lining from preparing for ovum implantation. Additionally, the drug induces menstrual bleeding and further endometrial thickening to end a pregnancy.
“If the judge rules the FDA should ban mifepristone we are having the courts supersede what a science-based agency has decided,” Associate Professor of Politics Cora Fernandez Anderson stated. “For abortion, it will obviously pose challenges, but not insurmountable. One thing that not many people are talking about in the U.S. is that even if mifepristone is banned, misoprostol alone has a high rate of success, around [85 to 89 percent]. This is how most safe but illegal abortions happen in those countries with current bans since mifepristone is not available, and there are studies that show it’s completely safe. The WHO recommends both misoprostol alone or its combination with mifepristone for a safe self-managed abortion. So obviously we do not want mifepristone banned, but it is good to look to countries in which self-managed abortion has been happening with misoprostol alone for a while and know that this is safe and it will still be an option.”
“The side effects of misoprostol, especially at a higher dosage, are kind of intense,” Carrie N. Baker, Sylvia Dlugasch Bauman professor of American studies at Smith College and professor of the study of women and gender, said in an interview with Mount Holyoke News. “That said, people who get pregnant use it all around the world in countries where abortion is illegal, and as long as they are well-supported, it’s very effective, and it works. Obviously, people should have access to the best medication, but we’re in a situation here where anti-abortion people are trying to ban pills. It’s important that people know about misoprostol … it’s a widely available drug, and it’s much cheaper [than mifepristone]. It’s a good alternative in a situation where mifepristone is not available.”
Professor Baker described Massachusetts’s current access to abortion medication as “widespread,” noting that the online directory provided by Plan C, a public health campaign, is a useful resource for obtaining information regarding the availability of abortion access by state.
A regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol now comprises over 50 percent of abortions in the U.S., per the Texas Tribune. “Mifepristone is also used for incomplete miscarriages” according to Fernandez Anderson. The other uses of the drug are being elevated by advocates and legislators because “if there are other uses this would make the ban harder.”
An amicus brief was filed on Feb. 10 by the attorney generals of 22 states, including Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, in opposition to the demands requested by the ADF in the mifepristone lawsuit.
“Each of the amici [s]tates has an important interest in protecting the health, safety and rights of its residents, including an interest in ensuring safe access to essential reproductive health care. The continued availability of mifepristone for medication abortions is critical to safeguarding that interest,” the document’s introduction reads. Fernandez Anderson said it’s hard to know if this will have any impact on the ruling.
A press release by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, part of the coalition that filed the brief, writes that “[t]he availability of mifepristone has been particularly critical in providing access to abortion and miscarriage management in low-income, underserved and rural communities.
The coalition also asserts that revoking the FDA approval of mifepristone would force millions to seek more invasive and expensive procedural abortions, which would disproportionately harm those who already lack access to health care.”
“The Texas Attorney General’s efforts will please more than just anti-abortion advocates,” Assistant Professor of Politics Joanna Wuest explains. “Like many other lawsuits filed by conservative attorneys general, the larger aim is to limit the federal bureaucracy from regulating everything from healthcare to air pollution to finance. This specific case deals with the FDA’s ability to ensure access to safe and necessary medications, but the underlying legal arguments benefit Paxton’s donors in the oil industry who seek to similarly limit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) power over fossil fuel production. Last year, the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. EPA (2022) — which severely hampered the agency’s ability to clamp down on coal emissions — demonstrated how willing the conservative justices are to help Paxton and others realize this anti-regulatory goal.”
Additional time has been allotted to the plaintiffs to allow them to respond to a brief filed by the drug’s manufacturer, according to NPR. When the deadline expires on Feb. 24, Judge Kacsmaryk is expected to either make a decision in the case or schedule a hearing.
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. Photo by Jesse Hausknect-Brown ‘25.
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 resulted 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, 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.
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 six-year 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.”
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. 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 previous 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.
