BY MEI FUJIMORI-HENDERSON ’22
“Oh my God, you guys look so great!”
Peals of laughter erupted from my four shirtless friends as they posed with their naked backs to the camera, fronts facing the beautiful landscape of the valley below. I couldn’t help but smile as they continued to pose in different angles, careful not to flash the camera.
BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20
This November, Democrats have the chance to vote out the Republican majority in Congress. For many liberals, this is an important opportunity to elect officials who will overturn many of the policies that Republican lawmakers have passed and replace them with their own more progressive legislation. An unrepresented voice in these elections will be inmates and former inmates, many of whom are affected by these very policies.
BY EMILY ROLES-FOTSO ’21
Few film genres have as much cultural significance and power as horror. That is why it’s rare to find someone who feels ambivalent towards the genre; most people are either enthusiastic fans or vehement opponents. Some are afraid, some can’t stomach the violence and disturbing imagery that characterize the genre, but others simply don’t take it seriously, dismissing horror as shallow or sensational. What they fail to see is that horror movies speak to the most fundamental fears of humanity, and often have deep roots in both pop culture and the political sphere.
BY MADDY RITTER ’20
Jewish people make up about 2 percent of the U.S. population. Though a tiny minority of the overall United States, we typically exist in clusters in and around cities, both for our survival and for a sense of community. One of these clusters is Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — this is where I was raised as a secular Jew.
BY NADIA BABAR '19
In the three years I’ve attended Mount Holyoke, I’ve encountered more than one scandal involving a professor exhibiting, to put it lightly, questionable behavior. And each time, I’ve encountered the same reasoning for why the professor will face no accountability for their actions: “Well, they’ve got tenure.”
BY ZOË BARNSTONE-CLARK ’19
The recent allegations against a current Mount Holyoke professor by alumna Ruth D’Eredita ’84 sparked discussion at the executive board meeting of Mount Holyoke’s Amnesty International Chapter on Oct. 14. We chose to email the administration expressing concerns about their actions and requested they facilitate an open dialogue with students. We also contacted D’Eredita to voice our support and informed her of our intent to meet with the administration, asking if there was any specific action we could take on her behalf.
BY SRISHTI MUKHERJEE ’21
The end of 2017 saw the beginning of the #MeToo movement in Hollywood. The following year saw the movement extend to parts of the world where many people considered it little more than a faraway fantasy. In India, home of the world’s largest film industry, the effects of #MeToo have slowly begun to unfold. The last few days have brought a severe case of déjà vu for most Indians, as daily revelations of famous mens’ infamous pasts have come to light.
BY NINA LARBI ’22
Between studying for upcoming midterms and writing uninspiring papers, I spent my fall break watching MTV’s “Daria.” Since the show’s end in 2002, the character has been turned into an icon of absolute apathy, which is odd because the series clearly attempted to do more than exhibit her emotionlessness. Although Daria is presented as somewhat apathetic, with an “I’m surrounded by idiots” sort of mentality, she works to address the issues she sees in a constructive manner. If your animated hero does not recommend misanthropy, why should you?
BY MIMI HUCKINS ’21
Mount Holyoke’s students are supposed to abide by the Honor Code, which should allow them to trust their peers. This doesn’t mean their peers are always trustworthy. Among the recent rain spell, students’ umbrellas have been stolen left and right. Seemingly, the only solution is to post in a Facebook group and pray that someone may find or return it.
BY SRISHTI MUKHERJEE ’21
People both in the U.S. and abroad fixated on their TV screens as the chilling testimonials of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh aired on Thursday, Sept. 27. This hearing is one of the main deciding factors in whether an alleged perpetrator of sexual violence will earn a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.
BY MIMI HUCKINS ’21
When I walk into the new Grab ’n Go in Blanchard, there are plenty of items for purchase besides the full meal included with my meal plan. But what catches my eye is a tiny box of tampons for almost $5. I would think a historically women’s college would be progressive enough to provide pads and tampons, a necessity for many students on campus, for free.
BY SRISHTI MUKHERJEE ’21
This week has been an important one for Indians, both at Mount Holyoke and across the world, thanks to India’s legalization of gay sex. As India reels from the acts of intolerance performed in the name of religion, caste and gender within the country, the warm light of forbearance has embraced us at a time when we least expected it. On Sept. 6, the Supreme Court of India rolled back the colonial-era law Section 377 (a law that criminalized “unnatural” sex between men or women, which could lead to a maximum sentence of life in prison), thereby allowing 18 percent of the world’s LGBTQ+ population a chance to reclaim their humanity.
BY MIMI HUCKINS ’21
When arriving at Mount Holyoke my first year, I finally felt truly independent. It was a time for me to have more responsibility and be more confident in my own abilities. I have always been taught the importance of advocating for myself, but I have come to realize that not everyone has this experience.
BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21
The day before my friend and I planned to audition for a cappella, we decided to rehearse together. We went to Pratt to use one of the practice rooms, but when we got there, all of the rooms on the first floor were full. For most students, this would not be a problem because there are plenty of other practice rooms in the basement of the building. But my friend had ankle surgery, leaving him unable to use stairs — the only way to access the basement.
