Cancel culture squashes real conversations

Cancel culture squashes real conversations

As I engage in class discussions, I feel like I am in the film “Groundhog Day,” hearing the same watered-down conversations on political issues over and over again. The heedless repetition of political phrases is a byproduct of cancel culture.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, cancel culture is “the practice or tendency of engaging in mass canceling as a way of expressing disapproval and exerting social pressure.” Cancel culture creates a hierarchy of opinions where certain opinions are given ascendancy over others. It encourages students who believe in the superiority of mainstream opinions to cancel those who disagree, preventing any chance to have educational moments and empathy within political discourse.

Foreign language media needs to be a staple of the film industry

Foreign films have had a hard time escaping American art houses. Acclaimed Italian moviemaker Federico Fellini may have won the most directorial academy awards, but his works never made it to mainstream American audiences. This has earned Americans a reputation of being disinterested in foreign content, but this is not the whole truth. Major studios have often bought the rights to popular international films, but withhold them from large audiences, opting instead for remakes.

Antisemitism on campus is nothing new; allies must speak up for Jewish students

Antisemitism on campus is nothing new; allies must speak up for Jewish students

Content warning: this article discusses antisemitism and the Holocaust.

On Oct. 6, 2021, a Nazi swastika was found in the third floor bathroom of 1837 Hall. As a Jewish student at Mount Holyoke College, I was hurt, but not shocked.

Staff Editorial: condemning antisemitism on our campus 

Dear Mount Holyoke community,

Today, we reach out in solidarity with our Jewish peers and condemn the horrific incident that took place the night of Oct. 6 in 1837 Hall. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., a Nazi swastika was found drawn in the third floor single-user bathroom in the residence hall. The incident was then reported to the Jewish Student Union, Public Safety and Services and the College’s bias reporting website.

Staff Editorial: Statement on racist emails & incidents at UMass

Dear Mount Holyoke community,

In the second week of September, Black student organizations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst started receiving racist emails. This has since developed into an ongoing onslaught of bigotry and racist language. On Sept. 17, an email was sent to Black student organizations at UMass by a group called the UMass Coalition for a Better Society.

UMass Theta Chi incident calls college Greek life into question

UMass Theta Chi incident calls college Greek life into question

Content warning: this article discusses rape and drugging.

While higher education seems to have student safety in mind as we readjust to the “new normal” pandemic world, the sexual assault case at the Theta Chi chapter at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Sept. 18 compels us to question if these institutions are really monitoring student welfare.

Despite growing popularity, progressive candidates don’t win

Despite growing popularity, progressive candidates don’t win

Medicare for all! Taxing the rich! Green New Deal! Student debt relief! These values are among those heard in the rallying cries of progressive politicians and voters in the 2020 election cycle. However, candidates who espouse these values are vastly underperforming on the national stage.

Can Kathy Hochul bring welcome change to the NY state government?

Can Kathy Hochul bring welcome change to the NY state government?

On Aug. 24, 2021, Democrat Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the Governor of New York, the first woman to hold the position. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation after a string of sexual assault allegations should have been shocking — he was so adored in 2020 that his fans were dubbed “Cuomosexuals.” To many, though, this was just another name in a long list; men in power taking advantage of their young, often female, subordinates is a tale as old as time.