Melanie Duronio

Madelynn Hardtke ’24 competes in Miss Massachusetts, serves as Miss Pioneer Valley: “It had always been a dream of mine”

Madelynn Hardtke ’24 competes in Miss Massachusetts, serves as Miss Pioneer Valley: “It had always been a dream of mine”

It began like any other afternoon for Madelynn Hardtke ’24. In 2022, she was scrolling through Instagram until a particular post caught her eye: an advertisement for the Miss Western Massachusetts organization. She thought of her unused high school prom dress, left over from the pandemic, and her memories of watching Miss America as a child and being “a really big fan.” She was immediately drawn in. 

Little did Hardtke know, she would go on to win the title of Miss East Longmeadow the following year, and the title of Miss Pioneer Valley this January. Now, as of June 2024, she can also say she was a contestant for Miss Massachusetts, a preliminary to the Miss America competition. 

President Danielle R. Holley’s visit to Starbucks HQ ignites questions about her stance on Israel

President Danielle R. Holley’s visit to Starbucks HQ ignites questions about her stance on Israel

Around 1 p.m. on Feb. 9, President Danielle Holley posted three Instagram stories documenting a visit to the Starbucks Headquarters with Mount Holyoke alumni employed at the corporation.

In light of the ongoing Starbucks boycotts as part of the pro-Palestine movement, Mount Holyoke students took to various social media platforms to criticize President Holley’s posts.

Newly founded Queer Action Collective advocates for queer liberation

Newly founded Queer Action Collective advocates for queer liberation

Mount Holyoke College’s newly formed Queer Action Collective is a student group “advocating for queer [and trans] liberation on campus, statewide and nationally,” as stated in the @queeractioncollective Instagram bio. The organization aims to create a space on campus “where students could turn to if they felt like there was a queer and trans issue that needed attention from a collective that wasn’t MHC’s administration,” Vice Chair Aoife Paul Healy ’26 emphasized in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “The extension of ‘on campus, statewide and nationally’ lets us approach any issue brought to us, no matter how big or small.”

Mount Holyoke alum overturns Tennessee drag ban, holds systems accountable “one person, one case at a time”

Mount Holyoke alum overturns Tennessee drag ban, holds systems accountable “one person, one case at a time”

When the state of Tennessee introduced legislation to ban drag and “adult cabaret performances” last March, Mount Holyoke College alumna Melissa Stewart FP ’19 knew she needed to stop the ban. Stewart and her co-counsel at Donati Law filed a temporary restraining order against the state of Tennessee, preventing the law from taking effect until midnight of June 2, 2023. 

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum reflects on year as president, Unity Center in her name

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum reflects on year as president, Unity Center in her name

Now that the 2023 school year has ended, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s year as Interim President is complete. After a long career at Mount Holyoke College, she will assist president-elect Danielle R. Holley’s transition this July before returning to Atlanta “to retire again.” 

In honor of Dr. Tatum’s service to Mount Holyoke, the Board of Trustees dedicated the Blanchard Hall Unity Center to her during a ceremony on May 5. She recalls it being “a delightful surprise!”

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Odyssey Bookshop hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder

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Odyssey Bookshop hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder visited the Odyssey Bookshop on April 18 to speak on his newest book “Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People,” published in Jan. 2023 by Random House. The novel details Dr. O’Connell’s life’s work: creating a healthcare program for the homeless community in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Ayu Suryawan '23 and Olive Rowell '24 awarded prizes at the annual Five College Film Festival

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Ayu Suryawan '23 and Olive Rowell '24 awarded prizes at the annual Five College Film Festival

The Five College Film Festival returned for the first time in person since 2019, featuring screenings of films made by students and recent graduates of the Five Colleges on April 1, 2023, at Amherst College. An awards ceremony was subsequently held, in which two Mount Holyoke students were awarded prizes. Ayu Suryawan ’23 won Best Documentary Prize for their film “Loving, Moving Boy” and Olive Rowell ’24 won Best in College for Mount Holyoke with their film “Photo Album.”

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Glascock contestant Thomas Bosworth discusses nature and poetry

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Glascock contestant Thomas Bosworth discusses nature and poetry

Thomas Bosworth, a senior at Dartmouth College, always knew that he wanted to be a writer. He never expected to become a poet, but after taking a creative writing class he “was bitten by the [poetry] bug and couldn’t stop” discovering new passions and interests through his craft. Now, his work has made him a contestant in the 100th annual Glascock Intercollegiate Poetry Competition.

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Mount Holyoke becomes Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center, plans to create racial healing opportunities

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Mount Holyoke was recently selected as a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center due to its demonstrated commitment to anti-racist work and addressing systemic racism in the community. This will allow the DEI Committee to develop a long-term vision to create racial healing opportunities on campus, which includes restorative justice, collaborating with nearby communities and student feedback. 

Social Justice Doula Lutze Segu encourages students' politics to transform them at virtual event 'Be a Revolutionary Like Coretta'

Social Justice Doula Lutze Segu encourages students' politics to transform them at virtual event 'Be a Revolutionary Like Coretta'

Throughout her life, Coretta Scott King wholeheartedly devoted herself to her politics. As an activist, King supported many social issues including the civil rights, feminist and queer rights movements. Understanding the interconnected nature of oppression, she believed that it was important to support and work alongside all minority groups in order to reach equality. She continued to choose self-love and kindness while fighting fiercely for an equal world for all. 

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Elected Class of 2026 Board plans for first year, takes on responsibilities

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Elected Class of 2026 Board plans for first year, takes on responsibilities

On Friday, Oct. 21, the results of the Class of 2026 Board election were announced. The newly formed team has already adopted their new roles and aims to create a sense of community and spirit among their first-year peers. The student government roles include president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, senator and two social chairs.

Student group Gender + hopes to create safe space for trans students

Student group Gender + hopes to create safe space for trans students

Although there are several resources and spaces available on campus for transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students, none have previously been led by students themselves. Gender +, an organization reinstated this year, aims to change this by creating a safe space for trans students to gather and meet one another.

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