Michala Sawyer

Jewish students claim the school could provide more during Passover

BY MICHALA SAWYER ’17

Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is an eight-day celebration of the freedom from slavery of the Israelites in Egypt. It is observed by keeping kosher, avoiding anything leavened and participating in the seder meals, which include four cups of wine, matzah, bitter herbs and retelling the Exodus narrative. Eating on campus can potentially be difficult for Jewish students observing Passover. To avoid leaven, or chametz in Hebrew, students have to avoid pasta, bread, cake, cookies, cereal, pizza and most alcoholic beverages, which make up some essential meals for college students.

Past presidential election hype at Mount Holyoke College

BY MICHALA SAWYER '17

On Oct. 7, 1960, Mount Holyoke News published the results for the campus mock election. Nixon won by a two-to-one margin over Kennedy and reflected the actual voting results later published in November of that year. The students overwhelmingly favored Nixon over Kennedy, with 92 percent of the student body participating in the vote. The faculty “were the only group voting … [that gave] a majority of the votes to Kennedy."

Six ways for college students to help battle homesickness

BY MICHALA SAWYER '17

It’s natural to feel homesick when you’re away from the place and the people who have always made you feel safe. Making and adjusting to a new routine, struggling to find time to relax and de-stress, having to always make the effort to seem on top of your workload while feeling like you’re drowning in midterm papers, class readings and lab reports — all of this can contribute to a deep yearning to go back home.

Family & Friends weekend: history at a glance

Family & Friends weekend: history at a glance

BY MICHALA SAWYER ’17

Inviting families into the Mount Holyoke bubble has only been a relatively recent tradition in the history of the College. The first Parents’ Day was in 1951. However, from 1958-1973, only students’ fathers were invited to visit their children and take part in an annual Father-Daughter dance. The weekend became open to all parents in 1974.

Blanchard dirt pile becomes source of humor and contempt

Blanchard dirt pile becomes source of humor and contempt

BY MICHALA SAWYER '17 

Towering over the construction site behind Blanchard Campus Center is the infamous dirt pile. When it still stood,  the bright green 2017 flag at the peak had given the student body fodder for jokes and had been featured on multiple social media accounts, including the Mount Holyoke Instagram. 

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