Mount Holyoke hosts triennial Black Alumnae Conference

Mount Holyoke hosts triennial Black Alumnae Conference

BY ANNAMARIE WIRE ’22

Over the weekend, Black Mount Holyoke alumnae from across the country and around the world returned to campus to participate in the Alumnae Association’s 15th triennial Black Alumnae Conference. This conference was of special importance this year, as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Association for Pan-African Unity (APAU), formerly the Afro-American Society, and of the founding of the Betty Shabazz Cultural Center. It was also the first-ever Black Alumnae Conference live-streamed internationally to countries in Africa and the Caribbean, as well as in the U.S.

Title IX and you

BY SAEE CHITALE ’22

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972 that states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Chop, chop! Students on MoHo’s famous haircut

Chop, chop! Students on MoHo’s famous haircut

BY MADELINE FITZGERALD ’21

The snipping of scissors and a pile of hair on a dorm room floor — this is the start of a Mount Holyoke tradition. It’s not one listed on the College’s Wikipedia page, nor is it mentioned on campus tours. And it is certainly not one that every student will participate in. But for many students, the MoHo Chop is as much a part of their Mount Holyoke experience as Mountain Day or M&Cs.

Stephens responds to criticisms and controversy

Stephens responds to criticisms and controversy

BY MADELINE FITZGERALD ’21

Any mention of the name Sonya Stephens is sure to stir up a heated conversation. In student Facebook groups, memes and jokes criticizing her presidency abound. And in real life, she had a sparsely attended inauguration, where the few audience members were predominantly guests from other colleges. While Stephens’ personal conduct plays a major role in this controversy, the College and indeed the nation at large is experiencing a cultural upheaval. Mount Holyoke has become a microcosm for major debates involving the diversity of race, politics and gender.

Sonya’s story: From working-class roots to Cambridge University

Sonya’s story: From working-class roots to Cambridge University

BY MADELINE FITZGERALD ’21

This is the first in a two-part series on Sonya Stephens, Mount Holyoke’s newly appointed 19th president.

Warm. Kind. Funny. Aloof. Deceptive. Racist. In her three-year tenure as acting president of Mount Holyoke, a myriad of descriptors have been thrown at Sonya Stephens. She is alternatively depicted as a kindhearted academic striving for diversity and a closed-off fundraiser known among students for her perceived insensitivity. The Board of Trustees appointed her to the presidency with “unanimous enthusiasm” but her inauguration was sparsely attended, with fewer than 50 students present.

New chess club hopes to empower students

New chess club hopes to empower students

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

Mount Holyoke’s first chess club meeting in 22 years took place on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Linh Nguyen ’21, Austen Borg ’20 and Annegail Moreland ’20 are co-founders of the new Mount Holyoke chess club (MHCC), which was created due to several students’ collective interest. The meeting, which took place in Blanchard Hall’s Great Room, focused on the goals and vision for the club.

First-year wins international award for anti-bullying work

First-year wins international award for anti-bullying work

BY LILY REAVIS ’21

Growing up in Miami, Florida, Emily Wolman ’22 experienced verbal and emotional bullying online and in-person. In response, she founded an anti-bullying initiative called Students That Offer Peace (STOP). The club grabbed the attention of students and faculty and eventually won Wolman the Posse Scholarship and the Princess Diana Award.

Wait ­­­­— so what happens when Baby gets here in the fall? New students reflect on their first experiences of MHC traditions

Wait ­­­­— so what happens when Baby gets here in the fall? New students reflect on their first experiences of MHC traditions

Traditions like Convocation are a defining aspect of the Mount Holyoke experience. They also mark the beginning of a journey at the College for many students, including first-years. For prospective students, Mount Holyoke’s traditions are often a deciding factor for choosing the College.

Community “rattled” regarding new alcohol service on campus

Community “rattled” regarding new alcohol service on campus

BY LILY REAVIS ’21 

The first-ever legal sale of alcohol on the Mount Holyoke campus took place on Monday, Sept. 3. The new Cochary Pub & Kitchen in Blanchard Hall serves a collection of local beers and wines, all of which are available to any community members of legal drinking age.

The history behind Convocation

The history behind Convocation

BY LILY REAVIS ‘21

Though some archive records claim that Convocation has taken place annually since 1837, there are no formal accounts of any such event until 1931. If there was a tradition before then, it was likely very different in style. The official establishment of Convocation in 1931 marked a turning point for Mount Holyoke College. Today, Mount Holyoke College’s Convocation is a loud, vibrant celebration of the school’s community, but it wasn’t always that way; the tradition was originally far more formal and focused on individual student awards. 

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Nine things I learned my sophomore year

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Nine things I learned my sophomore year

BY MIA PENNEKAMP ’20 

1. One day you will finally get an A from the professor who has never given you anything but Bs. 


2. Don’t forget to keep up with your oldest friends. The ones who know you cold and ugly and like family. If you do forget, one of them will call you out for it on Easter in a coffee shop. She will sit across from you, wearing a leather jacket and a yellow scarf, and you’ll both tear up. 

Getting married at Mount Holyoke

Getting married at Mount Holyoke

BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21

For members of the Mount Holyoke community, many of life’s most important moments happen on campus, from their first convocation to commencement, with years of beloved traditions in between. For some, this connection extends beyond their final walk through the amphitheater. In addition to more well-known events held in Abbey Chapel and the Willits-Hallowell Conference Center, people can also use these venues for their weddings. Many Mount Holyoke graduates chose to do just that. 

UP THE HILL: HOW CLINTON’S TOP ADVISOR IS MOVING ON FROM THE 2016 ELECTION

UP THE HILL: HOW CLINTON’S TOP ADVISOR IS MOVING ON FROM THE 2016 ELECTION

BY  LINDSEY MCGINNIS ’18

Elle magazine described her as a key member of Hillary Clinton’s “Girl Squad.” To Fortune.com readers, she was “the wonk shaping Hillary Clinton’s plans for the country.” POLITICO named her one of the top 50 “thinkers, doers and visionaries” transforming American politics in 2016.

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