Photo by Althea Shaw ’27.
By Madelyn Dalley ’27
News Editor
The Mount Holyoke College Student Government Association’s final official senate meeting of the academic year was held on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The senate meeting began with the Mount Holyoke College Land Acknowledgement, making an effort to recognize the Native land that Mount Holyoke and its community occupy. Senators were also encouraged, in tandem with Earth Week, to educate themselves on Native nature passages. Following the Land Acknowledgement, the Student Government Association E-Board presented their weekly updates.
First, senators’ concerns about residence hall vending machines were brought to the attention of the companies in charge of supplying them, and a follow-up will hopefully be forthcoming. Second, the E-Board asked senators to vote to approve budget changes for the next school year. These changes would include an increase in funding for Ways and Means, the Lavender Committee and cultural houses. The results of the voting were not disclosed at the meeting.
Next and last on the E-Board’s agenda, senate elections were held. All three senate positions, those being Chair of Senate, Chair of Halls and Chair of Special Interests, were taking candidates for the 2024-25 school year. Each candidate could present their plans and experience to the senators and explain why they felt they were deserving of the title.
The candidates included Nathania Amadi ’26 for Senate Chair, Cordelia Athas ’26 for Chair of Halls and Natasha Rios ’27 for Chair of Special Interests. After the presentation, senators were asked to vote for their preferred candidates. The results of this election are yet to be determined.
Open floor was then held for senators to advertise upcoming events. Organizations with announcements included the Jewish Student Union, the Mount Holyoke Outing Club, STEMPOC, the club Ice Hockey team, the WMHC student radio organization and the Office of Student Involvement. All upcoming events can be found on Mount Holyoke’s Embark page or through organizations’ social media accounts.
Next, senators were asked to address any concerns they had. To begin, Kit Moore of the Class of 2027 Board thanked those who came to last week’s blood drive, claiming the event was a massive success. She also communicated plans to hold future blood drives in the Great Room in Blanchard Hall.
After this, there was a follow-up about the previously mentioned “eggy-smelling water” in 1837 Hall, with multiple senators remarking that issues with the hall’s filtered water still have not been resolved. Furthermore, another senator, who is also an 1837 resident, stated that the unusual water was not present on the fourth floor of the residence hall, meaning that only certain floors were having issues with their filtered water.
Other concerns were also addressed, including the door to the Dining Commons’ tranquility room squeaking when moved, and the feedback form for last week’s Global Fest.
To conclude this rather short senate meeting, senators were made aware of an end-of-year celebration and senior event occurring on April 30, and that senate election results will be released sometime soon.
Thus, senators were dismissed from the last official senate meeting of the semester.