LITS team searches for solution to Wi-Fi outages
The first reports of campuswide Wi-Fi issues began to trickle in on Jan. 25, one day after the spring semester launched in an entirely virtual format for a two week period. Internet traffic was at an all-time high during the day as students across campus simultaneously accessed their courses via Zoom. Alex Wirth-Cauchon, chief information officer and executive director of LITS, stated in an email to Mount Holyoke News that approximately 4,500 devices were connected to the College’s wireless network during peak hours last week.
Senate Votes To Acquit Trump in Second Impeachment Trial
Former President Donald Trump faced the Senate trial as a part of his second impeachment charges on Tuesday, Feb. 9. Trump, the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, was accused of inciting the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6 and was subsequently impeached by the House of Representatives on Jan. 13. In January, Trump's defense team and Senate Republicans attempted to dismiss the trial, claiming that it would be unconstitutional to impeach a president that has left office. But the Senate voted 56-44 in favor of proceeding with the impeachment trials.
Student Employment Updates
Mount Holyoke students received an update on student employment from the College on Sunday, Nov. 29. The email included information on winter break employment as well as guidelines for the spring semester.
The statement provided a reminder of general remote work policies for student workers. Under federal regulations, students who are living abroad are barred from working for the College. Students who have worked for the College previously and currently live in the U.S., as well as any student currently living in California and Massachusetts, can work remotely. There will be limited in-person work allowed for students living on campus.
Da Silva updates community on College’s Title IX activity
BY EMMA COOPER ’20
In an email sent out to the Mount Holyoke community on Feb. 21, Shannon Da Silva, the College’s Title IX and section 504 Coordinator, provided updates on the steps the College has taken in regards to Title IX and the #MeToo movement since the fall semester of 2018. “As you know, last semester we had many dialogues, forums, rallies and discussions about various events that took place in the fall related to Title IX, sexual misconduct and #MeToo,” the email read. “I am writing to follow up on those events and keep this important conversation going.”
Senate holds town hall with Stephens, Hall, Sanders-McMurtry
BY MELISSA JOHNSON ’20
On Tuesday, Oct. 2, the Blanchard Great Room was filled with Mount Holyoke senators and students as the first town hall meeting of the semester kicked off. The meeting featured three panelists: President Sonya Stephens, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students Marcella Runell Hall and Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Kijua Sanders-McMurtry. The meeting gave students space to express their concerns and questions they had about their organizations and personal lives on campus.