Former EPA administrator discusses policy, climate change
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
“Democracy is not a spectator sport. It requires everybody to participate,” said Gina McCarthy, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, at a lecture titled “The Future of the Planet: Climate Change, Health Equity & Environmental Justice” on Nov. 8. “So get engaged — be part of the democracy, be bold, be excited. And for crying out loud, be hopeful, this is a time for great hope and great action,” she said.
Hurricane Florence makes landfall, campus responds
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
Hurricane Florence hit the coast of North Carolina in the early morning of Friday, Sept. 14, according to the National Weather Service. North and South Carolina suffered the most damage, but Virginia, Georgia and Maryland were also affected. These states all declared states of emergency as monumental levels of rain were expected. 100,000 people lost power the night before the storm began, according to the Weather Channel. The storm has caused at least 34 deaths since Sept. 14.
Mount Holyoke students react to Brett Kavanaugh hearings
BY ANNA HASSON ’21 AND ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
Senate confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh concluded on Friday, Sept. 7. Several activist groups protested the event; the groups opposed his nomination for a variety of reasons. Many Republicans, however, are hoping to confirm his nomination as soon as possible.
Rao’s closes in wake of management controversy
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19 AND ALLYSON HUNTOON ’19
The Rao’s Coffee Shop located inside Williston Library closed their doors indefinitely on Monday, Sept. 17. The disruption of service is due to an alleged incident in which the cafe’s manager used racially insensitive language when speaking to cafe employees.
Mount Holyoke works to accommodate first-years
Mount Holyoke responds to new G.O.P. tax bill
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
In the early morning hours of Saturday, Dec. 2, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Republican tax bill, “Tax Cuts and Job Act” 51-49. The bill focuses on cutting taxes for businesses, including lowering the tax rate for big businesses from 35 percent to 20 percent. Also, according to the Washington Post, the bill will make large changes to health care that may lead 13 million Americans to drop insurance, open up more land for drilling in Alaska and alter the treatment of state and local taxes, affecting local government budgets. The House of Representatives passed their version of the tax bill on Nov. 16.
La Unidad holds vigil for Puerto Rico and Mexico
Shaughnessy Naughton contemplates methods of integrating science in politics with MHC students
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
On the evening of Sept. 21, the Mount Holyoke community gathered in Gamble Auditorium to hear from chemist, former congressional candidate and now nonprofit founder, Shaughnessy Naughton. The event was titled “From the Chemistry Lab to Public Policy: The Science of Creating a Political Movement” and was sponsored by the Miller Worley Center for the Environment, the department of environmental studies, and the Science Center.
Mount Holyoke awash in new changes, even in laundry rooms
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
There are many new changeson the MountHolyoke campus this fall, including the renovation of Blanchard Campus Center, the consolidationof the campus store withthe Odyssey Bookshop and the move of student mailboxes to Auxiliary Services. And now, each dorm on campus has been equipped with new washing machines and dryers.