College updates guest policy to allow visitors on weekends

Updates to the spring semester guest policy were sent to the Mount Holyoke community on Feb. 18. Due to the College now operating at a Level One status in regards to COVID-19, guests are now allowed on weekends as of Feb. 25. From Fridays at 10 a.m. to Sundays at 10 p.m., students are allowed to have one guest visit. Overnight guests are allowed.

APAU gala celebrates Black joy and artistry

APAU gala celebrates Black joy and artistry

The night of Sunday, Feb. 27 marked the penultimate event of the Association of Pan-African Unity’s Black History Month programming: a gala hosted in Mary Woolley Hall’s Chapin Auditorium. Approximately 100 attendees donned red, black and green — the colors of the Pan-African flag — and gathered in Chapin Auditorium to celebrate Black joy with a night of music, storytelling and dance.

Senate discusses AccessAbility, upcoming Binder drive, Jorge’s unusual lifespan

Senate discusses AccessAbility, upcoming Binder drive, Jorge’s unusual lifespan

The Feb. 22 senate meeting began with a land acknowledgment read by Shula Mathew ’22, chair of senate. The meeting included E-Board updates, open floor announcements, preparation for the next Town Hall and a role play activity.

APAU celebrates Black History Month with the theme “Black and…”

APAU celebrates Black History Month with the theme “Black and…”

“Our goal was to steer away from how people usually present Black History Month. Slavery and segregation are a part of Black history, but we really wanted to focus on Black joy,” Black History Month Co-Coordinator for the Association of Pan-African Unity, Geraldine Louis ’24, said.

Language department cuts fracture the Arabic program and Middle Eastern studies major

Language department cuts fracture the Arabic program and Middle Eastern studies major

“If I [had known] they weren’t going to keep Arabic, I honestly wouldn’t have come,” prospective Arabic minor Sofia Nojaim ’25 said.

Nojaim is one of 13 students currently enrolled in the second semester of first year Arabic.

According to Safiyah Bey ’23, an international relations major, on Feb. 16, the members of the first year Arabic class were informed that intermediate Arabic classes would no longer be taught on the Mount Holyoke College campus.

Senate discusses booster clinic, injured duck and upcoming Town Hall with AccessAbility Services

Senate discusses booster clinic, injured duck and upcoming Town Hall with AccessAbility Services

After a land acknowledgment by Chair of Halls EJ Jankovic ’23, the Feb. 15 senate meeting began. The meeting agenda for the night included E-Board updates, open floor announcements and Town Hall etiquette.

College hosts series of talks on antisemitism during spring semester

On Feb. 10, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer Kijua Sanders-McMurtry sent an email out to the Mount Holyoke community discussing the College’s efforts to educate the community on antisemitism. The letter focused on the progress made so far as well as steps forward in preventing it on campus.

Academic Priorities Committee proposes changes to class meeting times for fall 2022

Academic Priorities Committee proposes changes to class meeting times for fall 2022

In a recent faculty meeting, the Academic Priorities Committee announced new proposals to the class meeting time schedule for the 2022-2023 academic year. According to documents obtained by Mount Holyoke News, these schedule adjustments center on changes to the Tuesday and Thursday morning class meeting times.

LITS team searches for solution to Wi-Fi outages

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.