Testing Center closed Fridays due to staffing shortages

Starting April 8, the COVID-19 Testing Center will no longer be open on Fridays, an April 6 “MHC This Week” email announced. At the senate Town Hall that took place on April 5, Cheryl Flynn, the director of Health Services at the College, said that the recent change in hours is due to staffing shortages at the testing center.

Senate discusses Pangy Day, campus elections and Drag Ball

Senate discusses Pangy Day, campus elections and Drag Ball

After a land acknowledgment by Student Government Association Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Maille Romulus ’24, the April 12 senate meeting began. The meeting agenda for the night included E-board updates, open floor announcements and concerns, a Town Hall debrief and commission work.

Senate hosts Town Hall with College Health Services representative Cheryl Flynn

Senate hosts Town Hall with College Health Services representative Cheryl Flynn

The April 5 Mount Holyoke College senate meeting started with a Land Acknowledgment read by Shula Mathew ’22. Afterward, the E-board reminded senators that all materials for SGA E-board and Class Board elections are due on April 10. Chair of Halls Sophia Jung ’22 also announced that anyone interested in participating in her study, the “Immersive Virtual Reality Psychology Study,” should reach out to her through email.

BOOM! Conference features department proposals, poetry and keynote speakers

BOOM! Conference features department proposals, poetry and keynote speakers

Tuesday, March 29, was Building On Our Momentum Community Day at Mount Holyoke College. The annual event dedicates one day to panels, presentations and workshops on the subjects of “diversity, equity and inclusion,” according to the College’s website. Students, faculty and staff all encouraged to attend and actively engage in BOOM! events. Events included talks such as “Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at Mount Holyoke: A Dialogue,” in addition to the keynote address titled “Affirmation, Love and Freedom — A Night of Poetry and Dialogue.”

Weissman Center for Leadership hosts Senator Bernie Sanders for Town Hall event

Weissman Center for Leadership hosts Senator Bernie Sanders for Town Hall event

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders visited Mount Holyoke College on April 4 as the final guest of the Weissman Center for Leadership’s Town Hall Series. The “Our Voices, Our Platforms” series aimed to explore how people can use their voices to create meaningful change.

Dr. Beverly Tatum named interim president

Dr. Beverly Tatum named interim president

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, has been appointed by the Board of Trustees as Mount Holyoke College’s interim president following the departure of current president Sonya Stephens. Beginning her term in July, Tatum will lead the College for the 2022-2023 academic year until the search for the College’s 20th president is complete and the new candidate assumes office.

Students prepare to celebrate Ramadan on campus

Students prepare to celebrate Ramadan on campus

The full length of Ramadan will be celebrated during the academic school year this spring for the first time in many years. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and use this time to focus on and explore themselves both within and outside their religion for 30 days.

‘Never is Now’ film discussion centers intersection of anti-Blackness and antisemitism

On the evening of March 7, students convened in Blanchard Hall’s Great Room to watch, learn from and discuss the Anti-Defamation League’s Never Is Now 2021 panel titled “Confronting Anti-Black Racism to Fight Antisemitism.” The discussion was led by Associate Dean of Students for Community and Inclusion Latrina Denson and Chaplain to the College and Advisor to the Jewish Community Amelia Ender. After a land acknowledgment by MoZone Peer Advisor Emi Wilson ’23, the second event in this series centering anti-Black racism in solidarity with religious communities began.

‘Stop Putin, Stop the War’: Students protest invasion of Ukraine

‘Stop Putin, Stop the War’: Students protest invasion of Ukraine

On Sunday, Feb. 27, students gathered on the steps outside Blanchard Hall to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukraine. Many from the campus community attended to show solidarity with Ukrainian citizens and condemn the war. The protest was organized by Maïha Klymenko ’23, who is from Ukraine, Anno Kostava ’24 and Mariam Gabidzashvili ’24, who are from Georgia and Ella Jacob ’24, who is a Czech citizen.