MHN 101: Student activism from cultural houses to fighting hunger

MHN 101: Student activism from cultural houses to fighting hunger

BY MADELINE FITZGERALD ’21

It is often said that journalism is the rough draft of history and nowhere is this more apparent than on a college campus. Institutional memory is naturally short and information is held in the memories of students who are only on campus for four years before leaving forever. But what remains at the College forever is the Mount Holyoke News.

Mountain Day coverage throughout the years

Mountain Day coverage throughout the years

BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20

Since 1917, the MHN has been reporting on every student’s favorite opportunity to skip class and enjoy the beautiful fall New England weather — Mountain Day. From climbing, to sleeping in, chanting, singing, apple-picking, drinking and relaxing, the Mount Holyoke News has always been quick to cover the much-favored campus tradition.

From Whizzer to Cici: Seeing the College through MHN comics

From Whizzer to Cici: Seeing the College through MHN comics

BY LINDSEY MCGINNIS ’18 

Mount Holyoke News has a long history of running both original student art and nationally syndicated comic strips. The creative commentary on college life has added a note of levity to the weekly news and campus discourse, and even helped launch successful careers in illustration. 

The paper struggles to feature voices of color

The paper struggles to feature voices of color

BY EMILY BERNSTEIN ’18

In 1883, 46 years after the College was founded, Hortense Parker made history as the first known black graduate of Mount Holyoke. It would not be until 89 years later — and more than half a century after the creation of the school newspaper — that Mount Holyoke News would provide a dedicated space to the voices of black students.

Mental health conversations captured in the news

Mental health conversations captured in the news

BY EMILY BERNSTEIN ’18

“1,800 women is a hell of a lot of problems,” said Professor Suarez-Galban, in a Choragos-sponsored discussion group among faculty and students in November 1969. The discussion, which began as a dialogue on campus drug use, ultimately turned to the availability of counseling services at Mount Holyoke, or the lack thereof.

From Harding to Trump: How the News has covered presidential elections

From Harding to Trump: How the News has covered presidential elections

BY LINDSEY MCGINNIS ’18

CNN, Fox, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC… Every one of the Mount Holyoke newsroom computers was live-streaming the election on Nov. 8, 2016. A small group of staff members had gathered there, two floors above the main viewing party in the Blanchard Great Room, to watch Hillary Clinton make history. It was their first election, as voters and as reporters, and one of the News editors had brought champagne to celebrate. 

Tracking Mount Holyoke’s soap opera culture

Tracking Mount Holyoke’s soap opera culture

BY EMILY BERNSTEIN ’18

On Feb. 28, 1980, members of the Mount Holyoke Campus Social Committee wrote an Op-Ed lamenting the “MHC social disease.” This referred to the students’ tendency to complain relentlessly about their social lives while doing nothing to amend the situation. The Committee ruthlessly posited that the typical Mount Holyoke student’s daily schedule consisted of the following:

Mount Holyoke News tackles Title IX

Mount Holyoke News tackles Title IX

BY EMILY BERNSTEIN ’18

The 1972 Act that sought to end sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal funding known as Title IX is making headlines this month as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced that the U.S. Department of Education would be rescinding the non-binding Title IX guidelines around campus sexual assault put in place under the Obama administration.

Mount Holyoke News looks back on 100 years of journalism

Mount Holyoke News looks back on 100 years of journalism

BY LINDSEY MCGINNIS ’18

100 years ago on Oct. 3, 1917, Mary E. Aplin, class of 1918, printed the first ever issue of Mount Holyoke News with the help of Business Manager Catherine McCausland, class of 1918, and a small team of staff and reporters. A publication called “The Mount Holyoke” had previously taken on the mantle of both alumnae and campus news, to the dissatisfaction of most students.