Leslie Crossen lights up the Rockies
BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21
If you happen to stop by Rockefeller dining hall for lunch any day during the week you will likely run into Leslie Crossen, a checker who has been working in the dining hall since 2016. Unbeknownst to Leslie, her uncle John Herr also worked as a checker at Rockies in the exact same spot for 15 years before he retired two years ago. Leslie remembers the shock when, during her interview with Dining Services, the interviewer told her that she would be taking John Herr’s spot. “I knew he worked at a women’s college but I always assumed it was Elms College in Chicopee,” said Crossen. “My cheeks turned red when I realized I would be filling my uncle’s shoes; I couldn’t believe it. I always remembered him telling me that I should work [where he did] because it’s such a great place but I never knew he was talking about Mount Holyoke.”
Instagram account showcases bathrooms on campus
Sarah and Grace: A sweet and spooky Halloween date
Battle of the Majors: Comparing workloads across depts.
BY CAITLIN LYNCH ’20 AND HELEN ELDRED ’20
“Most majors will tell you that you only end up in this major if you really, truly love it,” said theater major Miranda Wheeler ’19. Although all majors require students to be dedicated, the application of their commitment varies across departments. A significant factor influencing each student’s Mount Holyoke experience is the type of work their major demands.
The evolving tradition of gracious dinners
BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21
The gracious dinner tradition has been a key component of Mount Holyoke life for decades. In the 1950s students would dress up for a special meal, known as “gracious living” dinners, which were served in dorms and often followed by tea or coffee in the common room. Through the years, the tradition has evolved — for example, students are no longer required to come wearing stockings and heels — and the launch of centralized dining in the spring will kick-start a new phase.
Students celebrate Halloween at Spooky Skate
BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21
On Saturday, Halloween spirit reached its peak as Mount Holyoke students dressed up in costumes and made their way to Spooky Skate in Chapin Auditorium. From 8 to 10 p.m. Chapin was converted into a roller rink with games, a photo booth, pizzas and numerous other activities. Students clad in elaborate costumes started queuing up outside Chapin at least 30 minutes before to seize their chance at the roller rink.
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:
Housekeeping language rumor clarified
BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21 AND FALGUNI BASNET ’21
Mount Holyoke’s Building on our Momentum (BOOM) conference that was held on March 26 and 27 featured a number of sessions reflecting on Mount Holyoke’s efforts to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. One of the workshops led by Acting President Sonya Stephens was titled “Mount Holyoke in the 21st Century,” and featured group discussions addressing community concerns.
Changes to LEAP Symposium 2017
BY CAITLIN LYNCH ’20
The LEAP (Learning from Application) Symposium is an annual gathering where Mount Holyoke students present on their summer internships or research to the public. According to the Mount Holyoke website, the LEAP symposium for summer work has been around at the College for 13 years, and has gone by the name LEAP since 2008.
Jeannette and Mary: Under the stars, underwhelmed
What did Mount Holyoke students do over fall break 2017?
How a letter to the editor sparked Mount Holyoke’s first lesbian support group
Hannah and Rose: “Are you here for the MoRomance thing?”
BY ELEANOR HARRIS ’20
Tinder? Tired. Bumble? Boring. MoRomance? Magical.This week, we matched Hannah*, a sophomore, who described herself as “spunky, fun-loving and artistic,” with Rose*, a “silly but thoughtful” junior. On paper, they seemed like a perfect match. Both told us that they like dance, music and similarly wholesome activities. Rose called her romantic history “limited,” while Hannah referred to her own as some “friendly flirting.”
Mountain Day predictions hit the mark this year
BY CAITLIN LYNCH ’20
“I feel the campus hum with wishful thinking about this time of year,” said Rachel Fink, a biology professor who’s been working for Mount Holyoke since 1986, on the prospect of Mountain Day. “Every year there is the same level of excitement and enthusiasm, and everyone has their own way of calculating odds.”
What’s the deal with POWERED by Mount Holyoke?
BY ANNA SHORTRIDGE ’19
The slogan “Powered by Mount Holyoke” can be seen across campus — it’s found on water bottles, the charging ports in the library, posters around campus and even a baby onesie in the Odyssey Bookshop’s campus store. Many have wondered where this slogan comes from and what it means.
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.
Internat’l students tackle language barriers
BY SABA FIAZUDDIN ’21
Moving to a new place is always challenging, regardless of who you are and where you come from. International students, however, not only have to deal with the complications of acclimating to a new place, but also have to spend a significant period of time trying to get accustomed to the culture and social life of their new home.
Smash Mouth draws Mount Holyoke students to the 101st Big E
BY FALGUNI BASNET ’21
This week, many students from Mount Holyoke College visited New England’s great state fair, “The Big E.” Held every September in West Springfield, Massachusetts, the 17-day event features a wide range of attractions, including rides, concerts, a petting zoo, cooking shows, car shows, fair food vendors and much more.
