Caption: View from Mt. Skinner summit house on a Mountain Day, a year prior. Photo by Declan Langton ‘22
By Rehat Thussu ’23
Staff Writer
On Sept. 30, Mount Holyoke announced that Mountain Day, a tradition nearly as old as the College itself, would be held during the fall break between Module 1 and Module 2. This decision was taken by the administration to “best maximize the academic schedule for curricular content and the break for time to rest and rejuvenate,” according to the College webpage. This year, like with all of the challenges of remote school, the much-awaited tradition will look different.
Guneet Moihdeen ’21 expressed sadness about how her last Mountain Day is happening during the module break. “I’m kinda sad. The whole point [of Mountain Day] for me is dropping everything and having fun or self-care,” Moihdeen said.
Many first-years, such as Rameen Farrukh ’24, were sad to see that they are going to celebrate another Mount Holyoke tradition online. “My first Mountain Day away from college is being spent doing end of module assignments, that, too, with a heavy heart,” Farrukh said. “It’s sad how me and my friends are losing a big chunk of MHC traditions because of COVID-19 but it’s even more disappointing to see that the College didn’t take our sentiments into account this year.”
There is a tangible aura of dissatisfaction and discontent among the student community, so much so that a spreadsheet about holding a separate Mountain Day is being circulated via Instagram. “Student involvement goes beyond what administration puts on paper — M&Cs, well-run orgs, et cetera — and actually seeps into party culture and traditions, like drunkenly stumbling to Convocation or taking topless photos on the mountain,” one of the owners of the page wrote. “Part of what made me really fall in love with our school was the environment of joy and rebellion that exists around our traditions, including Mountain Day, and I wanted to make sure that feeling wasn’t lost.” The Instagram page selected Oct. 6 as the alternative Mountain Day.
“I think many students were looking forward to both the break between the two modules and Mountain Day and to hear that they've essentially taken away our Mountain Day is heartbreaking.” Chisato Kimura ’22 said. “I'm disappointed in the school — yet again — for the way they're handling this semester, and this is just the latest letdown by the MHC administration. However, I'm so glad that there is a movement by students to hold a separate and true Mountain Day that actually honors the wonderful tradition.” Kimura is one of the students who supported the Instagram page’s response. She plans to share the tradition with her family in Kansas.
Regardless of whether students plan to take their own Mountain Day during classes or celebrate on the day the College designates, many intend to carry out the activities that are traditionally part of Mountain Day from the comfort of their homes and hope to share that spirit with their family and friends. Some plan to get tattoos, go out to eat ice cream with friends or hike a local trail or mountain. In other words, the students are determined to make this year’s Mountain Day as memorable as any other, despite the pandemic and the College’s decision.
During the 1918 influenza pandemic, the College still held a Mountain Day, even though 25 percent of the 864 students had fallen ill with influenza that year, according to a College webpage about how the College persisted through tough times in history. Now, 102 years later, a Mountain Day 2020 webpage will host the tradition online. College President Sonya Stephens will still ring the bells on campus, but students will hike and eat ice cream atop a mountain in their own locations and times, wherever in the world they may be. Students are encouraged to share pictures of the day, as well as their favorite ice cream and favorite playlists, to help bind together the student community that is currently spread across the world.