Hope Simpson

Mount Holyoke commits to land acknowledgment, repatriation

Mount Holyoke commits to land acknowledgment, repatriation

Content warning: this article discusses anti-Indigenous violence.

Beginning this semester, a land acknowledgment recognizing the Indigenous nations which once occupied the land currently owned by Mount Holyoke College must be given before every public event at Mount Holyoke. As the College takes steps to repair its relationship to Indigenous communities both on and off campus, the institution’s history of anti-Indigenous acts has resurfaced. Earlier this month, the College repatriated Indigenous remains that had previously been in their possession. As the College reckons with this and other past violences this National Indigenous Heritage Month, some members of the Mount Holyoke community are calling for further action and accountability.

Senate talks Tranquility Room updates, early morning leaf blowers

Senate talks Tranquility Room updates, early morning leaf blowers

Big changes are coming to the Tranquility Room following Tuesday’s senate meeting. On Friday Oct. 29, the E-Board’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Maille Romulus ’23 and Earl Wren ’24 met with Richard Perna, executive director of Auxiliary Services and Aaron Ferguson, senior accessibility coordinator. The Tranquility Room will now be a no-talking zone and students will no longer be allowed to use it as a cut-through anymore.

Senate convenes to discuss guest policy; announces new E-Board members

Senate convenes to discuss guest policy; announces new E-Board members

SGA senate convened this week with an announcement: from now on, students will be able to use safety net funds to cover outside medical related expenses, such as transportation and urgent care costs.

In further health-related news, the senate’s COVID-19 & Content Commission group is planning to petition the administration to relax the guest policy. Their proposed plan would involve guests filling out a Google form where they would have to provide proof of vaccination, agree to be masked indoors and in other designated spaces and commit to adhere to all other aspects of the community compact. Commission members suggested that Mount Holyoke students who break this policy should then be required to meet with the Honor Code Council.