Biden administration announces new debt forgiveness plan amid rising tuition costs

Biden administration announces new debt forgiveness plan amid rising tuition costs

The Biden-Harris administration may have finally found a way to implement large-scale loan forgiveness for college graduates. Since his 2020 campaign, President Joe Biden has promised to forgive loans taken out by American students pursuing higher education in the United States. 

Senators discuss Gracious Dinner, ‘eggy-smelling water’ and more

Senators discuss Gracious Dinner, ‘eggy-smelling water’ and more

Mount Holyoke College’s Student Government Association held its first meeting in two weeks on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Last week, SGA did not hold its weekly senate meeting due to the annual BOOM! Conference. Because of this break, there was much to be addressed at this week’s meeting.

Ilyasah Shabazz’ reflects on sisterhood, faith, and ‘moral courage’ during keynote speech

Ilyasah Shabazz’ reflects on sisterhood, faith, and ‘moral courage’ during keynote speech

 The theme of this year’s Trailblazers of Color Leadership Conference was “Looking Back to Look Forward.” According to Mount Holyoke College’s events calendar, the conference aimed to “[mark] a decade of commitment to empowering gender-diverse individuals of color across the Five Colleges, Western Massachusetts, and beyond.”

Sit-in at Smith becomes longest in the college’s history

Sit-in at Smith becomes longest in the college’s history

Students, staff and community members gathered outside of College Hall at Smith College in Northampton. Flowers were laid out across the entryway at the front of the campus. Large camping tents were pitched just behind the gates. A banner reading “DIVEST FROM WAR INVEST IN PEACE” hung from a window of College Hall. Students inside peered out from the windows. 

Transphobic messages found in Blanchard Hall on Trans Day of Visibility

Transphobic messages found in Blanchard Hall on Trans Day of Visibility

“This business is proud to say we don’t care about women,” declared a sticker bearing the colors of the transgender flag. This sticker, along with several transgender flags placed into toilets, was found in one of the bathrooms inside Blanchard Hall on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility. 

Senior singles shortage and late night construction addressed at latest senate meeting

Senior singles shortage and late night construction addressed at latest senate meeting

Mount Holyoke College Senate held its weekly meeting this past Tuesday, April 2, 2024. To start the meeting, the Mount Holyoke College Land Acknowledgement was read aloud to the senate board, giving the attendees time to reflect on the land they inhabit.

After the land acknowledgment, the E-Board shared updates regarding laundry and the Ways and Means Guidelines for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Students believe the Dining Commons is giving them food poisoning, the College disagrees

Students believe the Dining Commons is giving them food poisoning, the College disagrees

“Have you ever gotten food poisoning from Blanch before?” This question was written in dry-erase marker on the top of the popular Information Commons message board on the fourth floor of Williston Memorial Library.

In a tallied poll below the question, six students voted that they had, while 10 expressed experience with milder bowel illness, such as diarrhea. Several students commented on their concern with dining hall food overall. One comment asked, “When do you not get food poisoning from Blanch?” 

Supreme Court ruling on abortion drug could weaken the FDA’s authority

Supreme Court ruling on abortion drug could weaken the FDA’s authority

The U.S. Supreme Court has begun deliberations over the case that will determine accessibility to the most commonly used abortion medication in the country, mifepristone. The Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine began oral arguments on Tuesday, March 26, and a decision is expected by the summer, according to The Washington Post. 

In 2023, mifepristone became the most commonly used abortion treatment in the United States, accounting for over 60% of abortion treatments, the Post reported. It has become a more accessible abortion treatment, particularly for Americans living in rural areas where there are few clinics and for those living in states with strict abortion laws. 

Danielle Holley to attend upcoming Senate meeting to discuss tuition

Danielle Holley to attend upcoming Senate meeting to discuss tuition

Mount Holyoke College’s weekly senate meeting on March 5 began with the Mount Holyoke College Land Acknowledgement and an overview of the meeting’s agenda. The agenda opened with an overview of the Indigenous Nation of the Month, the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.

Mount Holyoke professors discuss why 2024 is the ‘biggest year in election history’

Mount Holyoke professors discuss why 2024 is the ‘biggest year in election history’

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Mount Holyoke students and community members gathered in Hooker Auditorium to attend a McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives panel. The event, titled “Democracy’s Global Test: Reflections on the Year of Elections,” aimed to explore threats to democracy, important elections and their international impact in the “biggest election year in history.”