Student raises concerns over false positive COVID-19 tests
Oct. 23 started as a regular day for Tate Durand ’23. They woke up, attended a friend’s birthday breakfast, then returned to their on-campus residence for a nap. However, when they rose to several missed calls from the health services center, they immediately had a strong suspicion that they had tested positive for COVID-19.
UMass Amherst sends out alert after call from armed man
Former Professor Rie Hachiyanagi sentenced 10-12 years following guilty plea
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.
Students reflect on College no-guest policies since the start of the pandemic
At Mount Holyoke College, students have returned to a full residential experience this semester. While many students have eagerly returned to in-person classes and exchanging stories over late-night, others are unhappy with the College’s decision to extend its no-guest policy through the end of the semester. Mount Holyoke’s policies surrounding off-campus travel and on-campus guests have changed several times since the start of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. The College defines a guest as any person who is not enrolled in a Mount Holyoke course and does not participate in the College-sponsored asymptomatic testing program. This most recent update was sent to the community via email on Oct. 6. Following the announcement, the College sent out a survey on “students’ interest and comfort with having guests in the residence halls” on Oct. 19.
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.
COVID-19 policy updates: College allows vaccinated guests at events
The College sent out an update on Oct. 20 about new COVID-19 policies. Effective on Oct. 25, Emeriti faculty and other retired staff members are allowed to enter and use the Williston Memorial Library and Kendall Sports and Dance Complex as long as they show proof of vaccination and get tested by the College regularly.
Health Center holds flu vaccine clinic
On Friday, Oct. 26, the Health Center held a flu vaccine clinic for students.
“I really appreciated the event,” Lauren Gruen ’23 said. “I don’t have a car, so having something like this on campus was very helpful.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season can start in the United States as early as October and end as late as early May, and normally peaks from December through February. About 8 percent of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu each season.
2021 LEAP Symposium showcases summer projects in hybrid format
Mount Holyoke College’s 2021 Learning from Application (LEAP) Symposium took place on Friday, Oct. 22, featuring presentations from over 150 students recounting their summer internships. Emerging from a completely virtual format in 2020, this year’s program was presented in a hybrid format that included 28 in-person panels and 14 panels exclusive to Zoom. The presentations took place over four sessions and were open to all members of the Mount Holyoke community, with in-person panels hosted in classrooms throughout the Science Center.