Senate votes on new committee, holds elections

BY  EMMA RUBIN ’20

Mount Holyoke’s senate meeting on Tuesday, April 10 included several elections and referendums for its senators. As usual, the meeting began with ideas and feedback during which  students expressed discomfort at being accosted by other students tabling in Blanchard, confusion about campus pathways and concern about an “Islamophobic” speaker coming to campus for an event.

South Hadley votes to ban sale of recreational marijuana

South Hadley votes to ban sale of recreational marijuana

BY  AVA BLUM-CARR ’21

South Hadley residents voted on Tuesday to ban the sale of recreational marijuana within the town, putting to rest the highly debated issue within the community. However, the controversial ballot question failed to increase voter turnout, which remained well under 20 percent, in keeping with the local elections of previous years.

Frances Perkins scholars share their stories

Frances Perkins scholars share their stories

BY MELISSA JOHNSON ’20

Mount Holyoke College’s Frances Perkins scholars (FPs) presented passionate monologues to students, faculty and administrators on Wednesday, April 4. Guests filled Gamble Auditorium to hear the unique stories from a handful of FPs, who described their personal journeys to the gates of Mount Holyoke College. This year’s monologues were a part of the second annual Building On Our Momentum (BOOM!) conference, which took place last week. 

Women’s March organizers deliver keynote address at WOCTLC

Women’s March organizers deliver keynote address at WOCTLC

BY ANNA KANE ’20

Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez, the founders and organizers of the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C., delivered the keynote address for the 2018 Women of Color Trailblazer Leadership Conference (WOCTLC) on Sunday, April 8. The activists discussed their involvement in social justice and civil rights movements, in keeping with the conference theme of empowerment through engagement and celebrating the accomplishments of women of color. 

Students rally for sexual assault bill

Students rally for sexual assault bill

BY ALLYSON HUNTOON ’19

“To the students across Massachusetts whom the system has failed, we stand with you, not just in solidarity, but in action,” said Liz Brown ’20. Megaphone in hand, she addressed a crowd of students, legislators and activists who gathered on the steps of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. 

Town of Amherst votes to change their 1938 charter and implement new form of city council government

Town of Amherst votes to change their 1938 charter and implement new form of city council government

BY  EMMA RUBIN ’20

On Tuesday March 27, the town of Amherst voted to implement a new form of government. A charter in favor of replacing the current system, a 240-member town meeting, with a 13-member city council passed in a popular vote, 3,476 to 2,468.