Hampshire College announces definitive closure at the end of 2026

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

Hampshire College announced on Tuesday, April 14, that the institution will close after their 2026 Fall semester. The decision follows ongoing conversations regarding low student enrollment numbers, financial burdens and land assets. Hampshire’s Board of Trustees voted for the college’s closure in recognition of its inability to continue fully sustaining itself as an academic institution.

The concept of Hampshire can be traced back to 1958, when the presidents of Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and University of Massachusetts Amherst decided to build a curriculum that allowed students to design their program of study. The institution was founded in 1965 and welcomed its first cohort in 1970.

“Since its founding in 1965, Hampshire College has been home to a group of deeply curious, creative people who have radically reimagined the liberal arts, using a singular, distinctive model designed to change and respond to the most pressing issues facing society,” Hampshire College President Jenn Chrisler said in an announcement published on Hampshire’s official website. “We are committed to preserving this profound legacy and to ensuring that the story of Hampshire’s unique and audacious vision will continue to serve as an inspiration to bold, iconoclastic thinkers well into the future.”

Hampshire has arranged agreements with numerous colleges in order for current students to transfer to partner institutions, which include Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, UMass Amherst, Amherst College, the Massachusetts College of Art & Design, the Massachusetts College of the Liberal Arts, Bennington College and Prescott College.

The closure of Hampshire has prompted much conversation regarding the future of liberal arts colleges, particularly small, progressive institutions. In recent years, the sustainability of such small, tuition-funded institutions has been difficult; some colleges have closed their doors, while others have merged or partnered with fellow institutions. 

In 2019, a potential partnership between Hampshire and UMass Amherst was discussed, but ultimately was not enacted due to disagreements on the vision. Hampshire stood firm that they needed to maintain their name and values, while UMass Amherst set the condition that Hampshire would close and conduct major faculty layoffs. A recent instance of such a partnership or merger includes Mills College, which Northeastern University acquired in 2022, while a more historical example is Radcliffe College, formerly a Seven Sisters institution, which was fully incorporated into Harvard College in 1999.

“This is a difficult moment for the Hampshire community, and for all of us within the Five College Consortium,” President Danielle Holley said in an email sent to the Mount Holyoke community. “We are working closely with our partners in the Five Colleges to understand how best to support Hampshire students, faculty and staff in the weeks and months ahead. In the meantime, we are committed to the collaborative experience that defines the consortium and to supporting one another as a community.”

Abigail McKeon ’26 contributed fact-checking.

Final senate of the 2025-2026 academic year holds budget vote

By Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

Staff Writer

The final senate of the 2025-26 academic year, held on April 21, would be the last senate for many of the executive board members of the Student Government Association, including Senate Chair Coco Athas ’26.

Before the senators began the yearly budget vote, Athas gave her routine rundown of the weekly events, such as end of semester destressers and celebrations. With the change of seasons and upcoming festivities like Pangy Day, student organizations across campus are preparing their final gatherings of the year to give their communities the break they deserve. Once these brief announcements were made, Gabi Mello ’26 took the stage to go over the SGA’s budget.

The total collected from student activity fees this year was around $571,000. For the majority of the last senate, senators were given information about where these funds for the upcoming academic year would be going. A majority of the changes made to the budget for next year were increases in funding for various departments of the College. The Office of Residential Life and the SGA Ways and Means committee will both be receiving extra funds. For the cultural centers on campus, a $7,000 increase was allocated to keep them functioning and to support the events they hold throughout the year.

Chapin Auditorium is the hub for many of Mount Holyoke College’s annual events, both held by the College and by student organizations. The SGA has recognized this and will now be designating funding for events specifically held in Chapin, so all organizers may have the money they need. It is unclear yet how this money will be distributed evenly throughout the semesters.

Overall, the total for next year’s budget comes out to just around $702,000, almost $200,000 more than what was available from student activity fees.

The floor was then opened to a Q&A for senators to ask any questions they had about the new budget. One individual asked about the funding of an upcoming project for health and wellness vending machines around campus. SGA president Nathania Amadi ’26 provided a bit of insight, explaining that these vending machines will be stocked with a variety of hygiene products and over-the-counter medications which are not easily accessible on campus. SGA will be providing a portion of their funding to this project. Students can expect to hear more information about these vending machines in the 2026 Fall semester.

When it came time for the vote, Athas instructed the senators to raise their hands and say “aye” if they agreed to the proposed budget. The vote passed, and Athas took the stage again to conduct the remaining event announcements.

At the end of the senate, a small pinning ceremony was held for senators who would not be returning next year. A song akin to that which is played at an official commencement began, and each senator received a pin and gave an impromptu speech about their time being part of senate. Continuing with the humorous vibes, Athas gave a statement at the end of the ceremony, saying, “I just want to take a moment to thank everybody for their service … I know not everybody wanted to be here. I recognize that … Not all heroes wear capes.”

A group photo was taken with all of the senators and SGA executive board members, commemorating the final senate of the 2025-26 academic year. To the future executive board members in the room, Athas left them with a piece of advice that exemplified her time in the position of senate chair. “You are only as good as your best ice breaker.”

Abigail McKeon ’26 contributed fact-checking.

Asian, international students face hate: ‘I don’t feel safe’

By Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27

Editor-in-Chief

On March 11, 2026, Mount Holyoke College President Danielle Holley sent out an email to the Mount Holyoke student body announcing a tuition increase, which was “based on inflation as well as skyrocketing costs for health care, operations and utilities.” This change came following at least two other successive tuition raises — the College’s annual tuition in 2022-2023 was $58,280, over $10,000 less than 2026-2027’s $71,178 —  and instantly provoked student backlash across campus. 

While most criticism of the raise focused on the price increase itself, some students took to social media to direct their frustration at Asian and international students. Several anti-Asian and xenophobic comments were posted on Fizz, an anonymous social media platform for college students. Some posts read, “can the Asian internationals please let us know why they came all the way to America for an education?” and “you [international students] should’ve went to a more affordable institution … or better yet... maybe one in your home country.”

Dean Marcella Runell responded to the comments in her March 13 Dean’s Corner, stating, “The anti-Asian and xenophobic sentiments appearing on anonymous platforms like Fizz in response to the tuition letter are causing significant harm. I am hearing directly from your peers that they feel targeted and unwelcome in the very community that is meant to have their back.”

“This most recent behavior is not who we want to be. It stands in direct opposition to the care we owe one another and is fundamentally at odds with the Mount Holyoke Honor Code and our commitment to an inclusive environment,” Runell wrote.

Fizz: An ongoing issue

However, the comments posted to Fizz following the tuition raise were not the first of their kind that Asian American and international Mount Holyoke students have experienced in the 2025-26 school year. 

Just a few days prior, an anonymous account on Fizz had posted, “Just saw 3 Asian international students eat [at] blanch, get up, and leave their food/plates once they were finished. You know who you are...” 

According to several witnesses present at the scene, the students targeted by the post had only left the table to get ice cream. Many Asian American and Asian international students were hurt by the post and the sentiments it expressed. 

Liz Li ’28 and JJ Guo ’29 wrote about the post to the President’s Office in a March 12 email, saying, “Regardless of the underlying circumstances, the deliberate and unnecessary identification of ‘Asian international students’ in this public accusation is harmful, discriminatory, and reflects a pattern of targeting individuals based on their ethnicity and perceived national origin.”

“The phrase ‘You know who you are’ further lends a threatening and intimidatory tone to the post,” Li and Guo stated.

According to an international first-year student, who has asked to be referred to as Alex for this article, the President’s Office didn’t respond to the email for almost a month. “It took approximately three weeks for the administration to issue a response, and when it came, it felt delayed, generic, and disconnected from the urgency of the situation,” Alex wrote in an email to Mount Holyoke News.

Several hateful posts also circulated on Fizz during the fall semester, after a paper outside of Ham and MacGregor halls was discovered with the words “ching... and so” written on it. 

One anonymous post made shortly after the discovery stated, “What am I missing here? The word ‘ching’ is not racist.” Another read, “hot take some of y’all are begging to be discriminated against like the sign thing.”

Prejudice on campus

For many Asian American and Asian international students, these posts are the direct result of a hostile campus environment. Mount Holyoke News spoke with several to gather their perspectives on the situation.

Angela Kim ’28 stated, “I personally feel that these online incidents are reflective of the campus climate as a whole. The anonymity of Fizz and distance from the institution allow people to get away with hateful sentiments.” 

“Since the institution has made it clear that they can’t get involved in the moderation process, the true solution is to fix campus climate and educate students. This means that not only will students not publicly express these sentiments, but also feel them in the first place,” Kim said.

Liz Li ’28 shared a similar sentiment during an interview when discussing some of the Fizz posts from fall 2025: “I think that's the first time I realized … how widely the anti-Asian [hate] is on campus.”

Alex had parallel experiences outside of social media. “I have experienced clear microaggressions in academic settings. In my first-year seminar, when my fellow international students and I contributed to discussions, the professor would repeatedly say he needed to ‘translate’ our sentences for domestic students, even though we were speaking clear and simple English,” they wrote.

“More broadly, my experience does not align with the College’s portrayal of a ‘close-knit’ and supportive campus environment,” Alex stated.

Microaggressions are reportedly not an uncommon experience on Mount Holyoke’s campus for those of marginalized identities. In an email to Mount Holyoke News, Susan Jiang ’28 stated, “Something else that really left an indelible mark on me is that last semester we did a microaggression survey on campus, and found out that microaggression, heartbreakingly, exists in the living experience of many around us.”

Some students found the College’s response to the ongoing issue of anti-Asian hate and xenophobia on campus and online to be at odds with its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“The College administration has had mixed responses to these incidents, but overall, I do not feel sufficiently supported by the College,” Kim stated. “Oftentimes … they don’t provide systemic or upstream solutions, so similar incidents can continue to occur.”

“I do not believe the College’s response has been adequate or proportionate to the seriousness of these incidents,” Alex wrote. “When harmful behavior is not addressed promptly and clearly, it sends the message that anti-Asian and anti-international student hate is, in practice, tolerated on this campus.”

“It’s taken forever to send out a statement, to send out an announcement, and we have to keep asking them to do that,” Li said. “They’re just saying, like, ‘International students or Asian students are important to us’ and … there’s a resource, like counseling … but those things … they are helpful, but they are not at the institutional level.”

Mount Holyoke News reached out to Christian Feuerstein, the College’s director of public affairs and media relations, and received a statement from the College: “Mount Holyoke College is committed to ensuring that every student is supported and respected. This emphatically includes Asian American, Asian international and all international students. We affirm that everyone on our campus deserves to be safe, to feel at home and to know that they belong.”

The statement continued, “We are also currently in an active dialogue about campus culture on anonymous apps like Fizz. Students have petitioned to have our Honor Code, which is the backbone of our community, explicitly applied to how we treat one another in digital spaces. The administration is working with student groups to find ways to maintain the safety of our community in these anonymous environments. When we are made aware of something potentially harmful or threatening we have asked Fizz to remove the post. However, they are an independent entity which functions as a for-profit business, and we are typically not successful as they are not obligated to cooperate with us.”
It’s unclear which students and student groups the College is in dialogue with, and what those discussions look like.

A lack of clarity surrounding students' rights — especially those of international students — and what students can do if they’ve experienced prejudice or discrimination on campus was also a common subject during interviews.

 Li stated that an overhaul of the anti-discrimination training new students receive would be helpful: “[Students] don't really know [their rights] until I tell them … but they also have lots of concerns,” Li said. “Like, for example, if they feel microaggression from their professor who they're taking class with, and if they report it, what's going to happen? Will that impact their grade or something?”

Training should also include clearer guidance about “what kind of thing will be regarded as microaggression,” Li said. “And if that happened, what do you do?”

Activists called into disciplinary meetings

Li, Alex, and Kim all stated that several students have been called into disciplinary meetings by Residential life for actions they undertook to raise awareness about issues Asian American and Asian international students have been experiencing at the College.

“I know three students who have been called in for disciplinary meetings. But just for really small things, like [writing in] chalk, put a poster on a table, or just try to post something, like a meme, on a padlet,” Li explained.

“This hasn’t happened to me, but it has happened to multiple students that I know,” Kim shared. “These meetings are systematically broken.”

Alex spoke about one specific incident: “A friend of mine was called into a disciplinary meeting after posting a ‘run away’ meme that had not even been approved on the Experience MHC padlet. Despite this, she received a formal notice in 24 hours stating that her behavior had ‘seriously disrupted other students’ educational experience,’ which is hard to understand given that the content was never seen by others.”

The Experience MHC padlet was a platform where current Mount Holyoke students were encouraged by the College to “share a kind word, message of welcome or any advice that they think would be beneficial” for admitted students. There was no clear prohibition against sharing memes or anecdotes critical of the College, but at least one student was called into a disciplinary meeting for submitting a picture that could have been perceived as negative. 

The meeting took place in a Reslife office from roughly 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., during which around a dozen Mount Holyoke students sat outside in the hallway in support of the student who had been called in. A reporter from Mount Holyoke News was also present in the hall for the duration. 

Several students who attended expressed frustration about the process in which disciplinary meetings were called. Students who are called into disciplinary meetings by Reslife are not informed why they have been summoned until the meeting itself. Many reported feeling confused and anxious.

“Beginning at the initial letter that is sent out, there is a lack of clarity of what the meeting entails, which does not allow the student to adequately prepare. The letter also doesn’t specify that the student is allowed to bring a support person into the meeting,” Kim stated.

Students interviewed by Mount Holyoke News also expressed feeling a sense of confusion during such disciplinary meetings. 

“During the meeting, a Community Standards staff member, Nashalie, was unable to provide a clear or consistent explanation of the relevant student handbook policies, which raised concerns about how these guidelines are interpreted and enforced. The contrast is striking: the administration demonstrated the ability to act within 24 hours when disciplining a student, yet did not demonstrate the same urgency in responding to incidents of discrimination," Alex said.

“[Reslife] should stop scaring their students that way because the school claims that those kinds of meetings are offering support … but that’s not real,” Li stated. “The way they call students to there, and how they talk to students, will definitely not make students feel supported.” 

According to the College’s website and the statement from the College, the process is supposed to be restorative. “Disciplinary meetings are meant to be educational in nature and are designed to maintain communal boundaries,” the College wrote. “If anyone has any feedback on student conduct at Mount Holyoke it can be shared at dean-students@mtholyoke.edu.”

Despite this, many Asian American and Asian international students present in the hall during the meeting discussed feeling targeted and intimidated.

“I don’t feel safe because I just can see my friends, my fellow students are … called in for disciplinary meetings and since we’re international students, we hold the visas, and the visas depend on the school, and our financial aid also depends on the school,” Li explained during the interview. “So sometimes I will hear my fellow students try to remind me, [to] be careful because you need the school to keep your visa.”

“What happens in the meeting also causes a lot of damage,” Kim stated.

Students seek support, solidarity

Anti-Asian and xenophobic comments made by fellow students, alongside actions undertaken — or not undertaken — by the College have profoundly impacted all of the students who spoke to Mount Holyoke News. Facing a lack of support from the College, many have turned to one another for community.

“These experiences have had a tangible impact on my mental health. I have felt persistent stress, frustration, and emotional exhaustion. I have also seen peers experience significant distress, including emotional crises. Some have even had to take medical leave as a result. These are not isolated or abstract impacts — they are real and ongoing for both myself and other students,” Alex wrote.

“What I’m feeling right now is, I don’t have my life,” Li stated. “I don’t have time to talk to my family, because they ask, ‘Oh, how’s school going? And what fun things are you doing?’ And I cannot tell them, ‘Oh, I’ve been discriminated against.’”

“A campus cannot claim to be inclusive while failing to respond meaningfully and promptly to targeted hate,” Alex stated. “Students deserve more [from administration] than statements that are delayed, superficial, or disconnected from reality … we deserve to feel protected, heard, and valued.”

“We have the responsibility — and everyone has that — to stop [hate], and to do something, ” Li explained. “Right now, for example, Trump … wants to create hate … if we are isolated, or if we are even [fighting] against each other … they will be happy.”

“Over the past few months, the things my peers have done to address the racist incidents happening on our campus have given me lots of encouragement,” Jiang wrote to Mount Holyoke News. “It has been a great fortune for me to meet these wonderful, brave people.”

Kim also stressed the importance of community and friendships in advocacy: “The mental toll of seeing the harm is also taxing, but despite that, I still wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else. I am so grateful for my support systems and community.”

“Having those relationships is essential to organizing and not getting burnt out,” Kim stated.

“It’s really important for us to build solidarity inside Mount Holyoke,” Li concluded. “We should work together.”

Abigail McKeon ’26 and Madeleine Diesl ’28 contributed fact-checking.

Mount Holyoke holds workshop on how to protect against ICE

Graphic by Mari AlTayb ‘26

By Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

Staff Writer

Friday, Jan. 30, guest speaker Erik Esqueda Sánchez from San Diego State University joined Mount Holyoke students and faculty for the “Activism sin Fronteras: Legacies of Liberation and Community Mobilization” workshop, held by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Centered around peer collaboration and group discussion, the workshop provided its attendees with fresh perspectives on how they can help protect members of their community who may be targets for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly called ICE.

The official description of the event reads, “This workshop will cover a brief history of undocumented and migrant movements within U.S. context and explore strategies for leveraging your own talents and knowledge to co-build activist spaces.”

Coming all the way from California, this was Sánchez’s first time in Massachusetts. They expressed that they have always wanted to visit Massachusetts, so the excitement to be here outweighed how cold it was. Sánchez is the assistant director of SDSU’s MEChA, the “Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán,” or, in English, “Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán.” Growing up with the MEChA program, they view the work they do today as “Giving back everything that was given to me.”

After introductions around the room, Sánchez made mention of the ongoing ICE raids in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. On the day of the workshop, residents of these cities called for a nationwide strike against the raids, also referred to as the “ICE OUT” protests. As written in an article by Kimberlee Kruesi and Holly Ramer with the Associated Press, “Protesters held ‘no work, no school, no shopping’ strikes across the U.S. on Friday to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.”

A summary of these events, as read during the presentation, states “State violence and criminalization are escalating / We are witnessing murders of civilians in real time / Communities are grieving, mobilizing, and resisting simultaneously.” Sánchez explained that the Activism sin Fronteras workshop was intended to be an extension of this movement, as the information being taught is rooted in the same resistance as the protests in the Twin Cities.

Solidarity with those in Minnesota could be felt throughout campus that day, as students had participated in the strike, and many flocked to the Amherst Common that afternoon to join the ICE OUT protest being held there. Additionally, Sunrise MHC held a student walk out and study-in one week later on February 6, responding to calls from high schoolers in Minneapolis asking other students across the nation to strike in solidarity with them.

With a student body made up of about 20% international students, many people at Mount Holyoke College have expressed concerns for those who may be vulnerable in the event that ICE arrives on our campus, especially since agents have already been seen in nearby towns like Northampton and Amherst. These fears are not unfounded. As the American Immigration Council has stated, “American communities are now seeing a level of immigration enforcement utterly unprecedented in modern history … the conditions that have resulted from this rapid expansion for those caught up in the detention system have increasingly worsened and become more inhumane.” With a combination of the president bypassing due process laws and ICE agents heavily employing racial profiling, legal status offers international students little protection against these targeted attacks. Even if one may not be deported in the end, the trauma that comes from going through the intensifying immigration system merits the protection of those most at risk.

Though the circumstances were grim, Sánchez’s teaching filled the space with hope. Examples of past movements that reflect times similar to ours were given, and together the attendees examined them to determine what has worked in the past that can be applied to current organization strategies. In particular, the workshop focused on the Undocumented and Unafraid movement from 2010 and the Ethnic studies walkouts of the late 60s. The slideshow listed effective tactics used in these movements as, “Civil disobedience, sit-ins / Legal advocacy, policy pressure / Mutual aid and rapid response networks.”

After analyzing these historical examples together, Sánchez noted, “Students have done badass things throughout the history of higher education,” also reminding, “This movement is not new, it’s only intensified.”

The latter half of the workshop focused on the individual, and how one may leverage their own aptitudes to contribute to a cause, such as protecting communities from state violence. Using the Slow Factory’s “Roles for Collective Liberation,” attendees talked about which roles they identified with, and how they could see themselves using their skills with an activist lens. The list of roles contains both creative and pragmatic options, finding space for everybody in a movement.

The workshop culminated with students applying everything they had learned to address the hypothetical but strikingly realistic case study scenario of ICE interference on our college campus, a conversation that has been brewing amongst Mount Holyoke students since last semester. Imagining what to do in emergency scenarios is a complex and mentally heavy topic, often meaning that there will never be one right answer for how to handle them. However, the group effectively addressed what not to do in this scenario, concluding that acting out of anger and without a plan would be the most detrimental to the cause of keeping everyone safe. Many agreed in the end that organized, strategic collaboration and thorough communication are the keys to making it through a situation like the one described in the case study. What that looks like may be different for different individuals, but no matter what, our community coming together to help keep one another safe is essential.

After the workshop concluded, Sánchez agreed to a brief interview with Mount Holyoke News. Reflecting upon the event as a whole, they shared, “My goal … was just to move people from … a place of powerlessness, or feeling like they didn't have an opportunity to be part of a movement.” When asked if they had a message for the Mount Holyoke community, they said, “Keep being critical, to keep questioning, to keep building relationships with one another, and to find the ways that feel good for you to engage during this difficult time.”

Jillian Stammely ’28 contributed fact-checking.

Joy and friendship: Swive reflects on first half of 2025-26 season

Photo courtesy of MHC Athletics
Several members of Mount Holyoke’s swimming and diving team spoke with MHN about the sport.

By Bei Jia Viggiano ’28

Sports Editor

As courses conclude and finals approach, the Mount Holyoke College swimming and diving team has completed its first half of the 2025-26 season. December only held a weekend event in New York, allowing the student-athletes to focus on final assignments and exams. Members of the swimming and diving team had quite a bit to say regarding their team’s successes, challenges and the environment.

On the first day of November, the Lyons met with the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. For the first meet of the 2025-26 season, though Mount Holyoke lost 155-106, the Lyons still had cause to celebrate individual achievements. Evelyn Rousseau ’29 placed first in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 12:20.81, and Maya Oakes ’29 emerged victorious with a time of 1:06.76 for the 100-yard backstroke. Isabel Dunn ’27 placed first in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:06.34 and took second place in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 29.61.

“[Our coaches’] attention in every practice since the beginning of the season to each of our strengths to design a competitive lineup absolutely contributed to the success,” Rousseau said in an email to Mount Holyoke News.

Two weeks later on Nov. 15, Mount Holyoke attended a meet against Westfield State University at the Mount Holyoke College Natatorium in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The Lyons emerged victorious 166-114.

“During our meet against Westfield State, we were a lot more loose and relaxed,” Naomi Long ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “We had two weeks of uninterrupted training after our first meet, and I think we all felt more confident going into this meet. It was also so nice to compete at our home pool!”

“Westfield State was a great meet — it was the first time this season the team swam 100s and 200s (instead of the 50s and 100s we had swum), so it was exciting to see how all the training had been paying off!” Katherine Upton ’28 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News.

“For the Westfield meet, I think our mindsets and energy on deck contributed to a positive attitude across the team, which helped us become more competitive,” Kaylee Barnett ’26 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “We were all cheering for one another at the ends of lanes or on the side of the pool. We also were at our home pool, which is always helpful!”

“We had a super strong 200 [yard] medley relay that out-touched Westfield State by 0.35 seconds and clenched first place,” Katie Thomason ’29 explained in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “We had a lot of first-place finishes, but we were also able to fill a lot of lanes in almost every event to gain even more points, which is essential in swimming. We were also lucky to have our amazing diver, Katherine [Upton]. We were really good at cheering for everyone on the team, and it was great to have so much support in the stands.”

“I believe the hard work we’ve been putting in at practices every day, including both pool time and dry land workouts (with [Head Sports Performance Coach] Jay [Mendoza]) have helped us greatly,” Zoey Zhu ’27 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “We’ve been working hard in practice, splitting off into groups to train for our specific events (distance/sprint/IM) and doing our best to keep giving our best every day.”

“I think there are many reasons why we can perform well,” Carol Fang ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News. “Everyone on the team loves swimming and works very hard in training. We also try to stay positive even when the training load is heavy. Another very important reason is that we have an amazing coaching team. Our coaches are extremely knowledgeable, give professional feedback, and care about each swimmer’s health. They support us when we feel confused, stressed, or discouraged.”

“Overall, I think that the support that the team has for one another, alongside our hard work in practice leading up to the meet, led to our win over Westfield!” Ellie Lewis ’29 said in an email to Mount Holyoke News.

A week following their victory against Westfield State, the Lyons faced Wellesley College, once again in the Mount Holyoke College Natatorium. Mount Holyoke lost 188-64, though Dunn notably placed first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:33.79 and took second place in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:05.37.

“As challenges come up like losing a meet or having a hard practice, the team shifts focus to the end-of-season meet, NEWMACs,” Rousseau said. “Every race we swim, every yard at practice, every early morning lift is all building up to that point. So, remaining positive and focusing on growth for the future.”

“We communicate [when challenges arise],” Zhu explained. “We regularly update our coaches and do our best to work through any challenges step by step.”

“In response to the challenges that we have faced, each team member has remained dedicated to the team and our performance, at both the team and the individual level,” Lewis said. “We also have stayed committed to supporting one another, and in the face of challenge, we make sure we are there for our teammates!”

“In facing challenging meets or teams, we’re good at being willing to go outside of our comfort zone and try events that we may not typically compete in,” Thomason said. “[Coach] Dave [Allen] often talks about the importance of ‘grit,’ and I think that’s been a big focus this season.”

“Our coaches have specified the importance of having grit,” Long said. “No matter the obstacle, we have focused on doing whatever we can to overcome any challenges. It has been helpful for me to focus on what I can control and not dwell on outside factors.”

The swimming and diving team began preparing for the Rochester Institute of Technology Invitational held in Rochester, New York, at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6.

“We’re all getting really excited!” Thomason said. “[The] RIT Invitational is a two-day meet with three sessions total, which is much longer than a dual meet. We’re already planning all the fun things we’ll do to entertain ourselves on the long bus ride! The events we swim at this meet are usually used to test out potential NEWMAC events, so we’re starting to shift into that competitive mindset. It’s difficult having had the Thanksgiving break right before this big meet, but we’ve been doing a lot of hard training to prepare us for a great meet.”

“To prepare for RIT, we have been doing a lot of pace and sprint work at practice,” Long remarked.

“For RIT, we’ve just been trying to do our usual,” Upton commented. “Nothing super crazy, just taking everything one day at a time, swimming the races we’re in and doing the dives we’re doing at that moment.”

“The team has been putting in a lot of work, both in … and out of the pool to prepare for RIT!” Lewis said. “From hard workouts leading up to November break, to weight lifting during the week, our team has been gearing up to swim well.”

“We’ve been doing more specialized workouts for our particular events,” Rousseau said. “In my case, I’ve been doing a lot of practice holding pace for long-distance events like the 1650. The group that plans to swim the 400 IM event is also putting in a lot of work with our assistant coach, Bill Tyler, on technique.”

“We’ve all been putting in a lot of work in the pool and weight room,” Barnett explained. “We practice five to six times a week, as well as lift two to three times a week. On the swim side, the team splits itself into sprint, stroke and distance practices every day depending on what each athlete’s strengths are.”

“We’ve also been working with a mental performance coach this season to help better prepare mentally for competitions and practices,” she continued. “Our coach [Dave Allen] is big on emphasizing that we should focus on controlling what we can control. After a hard practice or a disappointing meet, it’s not beneficial to spend a lot of time beating ourselves up about it. We can acknowledge that it wasn’t our best, think about what we can do better and move forward towards the next one.”

“For me, I like to think about what technique changes I can implement for the next practice or meet and really focus on that,” Barnett added.

Lewis, Rousseau, Long, Zhu, Thomason, Barnett, Fang and Upton have nothing but love for their team and its environment, both athletically and socially. The collective and individual growth paired with the abundance of support and enthusiasm throughout this semester has poised the Lyons for an exciting and competitive spring semester.

“Personally, I have had such a great experience with this team so far!” Lewis said. “I am so excited for where this season is headed, and I cannot wait to spend more time with the team!”

“My experience with the team so far has been extremely positive,” Rousseau said. “The culture of support and growth has been so beneficial not only to my swimming but to my college experience. We win some meets, lose others, but no matter what, we return to practice more dedicated.”

“Our team has grown close throughout the semester!” Long said. “I have been having fun getting to know everyone more and having my teammates push me in practice! I am very excited for the rest of the season and seeing what everyone accomplishes!”

“I have had a fantastic experience with the team since the beginning of the season,” Zhu said. “This is my third year now, and I have really enjoyed getting to know our first years—they bring such a great spirit to the team!”

“[The semester has] been amazing! The team is so inclusive and welcoming,” Thomason said, “it feels like one big family. As a team, we’re really good at supporting everyone both on deck and outside of athletics … it’s a great way to explore events and activities happening on campus.”

“We’ve always been a really close team, and I don’t think that’s changed this season,” Barnett said. “We all take care of each other and lift each other up, both in and out of the water. I love going to practice and talking with my teammates about their days, their classes and what they’re looking forward to. I also really love encouraging my teammates during practices and meets — more often than not, I’m telling the people in lanes around me that they’re killing it at practice, or cheering loudly for those who are racing.”

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten to be both a participant and a leader on this team,” she concluded. “And I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

“I think the [team] is a very warm and welcoming group,” Fang said, “and I have always felt included and supported. The coaches care a lot about every athlete’s physical and mental well-being, and everyone on the team is very friendly. We take part in many team-bonding activities and often eat and chat together after practice, which helps us get to know each other better.”

“Our team also has many traditions,” Fang added. “My favorite one is that before every meet, we draw lots to choose a teammate to make a psych-up poster for, and then cheer for her during the competition. Making the poster helps us learn more about each other, and receiving a poster is always a happy surprise that motivates me to do my best.”

“A special moment for me happened on the day we competed against Westfield State, which was also my birthday,” Fang recalled. “After the meet, my teammates surprised me with a cake. I was truly touched. As an international student, I was far away from home, but I still felt loved and remembered.”

“One moment that I remember clearly was during a meet when I was feeling slightly sick,” Fang continued. “During warm-up, I felt unusually tired. Coach Dave [Allen] somehow noticed right away. He stopped me and asked if I was feeling okay. I told him that I might have a cold. He comforted me and said he knew how hard I had been training, and that my body was probably just tired. He reminded me that this meet did not define my progress, and that after the Thanksgiving break, I would definitely be able to show my hard work at RIT. Hearing his words made me feel so relieved that I almost felt healed.”

“Even though I wasn’t feeling well physically,” Fang reflected, “I ended up breaking my personal best in the 50 free.”

“The team is so great. We have a comparatively big first year class and they’re really hitting their stride,” Upton said. “We’re also thrilled to have five coaches this year — adding [Assistant Swim Coach] Kenzie and [Dive Coach] Joel has made a big difference and I know we’re all really grateful for them.”

Upton proceeded to express her deep appreciation for her teammates: “Rowyn Farley ’28 is swimming distance events and sprint events this year, which is crazy and fairly unusual — it is really impressive how she is balancing the two and the totally different strategies needed.”

“Audrey Stuckert ’27 switched from swimming to diving this year and is picking it up so fast, and her attention to detail is phenomenal,” she continued. “Katie Thomason ’29 came in as a breaststroker but has added distance freestyle and is doing excellent.”

“Carol Fang ’29 has also switched her primary stroke and is getting crazy good results!” Upton wrote. “Maya Oakes ’29 is such a consistent, hardworking swimmer.”

“I could talk about how wonderful my teammates are forever,” she concluded. “We have a really small team this year, which can be tough. We’ve been able to pull together and get through it.”

Mount Holyoke’s swimming and diving team has since attended an invitational with RIT on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, in Rochester, New York. They will next meet with Wheaton College and Clark University on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at the Mount Holyoke College Natatorium in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

Karishma Ramkarran ’27 contributed fact checking. 

Mount Holyoke hosts panel with ACT UP alums on World AIDS Day

Photo Courtesy of Annette Dragon via University of Southern Maine Digital Commons
Members of ACT UP protest outside of George H.W. Bush’s summer residence in Kennebunkport.

By Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27

Editor-in-Chief

On Dec. 1, Mount Holyoke College observed World AIDS Day, “an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness,” according to an Instagram post by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The Office of DEI and Be Well Peer Health Educators began the day tabling in the Williston Library Atrium from around 12-1 p.m.; students were welcome to “stop by to grab a red ribbon, and peruse various select works of HIV/AIDS literature,” as described in the Nov. 24 MHC: This Week email from the College. 

Later that day at 7 p.m., The Office of DEI hosted a virtual panel on Zoom in conjunction with the politics department titled, “Histories & Memories of ACT UP NY.” Several alums of ACT UP — Andrea Lawlor, BC Craig, Debra Levine and Diane Curtis — spoke at the panel, detailing their personal experiences, memories and answering student questions. 

HIV — human immunodeficiency virus — is the virus that causes HIV infection in humans. HIV attacks and destroys helper T cells, which help the body fight off infections and cancers. HIV cannot be spread through casual contact; the virus is only transmittable through blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk, according to HIV.gov.

When somebody has HIV for a long time, they may develop AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. People with AIDS have critically low levels of T cells, and are much more susceptible to infection and cancer than those without. Today, while there is still no cure for HIV, people with HIV can achieve an undetectable viral load with treatment. Those with an undetectable viral load are not able to transmit the virus, and will not develop AIDS.

Visiting Assistant Professor in Politics Kevin Henderson, who is currently teaching a course on the politics of HIV/AIDS, helped open the event, providing a brief introduction on the history of HIV/AIDS and ACT UP. 

The first cases of HIV reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were in June 1981, though it’s likely that many people had acquired the virus long before then. ACT UP was founded in response to widespread stigma against those with HIV/AIDS and government inaction on the epidemic. According to Henderson, “ACT UP pioneered the slogan ‘Healthcare is a human right’” and created “some of the most recognizable” protest art of all time. 

“Really, we were a bunch of people in our twenties trying to figure things out,” panelist Diane Curtis said.

The former members of ACT UP discussed how the movement’s energy and the bonds between its members allowed it to thrive during an incredibly difficult time in history. Prior to 1996, there was no effective treatment for HIV/AIDS, and many died. 

Curtis described the number of deaths as having been “overwhelming.” Today, social media has allowed many members of ACT UP to reconnect and mourn those who were lost. “We forgot to grieve, and now we’re going to,” Curtis said.

Debra Levine spoke about how many members of ACT UP coped with stress in the height of the epidemic through humor, “You could have something incredibly weighty, and it’s helpful to have comedians in your group.”

“It really helped to have a good drag outfit,” Levine added.

“Despite how literally life and death everything was, it was so much joy, so much parties and cruising, and around this anger, around these actions, around the risks people were taking, around the many hospital rooms we spent time in and around the many memorials, there was so much life and joy,” BC Craig explained.

Panelists also discussed several protests and actions by ACT UP, and the organization’s commitment to inclusivity. Levine explained that in 1991 on Labor Day, ACT UP transported hundreds of its members to then-President George H.W. Bush’s summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, in protest of Bush’s inaction on the epidemic. 

Craig expanded upon the difficult logistics of this particular action: “People need to remember when we’re talking about this, an action that’s 1,000 miles away, we needed a complete medical staff, food, and water, and lot of sick people needed wheelchairs.”

While “it took a lot of money,” it was important to ensure “anyone who’s differently abled in any way gets to participate,” Levine said.

The love and dedication members of ACT UP had for one another was one of the most memorable and nostalgic aspects of the organization for many of the panelists. 

“That was a model of possibility [that] I just thought was the world,” Lawlor said.

Jillian Stammely ’28 contributed fact checking. 

Mount Holyoke students walk out in protest of Trump's Campus Compact

Photo by Sarah Ann Figueroa ‘28

Sunrise MHC organized a walkout in front of the College’s gate on Friday, Nov. 7 in protest of President Donald Trump’s proposed Campus Compact.

BY SARAH ANN FIGUEROA ‘28 & ANNA COCCA GOODMAN ‘28

STAFF WRITERS

On an average Friday, Mount Holyoke College’s campus tends to be quiet. There’s the usual cawing of geese and the wind rustling through the trees, students reluctantly shuffling out of their dorms to get a late breakfast, and sometimes a South Hadley resident walking their dog. 

But not on Friday, Nov. 7.

There was a slight chill in the air when just past noon, a small crowd of students stood at the College’s front gate, holding up blindingly yellow signs with slogans like “Melt Ice Not The Planet,” “Step Up For Students Or Step Aside” and “Our Future Is Not Negotiable.” As the size of the group grew, chants of “The people united will never be defeated” and “When democracy is under attack? What do we do? Stand up! Fight back!” rang out alongside honks from passing cars and cheers from the crowd.

The rally at the gates was just one of many student walkouts happening all across the nation on Nov. 7. Organized by a new youth-led group known as Students Rise Up — also called Project Rise Up – students and workers at over 100 universities walked out to protest President Donald Trump’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. The campaign is built on three pillars: Freedom for students to engage in activism, security for all students — especially international and transgender students — and affordability of higher education.

One of the primary sponsors of Students Rise Up is the Sunrise Movement, a climate activist organization. Members of Sunrise were encouraged to join the day of action, with each chapter — referred to as “hubs” — organizing their own walkout to participate. The hub at Mount Holyoke College also participated.

Students walked out of classes on Nov. 7 in protest of a policy proposal rolled out by the Trump administration known as the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, also referred to as the “Campus Compact.” The Compact was originally sent to a handful of universities on Oct. 1,, and later extended to every institution of higher education in the United States. The contents of this proposal, which demands universities “limit international undergraduate enrollment to 15 percent of the student body,” and “define and interpret ‘male,’ ‘female,’ ‘woman’ and ‘man’ according to reproductive function and biological processes,” as explained by Katherine Knott of Inside Higher Ed, is in direct conflict with the pillars of Students Rise Up.

Though the consequences of a university rejecting the Campus Compact are vague, the wording makes it clear that the rejecting university is at risk of losing access to federal funding. Even a private college like Mount Holyoke could be affected by this, as most schools, regardless of whether or not they are administered by the government, receive some amount of federal funding.

With the extreme stipulations of the College Compact and their potential to greatly affect education across the United States looming large, the Students Rise Up walkout on Nov. 7 commenced that afternoon. The  participating students at some universities urged their administrations to explicitly reject the College Compact and promise to protect their students.  Students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst did exactly this, orchestrating a march that culminated in a meeting with Chancellor Javier Reyes.

At Mount Holyoke College, Sunrise organized a group to gather by the gates at 12:30 PM. For an hour of fervent chanting and passionate cheering, participating students at the College united over a shared love of education and belief in the freedom of it.

Speeches were given by the board members of Sunrise MHC throughout the event. Hub Coordinator and Chair Keira Gillin ’26 spoke first, stating, “We'd like to see our administration continue to stand with students in a strong stance against the Trump administration, and what they've been doing to attack academic institutions across the country.”

Stepping away from the action for an interview on why they showed up to the rally, Secretary of Sunrise MHC Yan Hernandez ’28 told Mount Holyoke News they were protesting “because my parents are immigrants and nearly all of my family in the United States had to fight to come here. And so being here today really means standing up for not only myself but for my family and for so many other children of immigrants and for other immigrants as well.” With over 20% of its student body composed of international students, Mount Holyoke College would be devastated if the terms of the College Compact were accepted.

When asked if they thought the walkout would make a change, student Addie Schlegelmilch ’28 said, “I think that on its own this probably won't, but as a whole there's a lot of different schools walking out. I know that Smith and UMass are both walking out today, and I'm sure there's others across the country. So I think the fact that it's so spread out and there's so many is more important than just focusing on the one.” 

This walkout marks the beginning of many more demonstrations to come. Students Rise Up aims to coordinate an act of “mass non-cooperation” in May 2026 to push back against what Professor Mary Renda of the College’s history department has called “an authoritarian takeover” from Trump. Renda stated that she showed up to the walkout that day because “we need organizing everywhere we can have it, [and] students are a huge part of that.”

“The Compact is a next step to try to take down a major institution that is central to democracy,” Renda said in an interview with Mount Holyoke News. “When institutions like universities and colleges go along with this authoritarian takeover under whatever excuse that comes, that is how fascism gets established … Every time we can stand up together and say no to that, it's essential.”

The rally concluded at 1:30 p.m., with most of the participating students returning to their Friday afternoons. A few, however, kept the momentum going even after the event formally wrapped up, heading over to the Stone Shelter outside of the Williston Memorial Library and hopping on the 38 Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus. These Mount Holyoke College students, along with students from Smith College also partaking in the walkout, joined the action over at UMass Amherst to support their march. 

Over 200 strong, the Sunrise Movement hubs of the Pioneer Valley sought to prove that students have the energy to make a change together. Their movement, according to an informational slideshow by Sunrise MHC, is “on a mission to put everyday people back in charge and build a world that works for all of us, now and for generations to come.”

Angelina Godinez ’28 contributed fact checking. 

History, heritage and Broadway: Justice Jackson at Public Forum

By Liliana Stinson ’27 & Quill Nishi-Leonard ’27

Staff Writer | Editor-in-Chief

One of Justice Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson’s earliest memories is sitting at the kitchen table alongside her father, coloring as he studied law. Her relationship with her parents — her father, who inspired her by pursuing a career in law and her mother, who taught her she could “do or be anything [she] wanted” — was just one of the many subjects she and Mount Holyoke College President, Danielle Holley discussed on Oct. 27 at the Springfield Public Forum.

Just a few hours earlier, at approximately 4:30 p.m., two buses full of Mount Holyoke College students departed campus for the event. Due to the limited number of tickets available, the College had held a raffle earlier in the month for those interested in attending. Students who received a seat were informed via email on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Students were seated at about 5:30 p.m. and around 30 minutes after, SGA President Nathania Amadi ’26 formally opened the event by providing an introduction for Jackson. Before Jackson had the opportunity to speak, she received a standing ovation; many attendees stood and cheered as she took the stage.

Jackson began by reading an excerpt from her new memoir, “Lovely One.”As she would later explain, the title is a translation of her name, Ketanji Onyika. “My parents gave me an African name because they always wanted me to know where my people came from,” Jackson stated.

She was born in 1970 — a few years after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act — and remarked that there was “so much enthusiasm among African Americans” because “people like my parents who grew up under a system of oppression, under a system that did not give them the opportunity to fully participate in society” had seen the end of Jim Crow-era segregation laws.

African pride has been a driving force for Jackson throughout her life. From a young age, she aspired to be the first Black woman Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court. One of her biggest inspirations as a child was Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to become a federal judge: “I learned about her in middle school, flipping through one of the … magazines that my parents allowed us to have, [like] EBONY or JET … and I just thought, ‘Here’s this woman, who’s not just a lawyer, she’s a judge. I could be a judge.’ And that encouraged me.”

Jackson was also “struck” by the realization that she shares a birthday with Motley; the two were born exactly 49 years apart.

Jackson later cultivated the skills she would use as a lawyer and judge through her public school’s debate team. From 9th-12th grade, she participated in original oratory, where participants write and memorize a speech, performing it several times throughout a school year. Her team travelled to Harvard University three times for debate tournaments, and as a high school senior, she decided to apply there.

In her admission essay, she wrote that she hoped to become the first Black woman justice in the Supreme Court to have performed on Broadway.

In an email interview with Mount Holyoke News, Holley noted that she found Jackson’s drive extremely impressive: “I was struck by Justice Jackson’s singularity of vision. In one of her junior high yearbooks, she said she wanted to be a federal judge. Check! She wrote in her application to Harvard that she wanted to be the first Black woman Supreme Court justice … Check!”

Jackson ultimately received both her bachelor’s degree and juris doctor from Harvard with honors.

Jackson’s skills in communication and performance were put to the test during the confirmation hearing for her Supreme Court appointment. Before a Supreme Court nominee can officially become a justice, they must first undergo a confirmation hearing and obtain the approval of at least 51 members of the Senate. Typically, a nominee has about six weeks to prepare for the hearing. Jackson only had around three. During those few weeks, aides spent “a great deal of time … preparing [her] for the hearing” by conducting what Jackson called “murder boards.”

During the murder boards, aides would pretend to be members of the Senate to simulate a real confirmation hearing. Jackson recalled that once, when she began to get frustrated, an aide stopped the session and reminded her, “You can either get angry, or you can be a Supreme Court Justice.” After that, Jackson was motivated to remain collected, and used her communication skills to stay calm under questioning.

In the weeks before her confirmation hearing she also met with 24 senators, which she described as having been “the absolute best thing I could do.” In private, the senators she met were “lovely” and “terrific,” but during the public confirmation hearing, “they [were] not.” Jackson realized the hearing was a performance — much like the events her high school debate team had participated in — and used her expertise to successfully navigate it, thus securing her appointment in the process.

Jackson’s confirmation hearing took place over the course of four days. She described the second day as having been a “very very stressful, long session” that lasted around ten hours. Near its conclusion, Senator Cory Booker chose to give a speech instead of asking questions, giving Jackson time to rest.

Booker spoke about his pride in her success and their shared heritage: “It's hard for me not to look at you and not see my mom, not to see my cousins … I see my ancestors and yours … Nobody is gonna steal that joy. You have earned this spot. You are worthy.”

Jackson was moved to tears by Booker’s words. “It was extraordinary,” she said.

Booker wasn’t the only one to uplift Jackson during the confirmation process. She described the support she received from family and friends as also having been a key component of her successful appointment. Her partnership with her husband and his support has been “everything,” Jackson said. “I certainly could not do what I do now without my husband, who has taken care of everything and given me the opportunity to do the work I do.”

Jackson’s friends have also aided her throughout her life and career. “I had the very good fortune of meeting other Black women in a class my freshman year, a Black woman’s literature class, and we supported one another … Four of us became very close, and all four of us got into Harvard law school … We have just been, you know, sisters,” she stated. “We have done life together, and it was amazing to have their help.”

After she had received her nomination to the Supreme Court, Jackson explained, they had organized to do interviews with media outlets in support of her appointment: “They literally, basically set up a war room of their own, and were doing a media campaign on my behalf.”

As an associate justice of the Supreme Court, Jackson has become known for her intricately crafted dissents. During the 2024-25 term, Jackson delivered 25 opinions, 10 of which were in dissent: more than any other single justice. “Dissent is one of the most extraordinary aspects of American legal tradition,” Jackson said. “It embodies something that we value here, in this country, which is freedom of expression.”

Jackson further explained that when she authors a dissent, she writes for both the public and for history. “What tends to happen for me is that I either get assigned a dissent or I think … I have a particular interest or perspective on the issue in this case that I think is important,” she said.

“Justice [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg used to say that when you write a dissent, you are writing for history, not just for the present,” Jackson elaborated. “I also have to write for the present to a certain degree. Writing not just for your colleagues and the parties … but you’re writing for the public, so the people understand what is going on at the Court.”

“Judges are public servants … we have a responsibility to communicate,” she concluded.

Holley echoed this point while speaking to Mount Holyoke News, “Justice Jackson sees herself as writing for history, but just as importantly she’s writing on behalf of American jurisprudence, and on behalf of the people in the present moment whose lives are directly affected by Court decisions.”

However, Jackson is much more than just a dissenter, Holley noted. As the first Black woman justice on the Court, she provides an extremely valuable perspective: “Something Justice Jackson captured so beautifully in her book and spoke eloquently about … was why diversity matters in an institution such as the Supreme Court. In addition to inspiring people of all backgrounds to dream big, a diverse judiciary is able to evaluate a question from the perspectives of different backgrounds and viewpoints.”

Holley continued, “[Jackson] spoke about the justice for whom she clerked, Justice [Stephen] Breyer, who believed pragmatism must play a role in rulings. In other words, context matters. And if that is true, then it is critical that different contexts be considered when making a ruling, which is only possible if the Court is made up of people from different circumstances.”

Jackson’s historic role is also personally important to Holley, a Black woman who has shattered many glass ceilings herself. “Justice Jackson is a true trailblazer, so it was an honor to be able to talk to her about her life and career. We also have a lot in common: our Southern roots, high school speech and debate, a love of the history of the civil rights movement. It was a special night — one I won’t forget any time soon.”

As the event began to come to a close, Jackson and Holley discussed Jackson’s hobbies and interests outside of the law. Since becoming a Supreme Court justice, Jackson has continued to read and write in her free time, scarce as it may be. Currently, Jackson is reading “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. As an introvert who “draws energy from withdrawing,” she finds the book empowering. Now that she’s finished her memoir, “Lovely One,” she also has plans to begin writing children’s literature.

Moreover, Jackson recently fulfilled her dream of appearing on Broadway. Last year, the producers of “And Juliet” read about her goal in her memoir and offered her an ensemble role. “I got to sing … It was a one-night only performance, but I loved it,” Jackson said.

One of Jackon’s favorite aspects of being a Supreme Court justice has been “bringing young people to court … seeing their faces and excitement.” She hopes her success will inspire more young people to pursue careers in law and politics. “I try to encourage them,” Jackson stated. “I hope for them to want to go into law, and to want to make our country better.”

When asked by Holley if she had any advice for students interested in law, Jackson responded, “First I congratulate them … We need you.” She explained that while some think success can only come from innate talent, true progress is made through hard work: “Anything worth doing takes effort. Sometimes, young people mistake talent for effort … When it's hard, when it's difficult … Take pride in [your] ability.”

“You have to keep going,” Jackson said.

Holley hopes if the community takes anything away from the event, it is that advice. “[Justice Jackson] enjoined the young people in the audience…to work hard, to put in the sweat equity. That’s how one turns a seemingly audacious goal into reality.”

Elizabeth Murray ’26 assisted with coverage and contributed fact-checking.

No Kings protest in South Hadley Village Commons

Photo by Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

MHC Alums at No Kings Day protest

By Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

Staff Writer

On the chilly autumn morning of Oct. 18, students, faculty, alums and locals gathered in the Village Commons  for No Kings Day to  protest against corruption and authoritarianism in our government. 

In our small corner of western Massachusetts, hundreds of individuals spanning across multiple generations congregated along either side of College Street at 11 a.m., commencing an hour of high-spirited protesting and community bonding. Lilly Glass ’27  described the event in an interview with Mount Holyoke News: “It’s not just a protest, it’s a celebration.” This sentiment perfectly embodied the energy of that day. From colorful and clever signs held high, to musicians who played their heartfelt tunes, to witty costumes that brought merriment all around, the atmosphere throughout the morning was full of love and unity. 

Many call and response chants were sung up and down the street, such as: “Show me \what democracy looks like / This is what democracy looks like,” and “The people united / Will never be divided.” As cars drove by, they honked in support of the protest, inciting waves of cheers from the crowds. To keep people safe from the busy road, two community members dressed in neon sashes frequently escorted pedestrians across the crosswalk. The stretch of protesters ran from the U.S. Post Office on Hadley Street to the front gates of campus, with the fervor of the movement radiating all the way down. 

The first No Kings Day was held earlier this year on June 14, when millions of Americans across the country rallied together to protest President Donald Trump’s military parade, held on the same day as his birthday. This protest was the culmination of the numerous unconstitutional legislative acts, policies and statements made by the Trump administration over the course of his two terms. 

The No Kings website states, “His [Trump’s] administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most … The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings — and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.” On Saturday, Oct. 18, over 7 million Americans across all 50 states and beyond peacefully mobilized once more to exercise their First Amendment rights and reaffirm that power belongs to the people.

Mount Holyoke News interviewed many protesters, discussing their motivations for showing up to the event. Many expressed the urgency they felt in regards to the state of our country and its needs, such as Bryn Wickerd ’28, who said, “We're at a critical point in the descent into fascism, and people need to be united at this moment in order to show that we are not hopeless.” 

Along the same line of thought, community member Stephanie Strand stated, “We’re in danger of losing democracy. It was unthinkable a decade ago. It won’t be my problem in twenty years, but it will be yours. Everyone who can take a stand should.” 

Others shared their specific concerns for those under attack by the Trump administration. Lizzie Foster ’29, for instance, said, “It’s important to be here for women, for trans people, for immigrants; we’re all human and the [Trump] administration is acting like none of us are.” 

Referencing the ICE raids happening across the country, Simone DiPirro ’29 said, “I’m here to show support for people who are being deported without any due process.” 

Paramount to the overall message of No Kings, several protesters shared their views on the value of hope and solidarity in times like these. South Hadley resident Anne Cormier said, “I feel a bit helpless. [But] this is something I can do. This is important, to do things as a community. There’s strength in numbers.” 

Visiting Assistant Professor of film media theater Li Cornfeld echoed this sentiment, stating, “I think it is super galvanizing to see different folks coming together, students and faculty and family members. It’s easy to feel really isolated.”

Lastly, among the crowd that morning was a group of women who had shown up to the protest dawning blue baseball caps with the embroidered words “Forged In Dissent” and the Mount Holyoke College logo. They were alums, taking a moment to step away from a conference and join the action on College St.

The Mount Holyoke News had the pleasure of interviewing former Trustee of the College and Vice President of the Mount Holyoke Group of Hartford, Ellen Cosgrove ’84, who had this to share with the Mount Holyoke community: “I just want students to know that there are legions of alums out there fighting for their rights … you guys have decades and decades ahead of you, and we really want you to live in the kind of world we were able to live in, or even better.” 

The division between generations can often seem so great, and for that reason Cosgrove’s encouraging words are really powerful. The future these protests are fighting for is achievable, and the momentum that has brought us this far never died down.

The No Kings South Hadley event was one of many overwhelmingly successful, peaceful demonstrations that took place across the nation on Oct. 18. Due to the millions who have shown up for their communities throughout this period of intense polarization and political unrest, this will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most significant movements of the 21st century. The story that will be told at the end of the day will be one of perseverance, where the love Americans have for their neighbors thrives in the face of prejudice and oppression. When it comes to our campus, home to one of the most politically active student bodies in the world, the efforts of the Mount Holyoke College student body will shape how that story unfolds.

Sofia Ramon ’27 contributed fact-checking.

Anna Goodman ’28 assisted with interviews and coverage.

LITS and the Office of DEI celebrate Banned Books Week 2025

Photo by Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

Library, Information and Technology Service set up a display in the library atrium to celebrate Banned Books Week, themed “Censorship is so 1984.”

By Sarah Ann Figueroa ’28

Staff Writer

On the night of Sunday, Oct. 5 in Dwight 101, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sponsored the screening of “Banned Together,” a documentary that exemplifies the core of this year’s Banned Books Week at Mount Holyoke College.

A tradition that dates back to 1982, Banned Books Week is an annual event sponsored by various organizations around the world with the united goal of fighting for accessible education and against censorship in our public libraries and schools. Every year educators, librarians, writers and readers come together during this week-long event to celebrate literature that has been banned from classroom curriculums and library shelves. The 2025 Banned Books Week was from Oct. 5-11, with the theme “Censorship Is So 1984 — Read for Your Rights.” This year, Library, Information and Technology Services has organized several events throughout campus and the local community to celebrate and “help the MHC community get engaged with the freedom to read,” one of these events being the screening of the documentary “Banned Together.”

Held on a warm Sunday evening, accompanied by pizza, popcorn and free banned books for attendees to take, the screening of “Banned Together” opened with DEI Fellow Emma Quirk ’26 giving a brief welcome and land acknowledgement before starting the film. The documentary follows the students of Beaufort County, South Carolina and their fight against the sudden banning of nearly 100 books from their schools’ libraries. Their journey leads them to meetings with members of both their local and state government, and conversations with authors whose books are among those banned from their classrooms. An all too prevalent issue throughout our nation today, the topic of censorship holds a weight of undeniable urgency that “Banned Together” does not shy away from.

At the conclusion of the screening, the floor was opened up for the audience to share their thoughts. Many expressed concerns about the state of democracy in our country, and the implications that come with such intense book bannings. Others, in a moment of vulnerability, shared their personal stories dealing with censorship in their schools and communities. By and large, a sentiment about the importance of libraries was shared throughout the conversation, echoing a powerful statement made by Isabella Troy Brazoban in the film, “What you cannot find in the history books, you will find in the library.”

Within Williston Memorial Library, a place that is arguably the heart of campus, a display sits at the front of the atrium each year throughout Banned Books Week. From children’s graphic novels to young adult fiction to significant literary works of our time, every book featured in this display is currently banned. Students are encouraged to pick these stories up as they pass by, and educate themselves on the facts of book banning. Informative graphics accompany the display on either side, sharing the most current statistics about the state of censorship in the United States, including how many individual titles are either banned or under intense review throughout schools. Among the most challenged books of 2024 are “All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto” by George M. Johnson, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins.

Along with the “Banned Together” screening, other events such as a banned books trivia night and a public library card sign-up took place throughout the week. Prizes were awarded to the winners of trivia night, and those who signed up for a library card won the most invaluable prize of all: Access to knowledge. Uniting over the common goal of standing up against censorship, everyone at LITS and the Office of DEI worked hard to bring the community together this Banned Books Week.

The importance of Banned Books Week can be best summed up by a brief quote from Kijua Sanders-McMurty, vice president for Equity and Inclusion. Sanders-McMurty played a large role in facilitating the events of the week, and they took the time to share with me their feelings on the importance of the cause. “Books truly saved my life when I was younger as I struggled in academic environments and dropped out of multiple high schools. Reading liberated me and helped me continue to learn even when I had limited access to formal schooling. I immersed myself in stories by other people - my favorites were A Wrinkle In Time, Anne Frank: The Diary of A Young Girl, The Bluest Eye, and The Color Purple. All of these books have been banned or challenged. When I first learned of book bans, I was deeply discouraged. Then, I found out about Banned Books Week and became deeply inspired by the activists who refused to give in. I love that people across generations and various identities can build coalitions and speak up for the Freedom to Read!”

Sophie Francis ’28 contributed fact-checking.

Editor’s note: Emma Quirk ’26 is a features editor for Mount Holyoke News.